Lance and Kirsten Gray

Lance and Kirsten have more than 50 years combined experience in fly fishing. Lance started fly fishing with his father and brother Lincoln at age 7. In his teens, he began tying flies commercially for shops all around Northern California. At 17, he went to work at Powell's in Chico, working in the fly shop and building rods. He guided for Powell’s, conducted fly-tying and fly-fishing schools, and traveled. In 1993, Lance and Kirsten started Saltwater Innovations, a company that manufactured and distributed products for saltwater fly fishing. Lance’s Crystal Popper, Gray’s Billfish Fly, the KO Charlie line and the Raghead Crabs are all Saltwater Innovations products. Kirsten worked behind the scenes, handling the day-to-day operation running the manufacturing floor of the company. In 2003 they launched Lance Gray & Company, a full-service outfitter offering guided trips, fly-fishing schools, workshops and a travel agency. Lance conducts presentations at fly clubs and outdoor shows and supports local groups like Cub Scouts and 4H. He's a signature tyer for Solitude Fly Company and recently entered the world of writing, with articles published in Angling Trade Magazine, California Fly Fisher, Sierra Fisherman and Northwest Fly Fishing. Kirsten is a fantastic photographer who's had images published in periodicals and on websites.

Pro Staff Member

Lincoln Gray

Lincoln is not only Lance's brother, but a heck of a great guide and instructor. Lincoln owns Stillwater Fly Fishing Adventures and runs a stillwater school on Lake Almanor. He's a well-known fly tyer with several of his patterns featured in California Fly Fisher and Fly Tyer Magazine. Lincoln has worked as a fly-fishing manufacturer's representative, most notably for Thomas & Thomas and Saltwater Innovations. He's currently the manager for Sierra Stream & Mountain, a company that includes Sierra Stream Fly Shop, Tie-Fast Tools and Jay Fair Eagle Fly Fishing Company. He has more than 30 years experience in the fly-fishing industry and is a pro-staff member for Ross Reels, Temple Fork Outfitters fly rods, Cortland Line Company, Jay Fair Eagle Fly Fishing and Peak Fly Fishing.

Pro Staff Member

Toby Uppinghouse

Toby is not just a guide, but also a full-time fly-fishing manufacturer's representative. He chased steelhead and salmon while growing up on the north coast of California. His passion for the sport started early and he's developed a good reputation in guiding. He started working at Powell’s, as Lance did, and ended up owning his own fly shop in Vacaville in the 1990s. He currently represents Temple Fork Outfitters fly rods, Korkers, Bauer Fly Reels, Pacific Fly and William Joseph. He's hosted many trips to Montana, Idaho and Baja California. He also enjoys sharing his knowledge of many local waters, including the American, Yuba, Feather, Sacramento and Trinity rivers. Fly fishing is not only a passion for him, but also a lifestyle.

Pro Staff Member

Sam Yee

Sam is well-known in the Sacramento area as a great casting instructor and we are glad to have him on our team. Sam is a very knowledgeable caster and fly-fisher. He holds a degree in fisheries management and has worked in the fishing industry in other states, and also with the Depart-ment of Fish and Game here in California. For the last 23 years or so, he sales real estate in the Sacramento Area. Sam has taught or teaches fly-fishing classes for the Cosumnes Community Service District, California Fly Fishers Unlimited and for the Fly Fishers of Davis. He is a certified Federation of Fly Fishers casting instructor for the last 4 years. Sam is not a full-time guide, but is a great instructor who we utilize in our school programs. Sam's favorite saying is, “You can always buy flies, but you can’t buy a cast. You need to learn to cast." That's a great quote from a very humble instructor.

Grant Fraser

Grant picked up a fly rod when he was 8, and since then has been fly fishing for decades in California waters. He has been guiding for over 20 years in the Northern California Area for trout, salmon, steelhead, stripers, bass and shad. Grant is the former owner of Sierra fly Fishers store in Auburn, Ca. He is just not a guide, but a great instructor with the passion to teach. He continues to guide on premium waters and is known for his professionalism, teaching and his ability to help others become better fly fishers. Grant specializes in the Yuba, Feather and American River drainages. Grant also hosts several trips per year with guest to exciting destination waters in both US and foreign waters. Places such as Unalakleet and Bristol Bay in Alaska, Belize, Christmas Island, the Deschutes River in Oregon and West Yellowstone are past destinations. Grant is a constant professional, educator, guide and he is one of the nicest guys you always want to fish with.

Greg Vinci

Greg Vinci literally had dirt between his toes from the time he could walk.  He was always clamoring to get outdoors, and when his mother wasn’t looking, he was wandering off to discover the nature to be found in the nooks and crannies of his Los Angeles back yard.  As he grew older gained a fascination for the waters that descended from California’s mountains and the elusive trout that made it their home.  Upon being exposed to the fabulous Steelhead fishing available in the American River that runs through his adopted home of Sacramento California, he became a passionate “metal header”.   From late August of each year until the beginning of duck season in November, he spent as much time as possible chasing those chrome rockets up and down the river.  Today he travels throughout California searching for trout wherever they can be found.  

 After twenty years as owner of Sierra Pacific Products, where he designed many popular fly tackle product lines, Greg now writes articles and contributes photography to several fly fishing and outdoor magazines.  He feels blessed that he is able to partake in three of the things he loves the most, fly-fishing, photography and writing and get paid for them too.  He also works as a marketing consultant/product developer and is a Signature Fly Tier for Umpqua Feather Merchants.  His most recent project has been to develop the web site www.california-flyfishing.com, which is a portal to all of the most popular fly-fishing waters in the state of California. 

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