Meet The Team
COLBY TROW
Co-owner of Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, former American Fly Fishing Trade Association Chairman, Mass TU Board member, and Fly Fisher’s of Virginia Technical Advisor. Colby and his brother Brian opened up the shop together in 2003. He started guiding and instructing in VA in 1999 and has fished almost every day since 2003. When he isn’t fishing, he’s at the vise tying flies. He started tying flies for local VA fly shops at age 13 and was featured at many fly fishing trade shows through his teen years. Although based in the Shenandoah Valley, Colby always has ‘salt’ on his mind. When he isn’t hosting a trip in the Bahamas or Belize chasing bones, permit, tarpon, and cudas, he is out with his buddies chasing stripers, big drum, cobia, or billfish off the VA coast!
BRIAN TROW
Brian Trow is the co-owner of Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. He began fly fishing and tying at the age of 10. He has been teaching and guiding fly fisherman for 17 years. Brian has a passion for restoring the local waters and is very involved with Trout Unlimited. Serving on the national board of trustees for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing allows him to give back to veterans through our wonderful sport. He loves the great relationships developed with “friends” of the shop over the years, and that is why he continues to be such an active guide. When he is not busy at the shop, teaching, or guiding, you will find him at home with his wonderful wife, daughter, and two boys, right on the banks of Mossy Creek.
BOB CRAMER
Bob has been fly fishing since he was 8 years old. That was 52 years ago and he still loves it, especially sharing it with others. He believes that most folks not only want to catch fish on a guided trip, but also want to leave a better fisherman because they learned something that day. He started guiding in the Shenandoah Valley in the mid 80’s when he owned Mossy Creek Outfitters, in Bridgewater, Va. He can’t really say he has a favorite species to fish for, he just loves it all, brook trout to muskies and everything in between. It’s hard to find a more experienced, fun, well mannered guide in the Mid Atlantic than Cramer!
TOM SADLER
Tom has been a professional guide and instructor for 25 years. He is senior board member of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association and very well connected in the fly fishing industry. He is a dedicated tenkara fly fisherman and Mossy Creek’s exclusive tenkara guide. Tom’s passion for tenkara was honed in Virginia’s mountain streams where he chases native brook trout. He shares his extensive knowledge of tenkara on his blog MiddleRiverDispatches.com. His reputation as a tenkara devotee makes him sought after as a guide and speaker. Tom’s day job is Deputy Director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network.
ERIC GIBSON
Eric’s passion for fly fishing began years ago as a gift from his father. Ever since then he has been obsessed with everything fly fishing. Whether it’s in the mountains chasing brookies or floating the river chucking musky flies, Eric just enjoys spending time with clients, friends and family on the water. On his days off, Eric loves to share his passion of fly fishing with his son. Together they can be found wandering the banks of the valley’s spring creeks or floating the river with their dog “Doah”.
WAYNE PAXTON
After teaching high school English for ten years, Wayne is now employed full-time at Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. When he’s not guiding or instructing on the rivers, creeks and stillwaters in the Shenandoah Valley, you can find his friendly face in the shop! Wayne loves sharing fly fishing with others, and he’s always looking forward to life’s next adventure, whether he has a fly rod in hand, skis strapped to his feet, or trail running shoes laced up!
NICK SECRIST
Nick is a James Madison University grad and a Harrisonburg, VA native. He grew up fishing and hunting in the Shenandoah Valley and has a strong passion for fly fishing. You will find few people as enthusiastic and happy to help you in the shop or on the water. Nick enjoys instructing new anglers and is excellent at helping folks get familiar with our area. If he isn’t at the shop or on the water, he might be at the vise spinning up a few flies for his next destination trip!
JACOB RUSSO
Jacob picked up fly-fishing and tying flies when he was 12, and spent much of his youth exploring mountain streams for brook trout and the Rappahannock River for smallmouth bass. As an undergraduate at James Madison University, Jacob developed his passion for fly-fishing. In 2011, while pursuing his Masters in Education, Jacob joined the staff at Mossy Creek. When not guiding or teaching high school mathematics, you can find Jacob floating the river in search of bass and elusive musky. With Jacob’s teaching background and knowledge of local water, his anglers leave the day with a better understanding of the sport.
SHANE MAYBUSH
Shane has been a fishing freak since he was born! He has been guiding and instructing for us since 2004 and putting our clients on PIGS ever since. When he isn’t on the water he’s tying flies or buying musky tackle! Shane loves tying articulated streamers and HUGE musky flies. You will always find him experimenting with new innovative materials at the vise. He is one of our most popular guides with incredible patience and excellent instincts on what the fish are doing day to day. He literally fishes every day when he isn’t guiding and helps to manage our private trophy trout fisheries. One of the nicest guides you’ll ever meet, Shane will make sure you have an excellent time on the water.
ANDY SLAWSON
Andy is a JMU grad and past President of the Madison Fly Fishers. He grew up in Charlottesville, VA and cut his teeth fishing the mountain streams in Shenandoah National Park. You won’t find anyone in Virginia who can fold a shirt better than Andy and his retail skills keep the shop looking fresh. His passion is musky fishing and if he is not behind the counter at the shop you’ll find him exploring new waters for musky, trout or smallmouth.