Nick Streit from the Taos Fly Shop recommended two guides for the Pecos River – Norman Maktima and Toner Mitchell. I just so happened to call Norman first and he was available, for which I was grateful. Toner has written many articles about the Pecos including one in Southwest Fly Fishing in the July/August 2009 issue. Next time.
Norman is Native American and has been fishing the Pecos since he was a toddler. He works out of the High Desert Angler Fly Shop in Santa Fe. Nick and Norman were on the first youth fly-fishing team and Norman walked away with first place in the competition. He is still competing and hopes to do well in the new Professional Fishing Association (PFA) Tour. An Environmental Studies/Biology Major, Norman knows about ichthyology, entomology, water hydrology, biology and of course casting and mending. He was a true inspiration.
