Cassie Spurling

Credentials

  • —Licensed Fly Fishing Guide — North Carolina
  • —Licensed Fly Fishing Guide — North Georgia
  • —Fly Fishing Scholarship recipient — Lee University, Cleveland, TN
  • —Active conservation advocate — southern Appalachian waters

Specialties

  • —Western North Carolina mountain streams
  • —North Georgia trout waters
  • —Dry fly & nymph techniques
  • —Patagonia & Idaho destination fishing
  • —Women's fly fishing instruction

Fly Fishing Guide & Instructor

Cassie Spurling

Some anglers find fly fishing. Cassie Spurling was born into it. Raised in the mountains of western North Carolina, Cassie was introduced to the outdoors almost before she could walk — and by the age of six, she was already wading streams and casting flies in the rivers, creeks, and lakes that define some of the most beautiful fishing country in the eastern United States. What started as a childhood adventure has become a lifelong calling.

Growing up in the Southern Appalachians gave Cassie an early and deep education in mountain waters. The rivers and streams of western North Carolina and the north Georgia region were her classroom, and she learned to read water, match hatches, and present a fly with the kind of intuitive skill that only comes from years of genuine immersion in the sport. That foundation proved strong enough to earn her a fly fishing scholarship to Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee — a testament to how seriously she had already taken the craft.

But Cassie's world has never been limited to home waters. Over the past decade, she has dramatically expanded her angling footprint, making regular journeys to some of the most celebrated fly fishing destinations on the planet. Her travels to Patagonia and Idaho have taken her into breathtaking, remote, and often demanding fishing environments — experiences that have sharpened her technical skills and broadened her understanding of fish behavior across vastly different ecosystems.

Today, Cassie holds fishing guide licenses in both North Carolina and North Georgia, and she remains deeply rooted in the mountain communities where her love of the sport first took hold. She is actively involved in conservation efforts aimed at protecting the streams and rivers she cherishes, and is committed to ensuring that the sport of fly fishing has a vibrant, healthy future for generations to come.

More than a guide, Cassie Spurling is an ambassador — for the rivers, for the mountains, and for a way of life built around wild places and clean water. She lives what she loves, and she loves sharing every cast of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Train with Cassie

The Fly Fishing Guide School enrolls a small cohort each season. Reserve your spot early.

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School dates, open spots, hatch reports, casting tips, and field notes from Bryson City — delivered monthly.

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