Wilderness Fly Fishing Guides.
Scott Xanthoulakis
HEAD GUIDE
Scotty X founded Wilderness Fly Fishing in 2016 because of his passion for fly fishing in wild places.
Learning to cast a fly at the age of 12, Scott learned his craft from some of Australia’s finest fly fishers, fly tiers, guides and writers. The rivers and streams of North-East Victoria and the Snowy Mountains, as well as the lakes of Victoria’s Goldfield regions played backdrop to what many called a “misspent youth”. We’re still not sure about that!
Like many, Scott’s passion turned to obsession, with him regularly venturing to exotic locations like New Zealand, Tasmania, Montana and many Pacific Islands, including exploratory trips to ‘off-the-grid’ islands.
Nowadays, Scott gains his greatest fulfilment from teaching others the finest details of fly fishing and seeing the enjoyment that it brings them. A trip with Wilderness Fly Fishing will not only make you a better fly fisher, it will remind you that fly fishing should always be fun.
Scott is certified in first aid, is a member of the PFIGA (Professional Guides Association) and is fully insured.
Chris Schrueder
FLY FISHING GUIDE
Like many fly fishers, Chris began his fishing as a six year old jetty rat under the watchful gaze of his grandfather. The bug bit hard and when Chris was older he would ride his bmx down to the local Radelaide beaches and would always nag his parents to go on holidays based on the fishing. (His wife still has to contend with that!)
Bait transitioned to lures, bmx’s became skateboards and when he moved to Melbourne in the early 90’s, fly fishing became an obsession and 4wd’s became the required mode of transport. Yes, Chris is old enough to have seen Brad Pitt cast on VHS and watched the original run of ‘A River Somewhere’ air on the ABC.
Chris’ first love on fly is trout and the search for bigger fish and more challenging fishing led to many trips to Tasmania and New Zealand over the last two decades. He has written articles for FlyLife Magazine, the FlyStream Blog as well as local newspapers. In 2022 he also won the FlyLife Magazine Top Shot Photography Competition.
Chris is one of the founders and a former president of the Calder Fly Fishing Association and is currently the club secretary. He loves the way that fly fishing combines technology, skill, fun, travel and the beauty of the great outdoors in a way that few other sports can match.
Chris is certified in first aid, is a member of the PFIGA (Professional Guides Association) and is fully insured.
Bo Nikolic
FLY FISHING GUIDE
Bo Nikolic is one of Australia's most experienced fly fishing guides and has long been considered the unsung hero of the industry.
Whilst Bo is one of Australia best drift boat guides and a celebrated casting instructor, it's his patience, reliability and humility that sets him apart from others. Bo prides himself on his versatility and his ability to customise the fishing experience to suit the needs of any client in any conditions. An avid and well-rounded outdoorsman, he has also provided outdoor education fly fishing for several of Melbourne elite private schools and designs custom trips into the Victorian and New Zealand back country for the more adventurous fishers.
Bo doesn’t just meet the standard, he set it! He has spent the last 30 years fishing and guiding throughout the world's most glamourous fly fishing destinations including north-east Victoria, Snowy Mountains, North America, New Zealand, Slovenia, Montenegro, Indonesia, Bosnia and New Zealand. Despite this, Bo's passion is providing positive fly fishing experiences for children with special needs, having made many lasting memories working with organisations such as CANTEEN and the Royal Childrens Hospital.
Always the entertainer, you're likely to have Bo singing for you, however a day with Bo you will make you a better caster. You'll read the water better. You'll understand fly fishing better. You will apply your skills better. But most important of all, you'll have a lot of fun!
Bo is certified in first aid, is a member of the PFIGA (Professional Guides Association) and is fully insured.
Daniel Ringer
FLY FISHING GUIDE
Daniel has been fishing since he was old enough to go out in the boat with his Dad. It all began chasing bread and butter species around western port bay which he still enjoys to this day. He started fly fishing at age 12 and quickly became obsessed with it. Starting competition fly fishing at 14 years old was a huge learning curve and he quickly gained experience in modern competition techniques. Now a little older he has enjoyed success at all levels of competition in Australia and regularly places well. In 2023 Daniel was a member of the Australian fly fishing team that fished Scotland.
Having lived in the Yarra Valley and surrounds he has explored many local haunts and spent countless time fishing around Eildon and knowledge of the area is second to none. Daniel loves to teach all forms of fly fishing including European Nymping which he is proficient in. A day on the water with Daniel is always a fun day on the water.
Daniel is certified in first aid, is a member of the PFIGA (Professional Guides Association) and is fully insured.
Kiel Jones
FLY FISHING GUIDE
Kiel grew up fishing Victoria’s central highland lakes. He caught his first trout on fly at age 11 and never turned back, becoming obsessed with turning over the rocks at Hepburn and Newlyn in search of any bug that could trick a fish. The drought hit, lakes emptied but the fly fishing addiction didn’t yield. With many trips and a holiday house in East Gippsland, he graduated from bugs to shrimp. Bream, estuary perch and bass occupied most of Kiel’s teenage years while waiting for the lakes and rivers.
These days, with lakes full and rivers flowing, Kiel’s fly fishing habit leads him all over Australia and the world – back at the highland lakes chasing midge feeding trout, spring time dun feeders on the shores of the local waters, the rivers of New Zealand’s back country, GT’s and bone fish on pacific islands, Victoria’s north east rivers and the Snowy Mountain streams of NSW.
Or there’s the ever elusive estuaries of south east Victoria. Since picking up a rod Kiel’s been chasing bream and other estuary targets in and along the shipwreck coast, frequenting the Hopkins, Aire, and Curdies rivers.
Kiel also guides at one of Australia’s premier trout fisheries, Millbrook Lakes and writes articles for FlyStream online magazine. Kiel is an enthusiastic guide who has a passion for teaching beginners and taking seasoned fly fishers to the next level. His drive for catching fish and having a good time is infectious.
Erhan Cinar
FLY FISHING GUIDE
Erhan is passionate fly fisher who cut his teeth in flyfishing when he was introduced to the banks of Lake Eucumbene by his father-in-law. Since then his passion for fly fishing has taken him to many trout destinations around Australia, New Zealand and beyond, where the passion has grown into a full blown obsession!
Nowadays you will find Erhan fishing around Victoria’s north east rivers and heavily competing in Australia’s competition fly fishing scene, where his knowledge for fly fishing has excelled. At the Australian Fly Fishing Championships in 2022, he placed third against some of Australia’s finest anglers. Erhan recently qualified for the Australian fly fishing team, competing on the Isle of Islay in Scotland in 2023. When Erhan isn’t on the water, you will find him on the fly tying vice whipping up some beautiful creations. There is a good chance he will tie one on while you are out on the water with him.
Erhan’s enthusiasm for teaching both beginners and seasoned fly fishers is outstanding. If you’re wanting to take your current fly fishing to the next level, Erhan has a plethora of skill sets to share with you. Your day on the water with Erhan will be filled with knowledge and laughs.
Erhan is certified in first aid, is a member of the PFIGA (Professional Guides Association) and is fully insured.
Meet the crew.
Get to know the guiding team at Wilderness Fly Fishing a little better.