Our Staff

>Fly Fishing Guides

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 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 an active member of the Land of Sky Trout Unlimited Chapter, collects and restores antique bamboo fly rods and is a big fan of the Green Bay Packers.

As a guide and instructor for our fly fishing, fly tying and casting classes Richard has a great passion for teaching and sharing his knowledge and experience from the 40+ years he ‘s been fishing (20 of which have been in WNC and Tennessee)

Whether it’s Midge Fishing on the Davidson River, catching the Sulphur
Hatch on the South Holston River, chasing Backcountry Brookies along the
Blue Ridge Parkway or in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or stalking Smallmouth Bass on the French Broad River, Richard has the knowledge and experience to provide 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 client 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!

Richard is also hosting Destination Blue Ridge Parkway fishing trips. For details about this or his Backcountry Fishing Trips, please email Richard at RichardWittCWO@gmail.com.

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Joshua Garris was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He has been fishing the waters of Western North Carolina for almost 30 years. He is married to his wife Donna and has two children Bayden, who is 10 and Addie, who is 6. After working many years in the culinary field Josh decided to share his knowledge and understanding of fly fishing. Josh used his culinary training and guide expertise while leading a Hosted Fly Fishing Yellowstone Destination Trip in August 2009 & 2010. He is planning another trip for 2011, email Josh at JoshGarrisCWO@gmail.com for more details.

Josh is a member of numerous organizations some being Trout Unlimited, and the North Carolina Fly Fishing Team. He volunteers for several organizations as well including Casting for Recovery, Project Healing Waters, and Becoming an Outdoor Woman to name a few.

Although Josh loves to fish, one of his true passions is teaching. Whether it is casting, reading water, or learning more about the bugs trout eat, Josh will explain everything in an easy to understand manner. With patience at the forefront, Josh is able to fine-tune your cast, show you area waters or help you learn some of the more complicated techniques such as Czech nymphing or competition fly fishing.

Although catching big brown and rainbow trout is exhilarating, Josh can also introduce you to some of the most beautiful fish in the world, our native Brook Trout. They live amongst some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable.

So whether you are just learning, wanting to learn more, or just looking for the right place, Josh is ready to show the way. JoshGarrisCWO@gmail.com.

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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.

 

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David Grossman grew up in Charlotte, NC but got his start fly-fishing while attending Washington & Lee University in the beautiful mountains of southwest Virginia. Since then he has traveled as far as British Columbia to chase trout with a few stops in Montana and Idaho on the way. David recently moved back to North Carolina from Colorado where he spent two years fishing and working (mostly fishing).

David enjoys all kinds of fly-fishing but specializes in float fishing the tailwaters of North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. He has been floating the tailwaters and chasing the trophy trout that reside their for over ten years now and says there is nothing that beats having such great access to fisheries where wild trout measured in pounds rather than inches call home.

David and his wife have recently settled in Asheville and couldn’t be happier with all the great amenities that living in Western North Carolina comes with. David is currently enrolled at Western Carolina University working his way towards two Masters degrees in Construction Management and Project Management and hopes that he never has to be strapped to a desk again.

David’s philosophy on fishing is pretty simple. No one goes fishing to have a bad time so let’s have as good a time as possible because in the end it’s fishing, not Golf. He brings this laid back approach to all his trips as well as to his involvement with Trout Unlimited as a Board Member for the Land O’ Sky chapter in Asheville. Contact David at DavidGrossmanCWO@gmail.com.

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No fish is safe from Craig! He’s caught them all from the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee to the coasts of the Carolina’s and everywhere in between.

Craig’s love of the outdoors – which includes a good hunting adventure from time to time – gave him the

ambition to obtain an Associates Degree in the Fish and Wildlife field from Haywood Community College in western North Carolina.  Craig also leads clients on Hunting Trips in Western North Carolina.

With approximately 10,000 miles of water to fish in North Carolina Craig’s fishing tip is simple. Try all types of water, pick the ones you love the most and spend a lifetime enjoying those waters be it streams, rivers, creeks or the ocean and practice catch and release in doing so. As the old timers say – you’ll save a few for seed.  “Take a kid fishing!”

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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. 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

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Kelly Bandlow Kelly Bandlow comes to Curtis Wright Outfitters via California and is a native of Wisconsin. He’s been an avid fly fisherman for almost 30 years and a fly tyer for eight years. He also has seven years of specialty fly fishing retail sales under his belt. A well-traveled angler, Kelly has fished many of the world’s fly fishing dream destinations. His adventures have taken him from Alaska, across the pond, to the Southern Hemisphere, and to some other very interesting spots in Canada & Mexico as well as the United States.  Contact Kelly if you are interested in a hosted fly fishing trip to Alaska or South Florida.

For a quarter of a century, Kelly’s time was spent as a licensed trainer of thoroughbred horses. His charges raced at some of the most prestigious races tracks from coast to coast.

When not in the store helping you choose flies for your local fishing excursion, you’ll find him on the water guiding clients.

Be sure to stop by Curtis Wright Outfitters in Saluda to say “hello.” Kelly might even be enticed to tell you one of his tales about fishing in the Everglades or catching beautiful Rainbow trout high up in the mountains of Hawaii or Baja! If you would like to ask Kelly about the 2011 Alaska trip please send him an email at KellyBandlowCWO@gmail.com.

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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 ten years, five of which he has served as a guide. 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, he 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

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Nathan Mitchell was born and raised here in Western North Carolina. His family home sits on the banks of a trout stream just fifteen minutes Southeast of Asheville. Nathan grew up with his two younger siblings chasing trout in their backyard. “We were constantly playing in the creek either fishing, swimming, or flipping over rocks to catch Crayfish or Salamanders.”

Nathan learned about fly fishing at a young age from his godfather who is also a fly fishing guide in Northern Georgia. Nathan attended Western Carolina University near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where he hiked, camped, and fished when not attending classes.

Presently Nathan works as a full time fly fishing guide and retail associate for Curtis Wright Outfitters. His main passion is stalking native Southern Appalachian Brook Trout high up in our beautiful headwater creeks. He is currently a member of the North Carolina Fly Fishing Team, an active member of the Land of Sky Trout Unlimited Chapter and Federation of Fly Fishers and volunteers at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education.

Yellowstone National Park is one of Nathan’s favorite fishing destinations. When he doesn’t have a fly rod in his hand Nathan’s other passion is hand crafting strips of bamboo into beautiful split bamboo fly rods. Contact Nate by email at NathanMitchellCWO@gmail.com.

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Daniel Wankel was raised in Mills River, NC. He fell in love with the freedom of the woods and streams at an early age. He picked up a Fly Rod while living 15 minutes from the Watauga in East Tennessee. “I appreciate the intimacy that fly-fishing allows between angler and fish, a connection to the currents of the aquatic life.” He began guiding 8 years ago, and has enjoyed the diversity of people he gets to meet. Never mind the beautiful view from the office.

 

 

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>Hunting Guide Staff

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.

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Don Mallicoat & Ginny ~ Don Mallicoat is a retired Army officer and lifelong bird hunter. After moving to Asheville in 1993 his interest turned from quail to grouse which he and Ginny pursue at every opportunity. Don has been active with the Ruffed Grouse Society chapter in Asheville for over 10 years and most recently served as the RGS Southeastern Regional Director for three years. He works with the NC WRC and USFS in NC to improve early successional habitat and is a member of the NC Camo Coalition Council.

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Terry Martin, Tesha & Sandy ~ Terry Martin is a 2nd Lieutenant with the Hendersonville Fire Department. Terry and his girls have been actively chasing grouse around the mountains of Western North Carolina for many years. He is an excellent dog trainer and specializes in hunting on public land.

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>Shop Employee Staff

Carie Ruth is never completely at home unless she’s knee deep in a body of water, Carie considers Weaverville her second home. She grew up in the streams of West Virginia, wading in anything that looked like it could support aquatic wildlife! Daughter of wildflower enthusiasts she knows the mountain names of many of the native flora. Carie is excited to learn the art of fly fishing, and if she can’t get a bite she’s still happy to stand in a stream and wave a stick.

 

 

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Chad Schmidt grew up on a large family farm in Indiana and spent most of his childhood enjoying the outdoors. Depending on the time of year or open season, it was a safe bet you could find him chasing wild game (quail or rabbit), or fishing a local farm pond or stripper pit. “I feel very fortunate to have spent so much time outdoors, it is something I am passing along to my 4 year old son (Hunter). Although he grew up spin-fishing, he enjoys fly -fishing because it brings together the elements of nature, stalking quarry, and enjoy the peaceful serenity that the Asheville area has to offer. Chad created the CWO website from the ground up. He works daily to enhance the website, to create our monthly newsletters, to manage our e-commerce product sales, and he also creates and manages Curtis Wright Outfitter’s print and online advertising campaigns.

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Jeff T. Curtis- Prior to launching Curtis Wright Outfitters in March 2003, Jeff worked as an independent fly fishing guide and instructor in Western North Carolina and an innkeeper at Sourwood Inn, a thirteen room inn on 100 acres of land in Asheville, NC. As part of the design and development team at Sourwood Inn, Jeff was instrumental in creating an outdoor-oriented atmosphere, blending a rustic feel with the amenities of a luxury inn. His responsibilities as innkeeper included advertising, bookkeeping, and guest relations. Prior to innkeeping, Jeff worked at two psychiatric facilities, Park Ridge Hospital in Fletcher, NC and Marshall Pickens in Greenville, SC. While employed at these institutions, he worked with other team members to create and implement a comprehensive treatment program. Jeff has also served as Director of Programs at Project SOAR, a wilderness-based therapeutic recreation program near Waynesville, NC. His responsibilities included leading team building exercises and ropes course elements, as well as developing and implementing group initiatives. Jeff also served as partner and manager in a multi-store chain of clothing stores in Florida. He received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Furman University. Jeff runs the two Curtis Wright Outfitters shops from the main office in Weaverville. Jeff makes his client’s trip fun and has even been know to catch a fish or two! JeffCurtisCWO@gmail.com

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Carlton Wright Murrey- Prior to launching Curtis Wright Outfitters in March 2003, Carlton worked in the Retail and Consumer Products investment banking division of Wachovia Securities. Prior to business school, he was a manager in Client Services and Business Development for U.S. Inspect, a national property inspection company based in Northern Virginia, and also in the International Project Development Group of the Smithsonian Institution. Carlton has designed, implemented, and participated in outdoor programs throughout his formative years and professional career. Carlton received a bachelor of arts degree in German from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where he was awarded the Russ Reynolds Foreign Language Award and the Manly E. Wright Award for Outstanding Scholarship and graduated summa cum laude with distinction. Following graduation, Carlton was awarded a Fulbright Grant to study in Münster, Germany. He received his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Carlton is head of the Guide Services division of CWO and he is the one that will help you book your next guided fly fishing adventure in the WNC area. CWMurrey@CurtisWrightOutfitters.com