Capt. Kyle Fronrath

Kyle Fronrath specializes in fishing Fontana Lake and the rivers that feed it. He began guiding professionally in 2007, and puts his clients on nearly every species of game fish found here in the Smokies on the fly or conventional tackle, by wading, kayak fishing, or pontoon boat. He currently holds a United States Coast Guard Master Captains License, and is wilderness First Aid/CPR trained by the American Red Cross. Kyle was a member of the Jackson Kayak National Fishing Team, and served as one of sixty International Ambassadors for GreenFish, a group of anglers dedicated to making a positive impact on fisheries and the environment at large.

Kyle was selected and employed by Harvard University to assist in mercury contamination studies by providing valuable insight and field samples from the freshwater fish inhabiting the Great Smoky Mountains Western region. He also provides fish for the Southern Appalachian Rivers Aquarium in downtown Bryson City, NC. Kyle’s local fishing expertise has been featured in NC Sportsman & Kayak Angler Magazine, as well as nationally televised on Fox Sport South’s Anglers & Appetites and X-treme Christian Outdoor’s television series highlighting the Tuckasegee River & Fontana Lake. Kyle enjoys guiding anglers of all ages and skill levels. He was selected as a regional fishing guide for the Wounded Warrior Project, and is currently one of only 128 fishing guides in the country that have been certified by the International Game Fish Association. He has guided clients to a total of five IGFA World Records over the span of his guiding career. Including two All Tackle Length records, one All Tackle Line Class record, one Junior Weight record, and one All Tackle Bass Fantasy Slam record. He has become a go to guide in North Carolina for assisting anglers competing in the IWFA & IGFA competitions for most fish species caught in a calendar year.

Capt. Justin Anderson

Justin Anderson specializes in fly fishing, and brings nearly 30 years of fishing experience to Fontana Guides. He very much enjoys meeting new clients, teaching, and sharing his knowledge of fly fishing. Justin’s knowledge in the sport of fly fishing has been featured in NC Sportsman Magazine, and nationally televised on the X-treme Christian Outdoor’s television show highlighting the Tuckasegee River and also the Carolina All Out television series highlighting fly fishing in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park .

He has an educational background in wildlife and forestry, and is a world class taxidermist. He has practiced the art of taxidermy for 22 years, and has had the opportunity to artistically mount animals from all over the world. Justin’s skill set carries over to the fly tying vice. He is an incredibly skilled fly tier, and you will have the opportunity of using his flies when you fish with him. He also holds a current United States Coast Guard Captains License, and is wilderness First Aid/CPR trained by the American Red Cross.

Capt. James Gale

Capt. James specializes in fishing Fontana Lake and the Tuckasegee River for us. James grew up an avid bass angler in South Florida before moving to Wisconsin where he spent over twenty years fishing the Midwest for smallmouth, walleye, and northern pike. James is a licensed captain with the United States Coast Guard and before joining our team four years ago, split his guiding career between the freshwater systems of Wisconsin and chasing saltwater species in the Gulf based out of Marco Island, FL with Light Em Up Charters.

James has the perfect demeanor for anglers of all ages and skill types. His laid back, yet spontaneous approach to guiding has him in high demand, especially with younger anglers and special need clients. He is going into his fourth year guiding with us and possesses all the tools to give any angler a fun and memorable day on the water! When James is not guiding you can typically find him chasing trout on his home waters of the Tuckasegee River or exploring the vast system of Fontana Lake for bass and other lake species. Capt. James is Wilderness First Aid & CPR certified by the American Red Cross.

Thomas Grimes

Thomas Grimes is a North Carolina native, who has been fishing since he was just two years old. In 2008 he moved to Cullowhee and began chasing fish all over Western North Carolina. He graduated from Western Carolina University in 2012 with a degree in Entrepreneurship. In 2014 he graduated from the Western Rivers Guide schooling Victor Idaho. Thomas has spent time guiding both fishing and hunting in Jackson Wyoming as well as many seasons in North Carolina. Whether you are a seasoned angler or a complete beginner his patience and many hours on the water make for an enjoyable day.

Thomas has been rowing the Fontana drainages since 2009 and has guided people of all ages from around the globe. He is once again returning to guide in Spring 2021 after earning a degree in Horticulture from Sandhills Community College. Whether you want to chase fish on spin tackle, or fish his custom handmade flies in search of your next trophy catch, Thomas is glad to take you out and show you some of his favorite water Western North Carolina has to offer.

Capt. Matt Gaffigan

Matt is a lifelong fisherman, who has been fishing with Fontana Guides on Fontana lake, and the rivers that feed into it, for over a decade. He is a certified Coast Guard captain, and holds multiple medical qualifications for first aid, CPR, and field trauma. Matt continues to actively fish all across North America, chasing bass, trout, walleye, northern Pike, and other freshwater species from the United States up through Canada. 

Matt retired from the US military after 28 years on active duty, to live amongst the Great Smoky Mountains with his wife and kids. He specializes in guiding pontoon boat trips on Fontana Lake and wade & walk spinning tackle trips on the Tuckasegee River.

Brandon Noble

Brandon grew up in Michigan. He spent seven Summers in Western Alaska guiding before coming to Western North Carolina to continue his career as a fishing guide in 2018.

Brandon specializes in fly fishing instruction and guiding float trips for us on the Tuckasegee River as well as wade trips on the Cherokee Indian Reservation trout water.

Andrew Gayheart

Look no further for the ultimate Great Smoky Mountain Fishing Experience! We offer guided fishing trips year-round in beautiful Western North Carolina. Fly fishing or conventional tackle, river or lake fishing, wade or float trips. Choose to fish Fontana lake, Tuckasegee River, Little Tennesee River, Oconaluftee River and more!

Nick Johnson

We are an independent guide service, and do not have a retail focus. We guide on 100% public water all the time. Our goal is to give you a first class experience on the water highlighted with professionalism and preparation. When you fish with us you can count on a true professional, experienced, friendly, knowledgeable, and patient guide. We want you to have a memorable and fun experience, leaving you with a new knowledge base you can apply to your own future fishing endeavors. We are fully licensed and insured.

Wes Buchanan

Wes Buchanan is born and raised in North Carolina. He specializes in river float trips using both fly and light spinning tackle. Wes has a degree in Environmental science with a biology minor and has a plethora of knowledge on local wildlife. He also is a graduate of The Western Rivers Guide School in Victor, Idaho where he learned how to handle big water and guide like a professional.

Wes has been fishing all his life and loves sharing his knowledge with others. He targets all species of fish found in the local area and is passionate about taking care of fish and their habitat. Wes has a real passion for guiding and is constantly searching out new water to try and find the most productive areas. He floats many different rivers and pieces of water and tries to be versatile when it comes to bad weather or adverse conditions. When Wes is not on the water you can typically find him in the Hunter Banks Fly Shop in Asheville helping anglers get outfitted for fishing our home waters. Wes has a certification from the American Red Cross in CPR and First Aid.

Matt Barnes

Born and raised in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, Matt’s life in fishing has taken him far and wide. He began guiding on the wild trout streams of the southern Smokies before his obsession led him west where he worked on the freestone rivers and tail waters of southwest Colorado and northern New Mexico.

These days, Matt resides in the mountains of Asheville, NC completely content with the endless fishing opportunities that southern Appalachia offers. In the summer season, Matt travels north to Alaska guiding salmon fishing at the world famous Unalakleet River Lodge. Prior to guiding, Matt served in the Army and as a combat veteran, Matt recognizes the therapeutic value of nature and can personally attest to the healing power that comes from spending a day on the water chasing flies to fish. When not guiding, Matt is likely still on the water, chasing trout, bass or musky and often accompanied by his loyal boat dog, Davey.

Jake Smith

Jake grew up in Northern California, where some of his earliest memories were of chasing stripers in the California Delta with his dad and grandfather. Most of his youth was spent fishing conventionally, but everything changed in college when he picked up his first fly rod. Jake was instantly hooked, and soon found himself driving to rivers across the Southeast, always chasing the next bite.

Jake attended Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky, where he studied communication and competed on the collegiate mountain biking team. During that time, he fell in love with the beauty of Western North Carolina, and after graduating in 2017, he decided to make it his home. Years of fishing and countless memories later, Jake is proud to be a fly fishing guide in Western North Carolina. He considers it a privilege to help anglers of all skill levels improve and share in the joy of the sport.

Michael Bradley

Michael Bradley is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the USA World Championship Fly Fishing Team. He has won numerous fly-fishing events around the East Coast, and is well versed in both fly fishing and conventional tackle. Michael has held a top 10 spot on Fly Fishing Team USA and has traveled all over the country to compete in national events. When he’s not competing or organizing local fishing tournaments, he’s guiding and fishing 300 days out of the year.

Michael specializes in guided trips on his home waters of the Cherokee Indian Reservation, inside the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the Tuckasegee River, and also Nantahala Lake for us. Michael has been featured in Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine and also The Articulate Fly Podcast. Michael intends to give avid and new fishermen the opportunity to have the best experience possible on our local waters. Michael has a certification from the American Red Cross in CPR and First Aid.