Meet Our Staff Advisors
Meet Mac Minard!
My father gave me my first fly rod when I was in third grade… the first time. Now after six decades I am still as passionate as ever. Following a 22-year career as a sportfish biologist in Bristol Bay Alaska and then moving to Montana to work as executive director of the Montana Guides and Outfitters Association, I am pursuing my passion for fine craftsmanship and wood working to enhance my time on the water. I started making landing nets in the 1980s, experimenting with different processes and materials, seeking to achieve the functionality necessary for the highest performance and attain a simple artistic appeal; hence the term functional art!
My career path has allowed me to experience some of the finest freshwater fisheries in North America and to be associated with leaders and professionals in the fly fishing industry. Those contacts informed my net building journey and I have incorporated suggestions and results from field tests into the nets I make today.
Like many, over my journey through the sporting life, my tastes and preferences have matured over time. To be on a gin clear river casting to native trout with a well-balanced fly rod calls out for a net to match the magic moments.
Rylie Booth
Rylie grew up in the Alaskan Flyout fishing industry in Bristol Bay. Her family owns and operates Bear Trail Lodge in King Salmon where she now has hundreds of guide days in the field. Rylie and her mom Nanci Morris Lyon are well known as leading women in the fly fishing business. Rylie has worked in the Montana Net Co shop in an off season building her own custom landing net and had a direct hand in designing the line of Guide Nets that we feature.
Natalie Romo
Natalie and her family live on the edge of the Wood Tikchik State Park in Southwest Alaska. She is a professional fishing guide for Mission Lodge, one of the premiere flyout fishing lodges in Bristol Bay. Natalie has years of experience guiding salmon, trout, Arctic grayling and char fishermen in this pristine wilderness setting. We are delighted that Natalie will be field testing our products and know that her feedback will be vital to future refinements and development of new product line.
Alyssa Stewart
Alyssa grew up fishing the best rivers and streams of Montana with her father. Her passion for fly fishing (particularly dry fly fishing) led her to a guiding career first with the fabled Sun Canyon Lodge near Augusta, Montana and now in the remote areas of Bristol Bay. Alyssa worked an offseason at the Montana Net Co shop and helped create the 2024 season offerings. Her insights and critique will make our product line better over time.
Ethan Running Crane
Ethan is Blackfeet Indian and lives and works on the eastern edge of Glacier National Park. The waters he fishes and guides on are tribal lands and he is very knowledgeable of the tribal fisheries and lands. Ethan combines his Native American culture with his guiding expertise to provide anglers a uniquely rich fishing experience. We are delighted to have Ethan as part of the Montana Net Co team.
Jessica Willcut
Jessica has been with Montana Net Co since its creation helping to develop our first Facebook™ marketing campaign that launched the company. Jessica has mastered every phase of the net building and finishing operations and assists in the shop often to help keep up with orders.As a budding fly fisher she was involved in the field testing and development of promotional materials. We are very lucky to have Jessica as a part of the Montana Net Co team.