Drake Whitlock tied his first fly in 1957, at age 10, the start of a lifetime love of fly fishing. In 1986 he helped launch the Hunter Banks Company, which quickly became one of the premier fly shops in the Southeast. The business provided opportunities for fly fishing throughout the Rockies, Argentina (for Brown and Rainbow Trout) and the tropics (sight-fishing for Permit, Bonefish and Tarpon). At the end of 2003 Drake sold his shares of the business and retired from "behind the counter" to re-dedicate himself to fishing--and taking people fishing!
Teo Whitlock has been fly fishing since he was old enough to walk--not surprising, as he is Drake's son! In between stints at College of Charleston and UNCA (and working the fly shop since he was 15) he has spent a season on the Henry's Fork working for Hyde Outfitters, and has several years experience guiding for Hunter Banks Company. "What I like best is teaching clients that what they thought was most intimidating--like midging with #24's on 8x tippets for big, selective Browns--is easily within their skill level. It's always a break-through moment on the stream..."
Jay Dodd, a native of Asheville NC, was born into a trout fishing family. His dad showed him the game trails and trout streams of Western North Carolina, and taught him to fly fish at an early age. With a father and mother that loved to fly fish there was no doubt that he would become an accomplished angler. Jay loves chaseing wild brown trout on the Davidson River and floating the tailwaters of east Tennessee. He is also renowned for his trophy muskelunge guiding on the historic French Broad River, a pursuit which has resulted in his logging countless hours in jet boats and McKenzie style drift boats. A day with this seasoned outdoorsman would make any of us a more knowledgeable angler!
Forrest Marshall grew up in Rutherfordton and began fly fishing at age 12. He cut his teeth on the selective fish of the Davidson River and now enjoys spending time in backcountry chasing native brookies as well as stalking the wary browns of the South Holston. He graduated from UNCA with a phd in trout and, oh yeah, a degree in business as well. Forrest works for the local fly shop and is well versed on many of the local streams and rivers in and around Asheville. As you can see below, he wears 'em out on the Davidson River...
Travis Honeycutt arrived on the planet in June of 1983 ready to fish. It took another 11 years for Travis to discover fly fishing, which quickly became his principal obsession, ahead of bass fsihing, turkey, deer and small-game hunting, and automobiles. Travis' puts his degree in Auto Technologies to use in the off-season, but devotes his energies most of the year to providing the quality angling experience expected by Altamont Anglers' clients. His favorite activities during his time off are dry-fly fishing the South Holston River and--the sin that knows no name--night-fishing on the South Holston River. The picture below shows Travis doing what good guides do for their clients (that's Travis on the right)...
Stephen Morris grew up on Pawley's Island, SC as he says, "a creek rat", a complimentary term for a denizen of the backwaters north of Charleston harbor noted for their wildlife and abundant fishing. After graduating from college he moved to the mountains near Asheville, NC partly to pursue a love of trout fishing fostered during family visits to the mountains during his youth. The love for the outdoors and wildlife nurtured during his boyhood on Pawley's Island is obvious to the clients he guides, as is his skill and patience with beginning fly fishers.
Jason VanDyke grew up fishing the streams, rivers and lakes of Western North Carolina and his passion for the outdoors has never diminished. Spend a day with Jason and you will be the beneficiary not just of his 20+ years experience on the water, but of his warmth, patience and ebullient personality as well. As you can see below, he knows whereof he speaks...
Gus Katsigianis comes from a long line of outdoorsmen, as his ancestors hail from the mountains of Greece, where catching wild brown trout was more than recreation, it was a necessity. Gus' father put him on his first trout when he was only 8 years old, and--let's just say it stuck! Being in the outdoors is Gus' personal obsession, making it difficult to get him off the water at times (luckily he has a very understanding wife). Gus says "I grew up fishing the waters here and hopefully I'll be
doing the same when I go".
Gus is equally at home putting you on Smallies or Trout:
(Altamont Anglers operates on Pisgah National Forest Rivers under USDA Forest Service Permit #PIS6560)
