Meet David Kern

Flyshot Outfitters owner David Kern rowing a raft on the Yellowstone River during a scenic early spring fly fishing trip with snow-capped mountains near Livingston, MT.

Owner & Licensed Montana Outfitter (#29575)

As the founder and head outfitter of Flyshot Outfitters, David Kern has built his career on over a decade of professional guiding and a lifetime of personal history on Southwest Montana’s blue-ribbon trout streams.

While his earliest fishing memories trace back to a family cabin in Wisconsin, David moved to Bozeman at a young age. He spent his formative years exploring the very same waters he guides today. With his parents living right on the banks of the lower Madison, the river was practically his backyard. Though he spent some time studying at Montana State University, he quickly realized his true calling wasn't in a classroom—it was on the water.

Knowing from a young age that his future belonged in the fishing industry, David officially started guiding in 2012, turning a lifelong passion into a full-time profession. Today, he brings an unmatched, localized expertise to the Madison, Yellowstone, and Gallatin rivers.

Building Flyshot Outfitters

When it came time to build his own operation, David wanted to create something deeply intentional. He founded Flyshot Outfitters with a simple goal: to build a guide service around the exact type of fishing he actually loves to do.

He deliberately stepped away from the high-pressure, ego-driven side of the outfitting industry to focus on what matters most. He built Flyshot to cater to coachable, relaxed anglers who want to learn, enjoy the landscape, and fish with intention.

Life Off the River

On the boat, teaching is one of David’s greatest joys. His calm, patient approach is the foundation of the Flyshot experience, whether he's helping a seasoned angler refine their streamer game or introducing a family to the sport for the very first time.

When he isn’t on the water, David lives a grounded, family-oriented life in Bozeman. During the Montana winters, you’ll typically find him stepping away from the business to ski, bike, and enjoy plenty of quality downtime outdoors with his wife, Heather, and their two children.

Flyshot Outfitters owner and outfitter David Kern with his wife, Heather Kern, in Bozeman, Montana—the team behind Flyshot's timeless and intentional river days.