Ebb Estes

     I was born and raised in Arkansas, after 22 years traveling as a professional musician I retired and moved to Heber Springs, Arkansas. In between music gigs, I had always been a mechanic on motorcycles and other small engines. I started working on golf cars at Red Apple Inn and Country Club at Eden Isle. In 1994, I met Jeff Hawthorne who was a flyfishing guide and we became good friends. Jeff took me under his wing, taught me how to cast, tie flies and shared his knowledge of guiding. We spent every free day on the tailwaters in Arkansas.

     In 1999, I did my first guide trip. At that point I was HOOKED! Jeff got me affiliated with Orvis as an endorsed guide in 2002. I have stayed with Orvis as an Orvis Pro Guide ever since. When my clients fish with me they get a professional, top notch guided trip.

     In 2010 Jeff and I started a Corporation called R&R Longboat Sales, Inc. We sell custom built boats to fit the customer needs. These are the same boats that we own and have guided out of for years, so we know they can handle a lot of abuse! We also specialize in Outboard Jet repair, service and conversions. We are the local dealer for Outboard Jet Manufacturing the company that manufactures all jet pumps for outboards.

     All of our guides with The Ozark Fly Guides are seasoned veteran guides! You will not find any better fly fishing guides than this group. 

Tom Bly

Genesis 1:26:²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all^[a] the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

There it is in black and white.  I take my GOD given right to have “dominion over the fish” very seriously.  Fish are obviously the most important because they are at the top of the list.  In fact, I have dedicated most of my life to this effort.  I began fishing the Little Red in 1975 when my family moved to Heber Springs.  I began my career with the Arkansas Game and Fish as a fisheries biologist in 1987 and have worked on the Little Red for the past 28 years.  I have guided on the river since 1987 and have exclusively guided fly anglers for the past 20 years.  My experience as a biologist, angler, and guide gives me an insight to the Little Red River that no other guide on the river has, an insight that I am willing to share with anyone in my boat.

Novice or expert, young or old, male or female, I will make every effort to insure that you’ve had the best day on the water possible.  

Tom Gazaway

  I moved to Arkansas from Mississippi in 1998 which was prompted by professional career relocation. I began to get acquainted with the White river tail water fisheries in the early 1980's primarily on the White and Norfork rivers. I fished them for several days at a time at least 6+ times a year when I was in Arkansas on business. I heard the World Record Brown trout had been caught on the Little Red river in 1992 and made my first trip to it in 1993. I fished it a number of times before I actually moved my family to Heber Springs in 1998. Prior to relocating to Heber Springs I trout fished out west and also fished the trout streams in North Carolina as often as I could take the opportunity to go. One of my favorite comments to new clients that want to experience this great sport is that I tell them " I was fly fishing before the movie a River Runs Through It made it cool". The enjoyment for me in this guide business is introducing new people to the sport. I want others to share the experience so they begin to come to appreciate the resource as much as I do. The bonus is the beauty of the fisheries due to the fact that trout don't thrive in an esthetically destitute enviornment. I look forward to introducing you, your friends and your family to any of these great trout fisheries.

All of us at The Ozark Fly Guides are licensed, competent and qualified to make your day or days on these rivers an enjoyable experience. We look forward to meeting you and introducing you to our fisheries.

Jeff Hawthorne

R.I.P. (1/09/2015)

     I moved to Arkansas in 1994 from Melbourne Beach, Florida where I was a golf course superintendent for 15 years.  I started working for my brother at his fly shop, The Ozark Angler, in Heber Springs.  I started my own guide service when he sold the shop in 2010.

     This was the start of The Ozark Fly Guides.  I had fished extensively in Florida, both in the inner-coastal waters and off shore, but never took up flyfishing till I set foot in Arkansas.  I sure picked a great place to try it!  Over the last twenty years of flyfishing and guiding, I have found a true passion for the sport.  I enjoy sharing this passion with other people and take great pleasure in guiding and teaching those that want to learn about flyfishing.  I hope to be fishing and guiding on these great waters we have here in Arkansas for many years to come.  Come let me show you some of the best flyfishing in the country right here in Arkansas.