Why do you love fly fishing?

I love fly fishing because it’s about so much more than catching fish. It’s taken me to new places, introduced me to people I probably never would have crossed paths with otherwise, and given me friendships and experiences that extend beyond the water.

How did you get started in the sport?

I grew up fishing, but I always thought fly fishing was something you did in the mountains for trout. I had no idea you could do it in saltwater. One day I wandered into Sound Side, our local fly shop, and after that I couldn’t stop thinking about it; I started tying flies before I ever picked up a fly rod, which quickly turned into a serious problem. After a few months of tying, I finally gave fly fishing a shot, started chasing redfish in my home waters, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Where is your favorite place to fish and why?

North Carolina will always be my favorite place to fish. I’m sure there will be places all over the world that I’ll love fishing, but at some point I’m going to want to come home and while I’m there, I’ll probably still be wondering what the redfish are doing back home. From chasing those redfish in shallow water and albies off the coast to exploring tiny mountain streams for brook trout, there’s always something here.

What is your dream destination to fish?

I have so many places I want to fish that it’s hard to pick just one, but the idea of being deep in the Bolivian jungle chasing golden dorado on fly is pretty far up there. It’s as much about experiencing somewhere that wild and remote as it is about the fish.

Why is the Atollas brand special to you?

Everything I’ve had my hands on from Atollas has been extremely functional, but I also really appreciate the design and style. Every detail feels intentional with these boxes, and you can tell they were built and tested with time on the water. It’s gear that works well and gives me one less thing to worry about when I’m out fishing.

What Atollas product(s) are in your everyday carry? 

I keep 2-3 2GO Boxes and a Fly Caddy XL for wet flies on my skiff. When I’m on foot, either the 1GO Box or Micro Box is coming with me… shoot, sometimes I’ll have the 1GO in my bag and the Micro clipped to my waist or bag.

Which one is your favorite and why?

The Micro Box and 2GO Box are definitely my favorites. The 2GO gives me plenty of room to organize the different saltwater flies I want on the skiff, while the Micro is perfect when I want to travel light. Whether I’m walking the marsh or wading a mountain stream, I can clip it to my belt or bag and carry exactly what I need.