ASHEVILLE FLY FISHING COMPANY GUIDES
Guiding is our passion. Sure we love catching fish on our days off, but sharing the experience is far more rewarding. We are guides and instructors who enjoy helping both beginners and advanced anglers alike. Being a professional guide requires a diverse set of skills, not just being able to put people on fish. A professional guide is patient under pressure, a teacher and coach to their clients, has excellent work ethic in all situations, has a keen sense of awareness and the ability to adapt to different learning styles, fishing styles and personalities. All AFFC guides are endorsed by multiple gear companies which allows us to provide you with the best gear available. We are dedicated to giving you the best service you have ever experienced, and to always enjoy as much river experience as possible while putting fish in the net. We are problem solvers who enjoy the connections and process just as much as the pull. We push each other to be innovative, aware of the fine details and to always anticipate the next move gracefully and with respect. Our first time out with you, we take note of the details that make a difference to you. From the moment we meet you onward, we go the extra miles so you are right where you want to be, fishing better and laughing louder.
All guides are CPR / First Aid Certified and Fully Insured.
GALEN KIPAR
PRO STAFF
Galen’s obsession with water began in 1979 on the Van Duzen River in upstate California when he was 3 years old. He is originally from Georgia with family roots in east Tennessee and grew up spotting fish throughout the Savannah River watershed fishing for smallmouth, largemouth bass, striped bass, and trout in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. In 2000, Galen moved to Brevard, NC to study music composition at Brevard College. While earning his Bachelor’s degree, he spent every free moment learning the area’s intricacies from the backcountry creeks in Pisgah National Forest to the Watauga River, South Holston River and Nolichucky River in East Tennessee and beyond. Galen has served as a guide for the past 16 years. Fly fishing has taken him to many exciting destinations, but he says “ Most of all I love this area for the variety of fish and water types and the close proximity to many rivers.” When he is not guiding he enjoys his home waters, uncharted waters and salty waters. Under pressure, Galen is an easy going, patient, instructive guide who enjoys guiding the most skilled fisherman and novices alike. “I love it when the guide and client sync into a rhythm; two people, keen senses, one mission, bound by respect.”
Galen is a Field Advisor for R.L. Winston Rod Co. and Pro Staff for Flymen Fishing Company and LOAG. On and off the water, he works with True Wealth Mentorship bringing together the life lessons of leadership and fly fishing for his guide staff and guests. He is River Rescue 3 International & ACA Level 4 Swiftwater Rescue certified and a member of AFFTA. He has had the pleasure of being featured in magazines and publications such as Gray’s Sporting Journal, Men’s Journal, Dun Magazine, Orvis 2018 spring catalogue, Moldy Chum, Orvis blog, Angler Magazine, Nest Magazine, Southern Culture on the Fly, America's Favorite Flies, The Angler’s Report and Field & Stream among others. He contributes to and supports WNCW radio station, Mountain True, Conserving Carolinas, EQI and water quality community outreach. Galen is the founder and owner of Asheville Fly Fishing Company.
Before guiding Galen was a performing musician. During that time he composed a symphony, string quartets, and solo guitar pieces, played venues such as the Kennedy Center, Magnolia Fest, Floydfest and produced several albums in 10 years with an array of musicians. His experience in the music industry served him well in preparation to guiding. When he is not fishing, he still composes and plays music. His love for fishing and music has been featured in magazines and on radio stations throughout the U.S. A couple of his favorites are Midcurrent, KPFA and WNCW. His music can be found on iTunes and Amazon. He says, “There is an interesting parallelism between the patterns of water and music, the simplest being they both make people happy and healthy.”
RYAN BEDNAR
Ryan’s passion for the outdoors began at a very young age, catching fish and all sorts of other critters while stomping through the creeks and ponds in Kansas and Oklahoma. Over the next 30+ years, that same curiosity and passion for the outdoors lured him to unique and amazing fisheries in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, British Columbia, the Bahamas, and Slovenia.
Asheville has been Ryan’s home since 2002, and the surrounding mountain rivers and creeks still rank among his favorites anywhere. “Where else could I find wild trout on a beautiful mountain freestone stream, float a whitewater river for smallmouth bass, and throw streamers to 4-foot muskies… all within 30 minutes from home?"
On the water, Ryan is relaxed, patient, observant and attentive, and totally in his element. Combined with his experience and knowledge of the local waters and their nuances, his clients are sure to enjoy their time on the water. Click here to view Ryan’s guided trip photos.
TONY lohr
Tony’s affinity for fishing began in his childhood. He’d spend his summers targeting bass and panfish in freshwater lakes and ponds in Maryland, while occasionally pursuing striped bass, perch and bluefish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. After graduating from Towson University in 2004, Tony was free to commit himself fully to fishing, cutting his time between competing in bass tournaments in the mid Atlantic area, and indulging his obsession with fly fishing.
He spent 20 years plying the streams of Western Maryland, where after completing classes at Sweetwater Guide Academy, he found employment as a guide and began work at a local fly shop. Since then, he has lived nomadically, guiding seasonally in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Western New York and Alaska; targeting a spectrum of fish ranging from lake run rainbows and browns to Pacific salmon. During trips to the south throughout his life, Tony developed a fondness for the Southern Appalachian area and is excited to have finally settled down in Asheville. He remains eager to share his knowledge and love of fly fishing with others. Click here to view Tony’s guided trip photos.
EVAN BARRETO
Evan began fly fishing in the Adriatic tributaries of central Italy while studying abroad in 2012. The unfamiliarity of something new, while somewhere new, quickly drove Evan to explore, fish and experience every body of water he could find. Despite being California born and Connecticut raised, it was Evan’s experience in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire that shaped the trajectory of his path as an angler. He had access to wild trout in the mountains of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Coastal New England offered saltwater species like migratory striped bass and false albacore. He quickly realized fly fishing was a path of diversity, adaptation, problem solving and a rewarding way to spend a day in nature. He quickly transitioned into sharing his knowledge and experience with others. His drive to fish new water and challenge himself has led him to many destinations to fish a variety of species. In October of 2020, Evan moved to the North Carolina mountains to reconnect with Eastern trout and pursue guiding in Western North Carolina and Pisgah National Forest.
Off the water, Evan is a college graduate in Sustainable Agriculture and Ecological Gastronomic Science. With a passion for food and culinary, art, snowboarding, fishing, agriculture, film, TV, nature, and Professional sports, Evan shares a little bit in common with everyone.
Evan is not only passionate for the outdoors but is active in its conservation. He is a member of TU, American Saltwater Guides Association, Coastal Conservation Association, Save A Million Bass Organization and an Ambassador for Saltwater Classroom, a non-profit organization that aims to solve pressing ocean issues through youth education.
Lewis Morelock
Lewis' childhood in upper East Tennessee was filled with outdoor adventures. He spent his days fishing, hunting, and trapping in the creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes of the region. As he grew older, Lewis developed a deep understanding of the fundamentals of these activities. Out of all his pursuits, fishing became his favorite. In the mid-90s, Lewis decided to take his love for fishing to the next level and ventured into the world of fly fishing. This new passion consumed him, and he dedicated countless hours to honing his skills on the water. Over time, he became a seasoned angler, specializing in the pursuit of smallmouth bass. For Lewis, the thrill of catching these relentless fighters became his ultimate quest.
Throughout his journey, Lewis acquired invaluable skills in reading water and deciphering the feeding patterns of fish. This knowledge allows him to craft the perfect fly to entice their desires. To him, there’s nothing quite like the joy that comes from landing a fish using a handcrafted fly!
Fly fishing not only became his passion but also ignited a desire to share his knowledge and experiences with others. He wants to introduce people to the captivating world of fly fishing and inspire the same sense of excitement that has fueled his own journey. Whether it’s teaching beginners the basics of casting or guiding experienced anglers down the river, Lewis finds fulfillment in passing along the art and joy of fly fishing.
Every moment he spends on the water is cherished. He appreciates the beauty of the natural world and the serenity it offers. Through his teachings and guidance, Lewis aims to inspire a new generation of anglers who will carry on the legacy of fly fishing and work towards preserving the wonders of nature for years to come. Click here to view Lewis’s guided trip photos.
matt cook
Matt’s earliest and fondest childhood memories revolve around wildlife and nature, especially the streams, ponds, and lakes of northern Virginia where he was born. After moving to south Florida in 1990 he received his first fishing rod and spent much of his time walking the edges of the neighborhood canals, plying every square inch for bluegill, oscars, largemouth bass, peacock bass, and even the occasional accidental alligator. After a family trip to Alaska, Matt received and promptly broke his first fly rod, which he repaired himself, and continued to use throughout his childhood. His mother’s love of travel took Matt to 6 of the 7 continents and all 50 states by the time he was 19, a zeal that Matt has carried on in adulthood visiting places like Alaska and Costa Rica as well as countless ventures in the lower 48.
In 1999 the Cook family relocated to Boone, NC. It didn’t take Matt long to fall in love with the High Country with its biodiversity and endless streams, rivers, and rugged trails. It was here that his passion for fishing, his old-repaired fly rod and the hundreds of miles of wild trout streams converged. This confluence of life’s currents propelled Matt into a life-long journey in the outdoor industry as he finds fulfillment and joy in helping others and sharing his 20+ years experience. Matt studied Recreation Management and Anthropology at Appalachian State University and started guiding trout, smallmouth and musky in 2003 in TN, NC and VA.
When Matt isn’t guiding, he enjoys fishing for musky, carp, smallmouth and occasionally redfish, striper and false albacore. He and his wife are avid and accomplished class IV/V whitewater rafters, rowing many local and regional favorites as well as national gems like the Gunnison Gorge, the Arkansas, the Rio Grande and the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park multiple times. When not on the water, he’s either searching for morels, planning his next trip, or likely making or repairing something around the 20 acres that he, Jemima and their dogs call home.
NICHOLAS BARR - Chef
AFFC is bringing the farm to the table to the river and chef Barr is sure to delight you on our Multi-Day Trips. With his roots stretching from Eastern North Carolina to the Appalachian Mountains, chef and gardener Nicholas Barr has been growing, preparing, and serving food for over two decades. As an avid outdoors-man his passion for food has blossomed from his grandmother’s southern classics into the finest fireside fare. When not playing the role of a chef at the greatest BBQ restaurant in the south or serving up anglers in the Appalachians he spends time on his farm, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, just minutes from his favorite wild trout streams and the Pisgah National Forest. His hospitality invites you to join in a story of his homeland and history through camaraderie and delicious mouthwatering southern heritage soul food.
““I fell in love with food and service and never looked back,” Nick Barr works with the Chai Pani Restaurant Group as an executive chef and previously kitchen manager at NANI’S restaurant and Buxton Hall Barbecue in Asheville, NC. Nick is a thoughtful, passionate person who cares deeply about hospitality. He’s been in the industry since he started working at age 15 and has a great story to tell of learning about food life and what matters while working at a large chain for a decade. He came to appreciate the importance of local ingredients and the intention and care that goes into serving food that has a greater purpose than profit. He cares deeply about what he puts on his customers’ plates, where it came from, how it was prepared, and every aspect of the experience his guests have each time they sit down at his table. Nick is a deep thinker who truly cares about his craft. It’s inspiring to hear him share his story and his vision for what could one day happen with the local food movement.”
Enjoy… ~ Schedulefly Stories
ABOUT THE FOOD:
Local, sustainable farm raised meats, poultry and seasonal fresh local produce made from scratch using authentic recipes with an Appalachian presentation. No expense is spared as the service and food are of the highest quality and represent Asheville’s renowned food scene.
All guides are CPR/First Aid certified and fully insured.
