Mike Smith began guiding on the New River nearly 30 years ago and remains passionate about sharing his experience with clients and others both on and off the water. Over the years, he has been a featured speaker at numerous fly-fishing events and has introduced hundreds of novice anglers to the sport he loves through his popular on-the-water beginner fly-fishing classes.

In 1997, Mike opened the first fly shop and guide service based on the upper New River called Greasy Creek Outfitters. In 2002, his book Fishing the New River Valley: An Angler’s Guide, was published by UVA Press. During the next five years, he added four more books to the series of regional fishing guides. As the Product Development and Brand Specialist at Flymen Fishing Company from 2014 to 2019, Mike was instrumental in introducing the Fish-Skull and Surface Seducer lines of products to the fly-fishing industry. Since 2007, Mike has owned and operated New River Fly Fishing, a fishing guide service based in the New River Valley of Virginia.

As a long time vendor at the Virginia Fly & Wine, we are pleased to have Mike speak this year about fly angling for Walleye and other species on the New River.