Nick Roberts grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and got started fly-fishing when he was a freshman at Duke University. His quest for trout has since taken him to Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and to the Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile. During his three years spent in graduate school for fiction writing at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, he also delved into salt water fly-fishing around Wrightsville Beach, mainly targeting red drum in the marshes and inlets.

At home in Asheville, he enjoys all the fly-fishing opportunities available for trout, ranging from stalking native brook trout in their narrow creeks to casting small dry flies in the tailwaters of Tennessee and doing battle with the choosy behemoths of the Davidson.

Click here to view Nick’s Guided Trip Photos

Whether you’re an experienced angler or new to this wonderful sport, Nick would be happy to show you a great day on the water. NickRobertsCWO@gmail.com

Richard Witt began fishing as a young boy in Sheboygan, Wisconsin for species that included trout, bass, walleye, steelhead and salmon. He gained a great deal of fishing experience there which happened to include mastering the art of musky fishing with his bare hands!

Formerly a professional musician, Richard’s musical groups were conveniently booked near a number of the country’s finest fly fishing destinations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming enabling him to fine-tune his fly fishing skills. He is a former Vice President and member of the Land of Sky Trout Unlimited Chapter, a volunteer for Casting for Recovery retreats, a collector of antique bamboo fly rods and a big fan of the Green Bay Packers.

As the Biltmore Store Manager, Guide and an instructor for our Fly Fishing, Fly Tying and Casting Classes and Fly Fishing Schools, Richard has a great passion for teaching and sharing his knowledge and experience from the 40 plus years he‘s been fishing (20 of which have been in WNC and Tennessee). Whether it’s chasing Backcountry Brookies along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Midge Fishing for lunker trout on the Davidson River, fighting the acrobatic Rainbows of the Cherokee Trophy Water, catching the Sulphur Hatch on the South Holston River, or stalking Smallmouth Bass on the French Broad River, Richard has the knowledge and experience to provide beginners and advanced anglers the Fly Fishing Adventure you’re seeking.

Richard believes in three essentials for a successful guided fly fishing trip:
#1 – Have Fun! Keep things simple, make sure we all enjoy the day and have a good time on the water.
#2 – Learn something – Provide patient personal attention to teach each guest enough about fly fishing so that the next time they go they can do it on their own or advance their existing skills.
#3 – Catch fish! Small fish, big fish, a few fish, lots of fish! Catch fish!

Click here to view Richard’s Guided Fly Fishing Trip Photos

For details about Richard’s Destination Blue Ridge Parkway hosted fly fishing trips, his Backcountry Fishing Trips, or Classes and Schools please email Richard at RichardWittCWO@gmail.com.

Charlie Downs builds high-quality custom bamboo fly rods at the CWO location in Weaverville. He and his wife Marnie moved to this area from Lexington, KY. in May of 2008.

One of the primary attractions of the area for Charlie is the plethora of wonderful fly fishing opportunities within an hour of his home.  He enjoys fishing to the point that he “would rather fish than eat”, and he self admittedly REALLY likes to eat!

Charlie would be happy to take you on a fly fishing trip using one of his custom bamboo fly rods. CharlieDownsCWO@gmail.com

Pete Davis was born and raised in North Carolina. His parents introduced him to fly fishing, and the journey began at an early age exploring his picturesque home waters around Mt. Mitchell. He received his B.A. in Global Studies at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC, and used his spare time to hone his fly fishing skills. A week after graduation, Pete packed the car and moved to a small town in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. He lived and worked there for a year, but mostly fly fished, seeking out new species such as steelhead, salmon, and cutthroat trout. It was Pete’s love for the Blue Ridge Mountains that brought him back to Asheville, and he firmly believes Western North Carolina has some of the best fly fishing available anywhere.

Pete takes full advantage of the diverse fly fishing opportunities in the region, and he enjoys sharing this experience with beginner and expert anglers alike. He is available for float and wade trips throughout Western North Carolina and East Tennessee, and will plan each trip based on our guest’s requests. Pete is a fun and patient guide who insures an enjoyable day on the water for anglers of all skill levels and ages.

PeteDavisCWO@gmail.com

Galen Kipar ~ Fly fishing has taken Galen to many exciting destinations including Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, California, Vermont, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. Galen has been studying the streams of WNC for the last twelve years, seven of which he has served as a guide.

Galen specializes in float trips and wade trips for Trout and Smallmouth Bass.

Click here to view Galen’s Guided Trip Photos

While studying music composition at Brevard College, Galen was able to learn of the areas intricacies from local fly fishing guru Kevin Howell.  Galen enjoys guiding the most skilled fisherman and novices alike. For him, each experience is special as he gets to witness someone falling in love with nature’s currents.

Under pressure, Galen is an easy going, patient, instructive guide who will cater to your experience and expectations. Apart from being a guide he is a; fly fisherman, good cook, musician, architectural draftsman, soccer coach, carpenter, dreamer, believer, jeep lover, and trout ninja! GalenKiparCWO@gmail.com

David Clegg & Gauge~ David grew up fishing the trout streams of the southern Appalachians and the coast  of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. In early adulthood, his outdoor passions grew to include shotguns, wing-shooting, and hunting dogs. David has pursued waterfowl throughout the mid-Atlantic coast and Central/Mississippi Flyways. He has hunted south Georgia & Alabama quail plantations, Kansas pheasants, and North Carolina, Virginia, & South Carolina dove fields and grouse woods.

David is an Appalachian State University alumnus, real estate broker, and small business owner. He volunteers with Ducks Unlimited, enjoys cooking & organic vegetable gardening, and hunting & fishing with his two sons.  He lives just outside of Asheville, NC in the Cane Creek community with his wife, Dawn, and the boys.

Gauge, a Verein Deutsch Drahthaar, is an outstanding result of a century of strict German breeding regulations. An extremely versatile dog, he points like an English Setter, retrieves like a Labrador, and tracks like a Bloodhound. David and Gauge have excelled in both North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) and Verein Deutsch Drahthaar breed club hunting tests. Well-mannered, eager to please, and close working, shooting over Gauge is a true pleasure.