Meet Dustin Coffey — 2024 Orvis Fly Fishing Guide of the Year

"The river has always been home for me. I was born and raised deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina — in a place where the water ran right past the front porch and the mountains felt endless. My grandfather used to call our fishing trips his 'escape from grandma' adventures, and I was always his willing accomplice. We’d spend days crawling through rhododendron tunnels, sipping cold spring water, and chasing wild trout through the creeks of Pisgah National Forest. Somewhere between those moments, he taught me a simple truth: fly fishing isn’t about catching fish — it’s about learning to listen to the river.

Those early lessons shaped my life. What started as boyhood adventure became a lifelong calling. After more than 36 years of fly fishing — and 25 years guiding experience — I still find something new in every stretch of water. Over the years, I’ve built my guiding career in the streams, hollows, and tailwaters of the Southern Appalachian mountains, sharing the same hidden waters I grew up exploring. My goal has never just been to help folks catch trout, but to help them fall in love with the places where those trout live.

In 2024, I was deeply honored to be named the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide of the Year — an award that means a lot, not because of the recognition, but because it reflects the countless smiles, stories, and friendships formed along the way. Guiding, to me, is about connection: to nature, to each other, and to that quiet moment when everything else falls away except the cast and the current.

Recently, I’ve taken that same passion west to Glacier National Park, Montana, where I guide on some of the most awe-inspiring waters you’ll ever see. Whether it’s a misty morning on a Southern Appalachian creek or a blue-sky day beneath Montana peaks, the goal remains the same — share a great day on the water and create memories that last a lifetime.

Through Blue Ribbon Angler, I get to combine everything I love — teaching, storytelling, exploration, and the simple joy of helping others find their rhythm with a fly rod. Whether you’re new to the sport or have been casting for years, I’d be honored to share a day on the water with you.

After all, the best time to go fishing is whenever you have the opportunity." 🎣🚣

-Dustin Coffey

Celebrating the years with Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock, North Carolina