JOEY HESTER, MENTOR

Raleigh, North Carolina

Joey grew up fishing small creeks in eastern North Carolina and later discovered fly fishing thanks to his wife, Kennan.  What began as a hobby for small farm ponds eventually found him chasing redfish, mountain trout, largemouth bass, and false albacore throughout the year.  He currently works for the NC Department of Environmental Quality developing policies and regulations to protect water quality and serves as our Conservation Mentor.  An avid fly tyer, Joey is also the Conservation Committee Chair for Triangle Fly Fishers, the Triangle chapter of Trout Unlimited.  

FELIPE LOPES, MENTOR

Cary, North Carolina

Born in Brazil, Orlando raised Felipe grew up chasing Bass in Florida’s many sand bottom lakes. He began to pursue fly fishing after moving to North Carolina with his wife Clara, and pup Samson. Felipe works as a strength and conditioning coach at NC State University where he leads the performance programs for Track, Softball, and Swim. If a species swims, Felipe will throw a fly at it!

ANNIE O’LEARY, MENTOR

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Annie O’Leary has fly fished in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Colorado, mostly in trout streams, over the last ten years.  The whole process is fun for her: planning the outing, preparing the gear, choosing (not always correctly) which fly to use, and catching fish!  She also loves the serenity and confidence it gives her, the solitude for thinking, the silent competition with the fish, and the stunningly beautiful places where we go fishing.  She can’t wait to share that with other people. 

Outside of fishing, Annie was a fundraiser for environmental and health care organizations, and now works in marketing for healthy foods. Hobbies outside of fishing include hiking, camping and gardening—anything that keeps her outdoors!

JENNIFER ALPHIN, MENTOR

Franklinton, North Carolina

Jennifer is a mother of three young adults, a dental hygienist and a cancer survivor. Thanks to a free retreat with Casting Carolinas, for women with a cancer diagnosis, she learned she had a true love of fly fishing and the healing effects of being on the water. She now volunteers for Casting Carolina’s as a retreat leader and alumnae coordinator and is currently a board member and Education chair for the local Trout Unlimited Chapter, Triangle Fly Fishers.