Fly Fishing Guide School Testimonials

Testimonials from participants and publications for the Fly Fishing Guide School located in the Smoky Mountains town of Bryson City, NC since 1987. We are flattered to have had so many friends leave kind comments on our Google my Business and our Facebook Business pages over the years. The best method for describing our company is through what others have left as reviews. Improve your personal skills for raising the bar of your efficiency and catch ratios on the water. For example, you will learn rowing skills, water reading water, fly casting diagnostics, fishing tactics, techniques, and strategies.

Many of the past clients claim they learned more in one week at the Fly Fishing Guide School than they have in three decades of being self-taught. This is flattering to hear for sure! We are humbled to be able to share our love of the great outdoors. Teaching others how to teach new folks interested in angling is most rewarding! I am blessed to carve out a living working in a field that I love!

In conclusion, we enjoy teaching the full spectrum of the sport. The art form of fly fishing is always evolving! In addition, the intrinsic value of what you come away with learning is the whole reason to enhance your journey! Therefore, we have assembled the most talented pool of outdoors educators in fly fishing in the Southeastern Region. These testimonials are here to provide you with reviews on these top levels of professionals.

Samuel Hanna, Columbus, OH (2022)

Mac Brown’s Guide School was a comprehensive and deep learning experience that I will never forget. Fly Fishing is a lifelong learning journey and one is fortunate to have Mac as a mentor.

Bob Showalter, Tampa, FL (2022)

Thanks to Mac and his crew I learned a lot about rowing, casting, presentation, and fishing setups. I met some great new fishing friends. I highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to improve their skills!

Alleigh Raymond, Hendersonville, NC (2022)

What a week this has been. I really don’t know where to begin in expressing the experience I had. My eyes have been opened to a wealth of knowledge that many go their whole life without learning. I feel privileged to have been a part of this great group of guys all hungry for knowledge of fly fishing. Between riverside laughs, fishing new techniques, and new friends made, it’s been a time I won’t soon forget.

Mark Kirkby, Norfolk, VA (2022)

Spent the last week developing my fly fishing skills and learning MANY more with four like-minded individuals from PA, NC, and OH. Mac Brown hosts his fly fishing guide school out of Bryson City, NC; a beautiful small town with a fishing problem. Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know until you know. The skills taught will push each of us to the next level in mastering the water no matter where we go.

Robert Allen, Murphy, NC (2021)

An absolutely fantastic week of being exposed to a tremendous amount of Fly Fishing knowledge and how to apply it as a guide. We are given ample time on the river with instructors to apply newly learned skills with further explanation and or demonstration if needed. My skill level in casting, choosing equipment, reading water, playing fish, landing fish, and general Fly Fishing knowledge base has drastically increased and that is a direct result of the Guide School. In addition, each of the anglers attending the school shared with each other at the end of the day, which proved to be invaluable, and also provided additional friendships (Oct 21 class had some awesome people!). EXCELLENT investment of time! This is what I was looking for and much more!

Jack Barr, Erie, PA (2021)

Absolutely wonderful school! The knowledge and instruction are from first-class instructors with a wealth of knowledge.
Without a doubt, this school will help you to become the fly fishing guide you aspire to be. I can’t thank Mac and Tony enough for the great experience! It’s one I will carry with me for years to come.

Jonathan Wurl, Rome, GA (2021)

The Guide School was fantastic. Great instructors who were all interested in helping us with every aspect of fly fishing. My casting is completely different since applying what I’ve learned, and the strategy and tactics that we were taught are going to change my overall approach every time I fish. The practical lessons we learned on how to interact with people that you guide are applicable in more than just fishing situations! I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in improving their casting, boosting their overall fishing strategies, or transitioning to guiding full time.

Ben Gregg Roanoke, VA (2021)

Mac’s guide school is spectacular. If you are wanting to learn everything there is about fly fishing, casting, and guiding then this is the school for you. Mac’s knowledge and team are the best of the best, you could not go wrong with this school.

Gary Perko, Burnsville, NC (2020)

“Mac is incredibly knowledgeable, insightful, and engaging. He draws you in with his enthusiastic demeanor and then imparts 35+ years of fly-fishing experience before you know it. He taught me several tactics that will improve my game immediately… and many others that make me eager to practice. I couldn’t be more satisfied with the whole experience!”

Terry MacKay, Saginaw, MI (2020)

“Great experience!!!! Don’t forget a couple of writing journals for all the knowledge you will hear. You can get answers to everything you have always wondered about. When you are finished, now comes improving your skills by applying the next level of “catching fish”. Have fun…fall was a great time of the year on the rivers.”

Harvey Church, Elizabethton, TN (2020)

“What a great experience!!!. Mac is truly brilliant. The information he shared put my fly fishing game ahead by decades. Thank you, Mac.”

Robert Ulmer, Sammamish, WA (2020)

“A full week of excellent fly fishing instruction from casting/line control, techniques/tactics, gear, strategies, and client management. Truly excellent program.”

Blayne Smith, Cinncinatti, OH (2020)

“I was exposed to an unbelievable amount of knowledge & expertise – just a tremendous learning experience – and a ton of fun, too! Thanks, Mac!”

Nathaniel Smith, Pittsburgh, PA (2020)

“As a recent graduate, I can vouch for Mac! The knowledge that is passed down to a student and the confidence that is built through the school is priceless.” testimonials

Danielle Johnson, Nashville, TN (2020)

“Mac is a great instructor and you will learn a lot!”

John Cadran, San Antonio, TX (2019)

“Mac Brown is a wealth of knowledge and will elevate your skills to the next level. Whether you aspire to be a competitive angler or looking to break into the guide industry, Mac will provide you with a strategy to achieve your goals. Mac synthesizes decades of knowledge into a week, which may take months to years to fully comprehend. If you are serious about Ph.D. level fly fishing, Mac is your teacher.”

Marlene Huston, Rochester, MN (2018)

“Great class! Mac’s energy and knowledge of fly fishing are extraordinary as well as the instructors/programs he has put together. This is a class you won’t want to miss.”

John Nabors, Madisonville, GA 2017

“I had the opportunity to attend this school, and I came away with so much more confidence in the education I received. Mac Brown and his staff are very knowledgeable and extremely talented. This is the real deal. This is the Mecca for the southeast. If not the world. If you are serious or want to get serious, this is your school to attend. The best education I’ve ever received.”

Gary Moore, Charlotte, NC (2018)

“I have learned more about fly casting in 2 hours with Mac Brown than in the past 20 years!” testimonials

Dayton Harmon, Brownsville, TX (2018)

“Mac’s knowledge of fly fishing & the will to share that knowledge with other fly fishermen is top-notch. I couldn’t be more pleased with the instruction, knowledge, & hands-on that Mac gave during our guide school.” testimonials

Carl Atwell, Marion, NC (2018)

“Best week ever! Mac Brown is without a doubt the most knowledgeable fly fishing instructor around! If you are interested in the sport, Mac is the guy to go to!”

Bryson City Rotary Club, Bryson City, NC (2017)

“The Fly Fishing Guide School is an asset for the town of Bryson City, NC-Trout Capital of the South East! The professionals teaching are the most experienced in the country! Their qualifications include five Master Casting Instructors certified through the FFI, two Hall of Fame inductees into the Southern Appalachia Fly Fishing Museum, multiple Fly Fishing Team USA members, and three ACA-certified whitewater instructors! Simply the best training and career placement for becoming a fishing guide!”

Trey Fargis, Raleigh, NC (2020)

“Can’t say enough good things about Mac and his Guide School! He completely changed my outlook and success in fly fishing. He is the most knowledgeable person I have ever met, and that extends well beyond fly fishing. If you have the chance, this is something you definitely want to take advantage of!”

Dayton Harmon, Fayetteville, NC (2018)

“Mac’s knowledge & love for fly fishing, along with the willingness to pass that onto fellow fly fishermen is top-notch. The amount of hands-on instruction, one on one time, and devoted time to one’s needs is unmatched. Not a better instructor out there in my opinion.”

Elizabeth Bunny Johns, Wesser Creek, NC (2017)

Jacob Van Der Meer, Athens, GA (2017)

“Mac Brown’s fly fishing guide school was incredible! During the course, I learned everything I need to be a successful guide. Mac Brown’s Fly Fishing Guide School and his staff have exceptional knowledge of the sport. Instruction includes fly casting, fly tying, and reading water. The educational aspect enabled an environment for an incredible amount of knowledge in fly fishing. The school provided me the tools to be a successful guide and to be confident when I go out on the water.” testimonials

Teresa Malone, Atlanta, GA (2017)

John Nabors, Madisonville, GA (2017)

“There is gold in those hills and Mac Brown has the tools to help you find it. I learned more in the past few days than I have in 20 years of fly fishing. Thanks for showing me the light.”

Curtis Reeves, Winston-Salem NC (2017)

“Mac Brown loves to teach and it shows. I knew there was much about fly fishing that I don’t know but I got a much deeper understanding after spending a few hours during a recent casting lesson. Mac is an absolute fly fishing encyclopedia and he shared many useful nuggets. If your desire is to take your game to another level, Mac is the guy who can help. He helped me hone my game.”

Greg Stuart, Atlanta, GA. (2017)

“Mac is extremely knowledgeable and enjoys sharing many years of expertise with others!”

Asheville Citizen-Times, NC, (1996)

“Brown has stomach pumped more than 13,000 local trout before releasing them. His daily journals have been translated into a computerized database. He has spent over 30,000 hours learning the art of fly fishing.”

Chattanooga Times, TN (1993)

“Mac Brown is a scientist as well as a fisherman. He carries a briefcase full of aquatic insects and statistical data to use for his programs. Mac Brown gathers many of these insects with a stomach pump throughout the year to see which insects are the meal of the day. When Mac is not on the water, he can be found at lectures and demos for Trout Unlimited, FFF, and other fly fishing conclaves and shows around the country.” testimonials

Testimonials from Media Publications

Blue Ridge Outdoors, Asheville, NC, (1994)

“Guide Mac Brown, director of the Fly Fishing Guide School from Bryson City convinced me to join him for a day on a stream. Dozens of fish later, with the trout running up to 20 inches in length, I had become an enthusiastic convert to the gospel of delayed harvest which he played a large role in starting on the upper Nantahala.”

The Angling Report, Miami, FL (1993)

“A day on a stream with Mac left me quite impressed. What you get is more than just a day of guided fishing. It is more personalized instruction tailored to the client’s wishes. I landed and released over 50 browns, bows, and brookies in the 10 to 16-inch class. I strongly recommend Mac Brown’s Fly Fishing Guide School to anyone wishing to fish the Smokies.”

Woodall’s Southern Journal, (1994)

“Serious fly fisherman wanting to perfect their skills can participate in the Mac Brown Fly Fishing Guide School programs.”

Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville, NC (1996)

“The hottest name these days is Mac Brown, a fly fishing guide, writer, and lecturer who has received both national and international acclaim. He has been considered by many to be the top fly fisherman to ever have worked the streams in the Smokies.”

The Angling Report, Miami, FL (1994)

“I heartily endorse guide Mac Brown’s Fly Fishing Guide School as a source of information and on-stream guidance. The results from a day on a stream with Mac were astounding. I caught scores of trout on dry fly patterns, with a few 20-inch-plus fish.”

Prince William Journal, VA (1995)

“For those committed anglers, there is Mac Brown’s Fly Fishing Guide School. Mac will take you to “where a river runs through it.”

The Flyline, NC Council of Trout Unlimited, (1993)

“Mac Brown’s Fly Fishing Guide School is a very knowledgeable resource with years of experience for teaching entomology, casting fundamentals, reading water, line control, and many other topics.”

The International Angler, (1995)

“Mac Brown’s Fly Fishing Guide School offers the highest quality private instruction and backcountry training trips in the Great Smoky Mountains.”