2011- Living a Dream

David with his 1st Cobia on the Fly!

    Through out the year of 2011 I learned a lot about life and realized I was living the life I've always dreamed about, and most of all on the right path to a great career. Most people say as you get older you realize things you didnt think about when you were younger, and now I see exacly what they mean. I realized this year that when you have a passion for your job, you give all heart and soul into everything for that job. As a fly fishing guide my passion for fishing turned into a passion for guiding, and through the past year that passion and dedication as a guide showed itself in a lot of different ways, which led to an unforgettable year of guiding.

   Starting my career in October of 2009 at 18 years old was something not many people do, but I was focused and ready to prove myslef which was a risk I took instead of going to college. The realization that I could take my passion for fishing and turn it into a job hit me instantley after my first charter for tailing reds on the fly. From that very first charter I learned a tremendous amount about being a guide, and cant even start to explain how much I've learned in the past 3 years guiding. It seems that every day on the water is a new day of learning as a guide, because you have new clients, new seasons, new weather, changing tactics, and most of all a lot of time on the water which is followed by true experience to better yourself and your ability as a professional fly fishing guide.

Gary and his son Scott with there keepers

    One factor of guiding that was very ovious from the start was that it wasnt always about catching fish, but the learning experience in a whole, and really helping guest learn and understand our fishery here in Beaufort. From the double haul cast, sight casting to redfish, looking for cobia, the tides, certain flies, weather patterns, are all things that I teach my guests about when were on the water. The learning experience of a charter makes the feeling of landing a redfish or cobia 4 times better because you know exacly what it takes just to catch a fish, which makes the experience of fishing in the low country unforgettable. Every day I'm on the water with guest's teaching and experiencing with them the fishery I was born and raised on, I get a feeling that doesnt have words to explain it, a feeling that tells me I'm where I belong.

    

Calyton with his 1st red on the fly!
 They key Ive found as a guide is to always have fun, and never let something slow down the moral of the trip. Whether you have a bad caster, lose a big fish, have a slow day, or really windy weather, always stay positive and the trip will end great because fishing is fun, and as a professional it should always be fun. Some of my favorite days on the water are with beggining saltwater fly fisherman because they in most cases have a tough time casting and seeing fish, but then get ahold of the double-haul cast and seeing the fish, which leads to landing there first redfish! Watching any guest land there first redfish always makes my day, and most of all a great memory for them.

Bob with a true 1st redfish smile!

    The past year was full of absolutely awesome days on the water, which led to some great relationships with clients and friends. Getting a lot of return clients was my goal from the start, and a goal that was being met while fishing some great return guests from 2010. Fishing here in the low country is so unique do to the tides, seasons, and how we target redfish and Cobia, which leads to a lot of people wanting to get back down to target a certain experience of fishing whether its tailing reds, cobia, schooled up reds at low tide, or the fall months between September and October when the weathers perfect and the bite is incredible. The changing seasons are what I love about our fishery, and something I like to see people experience first hand.

     

Jarret and Thomas with a nice double

     I found that building relationships with friends and fellow anglers also taught me a lot when it comes to finding new tactics, having fun, and scouting new areas. This year I fished with a lot of new people on my days off, which led to some very exciting memories. One goal I have for 2012 is to fish with people from all around the nation who have the same life style as I do. This year I had some great days with friends like Patrick Fulkrod who is an Orvis guide in Bristol, Va, Thomas Weldon who works for Hunter Banks in NC, Bryan Bowers who is a writer for SC Sportsman and Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine, Oliver White from Abaco Lodge in the Bahamas, and of course all my local buddies who are just as addicted to fishing as I'am. 

Orvis Guide Patrick Fulkrod with a nice red

Thomas from Hunter Banks in NC giving some fish love

    One very new event for me that was introduced this year was "Reds and Rails" or "Cast and Blast". This is a charter we provided when you can shoot Marsh Hen in the morning, and catch redfish in the afternoon, and to me it is one of the greatest trips to run! From this came a great article in the SC Sportsman by a good friend and fellow fly fisherman Brian Bowers, and also a contract with CCA South Carolina for 5 Donations I did for there fall banquets. It also led to an article and photo shoot I did with Thomas McIntyre who is a writer from Sports Afield Magazine, which will be my first National Publication at 21 years old. To top it all off I also did a short video about reds and rails for a new upcoming website called sportsmanonline.com which will launch the end of January. It amazed me how sportsman were so excited about a cast and blast trip and I can't wait to see the popularity of Reds and Rails grow within the next few years. 

Pat and Lance there limit of Rails

    Being such a young guide I always get excited when big things happen, especially when it comes to publications. Growing up you read about guides, see there photos, and dream of being like them one day. That dream for me came true more than once in 2011. During the last year I was featured in 5 different issues of SC Sportsman Magazine, had a published article in the Ladys Island News Paper, a feature photo in the Beaufort Gazette, our team of guides at Bay Street Outfitters picked readers choice Best Fishing Charter Service in Beaufort, winning the Scout Boats video contest, helping produce 2 new videos "Reds on the Rise" and "Wake", placed 2nd in the Brays Island Redfish Tournament out of 10 other guides, and finished the year with a photo-shoot with Sports Afield magazine for a marsh hen article. Doing all of this at the age of 20 was something I never thought would happen, and it made me realize that hard work and dedication always pays off in the end.

2nd Place finish with two lady anglers 

Sports Afield photo-shoot

     Guiding is a passion to me, and when your passionate about your job it will always show to the highest extent in the end. Now at the "legal" drinking age of 21 and 3 years into my career as a guide, I never would of thought that I'd be were I'am today. Everyday I thank my Father and Mother for everything they did for me growing up, and teaching me to love and respect the water. I thank my boss Tony Royal for giving me the opportunity to become an Orvis guide at such a young age, and giving me the chance to share my passion for guiding and prove my capability. Tuck Scott who is a fellow guide, and idol to me as a guide, has taught me tons about the profession, and I hope that some day I can be as helpful to someone as Tuck has been to me. All the support from my family and friends means everything to me, they have helped me in every way possible. My goals for 2012 are high, and I can't even start to explain how excited I'am to see what the new year brings!!!

A nice red caught with my buddy Bryan Bowers

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