Helene Disaster Relief | Blue Ridge Guide Association | FT3 Film Festival

BLUE RIDGE GUIDE ASSOCIATION

HELENE DISASTER RELIEF

FT3 Film festival

BLUE RIDGE RELIEF

HELENE DISASTER RELIEF

A Disaster Relief Fund has been established within the Blue Ridge Guide Association for donations that will be earmarked directly for full-time fishing guides and outfitters/fly shops & lodges significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene. Guides, outfitters/fly shops & lodges that meet specific requirements can apply for relief funding to help compensate for loss of income or revenue during this tragic time.  When the donation period ends, funds will be allocated on an equal basis to qualifying applicants.

BRGA is currently accepting donations to lend financial assistance

to those who have been affected from the wrath of Helene.  

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FT3 Film festival

TOUR WIDE PRIZES

The F3T tour wide prize pool will be awarded at the end of the tour to the best responses to the question on the entry form.  Total prize pool is up to $10,000 and includes:

• Skwala Carbon Waders and Jacket set valued at more than $1,000

• NRS Drift Boat  valued at more than $5,500

• Sawyer Artisan Series Oars valued at approx $1,000

• Riversmith Rod Rack valued at approx $480

• Costa Sunglasses valued at approx $300

• Turtlebox Gen 2 valued at $399

SHOW PRIZES

The following prizes will be given away at the show today valued at more than $800!

• Winston Air 2 series 9’-6” - 4wt. rod with tube

• Bauer RVR series reel

• Costa Sunglasses 

• Greys Tail Reel

• Scientific Anglers Amplitude Infinity Fly Line

• YETI Loadout 5 Gallon Bucket, plus 2 x Yonder 750mL flasks

• Puffin Adventurer

• Oskar Blues merch pack

• All Hands Kolder Kaddies

• Yakoda $25 Voucher

• Adventure+ Streaming vouchers

• Plus other local prizes.

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BLUE RIDGE RELIEF

In addition, the president of Adipose Boatworks has been working with the Montana based Guide Relief Program and FLYLORDS to offer an additional bucket of funds that will lend financial assistance to those that have successfully completed their application on the GRP site https://guidereliefprogram.org/    Justin has generously donated a boat and has been working with other companies soliciting donations that will be included in a winner take all Platinum Package valued at $30,000.  This prize package will be raffled at $50.00 per ticket. Raffle ticket sales will be available through https://flylordsmag.com/blue-ridge-relief-giveaway/ and ticket sales will end on December 1st, 2024 and raffle draw on December 13th.   

   Tickets sale revenue will be filtered through the Guide Relief Program and allocated to qualifying candidates based on your application through the Guide Relief Programs website.  https://guidereliefprogram.org/

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or want to get involved!

Gray's Sporting Journal features Asheville Fly Fishing Company

AFFC featured in Gray’s Sporting Journal - January 2021

One of the most renowned sporting publications, Gray's Sporting Journal, is the world's leading periodical of sporting literature, art, and photography.

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Check out a great story on William Bartram and how we traced his travels along the Tennessee River in the latest issue of Gray's Sporting Journal, Volume 45 / Issue 7. We are honored to have been a part of such an epic adventure that will ring long in all our memories. That was fun!
Thanks to Gray's Sporting Journal for having us!

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South Holston River Fly Fishing - The fun is being had

The fun is being had

This is a true story of events during a guided trip on the South Holston River.

Gloria is a name you may hear being yelled from any number of rivers surrounding Asheville, NC. Sometimes its a coaxing whisper, sometimes a frustration yell and sometimes a chuckling cheerful G-L-O-R-I-A. My client, a dry fly purist and wonderful person to vicariously fish through is always searching for HER big fish, "Gloria." Today I heard Gloria's name being called several times from the back of the boat on the South Holston River.

The first time, I heard it echoing off the rock bluff to my 9 0'clock, glooooo-riaaaaa.
I turn around and the rod is bent over and the reel is singing. "Oh gloria" she said and I absolutely chuckled and netted a beautiful 18" wild brown trout caught on a size 18 sulfur mayfly emerger.

A few sighs and sips of water later and I hear the name again. Same deal, same fly, same chuckle. She taps her feet, claps her hands and dips them in the water for a quick grip-n-grin.

The FUN is being had.

While these were solid fish I knew they weren't Gloria. Gloria was a mile or so downstream. I saw her there in a particular location I had been two days prior with my client's husband. He and I spent about 2 hours working a big brown trout on dry flies. We trusted the process, rested the picky eater, tried again and again. We gave it our best but the stars just didn't align during that particular 2 hours.
I think many guides could say that women usually out fish men. I am not sure what magic is working there but its real and i've witnessed it time and time again. I will continue to observe and hopefully learn the magic. I say all this because when we pulled up to Gloria's doorstep she was waiting with a red dress on and passing out lemonade. We spent over an hour presenting flies and resting the fish. Of course, Gloria eventually ate HER fly. If we weren't the last boat on the water, everyone on the river would have heard Gloria's name shouted in unison by all three of us at the top of our lungs. It was such a joyful noise you'd think we were at church or a Van Morrison concert.
Cheers to all the G-L-O-R-I-A-S out there!

This is a true story of events during a guided trout float trip led by Galen Kipar on the South Holston River in East Tennessee.

Galen Kipar owns and operates Asheville Fly Fishing Company, a unique Southern Appalachian guide service offering a wide array of experiences, including immersive multi-day safari-style trips for Smallmouth Bass, Musky and Trout. For the last 15 years, he’s shared his passion and specialized knowledge of warm water smallmouth bass and trout species on the French Broad River, South Holston and Watauga Rivers with clients. He’s also partnered with regional conservation organizations to raise awareness of habitat protection and water quality. Fly fishing has led him all over the US, Bahamas, and Belize in piscatorial pursuits. Galen is a Field Advisor for Winston and Boulder Boatworks and a Bauer Reels Ambassador. On and off the water, he works with True Wealth Mentorship bringing together the life lessons of leadership and fly fishing for his guide staff and guests.

www.AshevilleFlyFishingCo.com / 828-779-9008

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