Stu Neville – Owner

All of Stu’s life, things have always pointed toward Hayward. Deep connections to the area were set in his early age and strengthened with the years, as he went from frequent visitor, to seasonal fly fishing guide, to full-time resident in 2016. In spring of 2021, after eight seasons guiding for Hayward Fly Fishing Company, Stu became owner.

Stu’s love of the sport continues to grow. He finds joy and energy in teaching his clients a new skill, or pursuing a favorite species in a new and different way. There’s always something new for the fish to teach the angler!

He happily gives back to the rivers by serving on the board of directors at the Wild Rivers Conservancy of the St. Croix and Namekagon, and makes his home on the banks of the Namekagon River in Hayward. Stu believes that a healthy river starts with a healthy watershed and an engaged, caring river community.

Fly fishing has offered Stu opportunities to build relationships that have added greatly to his life, and he feels grateful to have such genuine friends and peers within the Wisconsin fly fishing community, and beyond. Sharing a day on the water with pals and making a memory or two is one of his favorite parts of the sport.

Erik Huber

Erik was born and raised in Southern Minnesota, and was introduced to fishing through his father at an early age. Acting as Captains of their own aluminum fishing boats, he and his brother would spend many after school afternoons exploring the shallows of the small lake near their childhood home. The Northern Pike, complete with its notorious teeth and fanatical feeding frenzies, laid the foundation of his addiction. It did not take long for him, picking up a fly rod at a best friend’s family cabin on Lake Owen in northern Wisconsin, to begin his fly fishing career.

Early in his undergraduate education at Northland College in Northern WI, he was fortunate enough to meet a fellow fly angler that offered him a position in Alaska guiding all 5 species of salmon as well as rainbow trout. It turned out to be the perfect fit of Erik’s passion for always exploring what is around the next bend and seeing those moments relived in the eyes of his clients. After 3 more years of guiding in Alaska, and a transfer to St. Olaf College to complete a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies, he was offered a position to guide at Hayward Fly Fishing Company; the very same shop he purchased his first fly box. That was back in 2011, and after more than a decade of rowing the St. Croix, Flambeau, Chippewa, and the finest of them all, the Namekagon, he intends to stay as long as the rivers and anglers will have him.

Now a Registered Nurse, as well as a Fly Fishing Guide/Instructor, you can find Erik exploring the waters of the world when he is not on the waters netting fish and yucking it up with his clients in NW Wisconsin. He is a member of the St. Croix River Association, American Fly Fishing Trade Association, Trout Unlimited, the National Audubon Society, 1% for the Planet, and Save the Boundary Waters. He firmly believes we must always remember to appreciate and give back to the waters we love.

Mark Ross

Growing up in Dubuque, Iowa, I spent my childhood visiting my grandparents who lived in the Hayward area. I learned to love fishing the area lakes and rivers and spent as much time as I could on or in the water.

I attended Saint Mary’s University in Winona Minnesota where I studied fisheries biology and spent a lot of time on trout streams and rivers for classes. I decided to pick up fly fishing, and was gifted a fly tying kit from a friend and quickly fell in love.

After graduating, I worked for a couple years in the Twin Cities but realized fly fishing was my calling and I needed to do it full time. I ventured to Bristol Bay Alaska to start my guiding career. Three years later I made my way down to Chile into the Patagonia region to guide in the winters. Although I have been lucky to guide around the world, the Hayward area has always felt like home to me. I joined the HFFC team in 2019 and have loved every minute of guiding these waters I grew up on. I hope to share my passion for chasing smallmouth and musky on the beautiful rivers we’re able to access, as well as teaching and fine tuning fly fishing techniques.

Jared Koenigsfeld

Growing up In Northeast Iowa, I started fly fishing at the age of 10 on nearby farm ponds and spring creeks in the Iowa Driftless. My passion for fishing grew with each trip, with any books I could get my hands on, and at my vise, learning to tie flies. At the end of high school when it came time to choose what was next in my life, I realized that nothing made me happier than being out on the water and chasing whatever lurked beneath the surface. The idea of becoming a guide was natural, and I chased that dream.

In 2009 I accepted a staff position at a lodge in Grand Lake Stream, Maine. While working at the lodge, I earned my guide license and ran walk/wade trips for smallmouth and landlocked Atlantic Salmon. Following Maine, I have guided for lodges and shops on waters in Montana, Idaho, Yellowstone National Park, Alaska, and internationally to Chile giving me the chance to guide and fish some of the most beautiful waters in the Americas. In 2013, I co-founded a guiding business in Northeast Iowa and took hundreds of great clients on floats and walk-wade trips on my home waters in the Iowa Driftless.

I couldn’t be happier now guiding in Hayward in the beautiful Northwoods. I look forward to sharing my passion for the sport with you, and hopefully teach you some tips and tricks I have learned over the years to make your time on the water more enjoyable!

Erik Thue

Erik cut his teeth guiding and exploring the Hayward Area rivers back in 2011. After completing college the following year at Bemidji State University, he moved to Hayward to continue chasing his passions for fly fishing, photography, and just about anything outdoors.

Erik has guided around the Hayward area for the past 8 years and is grateful to carry on his expertise and passion of guiding with Hayward Fly Fishing Company.

Erik not only works hard to put his anglers on fish, but also strives to educate and refine modern fly fishing techniques. He values connecting with anglers both in his boat and out in the community, while promoting sustainable fishing practices and advocating for the land and water we all have the privilege of celebrating together.