Spent a cold day with Rhen on the Smith River. Took my son out for his 13th birthday to fly fish for the first time. Then was super knowledgeable, patient and put on to a lot of fish. We look forward to getting back out there in the spring.

EJ was very patient and even though it was a cold December day (he hooked me up with some bibs to cut the cold and wind) and the bite was slow he was able to put us on some fish. Thank you for the great experience.

5 star company! Both boats - Wren & EJ - learned a lot!! And had fun! We also had a few last minute changes & EJ was very flexible. Highly recommend

My friend and I fished the Cape Fear River for Spotted Bass on November 13th and had an outstanding day. EJ is an excellent guide with an incredible understanding of the river and the fish you can expect to find. The equipment provided is excellent and we had a great day on the water catching lots of Spotted Bass, a huge Blue Gill and a beautiful Yellow Perch. Thanks EJ for a great day!

Beautiful location (Cape Fear River) with enough fish to keep things interesting! My guide (Rhen Bumgardner) was excellent…he knows his stuff inside and out makes for a great fishing companion. Highly recommended!!

A buddy and I fished the Cape Fear with Rhen. We had a blast! I am a novice fly angler and my buddy had never tried it before. Rhen was an excellent coach and guide, by the end of the day we looked like we knew what we were doing and caught a dozen or so fish each.

Great experience with Rhen on the Smith River for a half day float trip. He was super patient with myself and my 9 year old son, we caught some beautiful fish, and he took the time to coach us in some key fundamentals and worked with me to break a couple of bad habits. Would 100% recommend for both seasoned and beginning anglers alike. Looking forward to booking another trip in the spring.

EJ is a very knowledgeable and enjoyable guide to go fishing with. We caught a lot of fish and I will definitely book another trip with him.

Purchased two guided river fishing trips for myself and clients. EJ and his team were awesome host/guides. They provided all necessary equipment, lunch and fishing expertise. This was my first time ever fly fishing but with EJs instruction I was able to pick it up pretty quickly and caught around 12-15 fish alone!!! Can’t recommend this guide enough and I will certainly be back in the future!

On 11/2/24, my son-in-law and I spent an enjoyable afternoon fishing on the Smith River with Smith River Outfitters and fishing guide Rhen Bumgardner. Although the river was extremely low, Rhen knew the best locations for holding fish and provided us with excellent casting and fishing tips to land several fish.

Great trip with E.J. I would highly recommend his services and look forward to my next trip.

Guide was very instructive and fun to fish with. Conditions were challenging due to the leaves on the water but we worked around it. Great trip! George Knehr

Excellent day with E.J. Second time I fished with him and highly recommend.

My son loves fishing, and he really wanted for his 11 birthday to fish trout in North Carolina, not only Raleigh flyfishing made it possible, but also they took the time to drive us to Smith river in Virginia since the trout fish population in NC was low after the Hurricane. Our guide Rhen was not only fun, but also very knowledgable and patient, my son was ultra happy with the results, the pictures and 8 hours of fishing, we will do ti again soon, and are actively recommending it to other people in Florida to go and try it, we absolutely loved it!!!!

Great experience float fishing the Smith River with EJ - Very knowledgeable guide and this novice learned new skills and tactics Highly recommended!

I recently had the pleasure of spending a day on the Cape Fear River with Rhen, an exceptional fly fishing guide, and I can't recommend him highly enough! As a beginner, I was nervous about my skills and knowledge, but Rhen's expertise and passion for fishing made all the difference. Rhen was welcoming and patient, taking the time to explain the basics of fly fishing while providing valuable tips tailored to my skill level. His enthusiasm for the sport was infectious, and he clearly loves what he does. Throughout our float, he shared his extensive knowledge about the river, its ecosystem, and the best techniques for catching various fish. Not only did Rhen ensure that I had a successful day on the water, but he also fostered a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. He encouraged me every step of the way, celebrating my successes and helping me learn from my mistakes. By the end of the day, I felt more confident in my abilities and left with a deeper appreciation for fly fishing.

EJ was fantastic! Very knowledgeable, patient and energetic all rolled into one. Highly recommend!

Again a great trip! Learned how to mend much better this trip. I will return every year at least once.

EJ was an amazing guide! He knows the water you're fishing like the back of his hand. He was super patient with me as I'm very new to fly fishing, but came out of this experience with knowledge to be a lot more confident on my home waters, no matter the species I intend to catch. EJ brought a delicious, home-made sandwich along for lunch and kept me hydrated throughout the day. We ended up landing a bunch of fish and had a great day on the water. Thanks EJ!

Excellent day with Rhen. Learned a couple of new mending techniques.

Excellent day with Rhen on the water!

Great time with EJ. Caught native browns and a few rainbows. He was knowledgeable about the river and what flies to use. Caught several on dries which is always a blast. Recommend always.

Not a lot of fish, but every attempt was made by our guide. Still a fantastic day on the water.

We had such a great time. The guides were so patient and made the trip fun for the whole family!