Bryson City, North Carolina · Great Smoky Mountains · Since 1987
What happens when you learn from the best.
Since 1987, anglers of every skill level have left Mac Brown Fly Fish with something that doesn't wear out or need upgrading — knowledge, confidence, and a process that works on any water, anywhere.
Many students have gone on to become certified fly casting instructors themselves. Others simply became the angler they always wanted to be. Either way, the result is the same: one school or lesson changed everything.
"Many past clients claim they learned more in a single day than in the previous decade on their own."
This isn't a guided trip where someone puts you on fish. It's an education in the full craft — line control, reading water, presentation, tactics, and strategies built around real conditions. You'll raise your efficiency, improve your catch ratios, and understand the why behind every cast — which means it travels with you forever.
Verified Reviews — Google & Facebook
"Thanks for the fun casting class as your support gives me confidence to try my best for the CI exam in France."
"Mac Brown is the original fly fishing guide in the GSM region. I have recommended Mac Brown to many down under in Australia."
"I've found my mentor to make a better well-rounded fly fishing angler. I carry a notebook with me to keep the salient points he makes."
"MAC was excellent and wildly exceeded our expectations. We improved our casting and found a new appreciation for the sport. We will book again."
"He is a savant of fly fishing. Mac has dedicated a lot of time to learning the art of fly fishing and it shows. I'll be fishing with him again."
"The use of science and principles of physics gives you the tools to truly understand the why behind what is being taught. Just like golf — get to the right instructor and you will improve."
"Great day on the water with Mac! Mac knows his home waters to a T — catching fish, fly casting discussions, and learning about the area."
"Do yourself a huge favor — try attending Mac's seminar. You will see much more improvement with Mac than any new gear could possibly offer. Great people, a gorgeous setting, and world-class instruction."
"I learned more in one day with Mac than I have in the last five years on my own. Great guide and teacher."
"Mac Brown is undoubtedly one of the best casters in the United States, even more so an angler. His ability to instruct is superb."
"Mac has an extraordinary knowledge of casting, aquatic entomology, and new techniques. He is among the top fly fishing experts in the country."
"Always learning with Mac — on casting, reading water, choosing flies, presentation, hook setting, and more. One of the best days you will have on the water."
"Flyfisher Mac Brown is at the top when it comes to guiding on the 2,000 miles of trout streams around Bryson City, NC."
"Mac Brown is a gifted teacher and exceptionally patient with children. He knows where to find fish and how to crack the code. The best!"
"It is rare to see someone so dedicated and so in love with their occupation. I was energized by your wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm."
"Mac is certainly a professional with the art of fly fishing. The day was very informative through his detailed and sequential instruction."
"Mac's insights and techniques of the world of fly fishing are endless. His knowledge and expertise as an instructor and guide are only outdistanced by his ability as an angler."
"Your many tips and techniques have helped me a lot and I am grateful."
"Mac is by far the most knowledgeable guide I have fished with anywhere in the world."
"The casting weekend is clearly one of the best things I've ever done for my casting."
"You all did a wonderful job of bringing together a highly experienced group of teachers. I got a feel for the loops rather than a strictly mechanical approach. Everyone was very kind and considerate. Great class!"
"Thanks for a great class."
"Two full days of instruction from three of the top instructors and casters in the country and world. Yes, it's worth every penny, and yes you should do it. The best casting instruction imaginable."
"Mac is awesome! He got me to cast the entire line with a double haul on a slow 8′ 4wt rod. I was lucky to intern with his fly fishing class at WCU."
"Thank you for your patience and willingness to teach us what you love. It's hard to come across someone like you who is true, genuine, sincere, and real. I greatly appreciate that."
"The perfect balance between classroom information and practical instruction. The takeaways from this course have helped me improve my casting, diagnose casting faults, and make the necessary corrections needed to advance as a casting instructor."
In Their Own Words
You all did a wonderful job of bringing together a highly experienced group of teachers. I expect the collective years of experience were well over a hundred. The tips and ideas offered were very helpful to me. I also felt more confident after several people did critiques and corrections. I got a feel for the loops rather than a strictly mechanical approach. Everyone was very kind and considerate. Great class!
Instagram does not leave enough room to describe the quality of this program. Two full days of instruction from three of the top instructors and casters in the country and world. Yes, it's worth every penny, and yes you should do it. The best casting instruction imaginable. Highly recommend it to my fly-fishing friends who want to advance their casting and teaching skills to the next level. The class provides the tools and confidence to succeed.
The last two days were incredible! It really inspired me to be better. I can't remember a more rewarding 2 days. This class really inspired me to improve! I am so determined to practice more than ever. Thanks
I wanted to thank you, Tom and Eric, for all of the information given during the 2-day workshop. It was the perfect balance between classroom information and practical instruction. I highly recommend this course for anyone seriously pursuing certification. The takeaways from this course have helped me improve my casting, diagnose casting faults, and make the necessary corrections needed to advance as a casting instructor.
Like most beginning fly fishermen, I learned from friends. And, like most folks, I was reasonably successful at getting the fly to hit the water. The problem was that much of my fishing was on a nearby lake, and when the fish were rising, they were always ten feet farther than I could cast. After consulting with the internet, I endeavored to teach myself to double-haul. Instead, I taught myself to throw horrible, tailing loops.
Once more, I turned to the internet for help. This time, I discovered Mac Brown and his book Casting Angles. Mac's book isn't a bunch of pretty pictures and big fish, but it is the most accurate text I have found on what is really, physically happening when a fly line is cast. I knew after reading it that I had to meet the man himself, so I wrapped a Smoky Mountain vacation around a lesson with Mac. He fixed what I asked, but more importantly, he taught me why it was happening — and gave me the tools to self-diagnose going forward.
I was so astounded at what I learned that I signed up for his two-day Advanced Fly Casting School, which brings Master Casting Instructors together in one place for an intensive class on the physics of casting, performance of the casts, and diagnosing unintended outcomes. While the seminar is aimed at passing the Casting Instructor Certification, anyone can benefit from the instruction. Be sure to bring a notebook; the information flies at you with an amazing depth and clarity.
Do yourself a huge favor — instead of buying that new fly rod carved out of unicorn horn, or the new reel milled from fairy wings, try attending Mac's seminar. You will see much more improvement with Mac than any new gear could possibly offer. It's a fabulous value — great people, a gorgeous setting, and world-class instruction. I could not recommend it more!
Institutional Recognition
Associate Professor Mac Brown has had the most popular class ever teaching fly fishing at Western Carolina University. The Delayed Harvest program on the Tuckasegee River near the campus is a direct result of this successful collegiate program.
Mac Brown was inducted into the Southern Appalachia Fly Fishing Museum Hall of Fame for Recreation on August 26, 2017.
Field & Stream nominates Mac Brown Angler of the Year in the fall 1999 issue.
As Featured In
“If, when we practice, we can produce one more good cast and one fewer poor cast each time, then we are headed in the right direction.”
Miss Pursuit
Read the full Miss Pursuit school reviewCommon questions
Clients consistently describe Mac Brown as one of the most knowledgeable fly fishing instructors they have ever encountered — anywhere in the world. Common themes across hundreds of reviews: he teaches the why behind every cast, not just the mechanics; he is extraordinarily patient; and most students say they learned more in a single day with Mac than in years on their own.
By every account, yes. Students from Beijing, Brussels, Boston, Australia, and across the US call it worth every penny. The instruction is designed to travel with you — you leave with a process for diagnosing your own casting and reading any water, which means the value compounds every time you fish. Multiple students have returned year after year.
Mac Brown was inducted into the Southern Appalachian Fly Fishing Museum Hall of Fame in 2017. He was nominated Angler of the Year by Field & Stream in 1999. Western Carolina University has recognized his fly fishing course as the most popular class ever taught at the university, and the Delayed Harvest program on the Tuckasegee River near campus was established as a direct result of that program.
Mac Brown has been guiding and teaching fly fishing in Bryson City, NC since 1987 — nearly four decades of instruction on the Tuckasegee River and throughout the Great Smoky Mountains. He is an FFI Master Certified Casting Instructor and has been presenting at The Fly Fishing Show since 1994.
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