Capt. Bonner Armbruster

Bonner grew up on the banks of the San Marcos River, where he learned to swim, paddle, and fish at a very young age. By the age of 6, the older boys at the rope swing had bestowed upon him the coveted title of "River Rat", a moniker he still answers to, with pride, to this day.

A lifelong angler, Bonner learned to fish first with conventional tackle, and eventually found himself drawn to the challenges inherent to fishing exclusively on the fly. His engagement with fly fishing parallels his fascination with craft in general, encompassing the fluid mechanics of fly casting, the dark art of fly tying, and all the myriad knowledge required to understand a fishery from headwaters to its end.

Given the choice, Bonner will always elect for trips in beautiful, secluded settings with clean water and healthy fish over more convenient and potentially crowded locales. He prides himself on his knowledge of Central Texas river systems and is always looking for new water to share with friends and clients. This exploratory spirit has also led him into the sloughs and back lakes of the Central Texas coast, where his Black Duck Mantis jet-drive skiff allows access to the skinniest of skinny water and the redfish that frequent it.

Born into a line of educators, Bonner also enjoys the instructional aspects of guiding, and loves to see the results of clear, concise instruction in fly angling play out on the water, no matter the age of the angler.

When he's not guiding, you can find Bonner in his woodshop, where he produces award-winning fine furniture, or at his home outside of San Marcos spending time with his wife Samantha and daughter Dottie - one a fellow River Rat and the other one in training.