Rex Gudgel

Captain Rex Gudgel—a Boca Grande fly fishing guide and IFFF-certified master casting instructor.

Rex Gudgel's childhood backyard was the Sierra Mountains, just a short drive from Yosemite. The rivers and streams flowing from those majestic peaks became his playground. His lifelong obsession with fishing began at age four, when he landed his very first fish: a 10-inch golden trout caught on a bamboo fly rod.

Captain Rex Gudgel became proficient with a Zebco, bait casters, and spinning rods; however, Rex favored the fly rod. Honing his skills, Rex learned to catch the variety of trout species that thrive in the Sierra Mountains. All eleven of California’s recognized species of trout became Rex’s targets.

Rex became friends with Flip Pallot and Lefty Kreh while the trio performed fly-casting demonstrations at fishing expos, where Flip and Lefty were featured celebrity guests. Lefty mentored Rex, helping him become a better instructor and caster. Flip then offered Rex an opportunity to help build Hell's Bay Flats boats during their early days, which prompted Rex's move to Florida.

Flip and his wife, Diane, gave Rex a place to stay during that time. It is a good thing he worked at Hell’s Bay Boatworks because, as Rex puts it, “The only thing that I really knew about boats before this (working at Hell’s Bay) was you are supposed to stay on top of them!” Rex was a market rep for Temple Fork Outfitters. Rick Pope, owner of TFO, has put him on the advisory staff along with Lefty and Flip.

Captain Rex currently lives in southwest Florida near Boca Grande, where he is guiding full-time. He thoroughly enjoys sharing the sport along with his knowledge of it! You will never feel uncomfortable while out on a guided trip or standing on land getting a casting lesson.

His easy-going, wise-cracking manner will put you at ease, and at the end of the day, you will realize that you are a better fisher person than when you stepped on the boat or arrived for your lesson! When you are ready to go fly-fishing or learn how to fly-cast, use one of the best charter fishing guides in the Sarasota-Boca Grande area, Captain Rex Gudgel.