This Arkansas fishing guide service is owned and operated by Matt Millner. Matt started Rising River Guides in August of 2017 when he and his fiancé (now wife) Eleanor left northwest Colorado to head back to the familiar rivers of the Ozarks that Matt cut his teeth on, and so Eleanor could follow her dreams of starting an organic vegetable farm. Rising River Guides eventually got too busy for just Matt to handle so he started focusing on outfitting and expanding the guide service. Today Rising River Guides runs hundreds of boats a year with the most professional, knowledgeable and passionate guides on the river. We can cater our trips to meet your needs no matter what they are. Whether you have a large group or are a solo fishermen, we can accommodate it. We enjoy teaching kids the joys of a life outside, watching people catch their first fish on a fly rod and helping hone the skills of seasoned anglers.
Most of our trips start off in the boat, whether that be a jet sled or a drift boat. We feel this puts the angler at a greater advantage for putting their flies in front of more fish thus improving the cast to hook up ratio. Occasionally during low water periods you can twist our arms to get out and do some wade fishing. Our primary focus is the trout waters of north Arkansas (The White River, Norfork River and Dry Run Creek) but we also offer trips on the Little Red River, Crooked Creek, Kings Rivers and North Fork of the White.
We provide a top tier experience for our guests. We fish premium gear and equipment out of top shelf boats. We feed our guests a quality homemade shore lunch with good ingredients. We take pride in our craft and pledge to offer you the best experience you can possibly have on and off the water.
Meet the crew below!
Matt was one of the lucky ones who was raised on the water. His family loved to spend their free time exploring the Ozarks. “A family that camps together stays together,” his dad, Joe, would say. Joe was passionate about fly fishing and had Matt proficient with a rod by the time he was in the third grade. After high school Matt headed west to southern Colorado to play in the big mountains and cold rivers. Eventually he landed in a more practical place to start a guiding career: Heber Springs, Arkansas. The Little Red River was like a magnet to him spending every possible minute learning its every rock, seam and pool. Matt went on to spend ten years learning the Little Red, The White, The Norfork and dozens of other creeks, streams, lakes and blue lines in the area. During that time Matt also spent several seasons guiding on the Illiamna Drainage of Bristol Bay. Later Matt would move to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to become partners in an outfitting operation guiding on the Yampa, Colorado, and Roaring Fork, as well as the Flat Tops wilderness. While in Colorado, Matt also was a guide instructor for a state certified guide school, teaching aspiring guides the ropes to becoming safe and professional fly fishing guides. Matt ultimately made his way back to his roots and launched his own guide service right here in Cotter. Matt has a diverse bag of tricks and over a decade and a half of experience as a full time guide. Matt fishes all R.L. Winston Fly Rods and he is honored to be one of 200-ish world wide pro staff members for them. Instagram: @millnermoves, @risingriverguides
Bryant grew up fishing the lakes and wetlands of south Louisiana for largemouth, red fish, and speckled trout. In 2010 Bryant moved to Colorado for the clean mountain air and to explore the expansive waterways of the wild west. After settling in the Rockies, he quickly realized that the fly rod was the weapon of choice. In 2012 he moved to Steamboat Springs and started fishing the Yampa and Elk River and began exploring the lakes and streams of the Flat Tops wilderness. When fellow Rising River Guide Jeremy brought up enrolling in guide school in 2017, Bryant jumped on board and never looked back. Bryant guided for 5 seasons in Colorado’s Yampa Valley and enjoyed fishing the Green River (a little further west) on his days off. He had found his passion.
Towards the end of the summer in 2021 Bryant and his two huskies packed up and moved to Norfork, AR to start his Arkansas fishing guide journey with Rising River Guides and to be closer to his family in south Louisiana. The allure of year-round trout fishing and floating were irresistible! Bryant is an avid fly tier and spends almost every evening at the vise. He is a very patient guide that is always willing to teach and sharpen the skills needed to cast the fly rod and catch fish proficiently. Join Bryant and Rising River Guides for your next fishing trip and a great day on the water!
Instagram:
Matt is a second generation Arkansas fishing guide, following in the steps of his father who guided on this White River watershed for 25 years. Matt moved to Colorado after high school to be a trout bum and hone in his skills, fishing the iconic western rivers such as the Animas. While the scenery out west is unbeatable the fishing does not compare to what the White and Norfork tailwaters have to offer, so he returned home to Arkansas to start a career as a fly fishing guide and raise his family. Matt is passionate and gives his undivided attention to every angler that steps foot in his boat, ensuring that their adventure is awesome as it can be. Matt has a dawn till dusk work ethic and isn’t afraid of launching early, ending late or doing whatever it takes to help you meet your fly fishing goals. Whether you are a first time angler or have years of experience, you’re guaranteed to have a great time.
Matt is a Thomas & Thomas pro staff guide, so be sure to enjoying fishing with one of their finely crafted fly rods while in his boat.
Instagram: @whiteriverflyanglers_
Taylor has been a licensed Arkansas fishing guide since 2011 and lives in Flippin, AR year round. He has a lot of experience on Ozark trout and smallmouth streams including the Little Red, White, Norfork, Buffalo and Spring Rivers in Arkansas and the Eleven Point and North Fork of the White in Missouri. Taylors fun energy and up beat personality make him an absolute blast to spend a day on the water with. Taylors true passion when it comes to fly fishing is fishing with streamers. If Taylor’s not guiding I can almost guarantee you will find him on the river with an 8 wt in his hand launching big bugs on the banks looking for one of the brown trout that have made the White River so famous. Taylor loves teaching folks about this more advanced style of fly fishing but also loves taking kids to dry run creek, drift fishing for numbers as well sneaking down one of our warm water creeks for Arkansas’ Native Sons the smallmouth. Taylors never met a stranger in his life and his passion for the sport oozes out of him. Get in his boat once and I bet you’ll be back for more good times soon.
Instagram: @Flippinflyguides
Captain Dave was one of the fortunate ones who grew up in a fishing family in Northern Minnesota. He has fished all over the world and guided in many corners of it as well. Dave began his guiding career in 2005. He spent many years polling the flats of Southwest Florida and the everglades in search of Snook, Tarpon and redfish. During the Summers he commuted west to Montana to guide on the Missouri River, the Clark Fork, The Madison and the flathead. He also spent a few years guiding in Chile. After seeing Trout habitats all over the world Dave decided that he loved chasing the Ozark trout the best. Dave is versatile with a drift boat, top water jet sled and ready for any water conditions on any river. Whether you after a relaxing drift boat float in low water or want the Jet boat experience, Dave has you covered. Come spend a day casting with Dave and hear some great stories about his adventures fishing and guiding fly fishing trips all over the world.
Instagram: @flyfishdave_
A product of the Ozark Mountains, Al was born and raised in Harrison, Arkansas. He grew up on the banks of Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River. In his teenage years he was passionate about sports and fishing spin tackle for smallmouth bass. After finding his first fly reel in an old house his parents bought, he bought a rod to pair it with and dove into fly fishing. Later Al attended the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and started a career in sales. He spent most weekends fishing or camping, and eventually worked his way into the guide world. He truly loves this area and showing off its beautiful fisheries. He is most certainly a streamer junkie, but is a kid in a candy store when the bugs start to hatch. Being an avid fly tier, expect to use plenty of Al tied flies when you fish with him!
Instagram: @alttennyson
Born and raised in Warrenton, Missouri, I grew up fishing the Ozark streams for trout and smallmouth, which sparked a lifelong passion for the sport. After spending four years guiding drift boat, raft, and wade fishing trips in Colorado, I’ve recently made the move to the legendary White River to chase the monster brown trout it’s famous for.
My guiding style focuses on creating a fun and relaxed experience while helping anglers of all skill levels improve their techniques. Whether you’re aiming for a trophy fish or just looking for a great day on the water, I’m here to make it happen. Let’s go fishing!
Instagram: @benstephens17
Rudy grew up in western Pennsylvania and fished at every opportunity from the limestone streams to Lake Erie Tributaries and every golf course pond in between. While completing his college degree at the United States Military Academy, he was an active member of the fly fishing club to escape the rigors of military academy life. Following his successful Active Duty Army career, he decided to follow his passion and start a new career as a fly fishing guide.
He has a passion for building relationships with clients and works tirelessly to ensure that you have the best opportunity to have success on the river. He is a patient teacher and will work with anglers of all ages and experience levels. Join Rudy for a great day on the water which promises to be full of great fishing and fellowship.
Instagram: @ozarkhillsanglers
I was born and raised right here in the Ozarks and grew up fishing the White River and nearby smallmouth streams. From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a fishing guide—it was never just about catching fish, but about being on the water every chance I could.
Learning to fly fish gave me something to love and push myself to improve at every single day. whether it be a technical dry fly cast or hucking meat at 2 AM there’s always something to improve on and learn.
These days, I guide full-time on the White and Norfork Rivers, and during the summer months, I head north to Alaska to guide at Riversong Lodge on Lake Creek. Whether we’re chasing trophy browns on the White or battling salmon in the Alaskan bush, my focus is always on creating a fun, memorable experience. My goal is to make sure you not only catch fish, but also walk away having learned something new each day on the water—and to help you grow as a well-rounded, more confident angler with every trip!
Instagram: @dismoreflyfishing
Michael Osborn has guided full-time since 2002, specializing in Arkansas’s renowned White River below Bull Shoals Dam and the Norfork Tailwater. Passionate about the outdoors, Michael has developed innovative techniques that consistently produce some of the river’s largest brown trout, earning him a reputation as one of Arkansas’s top spin fishing guides.
He enjoys working with anglers of all skill levels, particularly beginners experiencing the excitement of catching rainbow trout. Michael guides in all weather conditions, operating a comfortable and stable Supreme L61 boat.
Off the water, Michael enjoys gardening, deer hunting, and spending time with his wife, Deborah. Whether you’re seasoned or new to fishing, Michael Osborn provides memorable fishing adventures.
Born and raised in the heart of the Ozarks, my passion for this sport was ignited at a very young age. I’m extremely grateful to have a father that shared his love and knowledge of our local fisheries, while prioritizing the importance of conservation.
In the spring of 2021, I moved to Northern Colorado to chase my dream of becoming a fly fishing guide. I’ve spent 5 years now guiding in a drift boat on the Upper Colorado River and guiding wade trips in the vast expanses of Rocky Mountain National Park. I’ve also been fortunate enough to have worked with fellow guide and best friend, Ben Stephens, during nearly all of our tenure in the west. Some of the memories we have shared expand past Colorado, getting our lines wet in famous fisheries across Wyoming, Montana, Utah and Idaho.
The White and Norfork Rivers are now where I call home and I couldn’t ask for a better place to continue to share my knowledge and passion for fly fishing. After traveling and fishing all over the country, our rivers are truly unmatched. Whether you are a first time angler or a seasoned fly fisherman, I look forward to having you in my boat and sharing what our area has to offer!
Instagram: @bradyowen02
Growing up in Northwest Arkansas, the White River has been a weekend fishing destination for my family and I since 2002. My passion for the outdoors started at a young age and the fire was fed by my dad who has been a lifelong outdoorsman as well.
After spending some time in Tennessee, Arkansas eventually called me back home where I fell in love with guiding and the way of life in the Ozarks. I have been lucky enough to turn my passion into a career and chase these big brown trout with some of my best friends, Ben Stephens and Brady Owen. No matter your experience level or the time of year, there is always something for you to do on the White and I look forward to showing you!
Instagram: @troutbum_silvestri
I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and now live in Cotter, Arkansas. I began fly fishing at a young age in Colorado and Arkansas. The Red, White, and Norfolk Rivers are where I spent most of my time fishing with my dad.
Fishing is a passion of mine, and I knew early on I wanted to be in the outdoors. In 2023, I graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Enterprise Management. During a summer in college, I was able to guide in Alaska, and knew that this was exactly what I wanted to do!
I enjoy working with all skill levels, especially teaching beginners. Going to Dry Run Creek with kids brings back great memories. Most of all, I love sharing my passion for fly fishing with new and seasoned anglers alike, and you can count on me to put in a full day on the water and help you leave a better angler.
Instagram: @maidenflyfish
Rising River Guides also works with the best of the best independent Arkansas fishing guides. Fly and Spin. We book large multi boat trips, as well as single boat trips. No matter how big or small your group is we can give you a killer experience with one of the best Arkansas fishing guides in the state. Matt has worked alongside many guides for the last 15 + years and can pair you with who he thinks fits your needs.
