MEET THE CREW

BEN WALTERS, Owner

Ben started fly fishing and tying flies when he was 11 years old and made East Tennessee his home in 1990. Ever since then, his love of the sport grew along with his skills as he chased fish on fly from Alaska to Belize, adding new fly caught species to his list (currently 101).

Ben has been involved in the fly fishing industry since 2001 when he started tying flies and leaders commercially while working at various fly shops. His innovative fly patterns have been sold by top fly manufacturers. His tackle rigging and custom leaders have been responsible for many world records, including two world records on fly himself (Spanish mackerel, Mutton snapper) and when asked why they were not submitted, he replied:

“I didn’t know they were records at the time, but they sure were delicious.”

When he is not in the shop talking about fly fishing, he spends his time on the South Holston and Watauga rivers or chasing stripers in Boone Lake.

Jonathan “Huck” Huckaba, Store Manager and Fishing Guide

Huck is an East Tennessee native and started his fly fishing career in 1996 at the age of 16 on the small streams in Roan Mountain chasing brook trout and learning to present a fly in tight quarters.

Huck later discovered the phenomenal fishing on the Watauga and South Holston Rivers. While he learned to catch the trophy trout on the larger rivers, he still returned to the mountain streams to chase the elusive native “brookies.”

Huck is a signature fly designer for Holly Fly Company. He also volunteers for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. and enjoys helping disabled veterans get out on the water.