With : Stephen Balogh

Stephen's passion for fly fishing runs deep, beginning with childhood memories of casting rods alongside his father and evolving into a full-time guiding career. Now, with his own lodge on Arkansas' White River, he's helping others experience the magic of the sport while continuing to grow both personally and professionally

Stephen, how did you first get into fly fishing, and what inspired you to make it such a big part of your life?

I remember my Dad buying a fly rod because all the Dads on our block would go to Colorado for a week when I was a kid. Thats the first time I touched a fly rod. But I’ve always been a fisherman, since I was 3 or 4 years old, Mickey Mouse poles to bait caster and surf rods! As far as moving to mostly fly, it wasn’t until college(WooPig!) when a few friends and I got deep into it. Thats also when I started guiding.

You made a big move from Colorado to Arkansas. What motivated that change, and how has the transition been for your guiding career?

This one is a funny story. Colorado was a great place to spend my 20s and grow as a man and as a guide. I met a lot of great guides and clients in my near-10 years in the Vail area. I left for many reasons, but the biggest one is because I wanted more. I could see a little bit into the future as far as Colorado guiding and it wasn’t something I wanted to get stuck in.

A couple of my best friends and I, Jesse and Chad, would go camping on a “secret” river, known for big fish, a couple times a year. We would just pack sleeping bags, wood, fly rods, whiskey… we stayed up late one night and talked about how we needed to do something bigger in the industry. Anyways, a couple years later The Xflats was born, and soon after, I started my Arkansas guide service which essentially segued into White River Trout Club. It’s been amazing and I’m super grateful for WRTC and everyone involved, and super proud of Jesse and Chad for where The Xflats has gone! Thats the short version

Can you tell us about your new lodge in Arkansas? What’s the vision behind it, and what makes it special for anglers coming to stay?

White River Trout Club was created in August of 2021. I moved back to Arkansas in 2019 and convinced one of my best friends, David Burgher, to come back with me. A few years later, we are owners in one of the best lodges on the White River.

We have over 6 acres with 900 plus feet of riverfront, just 8 miles below Bull Shoals Dam. Which is right in the middle of the “trophy section”which holds more, bigger browns in the system. The existing “resort” underwent a 2 year full renovation to make it what it is today and we are super proud of it. It has 24 units and can sleep up to 37 people.

We wanted to create a flyfishing-centric lodge on the White River because there was not one. It’s an upscale experience at the same price point as other lodging on the river, with a team of awesome local guides.

How does guiding in Arkansas compare to Colorado? What are some of the key differences in the waters and the fish you’re targeting now?

It’s totally different. There’s a great guide community out here and I am happy to be a part of it. Making the transition from Vail to Flippin was certainly different. The White River is known for its big fish so sometimes you feel the pressure of getting your client a trophy brown trout. It has taken a few years to realize that nothing is guaranteed. You can work super hard and you just simply may not get the opportunity to touch one. There are so many differences it’s hard to pick the big ones, but the River in itself is an anomaly. Western rivers show the obvious holding areas for fish where at certain flows, the entire white looks like one big seam. It’s really about time on the water, trial and error, and finding the patterns…. In short. The White can fluctuate 9 feet in a matter of hours, so knowing what water to fish, when to fish it, and how to plan your day can be the difference between success and a nice day of casting and scenery!

What’s one of your favorite parts of guiding, and what keeps you passionate about it?

I love the challenge each day presents; no day is the same. On the White, we can try to boat 100 rainbows, or hunt 1 big brown… and everything in between.

But mostly, each and every client I get to meet is different and it keeps me on my toes! There’s something special about spending the day on a boat with a stranger and doing something that’s fun. Teaching newbies or dialing in “experts” brings joy that I think most guides can identify with. And of course it’s always a great time when return clients are on the boat. Watching people grow as anglers trip after trip is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a fishing guide.

There’s also this community. I love being a part of such a niche profession where a lot of us know each other and can send clients each others way which can be on different sides of the country, or even world!

Growing as a guide has helped me grow as a person and I am thankful to be ~16 years into it and still excited every morning.

For anglers looking to fish the White River, what are your tips for catching trout there?

TRUST YOUR GUIDE! The White is a tough place; I often joke about guide-buddies coming out here and getting skunked! There’s a lot of local knowledge that is important to key in to in order to have a productive day. Watching the water, and moving to find good (rising)water is number one, most times of the year. On a very basic level, if you have run through the usual suspects(depth, weight, fly), it’s time to find some new water!

Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future, both personally and professionally? Any exciting goals or new projects you’re working on?

I studied hotel/restaurant management in college with my dream of owning a fishing lodge one day… so right now I plan on focusing and growing White River Trout Club as best I can. I’ve also been hosting trips to my best friend’s lodge in Mexico, The Xflats, so that is another fun thing to fill up my schedule even more! Between being on the water, running the lodge, organizing guides, and hosting trips, I also plan to travel with my wife and spend as much time with my Family as possible!