About Schmidt Outfitters

Schmidt Outfitters is a full service fly fishing and upland bird hunting outfitter with eight full-time guides to operate its guide service and award-winning fly fishing school. We are a privately owned operation in business since 1976.

We operate a full service fly fishing shop, known for its specialty flies and goods, that attracts folks from around the world. Customers visting our area  enjoy our incredible fishery and can take advantage of our guide services and lodging facilities. Our lodging has gained a reputation of impeccable cleanliness and secluded outdoor atmosphere here in Wellston, MI.

In addition, we also operate a fly fishing travel service for anglers looking for adventure travel opportunities.

History

Ray Schmidt started Schmidt’s in 1976. The company began as a multi-faceted operation. Ray guided fly anglers and sold fly fishing products around the mid-western and eastern United States. Angie tied flies commercially for many fly shops as well as the Schmidt’s guide operation.

In the mid 1980’s Ray sold the sales side of the business to pursue full time guiding and outfitting. Business grew quite rapidly as Ray developed many of the fly fishing steelhead standards that are used today. The guide service gained national acclaim when Ray was named one of the top ten guides in the U.S. by Fly Rod and Reel magazine in 1989.

In 1995 Schmidt’s opened a full service fly shop and lodge to house the growing customer list. In 2000 the fly shop expanded its floor space and an additional lodge was constructed to accommodate the growing business.

In 2006 we added a new conference / education center for the use by our students and those attending special events hosted at our facilities.

Ray Schmidt / Founder

Ray Schmidt has spent his entire life in Northern Michigan and comes from a family with a long fly fishing history.  As a young boy, Ray tied flies at the knee of his Uncle Clarence Roberts, a famous Grayling, Michigan fly tyer and conservation officer.  Following family tradition, Ray has pioneered many of today's techniques and fly patterns and is an active conservationist, serving on several restoration committees and spearheading projects to enhance river habitat in Michigan.

Since Ray founded the company in 1976, guiding fly anglers has been a big part of his life.  Today, Ray leads many groups to far off fishing destinations such as Belize, Argentina, Chile, British Columbia, Alaska and the American West.   In the off season, he tours the country giving presentations and slide shows at various clubs and fly fishing shows.

Ray is an expert on casting and when The Federation of Fly Fishers started their Certified Casting Instructor program, Ray was selected to the advisory board.

Amy MacEachern / Shop Staff

Amy is a full time staff member of Schmidt Outfitters, and has worked here for 8 years.   Amy works full-time on our online store and web site, as well as our bi-weekly Forecast Newsletter. She spends a great deal of her time working in the fly shop, and is quite simply the busiest person here.

Fairly new to fly fishing, Amy enjoys presenting dry flies to brown trout. The guides also spend time helping her perfect her cast.

Amy lives in Wellston with her dog, Gertie. She has lived in northern Michigan her entire life, but spent a few months in Germany as an exchange student when she was in high school. In the winter of 2007 she spent a week in Belize enjoying the sun, the barrior reef, and margaritas. She's completed several years in college, including web-based educational subjects; her real love, however, are books. Amy's free time is spent hiking the Manistee River Trail and North Country Trail with her dog Gertie, and the rest of the time she spends with her nose stuck in a book.

Check out Amy's Web page.

Looking for our Guide Staff? They have their own page here > Michigan Fishing Guides