Meet The Staff at Drift Outfitters

Meet The Staff of Drift Outfitters

A Shop By Anglers For Anglers

Meet the team behind Drift Outfitters, dedicated anglers who live the lifestyle we support. Our passion for fly fishing guides everything we do, from the gear we stock to the advice we share on and off the water. We're passionate anglers first, shop staff second, making us the best source for honest and knowledgable advice.

Rob Cesta

Shop Owner/Operator

Rob was that kid who spent every dollar he saved on fishing tackle, took every chance he had to fish, and got yelled at for staying out on the lake too late catching those late evening fish. Fly fishing started for Rob in his teens at his family’s humble cottage in Muskoka cutting his teeth on the fly with smallmouth bass, that quickly developed into other species. Through various career paths and changes, he always dreamt of following his childhood dream - spending every day on the water.

Making that childhood dream come true, Rob jumped in his truck and went west to Montana where he attended guide school on the Clark Fork River. When back in Toronto he picked-up a job at a local shop, worked in retail sales, but also guided when he had the chance. Leaving the shop, Rob started his own Toronto based guiding service before his next change of path.

In March of 2014 it was full steam ahead, founding and building Drift Outfitters & Fly Shop from the ground up. It’s been a wild ride through the past decade, but we have emerged as one of the top shops in all of Canada and the premier fly shop in all of Ontario.

Rob’s interests in angling may have started in the province, but have taken him to incredible destination fisheries in Mexico, Cuba, The Bahamas, Ireland, Iceland, the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, the Dean River in British Columbia. and many places in between.

You’ll find Rob behind a desk these days for the most part, but if you do see him on the shop floor, please don’t hesitate to say hello!

Chris Krysciak

Shop Manager/Head Instructor

As Drift Outfitters' Head Instructor, Chris Krysciak brings almost 20 years of fly fishing and 15 years of float fishing experience to every lesson. Chris has been a competitive fly angler for over 10 years and has had the opportunity to fish for Fly Fishing Team Canada at two world championships, providing him the chance to learn from some of the best anglers in the world, skills that he loves to share with new and experienced anglers alike! Chris also has a deep passion for fly tying , having been a commercial fly tyer for many years, as well as having been featured at the International Fly Tying Symposium and in numerous magazines.

Chris will take any opportunity available to get on the water, wherever that presents. There aren't many corners of Ontario he hasn't fished, and has also had the chance to fish across Canada, The Carribean, and Europe. From trout, to Atlantic salmon, to carp, to musky, to bonefish, to tarpon, if it's a fish, you can find him chasing it!

Joven Mingala

Purchasing Manager

Joven has been fly fishing and centerpinning for over five years, and it’s become one of his biggest passions. His favourite species to target on the fly are largemouth and smallmouth bass, he loves the aggressive takes and the challenge these fish present.

Fly tying is another major passion for Joven. He believes one of the most rewarding parts of fly fishing is catching a fish on a fly he’s tied himself. Whether he’s tweaking an existing pattern or creating something entirely new, he enjoys watching his ideas come to life on the water and seeing them pay off.

For Joven, fly fishing is a way to challenge himself, stay creative, and spend meaningful time in nature. Whether he’s at the vise, wading a river, or casting from shore, he’s always learning, exploring, and looking forward to the next opportunity to be on the water.

Eric Cho

Sales Associate

Eric has been fly fishing , fly tying, and centerpinning for over thirty years. His love for Great Lakes steelheading began with conventional gear, but over time he challenged himself to learn centerpinning on his own. That desire to approach the same fish with different techniques eventually sparked his interest in fly fishing.

At first, fly fishing felt a bit foreign. Back in those early days, he was a regular at a small fly shop in downtown Toronto, asking plenty of questions and rarely able to afford much. Still, the shop welcomed him in and even let him test cast a rod out back. That simple gesture turned into one of the most memorable experiences of his life. That summer, with his first fly rod in hand, he taught himself to fish for panfish and bass on the Rideau Riverand he was hooked.

Eric’s passion for fly fishing hit a new level when his career took him out west to Alberta. Work brought him to remote, beautiful places, and along the way he built lasting friendships through fly fishing. From chasing bull trout in the mountains to northern pike in the far north and steelhead in the GTA, Eric is always eager to explore new fisheries and keep learning on the water.

Theo Ovejas

Sales Associate

Fishing found Theo early at just five years old, drifting Ontario rivers with his dad and a centerpin reel. That first sense of peace and purpose never left him. As a kid, he also discovered fly tying, drawn to its artistry and the challenge of mimicking life on the water.

Over time, fly fishing became more than just a hobby. Theo fell for the rhythm, the solitude, and the constant learning it offers. He’ll fish for anything from steelhead, carp, trout, & bass, because each species brings new lessons. What he learns from one often deepens his understanding of another, keeping him curious and always evolving.

These days, he’s still swinging flies for steelhead, drawn to its slow, soulful pace. But carp have carved out a special place in his heart. They challenge him in the same way steelhead once did, technical, raw, and deeply rewarding. Chasing them on the fly, especially in overlooked urban waters, has become its own kind of obsession.

Time on the water has shaped how Theo chooses to live: present, patient, and tuned into nature. He works to pass that mindset on,whether through mentorship, shared time on the river, or simple conversations that reflect what fishing can teach beyond the cast.

Rob Bamlett

Sales Associate

Rob Bamlett is a greasy mechanic by day and a fly fishing maniac the rest of the time. Ever since he picked up a fly rod as a kid, he’s been hooked, not just on fishing, but on fly tying too. Those early flies weren’t exactly traditional patterns, more like random materials lashed to a hook, but they sparked a passion that never faded.

Eventually, conventional angling just didn’t cut it. Rob was drawn to the challengen of fly fishing . What started as a casual hobby quickly became a full blown obsession. These days, he’s always chasing new waters, honing his technique, and sharing the thrill with anyone who appreciates the sport.

Rob targets a wide range of species close to home, including northern pike, bass, brook trout, rainbows, browns, and the elusive musky. His fly bench is pure chaos—one day it’s 12-inch pike and musky streamers, the next it’s size 18 euro nymphs. And that’s just how he likes it.

Scout

Branch Manager/Customer Retention

After completion of duck dog school, Scout joined the team at Drift Outfitters full-time in summer 2020. Being thrown into the position of Branch Manager Scout gladly took on the in-store duties of customer retention and relations.

You can find Scout in the shop most days of the week, otherwise he’s by Rob's side exploring different waters and training up for duck season. When you’re popping into the shop, he’ll gladly say hello making sure to distract you, and somehow coaxing you into giving him a belly rub.