Our Guides

Justin Shroyer

Co-OWNER/GUIDE

Justin Shroyer graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Environmental Biology and Ecology and has been guiding the region since 2003. He loves stalking massive tailwater brown trout, never ignores a good smallmouth bite, and loves sight fishing  big carp on the fly. Not afraid to think outside the box, Justin varies his methods and locations to consistently put his customers on top notch fishing. Justin founded TWGS in 2009, and currently resides year-round in Johnson City, TN with his wife and two kids. Outside of fishing, Justin enjoys traveling and lake life with his family, attending his kids’ sporting events, and grouse hunting with his dogs.

Rhett Shroyer

Co-OWNER/head GUIDE

Rhett Shroyer is a year-round full-time guide for TWGS and has been guiding for the company since its inception in 2009.  While growing up, Rhett aspired to become a professional fisherman, and his loyal customer base shows he made the right decision. He is one of the most consistent guides around, putting his clients on quality wild fish trip after trip. Rhett can handle any guiding situation our region has to offer, providing anglers of all skill levels consistent success. He is on the water almost every day, whether he is working or not, staying dialed in for his clients. Rhett enjoys his saltwater fishing vacations with friends and family, attending sporting events, as well as scouting new areas in the region for potential destinations for his clients. Rhett resides in Elizabethton, TN and guides in the region year-round.

Nick Shroyer

Guide

Nick Shroyer has done it all for TWGS since joining the squad in 2014. He started out managing the fly shop along with branding, SEO, and social media duties.  He now guides full time in TN and spends his summers guiding in Alaska on the Kanetok River. Nick has a special knack for tracking down mature trout and bass in seldom fished areas while applying “out of the box” tactics.  Nick is a great multi-species guide, always willing to fish wherever and whenever on any given day. When not guiding Nick enjoys traveling with friends to sporting events, music shows, and fishing destinations. Nick lives in Johnson City, TN for most of the year and spends his summers along the banks of the Kanektok River on wilderness fishing/camping float trips.

 

Corey smith

Guide

Corey Smith was born and raised in Elizabethton TN right down the road from the Watauga Tailwater and resides there today with his fiancé. Corey joined TWGS in 2022 as a fly shop employee and is now a full-time guide. Corey also handles the companies’ bookings, social media accounts, and business management.  He is equally adept at hunting big tailwater browns in the drift boat as he is flicking dry flies to small stream brook trout.  His intimate knowledge of the areas small streams is second to none having grown up here locally.  You can often catch Corey playing folk music at local and regional venues outside of his guiding and shop work.  Corey has put in a lot of scouting the past three years, setting himself up for a successful guiding career.  

 

Connor stanley

Guide

Corey Smith was born and raised in Elizabethton TN right down the road from the Watauga Tailwater and resides there today with his fiancé. Corey joined TWGS in 2022 as a fly shop employee and is now a full-time guide. Corey also handles the companies’ bookings, social media accounts, and business management.  He is equally adept at hunting big tailwater browns in the drift boat as he is flicking dry flies to small stream brook trout.  His intimate knowledge of the areas small streams is second to none having grown up here locally.  You can often catch Corey playing folk music at local and regional venues outside of his guiding and shop work.  Corey has put in a lot of scouting the past three years, setting himself up for a successful guiding career.  

 

Daniel ridenhour

Guide/manager

Daniel is in his third season with TWGS as a small stream guide and shop manager. He is a East TN native who grew up fishing the regional lakes for largemouth and smallmouth bass. He currently competes for ETSU on their school bass fishing team, often finishing at the top of leader board. Daniel guides wade fishing trips on the Doe River and the surrounding small streams for TWGS, along with managing the guide calendar, and customer services.  Daniel is a very versatile and talented angler, and we are excited about his future guiding the region.