We were lucky to catch up with Charles Humphrey III recently and have shared our conversation below.

Charles, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Charles Humphrey III founder of Beast Coast Anglers llc started fly fishing as a teenager. He moved to Asheville, NC in 1999 after graduating UNC Chapel Hill and has called the waters of Western North Carolina home ever since. As a touring bluegrass musician, he has had the opportunity to fly fish in Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wyoming, Nevada, Oregon, Alaska, and Canada!

Covid provided enough time to get serious about guiding and Beast Coast Anglers came to be in 2001.
In addition to being a seasoned fly fisherman, he is also a Grammy award-winning songwriter/ producer, a Western states 100 endurance ultra run finisher, a Kentucky Colonel, a North Carolina Music Hall of Fame member, touring musician in the Asheville, NC based group Songs From The Road Band, and a father of two. Charles’ two foremost passions in life are spreading joy through music and fly fishing.

Charles, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Charles grew up in Greenville, NC fishing on the outer banks and locally in bass ponds. Once he moved to Asheville and started touring as a bluegrass musician he had the opportunity to fly fish all over the country. Beast Coast Anglers offers guided wade and drift boat trips on public and private water for wild and stocked fish in NC, TN, and GA. We go the extra mile to educate, entertain, and create memories that will last a life time. We know that people are spending their hard earned money to escape to the outdoors and be in the moment. I think this awareness and care for our clients is what we are most proud of.

Being a former long distance runner and co-founder with Pete Ripmaster of the trail running company Beast Coast Trai Runners it was only natural to carry the BEAST on to fly fishing and create Beast Coast Anglers.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Like the music business fishing takes a lot of hard work. You are up before dawn and often driving hundreds of miles a day to complete your trips. It takes initiative and drive to run your own business. Business owners wear many hats. They run social media, balance budgets, pay employees, prepare themselves for first aid/ emergency situations, navigate the ins and outs of legal permits and insurance on top of providing a professional guide service. To be successful I truly the believe the work never ends. Luckily its a labor of love.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I’ve learned is that when the fish aren’t biting that’s when you really have to shine. Anyone can give someone a rod and tell them to cast and if the fish are biting the clients are happy. If the fish aren’t cooperating that’s when you capitalize on the time you have with your clients to learn to skills or just simply connect on a personal level and enjoy time in the outdoors.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beastcoastanglers.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/beastcoastanglers/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/beastcoastanglersflyfishing/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCk3AboGDdfcis7Gk9dPYOtg