Hayward, Wisconsin River Guides
Acme River Rides was conceived slowly and methodically throughout a roughly 25 year process that began in 1997. Larry Mann and Wendy Williamson, Acme River Rides’ owners began exploring the moving water resources of Northern Wisconsin after years of guiding fly fishermen in Colorado. The June, 1997 death of Wendy’s dad became the catalyst for Wendy’s return to her roots and to her home in Hayward. She is a 4th generation native of Hayward. For Larry, moving to Hayward proved to be an introduction to the luxurious bounty of seemingly endless public natural resources.
Within one and a half hours of Hayward, Wisconsin, there are more than 1,500 lakes encompassing more than 200,000 acres of water, more than 1,600 miles of trout streams and more than 500 miles of floatable warm water fishing rivers. For Larry and Wendy, guiding fly fishermen was the clear and obvious extension of their Colorado life—different water, different fish, but still fly fishing. Guiding and teaching fly fishermen evolved into the creation of Hayward Fly Fishing Company in 2004. Ensuing years found Larry and Wendy introducing Northern Wisconsin to fly fishermen from all parts of the country.
