Casting Forward: A Guide’s Perspective with Rob Smith

Turning one’s passion into a lifestyle isn’t about the money. It’s about freedom, identity, and waking up every morning knowing that you get to live life inside of a chosen rhythm. This alignment of passion and livelihood happens with the dissolution of the wall that separates who a person is and what they have to do in order to survive. For seasoned fishing guide, fly shop manager, and one-on-one fly-casting instructor Rob “The Mustache” Smith, his passion has become more than just a lifestyle—it has become a way of serving others.

Although Rob is best known for his achievements in the fishing world, he has worn many different hats. Once upon a time, he worked as a Georgia game warden, and he’s also owned and operated a landscaping business before he decided to give his life over to fishing. He took a chance to make his dream a reality. Part of that reality has included working at The Fish Hawk in Atlanta for the past twenty years. He is known for his expertise in targeting multiple fish species, and as a regional authority on striped bass at Lake Lanier and trout in the Chattahoochee River. Rob is often featured in angling media and podcasts because of his knowledge of technical fishing skills acquired by from decades of experience. He has been featured on the cover of Fly Fisherman Magazine, holding up a trophy-class 50 inch musky—certainly a great accomplishment in the fly fishing sphere. Rob has appeared on two episodes of MeatEater’s Das Boat series. But for all of his accomplishments, the most rewarding part for Rob is when he can use his lifetime of angling experience to make a difference in someone else’s life.

One of Rob’s first volunteer opportunities came with Project Healing Waters as a trout guide for patients at the Shepherd Center, a treatment and rehabilitation hospital for brain and spinal cord injuries. This program provides fly fishing outings for wounded military service personnel with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and PTSD. Rob had the chance to take part in the Soque Slam, which is an annual fundraiser to benefit the Shepherd Center. Rob and a friend were each paired with an angler to fish some private water on the Soque River. Both participants were outfitted with all-terrain track-chairs to make it possible to get them to the water, but despite whatever limitations the anglers might’ve had, the group managed to land 19 big trout, two of which were over 22 inches.

“We hooked a big giant brown trout that went up under a waterfall two or three times,” Rob said. “I went over and got it out of the waterfall a couple of times, but it would go right back into it.” For Rob, one of the great joys of being on the water is making fly fishing an inclusive sport, as he has done for anglers like those from the Shepherd Center.

Photo Credit: Matt Bornhorst
Rob Smith and Megan Nellen support Stephanie as she holds a beautiful – and big – rainbow trout during the November 2025 retreat. The smiles certainly tell the story after a long fight with this fish to get it to the net and then safely released.

Experience With Casting for Recovery

Memorable experiences like the ones he had volunteering with the Shepherd Center served as a proving ground of sorts and gave Rob the encouragement he needed to continue forward on that path. Rob had friends who were volunteers for Casting for Recovery, (CfR) so he was already familiar with the organization’s mission.

“This is all thanks to Megan Nellen,” Rob says, “she is the one who got me into this. Megan is nothing less than a rock star. She is a very giving person, super smart, and is all about this (CfR) and loves helping people. So I do everything I can to help her out with anything.” Rob attributes his friendship with Megan as his inspiration to turn his passion outward, and to use his knowledge and skills to make a difference.

Photo Credit: Jimmy Harris
2023 Participant Cathey and Rob take a few minutes to relax on the side of the river. Fly fishing offers fishy moments and moments to soak in the power of nature and community, and Rob and Cathey were caught doing just that.

Rob admits that leading up to his first outing with CfR he was a little nervous about how the ladies would react being on the water with him. As he assisted his first CfR participant into the river, he could tell she had been weakened by her illness and treatment. “But I just stayed right there with her the whole time, and she had a ball.” Rob recalls that she was having a difficult time, but things worked out and she landed a nice fish. “I so wanted her to catch a fish, but it was really tough because she really had a hard time casting.” When someone gets frustrated learning to cast for the first time, Rob reassures them that it’s all part of the process and reminds them that the most important thing is to enjoy the water, make new friends, and to just have fun. He was impressed by the participant’s determination, despite her physical condition: “I was blown away, because we were on the water for about three hours. She was so appreciative of the opportunity and the people involved—including her guide. It made a great impact on her.”

Photo Credit: Matthew Choe (https://www.instagram.com/matthewchoe2911/)
Rob Smith guides 2025 participant Stephanie to the spot where they will begin the day fishing.

Standing in the river with breast cancer survivors, sharing with them the sport that is so close to his heart, Rob realizes that it is his own life that is being shaped by these experiences. He describes the ride to and from the river and being taken by how upbeat one CfR participant was as she recounted her journey to that point. “Just knowing what she’s going through—I’m not exactly young and I’ve seen this with my mom and other family members… and it’s heartbreaking. Anything I can do to help somebody along with that seems like the least I can do.” Rob attempts to describe the emotions these experiences evoke in him: “It brings me joy and happiness in many regards, but sadness in others. It’s an amazing experience, but it’s hard to describe unless somebody’s done it. You go through a lot of different emotions in one day.”

Photo Credit: Matt Bornhorst
Wading the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River is a new experience for many participants. River guides like Rob Smith are there to ensure each participant feels safe and secure during this new experience on, and in, the water.

Rob says that although the time he spends with CfR participants is brief, he cannot help but to recognize the bond that forms through this shared experience. Hearing CfR participants’ stories and seeing for himself some of the physical tolls that breast cancer has taken: “I wish I had known this person before, because they were so fun to be with.” This year (2026) will be the fourth year that Rob has participated in CfR, and he says he is excited to see what amazing experiences are ahead.

For Rob, one of the scariest parts of becoming an instructor was that he thought he didn’t know how to teach anybody anything: “I sure didn’t think I had it in me to teach, but then I got thrown into doing casting lessons and hosting fly tying lessons at The Fish Hawk. I found out I was pretty good at it. I can get people to where they can go out there—whether it’s fishing for trout or bonefish or sailfish, they can go do it—and just teaching people and introducing them to the sport.”

Photo Credit: Lynn Lomas
November 2023 CfR participants and volunteers pose for a group photo at Smithgall Woods, the site of the majority of the retreat, before leaving for Unicoi Outfitters to fish on Sunday morning.

Rob’s ethos and personal philosophy when it comes to giving to others is simple: “You know, I’ve spent most of my life doing the things that I wanted to do. And now I have taken that, and I have helped out with Healing Waters veterans, Shepherd Center, and now Casting for Recovery. I always come back with more than I am able to give, and that makes me feel good.”

Megan Nellen, Rob’s close friend and outreach coordinator for Casting for Recovery-Georgia, says: “Even with his incredible expertise about fishing, Rob comes across as humble and down to earth. He’s a natural teacher, but more than that, he’s the kind of person that draws others to him. As our CfR participants get to know right away, spending time on the water — or in the shop — with Rob feels like a little bit of magic because he’s so wise and kind.”

Rob Smith has managed to find a way to turn his passion for life on the water into something greater than himself. What might appear to some as just another day of fishing becomes an opportunity to build connections and create positive, lasting impacts in the lives of others.

Photo Credit: Missy Sprouse
2023 Participant Cathey and Rob smile for a photo before heading out to the water. Participants meet their River Guide on Sunday morning and then head to the water. After fishing, guides and participants enjoy lunch together back at Smithgall Woods.