Feb 12th, at Manual’s Tavern at 7 PM •
Guest Speakers: Chris Harris, Jeff Wright & Hunter Powers
Topic: Southern Striper Open Striper Fishing Tournament
Alpharetta Outfitters sponsors the Southern Striper Open. This year’s proceeds will be donated to the Southeast region’s 12 Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) programs.
Chris Harris – to speak on PHWFF
Chris is the Atlanta/Southeast Region Assistant Program Lead and Field Advisory Committee Chair.
Chris Harris was born May 20, 1969, in Neptune, NJ. He graduated high school from Neptune Senior High School in 1987. He then attended college at the University of North Carolina – Charlotte (UNCC) and later attended Capella University earning an undergraduate degree in Information Technology with a minor in Project Management. Chris has been married for 35 years, has three (3) children, and two (2) granddaughters.
His adventure into the world of fly fishing started back in 1992 after seeing “A River Runs Through It.” Since then, he has been an avid fly fisherman of both fresh and saltwater species. Chris started tying flies later that year and eventually found himself teaching for TU in the mid 90’s. For the past 6+ years, he has been fortunate to be able to share his passion for tying fur and feather to hook with vets at PHWFF-Atlanta both in person and online. The opportunity to share his craft with vets has been incredibly rewarding. He feels fortunate to assist many with tying their very first fly and privileged to see them apply their new skills in the annual Fly-Tying Competition, as well as on the river.
Chris says that it is an honor and a privilege to be part of PHWFF and give back to those that served!
Jeff Wright – to speak on the Southern Striper Open
Jeff is AO Shop Manager and a community fly fishing advocate. An Alpharetta native, Jeff, loves sharing his knowledge of the outdoors and fly fishing he has honed since his early teens. He has worked tirelessly with Chuck, his AO team, and customers to create the ultimate hands-on fly fishing store experience.
An advocate for the strength of community, he has created true relationships with members of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Georgia Trout Unlimited (TU), Georgia Women’s Fly Fishing Association, Project Healing Waters (for disabled veterans), the Atlanta Fly Fishing Club (AFFC), the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, and numerous youth and local community groups.
New to fly fishing? Fantastic! Lifetime fly fisherman? Fantastic! It’s immediately clear his enthusiasm is equally tailored to the individual at every level where he almost always knows each client by name. Jeff is dedicated to the water. Whether catching the coveted Grand Slam on his first outing in Belize; pacing a 20-minute, seven jump, swift current fight to bring in a grin-piercing 32” Patagonia brown trout; spey casting for giant rainbows, char, and salmon in Alaska; or fishing small hike-in streams and fabled watersheds throughout the U.S., his thrill is just being on the water.
Ask him about his favorite fish story, and it may involve bouldering over or crawling under mountain laurels in our own North Georgia mountains for native brookies; throwing gigantic salmon flies; or floating and camping the Black Canyon on the Gunnison River with family and friends.
Everyday is a good day. On a typical day off, Jeff can be found wet wading with man’s best friend as well as maybe one or two other river partners on stretches of North Georgia or North Carolina waters.
Hunter Powers – to speak on fishing for stripers
Weekend Warrior and Your New Best Friend, Hunter may be a Lone Star state native. But, he has made himself at home in these southeastern waters. Whether you want to talk warmwater species, Louisiana redfish, mountain trout, or rump shaking, Hunter is here to lay down the knowledge.
