Fishing For All
When you fish with Fishing For All, we want you to end the trip feeling like you’ve learned something new. Fishing- be it fly, spin, or ice- is something which can never be mastered, and that’s why we love it so much! And Minnesota has no shortage of places to fish or species to catch. We take pride in being able to teach people about so many different fishing techniques, guide on so many different waters, and target so many different species.
We aren’t the run of the mill “trophy chasers” Minnesota fishing guide service, we’re more like “fishing coaches.” Yes, we could catch big fish on our trips, but we don’t let our egos get in the way of having a fun time on the water. At the end of the day, we believe any fish is a good one when you have a deeper understanding of their ecosystem and how to catch them.
Our Minnesota fishing guides bring growth-mindsets, excitement, patience, and humor with them on the water. So, whether it’s your first time fishing, or you’ve been fishing for decades and want to try something new, we strive to make your time fishing with us an enriching experience.
To show how much we appreciate all of our clients, we will always talk about your goals for the trip and set realistic expectations, take you to the best fishing spots based on the current conditions, teach you everything we can to attain your goal, and always serve you freshly cooked-delicious food (no cold/soggy sandwiches!)
Let’s get you on the water to create your new favorite fishing story!
Meet Our Team
Evan Griggs- Owner & Head Guide
I’m so excited to be going on my 14th year of guiding and 20+ years of fly fishing! Growing up, I started fishing in Minneapolis and the MN/WI Driftless Area. When I was ten years old, I remember watching my dad fly fish on local stream and suddenly realized, “I’ve been watching him do this for years, and he’s never caught a fish!” At that point I was determined to catch a trout on a fly. I taught myself how to cast in the front yard, cut my teeth catching sunfish on the city lakes, and practiced reading water on the neighborhood creek. It took three years, but I finally caught my first trout on a dry fly! From that moment on, fly fishing quickly became my passion. When I was 13, I made up my mind that my passion was someday going to be my profession. Right after my high school graduation, I became a trout bum and went to guide in Montana. I eventually completed my bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Education at Black Hills State University. Other places I’ve guided are western North Carolina and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Eventually the northern rivers, lakes and woods of Minnesota called my wife and I home. Over the years I’ve also been an outdoor educator and a special education teacher. My favorite species to target with a fly rod are smallmouth bass and carp. I believe fishing and guiding should be fun, educational, and inclusive. There’s plenty of guides and retail shops out there, as well as programs for people to first try-out fishing. But there wasn’t a great way for people to keep learning more about it after taking the intro course or buying their 1st fishing rod. I started Fishing for All to fill a gap in our fishing community- to TEACH fishing, GROW a community of anglers, and ADVOCATE for our home waters. We are so excited to fish with you!
Hiroto Hayashi- Outreach Coordinator
I was born and raised in Colorado where I spent my time recreating in the Rocky Mountains. There, I learned to fish with my dad while our family camped and hiked among the pine woods. I hopped around pursuing college degrees in Colorado and South Dakota (photography, environmental studies, business) and experienced life while living out of a van. Eventually, I spent the time and graduated Fall 2021 from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD. There, I majored in English and minored in Outdoor Education and Professional Writing. I chose my mix of courses to help provide people an experience of the outdoors through in-person events or vicariously through writing and photography. My true love has always been fishing, and I want to help guide people to their “wow” moment that takes them from curious to full-on angler.
Rick Phetsavong- Fly Fishing Guide & Instructor
Ricky is one of our full-time fly fishing guides who specializes in fly fishing for smallmouth bass, carp, muskies, and trout- both in the Driftless and Great Lakes tributaries. He is well versed in many different fly fishing techniques, including: spey fishing, euro nymphing, and more. He is always trying to find new ways to improve his craft and meet his clients’ goals. He also cooks incredible food and is a great hype man! Outside of guiding he enjoys saltwater fly fishing, scratching turntables, and is an Olympic weight lifting coach.
Bob Bickford- Fly Fishing Guide & Instructor
I’ve been guiding the popular rivers in Minnesota and Wisconsin for Trout, Bass, and Muskies for 24 years and was among the first to offer drift boat float trips on the St.Croix back in 2000 via my company St. Croix Valley Adventures. I’m really excited to be in the band with Evan and the rest of the gang at “ Fishing for All “ as they bring youth, enthusiasm, and fun while providing both an educational and quality experience for “All” anglers.
Ashley White – Fly Fishing Guide & Instructor
Born and bred in the Midwest. I found a love for the outdoors early in my career while working as a guide and camp counselor for over night camps and city programs. Each year I select a new hobby to continue learning and growing in an experiential way. Seven years ago I decided to spice things up and take a fly-tying lesson and that was the night that set off a chain of events that would ruin my life. By ruin, I actually mean help me feel welcomed in my new home and find a passion to pursue for the rest of my life. I enjoy fishing all over the Midwest with dreams fishing international waters. I believe the river is one of the best places to build a relationship. I hope to inspire a new generation of diverse anglers to enter the sport and wish to remove barriers for anyone who has a desire to learn.
Aaron Grondin – Fly Fishing Guide & Instructor
Aaron Grondin has always been involved with fishing and customer service in one way or another. Prior to moving to the Minneapolis area, Aaron worked as the head guide at the Orvis-Endorsed Aniak River Lodge in Alaska, did a stint in Hawaii as a chef at a major hotel chain, and even worked on commercial fishing boats in high school. These days, Aaron is focused on making his customers’ on-the-water experience the best it can be. As he puts it, “I love to share my knowledge of fly fishing and time on the water with our customers, so their time on the water is the best possible.”
Nikki Fischer – Instructor & Guide in Training
Just a regular explorer fueled by fresh air and new challenges. Based in Minneapolis and already chasing river currents, I’m hooked on building memorable outdoor experiences for anyone curious—friends, family, strangers (soon-to-be friends)—and learning along the way.
I may be new to fly fishing, but I’m all in: soaking up tips from fellow anglers, practicing casts in parks, and celebrating those early “first fish” moments (even if they’re small!). I believe in supporting others on their journey—whether it’s sharing what I’ve learned, joining a fly fishing meetup, or swapping stories under open skies.
If you’re looking for someone who’s enthusiastic, always ready to help, and eager to grow alongside this welcoming fly‑fishing family, I’m your person.
Ben Neitge – Fly Fishing Guide & Instructor
Ben has been fishing on Minnesota lakes since he was four years old—if there was water nearby, he was out there with a rod in hand. Growing up, weekends at the cabin usually meant bass fishing from dawn to dusk. In college, he became the “fishing guy” at a summer camp in Wisconsin, leading day trips and a week-long fish camps each summer. That’s where he really sharpened his patience and teaching skills (and got very good at untangling Zebcos and tangled mono.)
After college, Ben split his time fishing between the BWCA and the Twin Cities lakes and rivers via canoe before finally giving fly fishing a try in 2016. A class at Bob Mitchell’s with Evan Griggs got him fully hooked, and he hasn’t looked back. These days, his favorite species to chase are native brook trout—whether in the Driftless or along the North Shore—but he’s also happy casting to bass, smallmouth, carp, pike, walleye, and panfish. (In his words: it’s hard to beat a bluegill on a 2-weight fly rod.)
At Fishing For All, Ben helps with classes, clinics, events, and guide trips—including ice fishing programs in the winter. His goal is simple: make sure people leave the day having learned something new and with a smile on their face. When not fishing, Ben works as the events coordinator at Forgotten Star Brewing Co. He is supported at home in St. Paul by his two cats Norman and Jax.
Adam Waldron – Fly Fishing Guide & Instructor
Adam Waldron is a Minneapolis-based fly fishing guide specializing in carp, smallmouth bass, and trout. A Marine Corps veteran, husband, and father, Adam brings patience, discipline, and a deep respect for the outdoors to every trip. He first picked up a fly rod in high school, but has spent the last seven years pursuing the sport with passion and precision.
Adam’s guiding philosophy centers on building a strong foundation in the basics while gradually introducing advanced techniques, making his trips both approachable for beginners and rewarding for seasoned anglers. While his favorite Minnesota targets are smallmouth bass and carp, his experience stretches far beyond local waters. He has chased trout through the Driftless, Rockies, and Appalachians, and pursued saltwater species like tarpon, snook, bonefish, striped bass, and corbina across the U.S. and abroad.
Whether you’re looking for your first carp on the fly or refining your skills for technical smallmouth fishing, Adam combines years of experience with a teacher’s mindset to help you connect with the fish—and the water—in a meaningful way.
Dan Belden – Fishing Instructor
Born and raised on the Fox River in Waterford, Wisconsin, I fell in love with fishing at an early age. My passion for nature is endless and I spent much of my childhood with a pair of binoculars around my neck and reading field guides cover to cover. Hunting and fishing all over Wisconsin with family and friends I became obsessed with exploring remote places and putting on miles by foot and by canoe. I moved to the Twin Cities in 2006 and grew to love bank fishing our big rivers for whatever’s biting and ice fishing lake trout in the Boundary Waters. I graduated from U of M with a bachelor’s in Fisheries & Wildlife, and have worked a wide variety of fun jobs including as a deckhand on a halibut charter boat in Homer, Alaska, kayak guide in Wabasha, MN, canoe builder, outdoor retailer, and archivist at the Bell Museum. I now do most of my fishing on White Bear Lake with my two young daughters, catching bluegills off the dock and through the ice. Working at Fishing 4 All has brought me incredible joy as an angling instructor with youth groups and those totally new to fishing and eager to learn more. I love the feeling that I may be introducing people to their own love of the outdoors!