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Tom Kuieck, a retired teacher and assistant superintendent of schools with a
wife and three children, has a life-long passion for trout, salmon, and fly fishing.
Introduced to trout fishing at an early age, Tom has fished streams across Michigan
and today enjoys shares his love of fly fishing and the out-of-doors with people
from across the United States. Having fished the Muskegon River, his home waters,
for over 30 years, Tom introduced his son Steve to fly fishing at a young age,
only to see his son become the lead guide and owner of River Quest Charters a
full service fly fishing guiding operation hosting trips from the St. Joseph
in the south to the St. Mary's in the north. Tom joins his son Steve and full-time
guide, Dave DeVries, along with guides Don Graham and Fred Vargas.
"I especially enjoy introducing people, younger and older, to fly fishing
and the three rivers on which I guide, the Muskegon, the Pere Marquette, and
the Big Manistee. In my former professional life, I supervised principals, curricula,
and teaching. Ironically, though, like most guides, I suspect, I do more teaching
in one day on the river than I would do in a month or so as an assistant superintendent.
Fly fishing is a never ending quest to learn more, to refine techniques, and
to learn the water and trout, salmon, and smallmouth bass we seek. Moreover,
guiding professionally enables me to meet interesting, successful people from
across the United States. The conversation is rich and lively, leading us to
develop wonderful friendships and to connect on the river year after year. "
"For more accomplished fly fishermen, I recognize their need for space and
freedom and benefit greatly from watching and listening to them as they share
their years of acquired skill and expertise. For them, my goal is to give them
at least one tip, technique, or insight new to them and useful to their casting
and fishing. Novice or expert, I enjoy sharing days afloat with them all."
"Michigan's professional fly fishing guides have elevated the sporting ethic
on our rivers significantly, and I'm proud to work with them for betterment of
our cold water resources. Having witnessed the Muskegon, my home river, during
the gold rush fever of the first days of Pacific salmon fishing and then its
quick decline into cue sticks and anchor-sized treble hooks where ropes replete
with gashed king salmon were the badge of fishing prowess, it gives me great
hope and encouragement to see how our sporting ethic has changed dramatically
for the better. Today, seemingly more fishermen than not on the Muskegon use
fly tackle and let a photograph record a fish brought to hand, released, and
celebrated. I credit professional guides for showing this better way for resources
so spectacular and generous. |
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Tom Kuieck