Meet the Team
Joe Chambers, Guide/Owner
Originally from Colorado, Joe came to Tower Rock in 2009 and hasn’t looked back since. Before coming to Alaska, Joe began his fishy career spending summers deck handing on an offshore charter boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Joe began his TRL tenure while in college in 2009 as a guide trainee hire. Since then, Joe has spent his years guiding full-time and is responsible for all the day-to-day trip scheduling and logistics coordinating during the season. If you have a species you really would like to target or a guide you particularly like fishing with, Joe is the “boots on the ground” guy that can make it happen. Hope to upgrade to an additional flyout or try fishing just for the halibut? Let Joe know and he can likely work his magic to make it happen. Given his tenure at Tower Rock and his degrees in biology and fisheries, he is also an excellent resource for answering questions on anything from how long a sockeye spends in the ocean to the best place to catch a grayling. Ask Joe about one his favorite techniques like “bouncing the hole” or one of his fish psychology theories known as “the flashback.” Somewhat of a drifter at heart, Joe typically spends his off-seasons in warmer latitudes checking different fish species off his bucket list.“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” ~Mike Tyson
Mike Griffin, Reservations & Global Communications Director
Griff moved to Alaska with his family in the infamous summer of ’69 and has made the Far North his home ever since. Along with guiding, Griff enjoyed 20 years as a local youth hockey and baseball coach. Griff enjoys playing golf and hunting and fishing with his two sons. When he has a rod in hand, he’s usually on the Kenai River, reminding himself and other anglers to keep a positive attitude.
Griff has been working for Tower Rock Lodge for two decades! He started out as a guide on the river and has since transitioned into the office as the entire Marketing and Sales Department. You’ll likely hear from him when you book your trip with us; he’s the friendly voice on the other end of the line, making sure you’re getting the experience you want. Q: Hey Griff, why have you stuck it out with us at TRL for so long? A: “It’s fun.”
“The ox is slow, yet the earth patient.” ~Zura, High Road to China
Brant Koetting, Senior Guide, Lodge Mechanic, Chief of Karaoke Operations and Development
Brant, commonly referred to at the lodge as “X”, comes from sunny California . . . Missouri, that is! After his university years, X left his one-horse town in Missouri and went searching for adventure. After a few stops along the west coast and Hawaii, he finally discovered Alaska. X has fished all over the great state of Alaska and this year marks his 10th season of guiding anglers at TRL. X guides most of our fly out trips at TRL, as well as trout and salmon trips along the Kenai River. X is also the authority on anything mechanical for the boats and vehicles. Oh, one other thing, he is heck of a karaoke singer!
He says one of the most important things of guiding is “when netting a big fish for a client, don’t mess it up!” X spends the Alaskan off-season traveling the world searching for exotic species of fish to catch. He enjoys singing 80’s rock, fly casting, and wrenching on our boats to make them go faster and shallower.
“If I fished only to capture fish, my fishing trips would’ve ended long ago.” ~Zane Grey
Retired Guide, Mentor, Master of Smoking Salmon
Bubba arrived in Kenai via Hawaii and Colorado. A twenty year stint in Telluride kept him busy matching the hatch on those blue ribbon rivers where he learned the art of the dry fly. Both Tuhys have fished with Bubba extensively and the dude never ceases to amaze them. A hard core trout fisherman without the ego is not only a pleasure to fish with but a veritable encyclopedia of fish information. Bubba guides river fishing plus fly out trips, consistently out-fishing the other groups. He truly walks the walk. He is a journeyman flyfisherman who is always ready to teach new tricks about the sport he loves.
William McComas, Guide
Will or “Willie” as he is often called around the lodge, comes from Bellingham, Washington where salmon and fishing are a way of life. During the offseason months, when not on a crab boat, Will can be found either fishing his local rivers or working in the local fly shop.
Often referred amongst the Kenai locals as “the best looking guide at Tower Rock Lodge,” Will has been working in Alaska since 2016. After a brief stint on the Nushagak River in Bristol Bay and in Chignik on the Alaska Peninsula, Will has settled in here on the Kenai. He is perhaps most well known amongst Tower Rock guests for his expert guiding when fishing sockeye in some of the lesser known rivers on the peninsula. Tower Rock is excited to have an up and coming guide like Will on the team for yet another season on the river.
“Looking good is half the battle won”
Cameron Stornello, Guide
Growing up in Colorado and Missouri, Cameron (aka Mr G) is a well versed fisherman and excellent guide. Like many of us, he started in our guide trainee program and quickly excelled into rock solid fish catching-machine. His formal education in marine science, laid back attitude and hard work ethic make him an excellent guide for TRL. Cameron specializes in flyouts, and guiding the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers. Cameron spends his winter months along the Gulf Coast pursuing fish, fun and working in the marine industry.
Oliver Stevenson, Guide
Growing up salmon fishing out of Hood River, Oregon, Ollie is no stranger to finding a way to put salmon in the boat. His fishing style is known to be ‘tactical’ with failure not being an option. Don’t be fooled by how this contrasts his laid back, ‘chill’ demeanor of making sure everyone has a good time on the river. Ollie spends his offseason rowing when the river flows, and cutting turns when it snows.