- Who They Are:
After meeting, fittingly, while fly fishing, Tommy Lawhorne and Kevin Little began to form a plan that would allow these avid sportsmen to share their passion with Augusta County’s South River area community. After years of working out the details, and both continuing to hone their diverse skills in the sport, this partnership has manifested as the South River Fly Shop. The full-service fly fishing retail outlet, training center, and guide service opened its doors in April, little more than spitting distance from the South River in downtown Waynesboro.
Entrepreneurial Philosophy:
Both Tommy and Kevin often wondered why there was not a fly fishing resource center near one of the hottest fly fishing areas in the Valley on the South River. The two wanted to locate their shop so that it would have immediate access to Constitution Park and the South River Delayed Harvest regulation area.
But Tommy and Kevin also wanted something more than just a fly fishing retail outlet. They wanted to create a space where fly fishermen, experts, novices, locals, and visitors would feel comfortable sitting and talking, sharing experiences and stories, and learning from one another.
The two also wanted to offer a broader range of services which would fully take advantage of their respective wealth of skills and experience. South River Fly Shop also provides guided fly fishing tours plus a variety of workshops from how-to’s for the high quality equipment they sell to advanced fishing techniques and fly tying.
Because trout viability is so dependent upon preserving and protecting the diverse flora and fauna of stream and stream-side habitats, Tommy and Kevin are also dedicated to promoting environmental conservation and sustainability. As an active supporter of the stream cleanup efforts of Trout Unlimited, South River Fly Shop is committed to educating the community about the importance of clean water and protecting our irreplaceable stream ecology.
How did you get here?
Tommy Lawhorne has been guiding fly fishing excursions and teaching the art of fly tying for over 20 years. He is the current president of the Shenandoah Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited and spent the last nine years volunteering at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival.
Kevin Little has led guides in West Virginia, Virginia, Maine, Florida, Montana, Tennessee, Alabama, and Alaska. He has guided and taught fly fishing and fly tying since 1983, and for the last 10 years he has made and sold hand-built bamboo fly rods.
Both call the Shenandoah Valley home, and now their partnership as co-owners of the South River Fly Shop has found its long-awaited niche along the banks of the South River.
Meet Them:
317 West Main Street
Waynesboro, VA 22980
(540) 942-5566