My name is William Dustin Coffey and I am your professional Orvis Guide:

Allow me to guide you into my world of fly fishing. With 33+ years of fly fishing experience, I am not only an expert at fishing in the Blue Ridge Mountains but also can guarantee to create memories and smiles that will last a lifetime.

I am a North Carolina and Tennessee licensed Orvis fully Endorsed fly fishing guide and instructor, first aid and CPR certified. As owner and manager of Blue Ribbon Angler I specialize in teaching fly clinics, stream etiquette and entomology, casting instruction and hospitality guiding seminars.

As a true native of the Western Blue Ridge Mountains I was born and raised 10 miles south of Blowing Rock, NC and the river has always been my home. I share a strong family tradition of fishing and our proud heritage has been passed down from one generation to another. My first memory of fly fishing was as a small boy fishing with my grandfather deep beneath the hemlock bows crawling through a rhododendron thicket as we watched a trout rising to mayflies too far out of reach for a traditional cast. My grandfather stripped out some fishing line, took a rhododendron leaf, placed the fly on the leaf and positioned the leave in the current just upstream of the rising trout. I watched in amazement with a child's curiosity as he allowed the leaf to drift down the stream… as it approached the trout he gave a gentle tug as the fly pulled off the leaf and entered the water for that trout to eat. I had just witnessed magic in front of my eyes and was immediately immersed! From that day forward I have made it my life’s passion to pursue the painted fish. As a young teen my father would take his time to drive me up to Lost Cove so that I could begin fishing at daybreak and would come find me walking along the dirt road home at dark. During my summers I lived off huckleberries, drank spring water and learned how to fool a smart trout into eating an old chicken feather. My drive to always find a challenge has lead me through the inner most remote places in the mountains of Western North Carolina always searching for that perfect catch.

My greatest accomplishment and joy in fly fishing is watching a smile blossom on someone’s face in that first moment they realize they can fly fish. It is the excitement that overcomes someone when they hook their first fish and receives the confidence, knowledge and patience that this lifelong hobby has to offer. As any good teacher will tell you, there is never an end to the learning, and I hope to be able to be able to continue to learn until I can cast no more! 

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