Patrick Fulkrod
Patrick is a local to Bristol and has been fly fishing since age ten. 2021 will represent Patrick's 15th year guiding. Patrick brings a lineup of credentials and accomplishments to his resume including national recognition as the 2014 Orvis Endorsed Guide of the Year. Patrick was also recognized as a 2012, 2013, and 2015 Orvis Endorsed Guide of the Year Finalist, 2007 Graduate of the Western Rivers Professional Guide School, Orvis-Endorsed Fly-Fishing Guide since 2007, and a Clackacraft Drift Boat’s Pro Staff Member. Patrick's favorite method to catch a trout is on a #20 midge.
Troy Runyan
Troy has 30+ years of fly fishing experience with a particular fondness for feisty smallmouth bass. Husband, father, Army veteran and career firefighter, Troy enjoys the exciting opportunities fly fishing brings novice and experienced anglers alike. Having family tracing across the U.S. and abroad, Troy has been blessed with many different fly angling experiences and has honed his craft on numerous species of fish. Given his choice, Troy would take a 9' 6" #6 weight, Orvis Recon fly rod after angry bronzebacks with a size 2 wiggle minnow on a floating/sinking Orvis HD fly line.
Sam Dennis
Sam, also known as "Sam-Bug" amongst the other guides is young and humble, he is very enthusiastic and passionate about fly fishing. He has been doing it since he was ten years old and he cannot get enough of it. Whether it is him catching fish or seeing others fish, Sam is one fishy guy! Sam is a full time student at East Tennessee State University majoring in business management. Sam loves being well rounded when it comes to catching trout - He loves stalking big browns on low water but he also doesn't mind a good sulphur hatch. It is also no rare occasion to catch him out at night, hunting for the big brown trout chucking big streamers and mice patterns. Sam knows how to get the job done.
Brady Carter
Brady was introduced to fly fishing during middle school, when he bought an Orvis setup with some local advice from Patrick Fulkrod. Since landing his first brown trout on a Beetle fly pattern, Brady was hooked! Brady was born and raised in Bristol TN - a fly fishing paradise for a kid, with all the area's many rivers and creeks. Brady went to Montreat College, receiving a BS degree in Outdoor Education. He was certified as a River Guide with safety, education and fun at the core of a professional experience. Brady is also certified in ACA Swift Water Rescue, CPR/First Aid, Wilderness Education Association's Outdoor Leader. Leaving the Southeast he followed his passion for adventure in the outdoors and lived in Colorado for 7 years. Brady graduated from Worldcast Angler's Western Waters Guide School with honors in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and was a Fly Fishing Guide on the Colorado River. He is more excited then ever to come back to his home waters and partner with SHRC in providing the areas top guide service and experiences to last a lifetime.
Clint Waddell
Born and raised in the foothills of Southwest Virginia, Clint grew up trout fishing the mountain streams and rivers while on camping trips with his family. In his teenage years, he was introduced to fly fishing and instantly fell in love with everything fly fishing represented. While at Virginia Tech (B.S. '01), he continued to fly fish and was able to sneak an elective into his curriculum to learn more about a bug's life - aquatic entomology. After a surgery complication in July of 2016, Clint realized he was missing the great outdoors and wanted to get back to his roots. He completed Western Rivers Guide School in 2017, bought Patrick Fulkrod's 2016 Clackacraft Eddy and has been fishing every opportunity. His professional career has included sales/marketing, management and is currently the owner of Blue Mountain Therapy. "The only thing better than watching a rising trout take your fly, is watching the excitement of a client experience a rising trout take their fly."
Todd Hare
As a student at Virginia High School in Bristol, Virginia, Todd learned to fly fish in a class called Advanced Physical Education - This was in 1986. Later that year, Todd purchased gear from Orvis and began fishing the South Holston on a weekly basis. As his love of the sport grew, Todd began taking family and classmates to share the experience. Guiding others became as much a love, as fly fishing itself. Later on, Todd offerred wade trips part time. Fly fishing has taken him to some wonderful places all over the U.S. and countries with his favorites being; California, Idaho, the Keys, Germany and Czech Republic. Todd spends his free time mostly on the South Holston or Watauga River chasing browns, birdwatching and just enjoying our area's wildlife.
Trey Taylor
Trey grew up locally in Bristol, Tennessee, fishing with his dad from the time he could walk. Trey has over 10 years of experience as a guide on local lakes and rivers. He has fished across Tennessee and also has experience fishing in coastal waters around Jupiter, Fa. and Morehead City, NC. He is versatile and capable of fishing for multiple species of fish using a variety of methods. Trey's favorite target is Striped Bass because they are a larger sized, striking fish and provide a strong fight. He prefers conventional tackle which can produce multiple varieties of fish in a single day, such as Stripers, Hybrid Bass, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. For a greater challenge, these fish can also be caught on a fly rod. Trey uses a Jet Boat to provide access to all all local rivers and lakes, for those who wish to fish for Trout with spinning or fly rods. Trey will always go the "extra mile" to offer a fun and rewarding experience for all anglers.
Shane Griffith
Growing up in Southwest Virginia on the border of Tennessee, you could almost bet that Hunting & Fishing was going to be a big part of Shane’s life. Shane was introduced to trout fishing by his Papaw, Mr. James Mann at the age 7. As years passed and times moved on, Shane started tournament bass fishing. In 2004, Shane was introduced to fly fishing and never looked back to the tournament bass fishing. Shane's down to earth personality and passion for helping & teaching others has provided the foundation for his fly fishing career. Hop in Shane's boat and you will see why everyone likes to fish with him.
Chris Hopson
Chris Hopson was born and raised in Bristol, Tennessee and is a Lieutenant for the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department. He started fishing for crappie and bass at a young age and pursued bass fishing as an adult. Chris has won many area bass tournaments and also won Angler of the Year in 2019. His greatest accomplishment was becoming the 2017 champion of the Big Bass Tour on Lake Guntersville in Alabama. Although Chris still competes as a bass angler, his love for the water has brought him to trout fishing and he is very excited to start a career in guiding.
Matt Murphy
Matt is from Johnson City, Tennessee where he graduated from Milligan College with a B.S. in Business Management. Matt grew up fishing eastern tailwaters and mountain streams of East Tennessee, but his passion drove him westward to pursue a career in fly-fishing for the past decade. Matt has been guiding on the Henry's Fork in Idaho since 2011 and has proven to be a hard worker as well as a talented angler. Matt has recently returned home to pick up where "it all started" - on the South Holston River.
Barry Heller
Barry has been fly fishing for over 50 years, and has been lucky enough to fish all over the globe. He now splits his time between the beaches of SC, and the tailwaters of Tennessee, where he loves to show people the various techniques unique to the TN Tailwaters. Nothing gets him more excited than seeing his clients cast to rising fish, whether it’s with dry’s, emergers or swinging soft hackles. Barry is a graduate of Western Rivers Guide School, a Certified Casting Instructor and trained in Swift Water Rescue, as well as First-Aid. Working with the SHRC team has been a goal of his, and he is excited to partner with us to provide clients with lifelong memories, willing to do whatever he can to insure a great day on the water.
Zeke Shelton
Zeke was born in Kingsport Tennessee and started fishing when he was 8 years old. He picked up fly fishing in early high school. Patrick sold him his first fly rod, and since then he was hooked. Zeke is excited to be working for SHRC which has been a long time goal to become a professional fly fishing guide. He looks forward to getting out on the water and providing a great day of instruction and fun for clients. He is CPR and first aid certified. Zeke is ready to do anything and everything possible to ensure a great day on the water.
Cy Neyman
Cy was born and raised in Lexington Kentucky and was introduced to fly fishing as a kid learning in local streams in Kentucky and traveling to Tennessee to fish the Great Smoky Mountains. Fishing the South Holston river for the first time, and catching fish on dry flies was what got him hooked. He has fished the South Holston for seven years now and after fishing in Montana, it’s still his favorite river. He followed his passion and moved to Tennessee to attend East Tennessee State University to study Media Communications. His favorite way to catch fish is casting dry flies in a good sulphur hatch. He is excited to be partnering with the SHRC and can’t wait to get out on the water and let people experience what he did when first starting to fly fish.