Than Axtell

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Nathaniel “Than” Axtell grew up in Tidewater, Virginia, chasing largemouth and stripers in the James River basin, while spending each summer plying the Cullasaja River for trout and rock bass in front of his granddad’s cabin. After graduate school at VCU, Than moved here for good 20 years ago; he and his wife are raising their two kids on Cathey's Creek. Than worked his first trip for DRO in 2001, and after stints as a guide and manager at three other regional fly shops, he is happy to return home. His writing and photographs have been published in Fly Rod & Reel, Eastern Fly Fishing, Southbound, and Fish & Fly magazines. Our resident bug nerd, Than was voted “Most Prone to Flip Rocks” by his senior class. He is a devout “char-head” who has pursued speckled trout from British Columbia to Labrador. Whether stalking brookies in the high country or floating tailwaters in his drift boat, Than strives to make every trip educational, entertaining and fun.