Jack Mauer grew up in the “Windy City” of Chicago. He was hooked on fishing at an early age and spent a lot of time day-dreaming about the great outdoors and looking forward to the day when he would leave the city life behind.

Arriving in Missoula, Montana in the early ’70’s to go to school at the University of Montana, he came equipped with a 9 weight rod and a fly vise. After a day of streamer fishing on the Blackfoot, the trout bug bit hard. River trout were a formidable adversary and as strong-willed as any small-mouth or large-mouth bass he was used to catching in the Midwest. What he lacked in technique, he made up for in enthusiasm and persistence.

There were many stops along the way to becoming a Montana professional outfitter: graduate school, professional musician, US Forest Service, high school biology teacher and finally, fly fishing guide.
http://www.wapiti-waters.com/blog/jack-mauer/