Atlanta Fly Fishing School-Instructor

Every instructor at Atlanta Fly Fishing School is certified by the Federation of Fly Fishers as a CCI (certified casting instructor) or (MCCI) master certified casting instructor. These guys have studied how to teach fly casting and have taken written, oral, and performance tests to become certified. They know how to teach you to cast and fish.

Atlanta Fly Fishing School's founder, Capt. Scott Swartz, has been a student of fly-fishing for 25 years. He is Georgia's first Master Certified Casting Instructor with the Federation of Fly Fishers, holds several fly rod world records, and has fly-fished from northern Canada to the South American Amazon. Scott is the past casting chairman for Atlanta Fly Fishing Club. He also provides clinics for Trout Unlimited, the U. S. Army Corp. of Engineers, the Nat’l Park Service, various boat manufacturers, dealers, marinas, clubs, groups, civic organizations, and fishing lodges around the world. Get prepared with lessons tailored to insure success! With connections in the hottest spots, Scott can help you every step of the way from the basics to landing the big one! In addition to the Atlanta schools, Capt. Scott also shares his passion of saltwater fly fishing at his schools in SW Florida.

Atlanta Fly Fishing School partner and instructor Mack Martin learned to fly cast with a custom bamboo fly rod given to him at the age of nine by his uncle, while working summers at his shoe store in Windsor, Vermont. The mailman, Win Kenyon, who delivered mail to the store was the Vermont Fly Casting Champion from 1950 to 1955 and taught Mack how to fly cast. This started his interest in fly fishing and later became a life long hobby.

Mack has fished from the

Bahamas

throughout the

United States

to Alaska . He has floated many of the rivers in Alaska and has lead numerous trips to Kodiak Island . He has also fished many locations in

Canada

and the Northwest Territories . He is the past president and education director of the Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited and current Vice Chairman of the Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited. Mack is a FFF Master Certified Fly Casting Instructor, a CRBG Certified Professional Fly Rod Builder, and a Master scuba diver.

Born into a hunting and fishing family, Bob has been a fly fisherman throughout his life. An avid fly tier, Bob has been a fly tying instructor for Orvis as well as other clubs and organizations. As a active member of Trout Unlimited, Bob has served as President of the Upper Chattahoochee chapter, Georgia Trout Unlimited Council President and currently represents the Georgia Council on the National Leadership Council of Trout Unlimited.

Instructor Brian Richterkessing is a Federation of Fly Fishers certified fly casting instructor. He is an accomplished angler and enjoys teaching the sport of fly fishing to young and old through The Atlanta Fly Fishing School, private lessons, and guided trips. Brian was the Lead Casting Instructor for Orvis at both the Buckhead and Norcross locations where he was the Fly Fishing Manager for six years. Since moving to the Atlanta area in 1998, he has grown to cherish the year round, fresh and saltwater fishing of the southeast. From Alaska to the Bahamas , Brian has a diverse background of fishing experiences, yet still enjoys the simplicities of the local farm pond. He is a member of Trout Unlimited and very active in his local chapter the Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

Instructor Jim Harpole is a Federation of Fly Fishers certified fly casting instructor. Jim co-owns and manages the Atlanta Fly Fishing School property. He has fished most of his life but picked up a fly rod in 1999 and never looked back. Jim has fly fished in North America, South America and Europe but one of his favorite places is saltwater fly fishing in Mosquito Lagoon Florida. As a certified instructor Jim knows what it takes to help you become a better fly fisher and fly caster.

Instructor Mark Ellis is a Federation of Flyfishers certified fly casting instructor. He utilizes his talents as the fly casting chairman and fly tying chairman of the Atlanta Fly Fishing Club and as an instructor for Atlanta Fly Fishing School. From fly tying to rod building, freshwater to saltwater, wading to boating, Mark loves it all. Having grown up in Ohio, he calls the Great Lakes and their tributaries his home waters. There he fished for Smallmouth Bass in the summers and braves the brutal winters in pursuit of the mighty Steelhead. Since moving to the Atlanta area he has grown to cherish the year round, diverse fresh and saltwater fishing of the southeast. Mark enjoys sharing his experience and passion for fly-fishing with others. Individual trips and/ or lessons can be booked through his private service.

Instructor Robert Hafner has been a FFF Certified Casting Instructor since 1997, and is now one of the few who have achieved the status of Master. He has pursued the sport of fly-fishing in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New York and his home state of Georgia. Experienced in both freshwater and salt, Robert utilizes his skills instructing and guiding groups at both Callaway Gardens and Atlanta Fly Fishing Schools.

Instructor Rex Gudgel ranks among the elite FFF Certified Master Casting Instructors. He guides professionally through his own private service as well as Unicoi Outfitters in Helen Ga. Rex is extremely knowledgeable in all facets of the sport having lived and guided in California, Arizona, Florida and Georgia. Interestingly, his experience includes working with Flip Pallot in building the first Hell's Bay boats. You'll enjoy his ability, innovative techniques, and enthusiasm as you learn to cast the fly rod from one of the luckiest fly fisherman we know.