SALES MANAGER & GUIDE

Jake has been an angler his whole life and a part of Unicoi Outfitters since he was a teenager. Few anglers in Georgia are as well versed or as dedicated to fishing as Jake. From his time in the competitive fly fishing scene for trout to fishing for spotted bass and stripers in mountain lakes and everything in between. Jake is an expert angler whether he has a fly rod, baitcaster, or spinning rod in his hand and is a wealth of knowledge. These days you can find Jake on mountain lakes in our area targeting spotted bass or in rivers chasing shoal bass.

STORE MANAGER & GUIDE

Wes had a love of the outdoors instilled in him at a young age. Once he began fly fishing he quickly grew passionate about it and is always trying to gain as much knowledge of the sport as he can. He enjoys fishing for all kinds of species throughout our area. From Brook trout in a small mountain creek to Bowfin in a swampy backwater and everything in between. Wes also loves teaching others about fishing. Whether it be guiding a client on the river or giving someone in the shops advice about a nearby stream, he is eager to share his knowledge.

SALES ASSOCIATE & GUIDE

Raised in the southeast Israel grew up testing the many reservoirs for Largemouth Bass, and exploring the southern Appalachian streams for trout. A Marine Corps veteran, Israel turned to a career as a fly fishing guide and photographer in northern Colorado in 2013. Relocating back home to Georgia in 2021, Israel now guides the watersheds of northern Georgia for trout, and exploring the region for species not yet caught.

Since relocating he has found a love for pursuing Permit on the saltwater flats. His photographs have been featured in multiple industry magazines, catalogs, and advertisements. Israel is a Lifetime member of Trout Unlimited, as well as a member of Back Country Hunters and Anglers and volunteers with Project Healing Waters, Reel Recovery, Casting for Recovery, and Reeling in Serenity.

SALES ASSOCIATE & GUIDE

Joseph Clark was born in the north Georgia mountains and raised as an avid outdoorsman. His first fishing memories span back as far as he can remember but his interest for the sport developed while in middle school. He was introduced to fly fishing by a neighbor shortly thereafter. Joseph first tested his skills with a fly rod in small lakes and ponds fishing mostly for largemouth bass and bluegill ,and eventually this snowballed into a deep passion for fly fishing for all sorts of species across the southeast. After some hard work and dedication he began working in the shop and guiding for Unicoi Outfitters. It was around this time that Joseph also fell in love with the art of photography. Joseph has written several articles for In The Loop Magazine where his photos were also published. In his free time Joseph enjoys chasing “sodium free” stripers with flies in north Georgia's lakes and rivers. He also ,when given the chance, loves to chase various saltwater game fish along Florida's gulf coast and the caribbean.

SALES ASSOCIATE & GUIDE

Sydney’s passion for fishing began as a little girl growing up on the lake and trips to saltwater in the Gulf, where her connection to water and nature took root. After discovering fly fishing and landing all three trout species on the Tuckasegee River, the sport quickly became her calling. Within a year, she moved to North Georgia and enrolled in North Georgia Technical College’s photography program, where she began blending her love for fly fishing with visual storytelling.

Since joining the Unicoi Outfitters staff, Sydney has found deep fulfillment in serving her community, helping others experience the same excitement and connection she felt when she first picked up a fly rod. Whether behind the camera or on the water, she brings heart, storytelling, and a deep respect for the outdoors into everything she does.

SALES ASSOCIATE

Jeff comes to us with a BS and MS in Fisheries Science, and 34 years of service with the GA Wildlife Resource Division, with 24 of those years serving as the North Georgia Region Fisheries Supervisor. More importantly, Jeff has more than four decades of experience flinging a fly rod at anything with fins. He loves sharing his knowledge of the sport with others, especially new anglers.

SALES ASSOCIATE & GUIDE

Atticus is a graduate of University of North Georgia, with a bachelor's degree in Biology. He brings a deep appreciation for freshwater ecosystems with him every day on the river. He loves to travel and explore new waters. He is passionate about sharing knowledge, teaching conservation-minded practices, and helping anglers understand just how delicate and special our river ecosystems truly are.

SALES ASSOCIATE & GUIDE

Grant has been working with UO for four years and enjoys helping out anglers in the shops. Grant is an avid fly fisherman with a lifetime experience in both freshwater and saltwater fishing. His favorite fish to catch is tarpon is Homosassa Springs, Florida. While in Northeast Georgia Grant enjoys catching striper on Lake Lanier and trout in the Chattahoochee River. When not fishing Grant enjoys spending time with his family and friends. Grant also has a BSN RN and works as a nurse in Gainesville, Georgia.

OWNER

Jimmy has been an angler of one sort or another for over 65 years. The early days would find him sitting in an old wooden flat-bottomed boat on his family farm pond in middle Georgia. While the years have provided a myriad of fishing experiences across North and South America, small stream trout and Chattahoochee River Shoal Bass are his passion these days. His desire for all anglers is that we pass along our love for the sport and our respect for the resources.

OWNER

David started Unicoi Outfitters in 1994 using funds from a home equity line of credit and a student loan. David has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Fisheries Science. He has been a licensed captain for 30 years. He coined the original mission statement that guided the shop’s inventory buying policy for several years - “What would we not mind being stuck with when we go out of business”. Over thirty years later, he still wouldn’t mind being stuck with a better collection of fly rods!