Meet Our Guides & Their Vessels

Outfitter/Guide Captain Chris Mischke owns and operates Big Sky Fishing Charters: home of Howes, A-Able & Mo Fisch Charters. Chris was born & raised in Montana as well as a Second-Generation Captain! His passion for fishing started far before he could even walk.

He runs the Weldcraft 220 Maverick and a Flathead Lake icon perfectly suited for large groups.  A Able Founder “Shorty” Goggins had the Thunder jet boat specifically built for fishing the big lake, and it is available from June through September out of Marina Cay in Bigfork, Montana.

Equipped with 6 cannon downriggers, room for up to 15, private head, dining tables, and re-engineered and repowered with twin 300HP outboards in 2021, and updated in 2023, it is now as quiet and powerful as it is comfortable and BIG! No other boat on Flathead even comes close! This is THE largest fishing charter boat in NW Montana and is ready to serve your large group needs.

Hey there everyone. This is Captain Ross. He started fishing Flathead Lake with his dad and grandpa over 30 years ago and fell in love so bad it hurt! Ross knew from a young age that he was born to fish and he’s got the boat in the water ready to go. Ross and his family live just down the road from the lake and spend most of their time on the water or in the woods. His passion for fishing burns with the intensity of 1000 suns and we hope he can get the chance to take you out for a wonderful time on the lake. “See you on the dock”

Captain Mike is a guide with Big Sky Fishing Charters. He is a Montana native and proud to call the Flathead Valley home. Mike started fishing with his dad as a small boy and never stopped. He’s been a mechanic in the valley for the past 25 years. When he is not working on cars, you can find him on the water with his family and helping others enjoy the Flathead Valley through fishing. We are excited to have Mike show you his skills and passion of fishing out on the water or the ice.

Captain Ivan is one of the great guides that work for the Big Sky Fishing team. He grew up fishing in Washington’s Columbia River. As a kid, he spent most of his days on the water catching whatever he could get on his line. In 1996 Ivan moved to Montana and has been learning the technique of catching all types of fish in this great state ever since. After hooking his first Northern Pike Ivan spent years targeting this awesome fighting fish full of teeth. Ivan realized his dream of becoming a guide in 2017 and has been hooking clients on the pike ever since.

Ivan’s Triton 2070SC will guide anglers up the Flathead River and its sloughs in search of giant Northern Pike.  Capable of fishing four anglers, but best with 2-3, with an Evinrude outboard on the stern and Minnkota Terrova electric trolling motor with I Pilot and spot lock on the bow, this boat is a serious Pike HUNTER! Equipped with Garmin electronics including Live Scope, and even
cannon downriggers when needed.

Please be advised that unlike our lake trips where all skill levels are welcome, our pike trips are more suited to anglers with casting skills. ALL pike over 7lbs are encouraged to be released.

In 2004, Captain Matt McComb, with his best friend Bob Orsua, started with a dream to guide on Flathead Lake with a goal to provide folks from all over the world the opportunity to enjoy the views and the variety of fish of the Flathead valley.  Two years later in 2005, they started MoFisch Charters.  20 years later Matt is still going strong as a guide with Big Sky Fishing Charters: home of Howes, A-Able & MoFisch Charters.

Captain Matt grew up on Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho – just downstream from Flathead Lake, therefore Matt has over 45 years’ experience fishing on big lakes.  With Captain Matt’s desire, experience, passion of fishing and top of the line equipment, he makes a valued asset on the lake or the ice.

Captain Dane was born and raised in the Flathead Valley and still calls it home. He graduated from Bigfork High School and Montana State University. When not fishing, Dane enjoys spending time doing other outdoor pursuits like hunting, skiing, snowmobiling. He has fished in many different areas around the world and has travelled to every continent except Antarctica which is next on the list. With Dane at the helm, you can be sure to have great conversations to go with his vast array of knowledge and skill putting you on the fish.

Captain Cameron is a Montana native. Growing up as a kid he would fish every free moment he could by walking or riding his bike to Flathead Lake, or any river, little creek or pond he could find. Cameron had an amazing grandpa, and family friend who also would take him out fishing, showing him what they knew. He has dedicated much of his time figuring out the local fisheries in every season. Understanding the fisheries in great depth and why fish perform during certain times of the year are very important attribute Cameron brings to the team. Fishing is truly his passion and he loves to put smiles on clients faces when they catch that fish of a lifetime. It would be our pleasure to have Cameron guide you and show you what he knows while enjoying your time on the water.

Captain Bryan started out fishing with his father as a child to teaching his grandchildren to fish, you could say Bryan was born to fish. From Flathead Lake to Alaska, Bryan has spent 29 years fishing and boating on a variety of lakes and oceans, offering a wide range of fishing styles and techniques.

Bryan was a guide for Howe’s Fishing, created Northwest Fishing Charters, and is continuing his fishing journey with the Big Sky Fishing Charters team. We are excited to offer you Bryans laid back vibe along with some fisheye eating contests that are a huge hit!

Captain Allen grew up open water and ice fishing with grandparents and friends in northern MN. In 2008 he moved to Kalispell to be closer to several generations of family in Libby, MT. In Montana, Allen continued fishing passionately as a hobby. In 2019 he started to share his experience with others as a guide. Allen enjoys interacting with people and their interest in fishing. Allen is an asset to our team and is enthusiastic to show you what the Flathead Valley has to offer, be it on the lake or the ice

As soon as the ice forms on Hebgen Lake Garrett fishes every day. The only thing he loves more than
catching fish, is having guests catch fish!  Loves to hear “wow that’s my personal best!

Garrett learned to fish with his Grand Father in Yellowstone.  He was a Boy Scout leader and a fishing
merit badge counselor for 35 years. He also sponsors the “Kids-N-Snow” ice fishing camp where they
take groups of 20-30 youth out for their first ice fishing experience.  This happens 4 times a year Dec. to
Madison Hotel & Gift ShopMarch annually, sponsored by Madison Adventures and Destination Yellowstone (the Chamber of commerce), where he currently serves as the Co-Chairman of the board.

When Garrett moved permanently to Montana from Utah, he sought out an opportunity to become a guide, specifically an Ice Fishing Guide. Currently Garrett, owner and operator of Madison Adventures, is the only professional ice fishing guide in West Yellowstone. He and his wife, Jan, own and operate The Historic, Madison Hotel, Motel and Gift Shop. Click the link above and see the services they provide
throughout the year.

www.madisonhotelmotel.com to book your charter

You can book an Ice Fishing charter with Garrett on Hebgan Lake by clicking the link above and selecting Madison Adventures on his home page. He is looking forward to giving you an enjoyable time with everything Hebgan Lake has to offer.

Born and raised in Sidney Montana, Eddie has been fishing since before he could talk. Following in his father‘s footsteps, he grew up to be an avid outdoorsman, while also passing on this passion to his children and grandchildren. Eddie and his family began his lifelong dream of moving to Fort peck, Montana in 2016 when they purchased the Lakeridge the perfect place where wonderful memories have been held by the family for many years and has continued to bring that experience to all who have visited. Eddie is the type of fishing guide that will give it all he has to ensure a memorable experience on and off the water from the laid-back coffee crew in the morning, where all the fishing stories are told to accommodating all your needs and comforts out on the water, he is truly the captain that wants you to catch fish and make all the best memories possible. Raising five children and multiple grandchildren with the same love for the outdoors Eddie has the patience and experience to captain all ages. With 40 years of experience fishing multiple lakes from Montana to North Dakota. He will make it a trip you won’t soon forget

Don grew up in NW Montana and spent most of his free time fishing the many streams and lakes in the area. His work at the time took him all over Montana where he had the opportunity to fulfill his passion with fishing many of the waters Montana has to offer.

The past 12 years, Don and his wife Becky, have spent the majority of their time exploring and fishing Fort Peck reservoir, which in their opinion, is an unrivaled destination for catching multi-species on both open water and through the ic.