About Us

Mary Smiley – Owner and founder of Angler’s Passport

My first experience fishing was as a small child with a hand line on the Brandywine River where I grew up. It wasn’t until I moved to California to finish my undergraduate degree in 1978 that I picked up fly-fishing, which is my preference these days.

After graduating with my BA degree, I worked for 13 years in art museums first for The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco for 3 years and then at the Berkeley Museum, part of the University of California, Berkeley for 10 years. I worked in various capacities at the Berkeley Museum ending up in the photography department, which fed my other addiction, taking pictures and then becoming part of my profession.

I managed to feed my addiction to fly-fishing by trading my photography expertise for room and board at lodges and going on exotic trips worldwide. My first international fishing/photo trip was to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef with the legendary Les Eichorn, who was in desperate search of a world record black marlin on the fly. My job was to shoot 16 mm color movies of this for Les. We spent two weeks on board a 50’ boat off the coast of Cairns, Australia in September 1991 and although we got tons of great footage, no world records were broken.

My next adventure in June of 1991 took me to Russia’s Kola Peninsula to photograph a new lodge on the Umba River. This was in the very early years of Atlantic salmon exploration in Russia and prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union. An amazing trip to say the least. These Atlantic salmon were fresh in from the ocean, some so chrome bright they still had sea lice on them. I managed to shoot lots of great photos and also caught the biggest fish of the group, a beautiful thirty-three pound buck fresh from the ocean.

I no sooner returned from Russia, but had two days to repack for a month long trip to Alaska’s Alagnak River for more photos and fishing for Chinook, sockeye and chum salmon as well as grayling and rainbow trout, Arctic char and Dolly Varden. So, you get the picture now. I fished and photographed to my heart’s content.

In 1998, I finally settled in southwest Montana where I can now walk to the river to fish. Montana has been home for the last 10 years and the birthplace of Angler's Passport, with a heavy emphasis on New Zealand fishing, which is my specialty of all destinations. I’ve been to New Zealand at least 15 times and go every year at least once or twice. I also take groups down to Baja Mexico fly-fishing for dorado, sailfish and striped marlin and offer trips to some of the most spectacular destinations on earth.

My great passion for fly-fishing and traveling has given me the perfect pallet from which to work my magic. I enjoy helping others organize their trips almost as much as taking them. When I walk into my office each morning, I don’t feel like I’m going to work, but going to plan a holiday for someone, which they will never forget. It’s a small club of people who can honestly say they love what they do for a living and it makes them very happy. I am, for sure, one of them.

“Thank you, Mary, for arranging my best fishing trip yet!... our hosts in many places said that you were the best travel agent for New Zealand travelers, and especially fishermen, to work with. Unlike most of them, you have been to the places you recommend, and you have first-hand knowledge of where you are sending your clients. We feel very fortunate to have you working for us.”

Bill Terry

Philippe Dolivet – European office manager

Angler’s Passport is pleased to announce the opening of our European office in France to cater to European travelers. Heading our European office is Philippe Dolivet, the former editor of Plaisirs de la Pêche, the magazine of French fly-fishing.

Philippe has an extensive knowledge of fly fishing travel, techniques and tackle and as a journalist and photographer, has visited and fished numerous countries including New Zealand, Argentina, Canada, Scandinavia, the islands of the Bahamas, the USA and of course all over Europe.

Philippe has formerly worked in fly-fishing retail in California, so is well versed in the best equipment out there for the traveling angler. His knowledge will be invaluable to you when planning and putting together the proper equipment and tackle specifically needed for your trip.

As an experienced professional fishing guide, instructor and master caster, Philippe will be available to take groups to various and assorted destinations as a group leader such as the Bahamas where he has fished on numerous occasions and has a great understanding of flats fishing.

His local experience in France and the UK will give you the most up to date information while fine-tuning your itinerary and travel plans.

Britanny

Philippe resides with his family in Britanny, one of the six Celtic nations which occupies a large peninsula in the northwest coast of France.  Within this area there is a variety of fishing to be found in remote and untouched streams and rivers in the heart of wild Britanny for wild native brown trout from mid May to mid September. 

In the early spring months from mid April to mid May, one can fly fish for sea run Allis shad on the lower reaches of rivers which also have runs of Atlantic salmon and sea-run brown trout. Add to this some lake fishing for rainbow and brown trout, native Northern Pike from Mid May on, and great saltwater fishing in local estuaries, rocky shores and beaches for European sea bass from June to October and you have a good variety of species and territory in which to explore. 

Philippe will be your fly-fishing guide while in Britanny and speaks English. He can also provide all tackle needed so you don’t have to worry about lugging your rods around on your European vacation with you.

We have beautiful country B&B accommodations where you’ll stay within five charming locations with owners who all speak English. We also have hotels as another option.  This area has some excellent restaurants in which to dine and fascinating local people to meet. The scenery and landscapes are breathtaking both in the backcountry and along the coast.

For the more adventurous, we can provide some other activities such as mushroom hunting for gourmet edibles, mountain biking, beaches, tours of lighthouses, botanical gardens, sailing, visit some architectural marvels, art exhibitions take a cruise up the coast, the opportunities are endless and only limited by your imagination.

On your next trip to Europe, why not book a trip with Philippe and see some magnificent countryside and catch some dandy fish along the way?