Private Fly Fishing Waters

All Ages | All Skill Levels | Private & Group Trips | Private & Public Water

Fly Fishing the East and North Fork of the French Broad River

PUBLIC VS PRIVATE WATER

When choosing a trip, you’ll see private water and public water trips available. The biggest difference is location and setting: on private water trips, you’ll be on our land, fishing our sections of the rivers that only our clients fish. That means just your group and the fish on your section of water, no one else around to compete with.

Trip Cost

Private Water Trips

Half Day Private Water Trips
1 Angler: $250
2 Anglers: $375
3 Anglers: $500

Full Day Private Water Trips
( Includes Lunch )
1 Angler: $350
2 Anglers: $325
3 Anglers: $700

Testimonial about fly fishing trips to go here. Focusing on quality of guides and the fun that was had by the group.

Jane Doe

What’s the difference between Public and Private?

Besides price per angler, private water provides anglers a chance to fish waters that are less pressured than our public streams. We consistently manage our Private Waters, offering an opportunity at larger fish.

A NOTE FROM HEAD GUIDE CHRIS FRANZEN:

As professional and veteran guides who spend over 200 days a year on the water, our guide staff here at Headwaters Outfitters recognize that public trout waters in the Southeast are under a lot of stress. The Pisgah National Forest and surrounding area where we work are within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the nation’s population, and even the most remote brook trout streams are seeing more angling traffic as an ever-growing population of anglers seek out the solitude of wild trout water.

The result is more and more overcrowding of popular public waters and heavily pressured fish that are harder to catch. Realizing this, Headwaters has strengthened its commitment to protecting existing resources, promoting catch-and-release regulations and spreading out angling pressure among different streams. But that, unfortunately, is not enough to provide every fly fisher with the privacy and quality of experience they seek.

That’s where our Private Waters come in. Located 15-20 minutes from our River Shop, our private water offers fly fishing the way it used to be: peaceful solitude, colorful trout in a wild, forested setting. Rainbows and browns on our trophy section run from 9-inch wild jewels to four-pound bruisers who explode into the air when hooked. Because the river bottom is private property (we lease both sides), the only visitors allowed by law are our customers.

KATIE CAHN

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Fly Fishing Guide Katie Cahn, Katie is a native of the Chattooga River Watershed on the border of South Carolina and North Carolina. She commutes over the mountain to guide for Headwaters Outfitters. For Katie, guiding isn’t just a job, but a way to spend time on the river with good people. With a background in whitewater kayaking, Katie takes time to teach her clients how to read water and think like a fish, which goes a long way! And it isn’t always about catching a fish! Katie enjoys being able to laugh at the goof-ups and come away from a day on the river with a good story and a smile on her and her client’s faces.

ALAN BROYHILL

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Fly Fishing Guide Alan Broyhill found his love for fishing at 6 years old throwing bait casters off his Grandfathers pier. “10 years later I picked up my first fly rod at my families farm pond, and it was all down hill from there”  Fly Fishing has lead him on a journey across the United States. Fly Fishing and shooting photos in more then 18 states, and landing dozens of different species along the way. Alan has designed fly patterns for large fly distribution companies, and has even been published in multiple magazines for his fishing and photography.   He has been guiding part time for Headwaters for the past two seasons.

BRETT MEANY

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Fly Fishing Guide Brett Walker Meany, was born and raised in Transylvania County and grew up along the French Broad.  After graduating from Brevard High School, he went on to earn his B.S. in Geography with a concentration in GIS.  Brett has always had a passion for the outdoors, and is excited to put his newly acquired skills to use.  Working with GIS systems goes seamlessly with his love for fly fishing, the outdoors, and wildlife.  Brett will be starting his 2nd season with Headwaters this spring.  He will continue to be a vital role in our paddling program but also joining our Fly Fishing team as well.

RYAN KAUFMAN

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Fly Fishing Guide Ryan Kaufman, has been an avid outdoors-man from a very early age. As a young boy he spent countless summer weekends with his father chasing walleye, bass, and crappie in the Midwestern lakes surrounding his childhood home. Winters were spent walking pristine hunting grounds in search of pheasant and quail. After moving to Gunnison, CO in 2002 to attend Western State College, the transition to fly fishing seemed natural. The trophy streams of the Gunnison Valley provided a perfect classroom for fine tuning the skills of an accomplished fly fisherman. Relocating to Western North Carolina in 2012 introduced Ryan to a new venue for perfecting his craft. He developed a passion for pursuing native Southern Appalachian brook trout in the remote mountain streams of the region. However, Ryan prides himself in his ability to consistently put clients on fish regardless of the destination or conditions. In addition to a passion for fly fishing, Ryan has a passion for teaching. Sharing the art of fly fishing with novices gives Ryan a thrill, especially working with youngsters in developing the next generation of great fly fishers. Ryan truly lives and breathes the sport whether it be fishing on his own, working with clients, or sitting for hours at the fly tying table. He has the knowledge, skills, and work ethic to provide a great day for those who share his love of this great pastime.

JESSICA WHITMIRE

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Operations and Marketing Manager Jessica Whitmire, was born and raised in Transylvania County and grew up alongside Headwaters.  Her parents cofounded the outfitter when she was six years old, and she has spent nearly every summer since then working in the shop in some form or fashion.  Jessica’s mom and dad raised her in an Old Town Tripper paddling rivers all over the southeast and beyond.  She first started fishing with her great grandfather on the banks of the West Fork of the French Broad, and also enjoyed targeting catfish on her grandfather’s pond.  For a graduation present, her grandparents bought her a sage fly rod for her first paddling trip out west.   After graduating high school, her and her dad spent 8 days on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.  That trip sparked a true passion in her for fly fishing.  She attended Brevard College on a volleyball and basketball scholarship and graduated with a degree in Environmental Science.  After spending 3 years teaching at the local school system, Jessica returned to Headwaters to take the reins.   She heads up the day to day operations around the shop and works hard ensure things run as smooth as possible.

CHRIS FRANZEN

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Head Fly Fishing Guide, Chris Franzen found his passion for Fly Fishing at the age of three, while running through the isles of his dad’s Fly Shop.  He started guiding at 16 in the Foothills of North Carolina. Upon graduating high school Chris moved to Colorado where he guided in RMNP.  Over the past few years Chris has spent time guiding the rivers of the Bristol Bay region of Alaska and the Patagonia region of Chile.   Chris is well versed in a wide variety of techniques and enjoys sharing his knowledge with clients.  Nothing makes Chris happier than seeing his clients grasp the same passion that he has for the sport.

• Book float trips with Chris
• Book Musky Trips with Chris

REMEMBER: Request Chris on your trip when you book!

TY MOONEY

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Captain Ty Mooney,  offers clients an array of largemouth bass lakes to choose from, including optortunities at smallmouth, striper bass and hybrids. Enjoy his luxurious bass boat as you charter the lakes and rivers of Western North Carolina and South Carolina.

• Small Tackle / Light Tackly Only
• Children age 6+ are welcome aboard
• Sorry, No Dogs Allowed

REMEMBER: Request Ty on your trip when you book!

GAVIN GRIFFIN

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Fly Fishing Guide, Gavin B. Griffin is a Western Pennsylvanian transplant that’s had a good many days spent fly fishing the rivers across the country over the last decade, plus. After spending seven of those years between Boulder, Colorado and Ketchum, Idaho, he’s successfully fly fished some of the North West’s biggest and most reputable technical waters: from Silver Creek’s gin-clear flows to the Frying Pan River’s famous blue ribbon Toilet Bowl and the legendary black caddis hatches on the Madison River.

Located just a few minutes up the road from the shop in Rosman, Gavin’s chances to get you on local fish are high; they’re practically his neighbors! He’s always happy to have any level of angler–beginner to trout fanatic–because he’s just happy to be sharing his life’s most meaningful part with you, your family and friends.

Come spend a genuinely great time on the water, catching trout of all sizes in a completely memorable place, with some of the best guides on the water!

Have even a simple gear question? Need to know directions? Have a funny fish story? Send Gavin a note using the form below and he’ll respond to you within the day.

 

REMEMBER: Request Gavin on your trip when you book!

HANNAH MYERS

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Guide and Outdoor Shop Assistant Manager Hannah Myers, was born and raised in Transylvania County.  Her dad had her hunting and fishing before she was in grade school, and he sparked her passion for the great outdoors.  She graduated from Rosman High School in 2013 and continued her education at Blue Ridge Community College.  Hannah joined the team at Headwaters in 2016 and took on a leading role in the Retail Shop.   When Hannah is not working in the shop, she is out on stream with her fly rod or in a tree stand with her bow.

• Book private water trips with Hannah
• Book High-Elevation Native Brook Trout Trips with Hannah

Remember: Request Hannah when you book your trip!

JEREMY SHURITES

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Fly Fishing Guide, Jeremy, a PA native, grew up in the Pocono Mountains. In high school he found the sport of fly fishing as something to do when the snow melted and snowboarding was no longer a viable option. Jeremy quickly dove head first into the sport dedicating all of his time to hunting down big fish and specific target species. Casting dries to wild brown trout is one of Jeremy’s favorite ways to fish, but back water tarpon in the Tampa area cesspools and the Everglades is a close second. Out on the water, Jeremy values fun, learning, conservation, and helping to create memories that will last an angler a life time. In Jeremy’s spare time you can find him fly tying, hiking, and camping in his roof top tent with his dog, Captain. No adventure is too small for this duo, once living out of the tent for a month on a road trip from Pa to Duval street in the Florida Keys.

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