Meet the SHRC Team
Patrick Fulkrod
Patrick is a local to Bristol and has been fly fishing since age ten. 2022 will represent Patrick's 16th year guiding. Patrick brings a lineup of credentials and accomplishments to his resume including national recognition as the 2014 Orvis Endorsed Guide of the Year. Patrick was also recognized as a 2012, 2013, and 2015 Orvis Endorsed Guide of the Year Finalist, 2007 Graduate of the Western Rivers Professional Guide School, Orvis-Endorsed Fly-Fishing Guide since 2007, and a Clackacraft Drift Boat’s Pro Staff Member. Patrick's favorite method to catch a trout is on a #20 midge.
Troy Runyan
Troy has 30+ years of fly fishing experience with a particular fondness for feisty smallmouth bass. Husband, father, Army veteran and career firefighter, Troy enjoys the exciting opportunities fly fishing brings novice and experienced anglers alike. Having family tracing across the U.S. and abroad, Troy has been blessed with many different fly angling experiences and has honed his craft on numerous species of fish. Given his choice, Troy would take a 9' 6" #6 weight, Orvis Recon fly rod after angry bronzebacks with a size 2 wiggle minnow on a floating/sinking Orvis HD fly line.
Sam Dennis
Sam, also known as "Sam-Bug" amongst the other guides is young and humble, he is very enthusiastic and passionate about fly fishing. He has been doing it since he was ten years old and he cannot get enough of it. Whether it is him catching fish or seeing others fish, Sam is one fishy guy! Sam is a full time student at East Tennessee State University majoring in business management. Sam loves being well rounded when it comes to catching trout - He loves stalking big browns on low water but he also doesn't mind a good sulphur hatch. It is also no rare occasion to catch him out at night, hunting for the big brown trout chucking big streamers and mice patterns. Sam knows how to get the job done.
Brady Carter
Brady was introduced to fly fishing during middle school, when he bought an Orvis setup with some local advice from Patrick Fulkrod. Since landing his first brown trout on a Beetle fly pattern, Brady was hooked! Brady was born and raised in Bristol TN - a fly fishing paradise for a kid, with all the area's many rivers and creeks. Brady went to Montreat College, receiving a BS degree in Outdoor Education. He was certified as a River Guide with safety, education and fun at the core of a professional experience. Brady is also certified in ACA Swift Water Rescue, CPR/First Aid, Wilderness Education Association's Outdoor Leader. Leaving the Southeast he followed his passion for adventure in the outdoors and lived in Colorado for 7 years. Brady graduated from Worldcast Angler's Western Waters Guide School with honors in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and was a Fly Fishing Guide on the Colorado River. He is more excited then ever to come back to his home waters and partner with SHRC in providing the areas top guide service and experiences to last a lifetime.
Cy Neyman
Cy was born and raised in Lexington Kentucky and was introduced to fly fishing as a kid learning in local streams in Kentucky and traveling to Tennessee to fish the Great Smoky Mountains. Fishing the South Holston river for the first time, and catching fish on dry flies was what got him hooked. He has fished the South Holston for seven years now and after fishing in Montana, it’s still his favorite river. He followed his passion and moved to Tennessee to attend East Tennessee State University to study Media Communications. His favorite way to catch fish is casting dry flies in a good sulphur hatch. He is excited to be partnering with the SHRC and can’t wait to get out on the water and let people experience what he did when first starting to fly fish.
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Todd Hare
As a student at Virginia High School in Bristol, Virginia, Todd learned to fly fish in a class called Advanced Physical Education - This was in 1986. Later that year, Todd purchased gear from Orvis and began fishing the South Holston on a weekly basis. As his love of the sport grew, Todd began taking family and classmates to share the experience. Guiding others became as much a love, as fly fishing itself. Later on, Todd offerred wade trips part time. Fly fishing has taken him to some wonderful places all over the U.S. and countries with his favorites being; California, Idaho, the Keys, Germany and Czech Republic. Todd spends his free time mostly on the South Holston or Watauga River chasing browns, birdwatching and just enjoying our area's wildlife.
Shane Griffith
Growing up in Southwest Virginia on the border of Tennessee, you could almost bet that Hunting & Fishing was going to be a big part of Shane’s life. Shane was introduced to trout fishing by his Papaw, Mr. James Mann at the age 7. As years passed and times moved on, Shane started tournament bass fishing. In 2004, Shane was introduced to fly fishing and never looked back to the tournament bass fishing. Shane's down to earth personality and passion for helping & teaching others has provided the foundation for his fly fishing career. Hop in Shane's boat and you will see why everyone likes to fish with him.
Chris Hopson
Chris Hopson was born and raised in Bristol, Tennessee and is a Lieutenant for the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department. He started fishing for crappie and bass at a young age and pursued bass fishing as an adult. Chris has won many area bass tournaments and also won Angler of the Year in 2019. His greatest accomplishment was becoming the 2017 champion of the Big Bass Tour on Lake Guntersville in Alabama. Although Chris still competes as a bass angler, his love for the water has brought him to trout fishing and he is very excited to start a career in guiding.
Matt Murphy
Matt is from Johnson City, Tennessee where he graduated from Milligan College with a B.S. in Business Management. Matt grew up fishing eastern tailwaters and mountain streams of East Tennessee, but his passion drove him westward to pursue a career in fly-fishing for the past decade. Matt has been guiding on the Henry's Fork in Idaho since 2011 and has proven to be a hard worker as well as a talented angler. Matt has recently returned home to pick up where "it all started" - on the South Holston River.
Barry Heller
Barry has been fly fishing for over 50 years, and has been lucky enough to fish all over the globe. He now splits his time between the beaches of SC, and the tailwaters of Tennessee, where he loves to show people the various techniques unique to the TN Tailwaters. Nothing gets him more excited than seeing his clients cast to rising fish, whether it’s with dry’s, emergers or swinging soft hackles. Barry is a graduate of Western Rivers Guide School, a Certified Casting Instructor and trained in Swift Water Rescue, as well as First-Aid. Working with the SHRC team has been a goal of his, and he is excited to partner with us to provide clients with lifelong memories, willing to do whatever he can to insure a great day on the water.
Zeke Shelton
Zeke was born in Kingsport Tennessee and started fishing when he was 8 years old. He picked up fly fishing in early high school. Patrick sold him his first fly rod, and since then he was hooked. Zeke is excited to be working for SHRC which has been a long time goal to become a professional fly fishing guide. He looks forward to getting out on the water and providing a great day of instruction and fun for clients. He is CPR and first aid certified. Zeke is ready to do anything and everything possible to ensure a great day on the water.
Todd Boyer
Todd Boyer is one of the most respected fly-fishermen and flytiers residing in East Tennessee. At just 17 years old, Todd picked up the art of fly fishing and officially entered the professional industry just five years later. Throughout his 25+ year career, he has guided and taught hundreds of individuals while drifting down the Watauga and South Holston rivers. He’s also taught fly casting lessons at East Tennessee State University, held fly tying workshops within the community, managed fly fishing shops and departments, and he has developed, tied and sold his own flies. Boyer is a comprehensive guide who excels at teaching the first-time fly fisher and helping the seasoned anglers reel in a big catch.
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As a fly designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants, Todd is the creator of Todd’s Wiggle Minnow, an innovative fly that was named by Field and Stream as one of “The 15 Coolest Fly Patterns Made by Umpqua Feather.” When Todd is not casting a line into the river, he gives back by participating in community waterway cleanups.
Logun Shell
Born and raised in East Tennessee, Logun has had hunting and fishing ingrained in him since a child. He grew up fishing mountain streams with traditional tackle until age 12 when his dad brought home his first fly rod and ever since then has been chasing any fish that can be caught on a fly rod from rising brown trout, lurking river bass, to schooling costal fish. He is very passionate about fly fishing and the conservation of the sport. Logun is an Airforce veteran and is a Lieutenant Paramedic in Johnson City, TN with specializations in Tactical Medicine, Swift Water Rescue, and Technical Rope Rescue from Rescue 3 International. On his days off you can find him fly fishing with his loving wife and playing sports with his son. Logun is more excited than ever to partner SHRC as this has been an enormous goal for him. He has a lot to offer clients with a laid-back southern personality and the passion to help teach others the sport of fly fishing.
Mitch Kincaid
Mitch is a native to East Tennessee, and the many bodies of water that call it home. As a child, he started fishing the lakes for bluegill and carp with his grandmother until a fly rod was put in his hand at age 13 and he fell in love. In 2014, Mitch made the move to make fly fishing his career. He attended Colorado Mountain College’s Professional Fly Fishing Guide Certification course then spent four summers guiding in Colorado, while working in fly shops back home in the winter. When not on the water, you can find Mitch with his 3 kids and wonderful wife or behind a vise tying up bugs for the next outing!
Kodi Pickle
Kodi was born and raised in the small town in Southwest Virginia. This is where he still resides with his wife Kelli, son Kade, and springer spaniel Jolene. Growing up just a couple of miles from either a river full of bass, or a stream full of trout was perfect while growing up. With the help of his Dad, fishing became something he did at least 2-3 times a week as a kid. He was introduced to fly fishing as a Boy Scout attending Merit Badge University at East Tennessee State University. That was where the fly fishing addiction all began. He started work at the Virginia Creeper Fly Shop in 2016. In 2018 Kodi graduated Western Rivers Professional Guide School. After completing guide school, he purchased a Clakacraft low profile drift boat started offering guide trips down the South Holston River, Watagua River, and New River. He loves teaching beginners about the sport and seeing them learn. Joining the SHRC has been a goal since the first time he floated the river in a drift boat in 2016.
"Award winning guide service located in East Tennessee"
