Boone, North Carolina Project

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Boone, North Carolina Project

Project Mentors

NILS PETERSON, LEAD MENTOR

Linville, North Carolina

The adventure began thirty or so years ago for Nils when his family moved from Western Kentucky to Western North Carolina. This move opened up the world of small stream fishing in the Southern Appalachians and a world of other fishy places like Montana and Idaho. In 1996 Nils Moved to Boone North Carolina to work for the North Carolina Wildlife Resource’s Commission on a short term research project. When the project was over, Nils began his career in Guiding at Foscoe Fishing Company. Through guiding he met his wife and they decided to settle down nearby in Linville North Carolina. In 2001 He began to pursue other interests in the home building industry as a master craftsman. In 2012, through some twists and turns, Nils relaunched his guiding career by opening his own guide service West Fork Anglers. He guides on local small streams and in East Tennessee on the Watauga and South Holston rivers.

WYNN PARRISH, MENTOR

Winston Salem, North Carolina

I was born in Canada and have been fishing as long as I can remember, but I didn’t pick up a fly rod until 25+ years ago while living in Colorado when I caught the fly fishing bug (pun intended). Fly fishing is in my blood. It calls to me. It brings me solace, joy, challenge, and balance to my life.

I now live in North Carolina and regularly fishing the rivers and streams in Western NC and East Tennessee. Married with three grown children, I am at the point in life where I wish to give back. The Mayfly Project is the perfect confluence of that desire and my love of fly fishing.

JACK JENSEN, MENTOR

Spruce Pine, North Carolina

I have lived and fished in many areas of NC from Little Switzerland to Fayetteville then New Bern then back to Spruce Pine. In the last 20 years I have fished for trout in several local streams and floated the Toe River for smallmouth. I am a high school math teacher and real estate agent. I have shared my passion for fishing with many students and my two daughters. In fact, my daughter, Lyndsay, introduced me to the Mayfly Project. I look forward to introducing more kids to fishing through this mentoring opportunity.

LYNDSAY EDWARDS, MENTOR

Spruce Pine, North Carolina

I was born and raised in mountains of Western North Carolina. My family was always in the outdoors – hiking, fishing, camping. My dad loved fishing – he was always taking my older sister an I – mostly fishing for small mouth and native trout. I began to really get interested in fly fishing in college and have been trying to perfect the craft ever since. Through college, Physician Assistant school and now a career, it is often difficult to find time to do the things that bring you peace and joy. Fishing is that for me. Especially fishing with my dad. When we stumbled across The Mayfly Project, we both had an instant drawing to serve and bring this peace and joy we have found through fishing to others!

TIM DAVIS, MENTOR

Waynesville, North Carolina

I grew up on the other side of the Smokies in Knoxville, TN. I have always been a fan of the mountains, but it wasn’t until I moved to Jackson, WY that I fell in love with fly fishing. I guided for nearly 9 years, three of which were spent with Lillard Fly Fishing working with teenagers in the backcountry of Yellowstone. When I wasn’t rowing a drift boat, I was heading to the Winds in search of golden trout. Fly fishing’s impact on my life cannot be summarized in a paragraph. Friends, experiences, travels, etc. Now that I am in WNC selling rural real estate, I have been missing something. After hearing of the Mayfly Project, I quickly realized it was the perfect outlet to share my love of fly fishing and the opportunities it can bring.

MARK WHITE, MENTOR

Roan Mountain, Tennessee 

Mark is a NC native and has lived in the High Country of NC and East TN for over 20 years. He guided on the beautiful High Country waters in 2001-2005 and has been fly fishing now for over 50 years. He has been blessed to travel the world during his business career and now that he has officially retired is eager to share his knowledge and passion for the outdoors with others. Mark now lives on Roan Mountain in East TN with the love of his life and wife of 41 years Maribeth and their dog Brandy. He looks forward to assisting the Boone Mayfly Project as a Mentor.

Banner Elk, North Carolina

Jeff grew up in Texas hunting and fishing on his grandparents farm. He started fly fishing about 20 years ago and has been obsessed with it since. He spent over 10 years working for Dallas Fire/Rescue as a firefighter and paramedic until his wife took a job in Boone, NC. They moved out to Boone in 2010 and Jeff continued to work in the fire service with the Boone Fire Department. He was guiding on his off days from the fire department and in 2015, he took the leap and started working full time as a fly fishing guide. Jeff and his wife live in Valle Crucis, NC with their 2 dogs and their brood of chickens and turkeys.

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