Captain Tom Kuieck

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 on the Muskegon and Manistee Rivers. Tom joins his son Steve and full-time guides Dave DeVries, Don Graham, and Jay Allen.

“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.