Meet the Mossy Creek Fly Fishing Guides!
Colby Trow
29 year old owner of Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. Colby and his brother Brian opened
up the shop together in 2003. He has been guiding and instructing in Virginia for
11 years and fishing almost every day of the year since 2003. When he is not fishing,
he's at the vise tying flies for anything that swims. He hosts trips to the Bahamas
annually, fishes in Maine and Wyoming every year. Although he is based in the Shenandoah
Valley, Colby has always had salt in his blood. When he isn't in the Bahamas chasing
bones, snappers, sharks, and cudas with a fly, he is out with his pal Captain Tommy
Mattioli chasing stripers and big drum on the Chesapeake Bay.
Turn ons: Musky chasing big streamers, bug fishing for summer smallmouth, big spring
creek sippers, mudding carp, tailing bones, working birds on the Bay, the Orvis
Helios Rods, and his Renzetti Vise!
Turn offs: Lightning, otters, poachers, and LITTER!
Brian Trow
29 year old owner of Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. Fly Fishing since he was 10 years
old, he has the same disease his twin brother has...he must fish, ski, or surf or
he will die inside. When not tending to the shop and tying flies, he is on the water
every day. He also hosts trips to the Bahamas and fishes all over the country when
his schedule allows. Even if he gets 3 days off work you could expect him at the
Chesapeake Bay chasing stripers or in New York hooking into 15 pound brown trout!
Brian truely has a passion for BIG smallmouth and loves nothing more to have a client
bring one up to a bug on the surface. Brian lives on the public stretch of Mossy
Creek with his wife. He can literally cast to rising browns from his porch!
Turn ons: calm days for floating, BIG smallmouth on bugs, sippers, looking out his
window at Mossy Creek every morning!
Turn offs: Lightning, WIND, Hail, and when Colby drinks the last beer.
Shane Maybush
Shane has been a fishing freak since he was born! He has been guiding and instructing
for us since 2004 and putting our clients on PIGS ever since. When he isn't on the
water he's tying flies or buying musky tackle! He is one of our most popular guides
with incredible patience and excellent instincts on what the fish are doing day
to day. He literally fishes every day when he isn't guiding and helps to manage
our private trophy trout fisheries. One of the nicest guides you'll ever meet, Shane
will make sure you have an excellent time on the water.
Turn ons: Musky Slime, Rabbit Strip Divers, Sculpins, Sulphur hatches, Night Fishing,
high stained water on Mossy.
Turn offs: This guy really doesn't dislike anything...we've never seen him mad,
upset, or down. I guess if he or someone loses a musky, he is at his lowest point!
Bob Cramer
Bob has been guiding in the Shenandoah Valley since the 1980s! He opened a small
fly shop in the Dayton Farmers Market years ago before he started guiding for a
living. He is an incredible smallmouth fisherman and has also put anglers on some
of the biggest browns and brookies in the State! He has created some of the most
effective fly patterns including the Disco Cricket and the Jail Bait. He has been
one of the most sought after guides in the State and now guides and teaches our
schools in the spring and summer months. When he isn't guiding or fishing, he's
out guiding hunters for BIG deer and turkey!
Turn ons: Blue Grass Music, Rowing his monster raft, big musky, Drop Tine Bucks,
and Gobblers!
Turn offs: Lightning, wind, and when we run out of tying materials
L.E. Rhodes
L.E. has his own guide service in Scottsville, Va where he spends his time chasing
BIG James River Smallmouth. However, when he has time, he's out teaching fly casting
lessons, stalking big brook trout or floating the big rivers with us. He is our
favorite fishing buddy and has the best attitude of any guide in the Country. We
are fortunate to be partnered with such a quality guy. LE is an incredible fisherman
and fly tier. He currently ties all of our CK nymphs, one of the most productive
trout flies we have ever used!
Turn ons: Cork poppers, candy, popper paint, rubber legs, being 1st at the boat
landing, and spotting a BIG smallmouth.
Turn offs: STORMS, LIGHTNING, and WIND!!! These are the only things that may get
on his nerves!
Ryan Briscoe
Ryan is currently a JMU student and guides and instructs for us. He has a reputation
for his patience. He may be getting a criminal justice degree, but he's getting
a masters in fly fishing! He is a great fly tier and produces dozens of Golden Retrievers
for the shop when he has time. Ryan has put beginner and expert fishemen on some
of the biggest trout they have ever seen.
Turn ons: Spoon minnows, thin skin, obscure tying materials, floating the Jackson
River!
Turn offs: carp slime, tying 1,000 golden retrievers for the shop, fallfish and
chubs, being mistaken for his brother!