Our Team
Owner in Memoriam
Melvin "Pete" Calhoun aka. Pedro: Owner/ Operator
Melvin “Pete” Calhoun founded Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing with his son Darren in 1992. Pete made his final journey home to be with the creator on October 29, 2021. While we miss him dearly, we continue working to fulfill his dream of creating a thriving fishing and rafting business on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
Owner
Darren Calhoun aka. Big D or Dr. D: Owner/ Operator
Darren Calhoun is an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe, currently serves as “Guide Emeritus.” Darren started Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing with his father Melvin “Pete” Calhoun in 1992. He is the husband of and listens to very closely and always agrees with Kristin Kirlin, and is the exceptionally proud dad of Riley and Jaylen Calhoun. Earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Montana in 2005. Asked about his hobbies: “If I could spend the rest of my time doing only 2 things, they would be fishing and team roping!”
Head Fly Fishing Guide & Director of Fishing Operations
Paul Collamer | Manager & Head Fly Fishing Guide
Paul Collamer grew up in southeast Wyoming, on the upper North Platte. Paul grew up with a passion for fly fishing, learning to fish at a very young age on the tributaries of the North Platte at his family cabin. Paul has been a Fly Fishing guide for 15 years total and has been a guide with Wind River Canyon for 8 of those years. "I can't think of a more unique place to call work. In the settings and wild of this part of the state, and the traditions of this company. I am extremely lucky to live this lifestyle, and thankful for my wife Kayte, who puts up with it. We have 3 amazing boys, and I hope to pass down these amazing experiences and places."
Assistant Manager & Head Scenic Guide – Dubois Shop
Yvonne Hartman aka. "Evo" | Manager & Dubois Retail Staff
Yvonne Hartman - Guide mentor, trip leader, and supervisor. Yvonne was born in California but raised in the foothills of the Wind River Range, Wyoming. Born to an adventurous family with their passion for the outdoors, she started exploring rivers at a young age. Yvonne started off rafting on the Snake River in Jackson, WY when she was just a young girl and she instantly fell in love with whitewater rafting. She is a natural enthusiast of the river, her opportunity of guiding came a decade ago and she has never looked back. Her pursuit of adventure has delegated many moves in her life, she has studied fine art and outdoor education. When Yvonne is not guiding, you can find her fishing, teaching kids, rescuing dogs or cooking good food, and spending time with her family. Yvonne’s home away from home is her WRCW family, where she has been working for many many years! "I love taking clients through some of the most stunning and untouched wilderness, with breathtaking views. I love the sound of the river, the feeling, the smell, and the touch of the open water. It's just you, your crew, your gear, and the river with no distractions; just pure human interaction. A connection is made because there are no phones, internet nor are there any worries of the world. We are all able to share the same compassion and the simplest of pleasures, the river."
General Manager & Fly Fishing Guide
Warren Wolf
Warren grew up in New Mexico. He often loved camping, fishing, and hunting with his father and brother. He jokes that if you can catch a fish in the desert, you can catch a fish anywhere. Warren spent 15 years in Hawaii as the owner of a dive shop, taking people scuba diving. After his duration in Hawaii, he built a cabin in Alaska with his family and enjoyed fishing for salmon, trout, and halibut. Warren’s affection for fishing, his wisdom, and his passion for helping others learn to make him an excellent choice for novice and advanced anglers. Warren and his brilliant, highly supportive spouse are currently exploring where the next phase of life will lead. Warren is on his second summer in Wyoming. He and his wife have already fallen in love with the country and the people of Thermopolis.
Fly Fishing Guide
Alex O'Brien
Alex O'Brien has been a fly fishing guide for 10 plus years. He is a steelhead and fly-tying nutcase. Alex loves fishing with his beautiful wife and kids on his time off "we are a great river family". “The canyon is a special place with big fish. Sharing the canyon with guests for the first time is pretty great because the WOW factor of the fish and experience is like no other fishery I can think of.”
Fly Fishing Guide
Rob Weimann
Rob Weimann is from Lander, Wyoming, south of the Wind River mountains and the continental divide. He has been guiding fly fishing trips in the Wind River Canyon since 2012. His passion for casting fly rods and chasing fish parallels his interest in music and people. When the fishing is slow he prefers sarcasm and dad jokes.
Fly Fishing Guide
Jason Hawk
Jason Hawk has been a Wyoming Native for 48 years, born and raised in Riverton, WY. He has been a fly fishing guide for the past 5 years and has enjoyed fly fishing for over 20 years. "Eight years ago, I had the opportunity to book a trip with Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing during a Cicadas hatch and it ended up being the best day ever fishing; It also started a lifelong friendship with the guides. Now, I have the privilege of working for this renowned company that has the privilege to fish on over 50 miles of private water. There is something special about a company that puts conservation first." Jason owns a bar in Riverton, with his lovely wife, and keeps pretty busy with running all of the bar’s operations when he is not fishing.
Fly Fishing Guide
Jasper Roy
Jasper Roy lived in Lander, WY for a big majority of his life, and then made a big move to Chile from age 10-14, where he experienced some amazing fishing! When Jasper was 8 years old, an old family friend took him fly fishing, he caught a king salmon that day and was hooked for life. This will be Jasper's third year as a fly fishing guide. He has guided on the Patagonia river and on the Wind River. "I love the Wind River Canyon because, in my opinion, it’s one of the best wild brown fisheries in the United States."
Fly Fishing Guide
Noah Kreager
Noah Kreager is a Wyoming boy through and through, raised in Lander. Noah's father first took him out fly fishing at age 12, where Noah first fell in love with the sport; he was specifically interested in fly tying. Noah will be a second-year guide with WRCW this year. "My favorite part about guiding for WRCW is how secluded and gorgeous that the water is. There is nothing like being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a fly rod in hand."
Fly Fishing Guide
Brock Boettcher
Brock Boettcher has been a fly fishing guide for Wind River Canyon for the past 17 years!Born in Iowa and quickly moving West, Brock fell in love with the beauty of Wyoming right after college. As a school teacher for over 20 years, he loves teaching anglers of all ages and abilities how to catch trout in the bighorn basin.
Head Whitewater Guide
Lucas Brown
Lucas Brown was born in the woods, where he then was raised in a cave by his momma bear. He always has had a love for adventure. Lucas has been guiding whitewater trips for a decade on rivers in Colorado, Montana, California, and Wyoming. He has loved guiding on the wind river for 3 years now because it is a special place, still wild and a very unique river. Lucas enjoys traveling on his bus home with his dog Duke and travels to be a back-country snowmobile guide in the winter season. He enjoys riding his motorcycle after work on the open road and ultimately enjoys making people smile by telling hilarious jokes on a regular.
Whitewater Guide
Makayla George aka. "Mak"
Makayla George is a genuine Thermopolis local. She is a third-year whitewater guide and loves every second of it! " I love being able to be outside, workout, get tan, and have fun all at the same time! & of course, being able to meet all you rad people! If it excites you and scares you at the same time, it probably means you should do it.” Makayla enjoys kayaking and having lazy days when she is not rafting. In the winter, she is wasting time, waiting for the water season to come back.