Southern Appalachians Fly Fishing Hall of Fame

Alen D. Baker - Class of 2019

Born in Lenoir, North Carolina
Lives in Huntersville, North Carolina

Inducted for his leadership and commitment as the creator of the Fly Fishing Museum of Southern Appalachians and the Appalachian Rivers Aquarium in Bryson City, as a fly fishing author, as an avid fly fisher and for his service and commitment to public service with NC Wildlife Federation and Trout Unlimited.

Avid fly fisher, fly tyer and founder of the Fly Fishing Museum. President Emeritus of NC Wildlife Federation, receiving the 2010 NWF National Affiliate of the Year Award.
As President, received the 1986 Gold Chapter Award for the TU Rocky River Chapter. Served for over 15 years at state and regional levels and as TU National Vice-President when he co-chaired the national restructuring of Trout Unlimited in the mid-1990s.
Author, Rocky River TU: The First Twenty-Five Years (2006), his award-winning book, Our Fly Fishing Heritage: The Making of the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians (2016), and My Fly Fishing Playbook (2019).
Retired from Duke Energy as Sr Director IT World-Wide after 34 years. Lives with his wife of over 46 years, Scottie. Alen is a member of the NC State Computer Science Hall of Fame and Southern Trout Magazine ‘Legends of the Fly’ Hall of Fame.

Bob Nanney - Class of 2019

Born in Haywood Co., North Carolina
Lives in (Rabbit Skin) Maggie Valley, NC

Inducted for his leadership and commitment to fly fishing and the museum. Bob was recognized in 2018 for his many hours of dedication to promoting the museum at Fly Fishing Shows, museum fund raising, museum activities and extensive exhibit work.

The Volunteers Director for the Fly Fishing Museum since the beginning in Cherokee in 2015.
Serves as a fly fishing tournament judge for Casting for Hope. Serves as a guide for Project Healing Waters. Sponsored and conducted many "Tie -One - On" fly tying events for the vets for Project Healing Waters, for the Cataloochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited and for the North Carolina Council of Trout Unlimited River Course. Volunteers for Long Chapels Wood Ministry.
Has fly fished almost every "fishable" stream in the Western North Carolina for over 60 years staring at the ‘ripe old age of 8’ with his dad. Enjoys the outdoors, hunting, and photographing. Attended Canton High School. Graduated in 1966 with a degree in biology from Western Carolina University.
Lives with his best friend, his wife Hazel or “Haze.” The sign above his fly tying desk that says, "One Fine Fisherman Lives Here with the Catch of his Life."

Joe Brooks - Class of 2019

(1901-1972)
Born in Baltimore, Maryland
Lived in Port Deposit, Maryland

Inducted posthumously as the author of numerous fly fishing publications, for trail blazing saltwater fly fishing and for the Blonde series of fly patterns.

Joe’s accomplishments on fresh and cold waters earned him the title of “the world’s best and greatest fly fisherman.” As a close friend to Joe, Lefty wrote, “Brooks opened up the world to all those who followed…and…put salt water on the map.” Brooks fly fished with everything from midges, to dry flies, to large saltwater streamers and huge bass bugs world-wide for a variety of saltwater species, including bonefish, tarpon and his first permit with a fly in the Bahamas in the 1960s.
If Joe wrote about a new fly or a new fly fishing concept, anglers scrambled to their vises.
In “Those Deadly Blondes,” an article in the December 1963 issue of Outdoor Life, Brooks wrote, “If I had only one pattern for all big fish in both fresh and salt water, I’d choose the Blonde.” His stories raised his stature to innovator and led many to prefer his signature patterns of six (6) Blondes – Platinum, Argentina, Yellow Honey, Pink, Black and Strawberry as the patterns of choice for large fish, regardless of species.
His writings include the Complete Book of Fly Fishing (1958) and Trout Fishing (1972).

Jim Dean - Class of 2018

(1940-2017)
Born in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
Lived in Raleigh, North Carolina

Inducted posthumously as the editor of Wildlife in NC for many years, the author of numerous outdoor articles and books, and an outdoor photographer.

He began fly fishing with Lefty Kreh while stationed in Baltimore in the Army and would serve as the longtime editor or and contributor to Wildlife in North Carolina.
In addition, Dean contributed numerous articles to major national magazines such as Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel and others.
He was the author of two books, Dogs that Point, Fish that Bite and The Secret Lives of Fishermen. Both works entailed selections of his poignant magazine articles and columns.
He was selected as the1977 NC Wildlife Federation Conservationist of the Year.
Jim fly-fished for trout from Montana/Idaho to his beloved Wilson Creek; from East Tennessee tailraces for trout to Tar Heel lakes and ponds for bass and bream; from saltwater species in the coastal Carolinas to Caribbean bonefish, permit and tarpon.

Jimmy Jacobs - Class of 2017

Born in Atlanta, Georgia
Lives in Marietta, Georgia

Inducted as the author of numerous fly fishing books and articles, seminar speaker, and photographer.

Georgia Outdoor Writers Association Hall of Fame member
State and regional awards for his writing and photography
Books:1998 Bass Fishing in Georgia; 2000 Fly-Fishing the South Atlantic Coast; 2000 Moonlight Through the Pines; 2001 Trout Streams of Southern Appalachia; 2003 Tailwater Trout in the South; 2006 Trout Fishing in North Georgia; 2009 Trout Streams of Southern Appalachia; 2014, 2015 Hiking Georgia books co-author; 2015 The Cerdo Grande Conspiracy: A Tale of Pig-Nappers in Paradise; and, 2017 Brook Trout in Dixie
Longtime editor for Game & Fish Publications
Editor of on-line Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing

Jim Casada - Class of 2016

Born in Bryson City, North Carolina
Lives in Rock Hill, South Carolina

Inducted as the author of numerous outdoor books and as a seminar speaker who has shared a lifetime of knowledge and experience with us all. In addition to fly fishing, he has written about hunting, game and fish recipes, the history of sport and on academic subjects.

Freelance Writer, Photographer and “Son of the Smokies”
Freelance Writer, Photographer and “Son of the Smokies”
He has authored, co-authored, edited or served as ghost writer for more than forty books including three fly-fishing books, is Editor-at-Large for Sporting Classics and has held masthead positions with numerous magazines.
Retired History Professor, Winthrop University, 1971-1996.

Michael R. ‘Squeak’ Smith - Class of 2019

Born in Alma, Michigan
Lives in Morganton, North Carolina

Inducted for his years of dedication to stream restoration and being an “addicted” life-long fly fisher, a “full time volunteer,” a highly recognized and outstanding conservation leader and a “hands-on” environmentalist.

“Squeak” caught his first fish on a flyrod at age 3 and was tying flies at age 8. Squeak earned his B.S. in Industrial Psychology from Michigan State University in 1970. He is an “addicted” life-long fly fisher and has lived in Southeast since 1985 with his wife Connie. In over 30 years, “Squeak” has held eleven non-profit leadership positions, accepted thirteen awards including NCWF Sportsman of the Year since retiring from the military due to Multiple Sclerosis where he served (1971-1983) as a USAF Captain Flight Commander F-4 Phantom Senior Weapons Systems Officer.
As Foothills Conservancy Chairman, he protected over 50,000 acres and turned it over to state or federal agencies for public access and permanent protection status.
As the Chairman of the Resource Institute Chairman since 2010, he has implemented over 130 individual projects totaling 1,400,000+ feet of stream restoration and enhancement, over 100 miles of greenways and blue ways established, 10,000 acres protected, and wetlands restored with total funding raised to date at over $130 million.

Sandy Schenck - Class of 2018

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina
Lives in Flat Rock, North Carolina

Inducted for his many years of dedication to teaching kids about the outdoors and preserving the land. He founded Muddy Sneakers – “teaching children the joy of learning outside” – and he is the founder and executive director of Green River Preserve summer camp where he put 2,600 acres of Green River Preserve in a conservation easement, preserving the land for perpetuity.

Sandy is an economics major from the UNC-Chapel Hill and holds an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.
In 2006, Sandy and his wife, Missy, put 2,600 acres of Green River Preserve in a conservation easement, preserving the land for perpetuity.
He founded Muddy Sneakers - “teaching children the joy of learning outside.”
He is the founder and executive director of Green River Preserve summer camp.
He is the founder and original Board President of Hickory Day School.
Sandy serves on the Headwaters Board of Trout Unlimited and helped launch Summer on the Fly, a program to encourage fly fishing in summer camps.
He and his wife love the outdoors; he loves to fly fishing with his six children who share three generations of fly fishing DNA and family traditions.

Stephen Edward Moore - Class of 2017

Born in Waynesville, North Carolina
Lives in Sevierville, Tennessee

Inducted for his years of dedication to the restoration of brook trout in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and his efforts in the discovery of the southern strain of brook trout.

Retired with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) after thirty-one and one-half years of service.
Supervisory Fishery Biologist, 2000-2014, GRSM
Fisheries Biologist,1985-2000, GRSM
Participated in Wild Trout-IV through Wild Trout-IX, serving over twenty years as coauthor, program committee member and co-chair, Panel Moderator, Proceedings Coeditor.
Wild Trout Symposium Chairman for seven years.

Phil H. Bracewell, Sr. - Class of 2016

(1918-2011)
Born in Atlanta, North Carolina
Lived in Hickory, North Carolina

Inducted posthumously for his many years of dedication to the sport as a founding member of the original North Carolina Chapter of Trout Unlimited and as a volunteer conservation leader who served as a Trout Unlimited National Director for many years. He was the fund raising leader of the Northwestern NC Chapter of Trout Unlimited and set numerous national banquet records.

Founding Director of Trout Unlimited
A founding father of the initial TU chapter in North Carolina
Founding Director Ducks Unlimited North Carolina
Founding Trustee of NC Nature Conservancy
Appointed by Governor Jim Martin as the Sedimentation Control Commissioner
Founding trustee for the Catawba County Wildlife Education Committee and served twelve years as trustee on the North Carolina Wildlife Education Committee

James Douglas ‘Jim’ Estes - Class of 2019

Born in Sylva, North Carolina
Lives in Bryson City, North Carolina

Inducted as an amateur fly tyer for over 60 years who is widely recognized for the creativity and wisdom in designing the mop fly. Orvis, Umpqua and many other fly pattern suppliers have all developed versions of the Estes Mop Fly.

Jim is a fifth-generation resident of Deep Creek where he has lives with his wife Karen.
During the years while attending college, Jim was drafted into the Army 1965-67.
He earned his B.S. in Geology from East Tennessee State University.
Jim retired from a 28-year career with the North Carolina DOT in 1998.
Out of the necessity of having a great trout catching fly while guiding for Rivers Edge Fly Shop, Jim created his “mop fly” in early-2000.
The Estes Mop Fly is revealed in articles in the London Times and the Wall Street Journal.
As a life-long fly tyer and innovator, Jim has experimented with many synthetic materials beyond the fly tying catalogs. His inventions are a concoction in the highest of tradition in the Southern Appalachians. There are many, many versions of the Estes Mop Fly sold on the fly pattern market today, all because of one of Jim’s secret “mop fly” has been a “go to” fly for over a decade and may well become a common fly in every angler fly box.

Kevin Howell - Class of 2018

Born in Hendersonville, North Carolina
Lives in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina

Inducted as a professional fly tier who is widely recognized for the creativity and wisdom in designing the famed Hot Creek Special, Trip Maker, Trip Saver as well as other noted creations. Kevin is the owner of Davidson River Outfitters and continues the family legacy of his father Don R. Howell and uncle Dwight Howell.

Influenced by his father Don R. Howell and his uncle Dwight G. Howell, both nationally recognized fly tiers; fishes with his two sons David and Andrew and his wife Melissa.
He is a widely acclaimed fly tyer; one of the signature fly designers for Umpqua Feather Merchants, and his patterns have been featured in such magazines as Fly Fisher, Eastern Fly Fishing, Fish and Fly and Fly Fisherman magazines.
Kevin was the Individual Fly Fishing Master’s Champion in 2006.
He is the author of The Southeast Fly Guide and co-author of Tying and Fishing Southern Appalachian Trout Flies and The Fifty Best Places to Fly Fish Southeast.
Served as a founding member of the NC Outdoor Heritage Advisory Committee, Heritage Council and Heritage Trust Fund.
Owner of Davidson River Outfitters and partner with Andes Drifters, Argentina.

Joe M. Messinger, Sr. - Class of 2017

(1892-1966)
Born in Beryl, West Virginia
Lived in Morgantown, West Virginia

Inducted posthumously as a professional fly tier who is widely recognized for the creativity and wisdom in designing the famed Irresistible pattern as well as other noted creations including the Nitehummer, Messinger Frog or Bucktail Frog, Meadow Frog, Golden Frog, Dogcatcher, Bleeding Bucktail Popper, and Bleeding Hair Frog.

Joe experienced serious war injuries with several years undergoing surgeries and rehabilitation after World War I.
Confined to a wheelchair, then a cane the rest of his life, his resourcefulness and talent brought to the fly-tying world clipped deer hair creations still popular for nearly a century: the Bucktail Frog, or Messinger Frog;in the 1920’s, the Nitehummer, simulatingmoths, or millers, and, the Irresistible with Joe’s own unique two-tone body.
A conservationist who advised state agencies on fisheries management practices in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland in the 1930s and 1940s.

Walter Oliver Cary - Class of 2016

Born in Strasburg, Virginia
Lives in Courtland, Virginia

Inducted as a professional popper maker who is well known for decades of creativity and wisdom in designing poppers that panfish and bass can’t resist. He is also widely recognized for his dedication to providing fly tying demonstrations and fly fishing presentations, working with novice anglers, kids and veterans.

Served in the Korean War 1951-52. Upon leaving the Army, he joined the Navy and retired in 1979 as a Master Chief.
Virginia Fly Fishing Festival Fly Tyer of the Year for 2000
Fly tying demonstrations in Virginia and North Carolina
Designed, created and produced over ninety unique poppers
Guest speaker for clubs, retirement communities, fly fishing shows, and for the Veteran’s Day Program, VFW Post 4411

George Gaines - Class of 2019

Born in Southern Louisiana
Lives in Washington DC area, Virginia

Inducted for his many contributions to fly fishing as a dedicated fly fishing volunteer, program developer, sponsor and leader of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and Trout Unlimited Tri-State Conservation & Fishing Camp.

Born in 1939 and was raised to love fishing by his Dad, on the Gulf of Mexico coast.
At age 10 he acquired his love for our mountains at a summer camp near Brevard.
He attended Tulane University, and in 1963 graduated from the University of Wyoming. He returned to Louisiana to help manage his family’s business until 1965, then back to Washington, launching a 43-year career at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
In 1999, he became active in fly fishing and in the National Capital Chapter of Trout Unlimited, serving as Chapter President and as the Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Council of Trout Unlimited. He is one of the founders and the Executive Director of the Trout Unlimited Tri-State Conservation & Fishing Camp for teen-age youth.
Since its inception in 2004, A founder, first treasurer and active volunteer (Walter Reed Army Medical Center) of the PHWFF Board of Trustees serving from 2006 to 2015. George served as National Capital Region’s Regional Coordinator from 2011 to 2018.

Joyce Shepherd - Class of 2018

Born in Eastern North Carolina
Lives in Charlotte, North Carolina

Inducted for her contributions to fly fishing as a volunteer of organizations that “give back” helping others recover from personal challenges, as a fly casting instructor, and for her leadership in NCWF, NCTU, RRTU and Casting Carolinas.

Joyce is a Joan Wulff-trained Fly Casting Instructor.
She serves on the Boards of NCWF, NC Council of TU, Rocky River Chapter of TU and other fly fishing organizations.
Joyce is a member and volunteer for Project Healing Waters, Casting Carolinas, Casting for Recovery, Carolina Fly Fishing Club and Fly Fishers International.
She co-founded Women on the Fly and works as facilitator for the organization.
Fly Fishing Instructor and Counselor for NCTU Rivercourse since 2002.
Joyce has been the NCTU Rivercourse Administration Director since 2016.

Starr Nolan - Class of 2017

Born in Greenville, South Carolina
Lives in Asheville, North Carolina

Inducted for her contributions to fly fishing as a fly fishing volunteer in many organizations, instructor, educator, clinical coach and for her regional and national leadership in the use of fly fishing as a method of therapy for recovering cancer patients.

Owner of Brookside Fly Fishing Guides
Past President and Board Director for Land O’Sky Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Fly Fishing Instructor for NCTU Rivercourse Camp, John C. Campbell School and North Carolina B.O.W. program.
Coordinated first CFR Retreat in Southeast in 2002; Coordinated CFR Carolinas 2002-2015; Regional Program Director for CFR National 2013-2015.
Executive Director for Casting Carolinas since 2015.

Dave Whitlock - Class of 2019

Born in Greenville, South Carolina
Lives in Asheville, North Carolina

Inducted in the Recreation category for his many contributions to fly fishing as a conservationist, innovator, fly fisher, fly tier, writer and artist. Dave is a member of the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, the Trout Hall of Fame, the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Game & Fish Hall of Fame.

A native to Oklahoma but lived in Tennessee for a few years when he was very young. Dave attended college in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He resigned his position as a research chemist, more than 40 years ago, and pooled his talents in painting, illustrating, writing, photography, fly fishing, fly tying and lecturing to embark on a full-time professional career in the art of fly fishing.
Dave’s art and writing appear regularly in many fly-fishing and sport publications such as Fly Fisherman Magazine, Fly Fishing and Tying Journal, Trout Magazine and others. He’s has illustrated, co-authored or contributed to many books and written five books: Dave Whitlock’s Guide to Aquatic Trout Foods, two L.L. Bean Fly Fishing Handbooks, Imitating and Fishing Natural Fish Foods for Lefty’s Little Library and Trout – A Compact Guide for Fly Fishers.
Dave is a member of the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, the Trout Hall of Fame, the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Game & Fish Hall of Fame. Other honors include four FFI awards, the Max Ander’s Wild Trout Award and the Lifetime Contribution Award from the National American Fly Tackle Trade Association.

Curtis Fleming - Class of 2018

Born in Clarksburg, West Virginia
Lives in Bridgeport, West Virginia

Inducted for his varied contributions to fly fishing as a fly fishing volunteer, fly fishing educator, fly fishing guide, and “Reality Fly Fishing” TV celebrity. A West Virginia fly fisherman, Fleming has been the host for more than fifteen seasons of the globally televised Fly Rod Chronicles.

Host for more than fifteen seasons of the globally televised Fly Rod Chronicles.
As an angler, conservationist and a protector of natural resources, Curtis has a long record and deep relationship with Trout Unlimited, WV Department of Natural Resources, Westervelt Ecological Services, and multiple other national and regional organizations.
Each season Curtis welcomes veterans to his show and life through his extensive work with organizations like: Project Healing Waters, Wounded Warriors and Trout Unlimited Veterans Service Partnership.

Mac Brown - Class of 2017

Born in Kirkwood, Missouri
Lives in Bryson City, North Carolina

Inducted for his varied contributions to fly fishing as a fly fishing volunteer of many organizations, guide, book author, instructor, coach and for his regional and national leadership in fly fishing competitions.

Author of Casting Angles, a fly casting handbook.
Associate Professor at Western Carolina University for fly fishing and fly casting programs at the collegiate level from 1994-2001.
Awarded Field and Stream Angler of the Year in 1999.
He has served as the Educator and Coach for Fly Fishing Team USA since 2009 and the Coach for Fly Fishing Team NC from 2008-2015.
Counselor, teaching fly and trout fishing in Boy Scouts of America.
Active with Casting for Recovery, Casting Carolinas, Project Healing Waters, and other volunteer based efforts to introduce, support and assist new fly fishers into the sport.
President of Bryson City Kawanis.

Bernard ‘Lefty’ Kreh - Class of 2017

(1925-2018)
Born in Fredrick, Maryland
Lived in Cockeysville, Maryland

Inducted on April 8, 2017 at the Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival for his many contributions to fly fishing as an outdoor writer with 31 books to his credit, innovative fly tyer especially known for his world-renowned Lefty’s Deceiver of the late-1950s and as a fly rod designer.

Lefty enlisted and served in World War II as a soldier in the 69th Infantry Division, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.
He has fished everywhere from the Chesapeake Bay and Rocky Mountains to Iceland and the Amazon.
Lefty developed fishing lessons for all fly-fishing anglers to live by through his thirty-one books.
He is the lead member of the TempleFork Outfitters rod design team, building high-performance rods at his life-long desire of affordable prices for anglers.

Wanda Hair Taylor - Class of 2016

Born in Dawnville, Georgia
Lives in Dalton, Georgia

Inducted for her many contributions to fly fishing in the Southeast as a professional guide, certified fly casting instructor and highly involved fly volunteer with Casting Carolinas, Project Healing Waters, Casting for Confidence and Casting for Recovery.

Professional Fly Fishing Guide and Instructor
First Female IFFF Master Certified Casting Instructor
Known as the “South’s First Lady of Fly Fishing"
Board Director for Casting Carolinas
Highly involved volunteer inProject Healing Waters, Casting for Confidence and Casting for Recovery