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Confluence Fly Shop

Meet the Team!

Our Owner

Tye Krueger

For as long as he can remember, fly fishing and fly tying has been a huge part of his life. Tye has been lucky enough to fly fish all over the world: from Canada to Colombia, Mongolia to the Bahamas, even going as far away as Christmas Island and Fanning Islands, but has called Central Oregon “home” since 2010. Early on, he discovered a passion for teaching other people how to cast a fly rod and become better anglers. In 2013, Tye was able to open Confluence Fly Shop and share his passion with others. When not in the shop or exploring the fantastic water of Central Oregon, some of his other loves include illustrating, cooking, and upland game bird hunting.

Hometown: Bryan, Texas

Fun Fact: Has fished for taimen in Mongolia

Favorite Species: Anything with “trout” in the name

Instagram: @tyekrueger

Guides

Taylor goodhue

Taylor is an Oregon native, who started fly fishing at a very young age. He was taught on the famed Deschutes River, which he has now been guiding since 2020 for the shop!  Although he grew up a trout angler, Taylor developed a taste for saltwater and exotic fish species early on. He’s been fortunate enough to fish throughout Belize, Mexico, all over the US, Christmas Island, and Baja. He is always on the hunt for the next new hotspot!

Hometown: Tualatin, OR

Fun Fact: Wears flip flops 365 days a year

Favorite Species: Triggerfish

Instagram: @tgoodhueflyfishing

Dalton Romanowski

Growing up in San Francisco, CA, Dalton fished for stripers and perch up and down the coast with his grandfather. Faced with limited fishing opportunities, Dalton moved across the country to attend college at University of Southern Maine where he spent more time catching native brook trout in small streams than in class. After college, Dalton moved to Central Oregon to pursue guiding full-time. He attended the Western Rivers Guide school and decided that he wanted to split his time between Idaho and Oregon to fish and guide year-round. After spending a few seasons guiding in Eastern Idaho and Wyoming, Dalton is now back to guiding in Oregon full time. Regardless of skill-level, Dalton loves to share his passion and knowledge of fly fishing with anyone who gets in his boat. During the off season he spends most of his time either in the duck blind, swinging for steelhead, or tying flies. 

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Fun Fact: Once shot a limit of ducks in under 10 minutes

Favorite Species: Prosopium williamsoni (aka the Mountain Whitefish)

Instagram: @romoflyfishing

BRETT HULEN

Before relocating to the West Coast, Brett spent his days chasing stripers, smallmouth bass, and snakehead in the diverse waters of Central Maryland. Though he moved to Mammoth Lakes, CA, in 2011 to shred its hollowed powder, Brett ended up becoming a full-time fly fishing guide. Primarily fishing and guiding clients on the Owens, San Joaquin, East Walker, and Truckee Rivers, Brett became a master trout-fisher. Brett eventually moved to Central Oregon in 2022 and became the manager here at Confluence returning to his roots as a guide and custom fly-tyer.

Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD

Fun Fact: Before becoming a fly fishing guide, Brett was a competitive snowboarder

Favorite Species: Brown trout

Instagram: @_flycurious_

Matthew Moran

Matthew grew up in San Diego fishing the ocean for local and pelagic species. He very quickly fell in love with casting long rods with surface “iron” jigs. For Matthew, casting long distances is what gave him the greatest satisfaction. He started fly fishing in high school but the long drives to the Sierras prevented him from any real progress with his casting technique. In 2016, after an incredible year fishing for giant Bluefin and Yellowfin tuna something changes, “I had a big bluefin come to gaff and as it was being hoisted over the rail it looked at me…”. From then on, catch and release became exponentially more important to him, and what better way to have a lower impact on a fishery than to fly fish (with barbless flies). That same year he purchased a minivan, outfitted it for camping, and started to take trips all over California and Oregon. On these trips, Matthew crafted a consistent and advanced casting technique. After a 20 year career as a photographer/videographer, he decided it was time to pursue a professional career as a fly fishing guide. Matthew packed up his things and moved to Bend. Since then, he has been able to get back to his roots; fishing long rods and utilizing spey techniques to chase big redband rainbows and Steelhead.

Hometown: San Diego

Fun Fact: Unknown…

Favorite Species: Yellowfin Tuna

Instagram: @wherethefstops

Brendan Cushen

Brendan was born and raised in the high mountains of the Eastern Sierras fly fishing, skiing, rock climbing, and spending most of his time outdoors. He has pursued fish with a fly rod his whole life, giving him a great understanding of the sport, as well as the intuition that comes with decades of refining his craft. After moving to Eugene to attend college, Brendan fell in love with Oregon’s bountiful rivers and lakes, eventually prompting him to move to Central Oregon to guide those same waters. He loves guiding and fishing anything from stillwaters to spring creeks, to big rivers and anything in between. He enjoys sharing his passion for the sport with novice anglers just as much as getting more experienced people on the trophy fish they dream of.

Hometown: Mammoth Lakes, CA

Fun Fact: (Un)official “Fishiest Man in the Shop” 

Favorite Species: Wild Steelhead

Instagram: @bwalkercush

LAFE PETERSEN

A true outdoorsman, Lafe’s pursuits have ranged from chasing trophy lake trout in the Northern Territories of Canada, to hunting alligators in the bayou of Louisiana. Before becoming the manager here at Confluence, Lafe spent 13 years as a Backcountry Ranger in the Wallowa-Whitman Nat’l Forest. In his free time, you can find Lafe exploring wild spaces with his wife and son.

Hometown: Bothell, WA

Fun Fact: Completed the Pacific Crest Trail in 157 days

Favorite Species: Redfish

Instagram: @blackdiamondjunkie

CAIMAN JENSEN

Joining the shop at the ripe age of 14(!), Caiman is the youngest member of the Confluence team. A fourth-generation “Bendite”, Caiman has been fishing Central Oregon for as long as he can remember. Despite his relative youth, Caiman has fished all around over the world–from Alaska to Belize–and has caught over 30 species of fish along the way!

Hometown: Bend, OR

Fun Fact: Youngest angler to complete the Saltwater Grand Slam at Turneffe Flats Lodge

Favorite Species: Steelhead

Instagram: @fishing_cjensen

Nikolai Sposato

Originally from Southern Oregon, Niko spent most of his youth in Eugene, where his love of basketball and fly fishing developed. After attending college at the University of Oregon, Niko spent time in Lake Tahoe, Hood River, Portland, and Montana–the latter of which being the place he got his start in the fly fishing industry. Since moving to Bend about 7 years ago, Niko has been a fixture of our camp trips on the Lower Deschutes–both as a guide and camp chef. Outside of guiding, Niko spends his winters remotely logging basketball games for a scouting service.

Hometown: Eugene, OR

Fun Fact: Works as a basketball scout in the offseason

Favorite Species: Redsides (Rainbow trout)

Instagram: @doggiedoggerson

LUKE COONEY

Luke has spent his life chasing fish across the PNW and beyond. A true multi-species angler, Luke specializes in trout on the fly, as well as striped bass and other saltwater species. When he’s not guiding, he’s likely chasing birdies on the golf course or exploring the many fisheries that Oregon has to offer.

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Fun Fact: Current fly shop fantasy football league champion

Favorite Species: Striped Bass

Instagram: @luk3.cooney

Shop staff

KADEN LEEPER

A native-Oregonian himself, Kaden was first taught to fish by his grandfather, and starting fly fishing around the age of 10. After graduating the University of Oregon with degrees in Global Studies and German, Kaden moved to Bend to pursue a career in the fly fishing industry. Aside from fishing, he enjoys ceramics, videography/photography, and posts fly fishing-related videos under the name “kcflytie” on YouTube!

Hometown: Portland, OR

Fun Fact: Has never eaten McDonald’s in his life

Favorite Species: Bull trout

Instagram: @kcflytie

 

Vinny detweiler

Born and raised in Bend, Vinny Detweiler grew up with the Deschutes River in his backyard. From nymphing for red sides to steamer fishing for browns, Vinny grew up on the river and knows the river like an old friend. He is always happy to point people toward the right fly or stretch of water.

His deep local knowledge, easygoing attitude, and genuine love for the sport makes him easy and fun to talk to. If you’re looking for the inside scoop on the Deschutes or just want to talk, Vinny’s your guy.

Hometown: Bend, OR

Fun Fact:  Won a fly tying competition at the age of 13

Favorite Species: Brown and Redband trout

ALEX SERKEY

Alex’s passion for fly fishing has taken him across the globe, most memorably to the remote rivers and coastlines of New Zealand, where he spent seasons chasing trout in crystal-clear streams and wrangling kingfish on saltwater flats.

Between fishing seasons, Alex has lived life on the road—literally. He’s worked as a seasonal roadie for touring musicians, hauling gear, preparing food, and soaking up stories from every corner of the country. That mix of grit, adaptability, and appreciation for the outdoors makes him an invaluable part of our team.

Whether you’re new to fly fishing or planning your next trip abroad, Alex is always ready with a recommendation, a rig, or a story to get you inspired!

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Fun Fact: Cannot grow hair below his knees

Favorite Species: Yellowtail Kingfish

Instagram: @deepflydfish

Harry blackburn