Dennis Stanley 

Dennis Stanley has loved the woods and waters since childhood. Hunting and fishing with his father across Virginia instilled a love of the outdoors with his earliest memories including fishing for bream and bass. When he was 12 years old, his first quail hunt ignited a passion for wing shooting. 

Dennis is the owner of Safaris Unlimited Adventures, is a NRA and National Sporting Clays Association certified shotgun instructor and a Master Instructor for the Baskerville Wing- shooting School. 

As an outfitter, Dennis has taken friends and soon to be friends on adventures around the world. Whether bird hunting in Argentina, fly fishing in Belize and South Africa or hunting Cape Buffalo in Zimbabwe the addiction to adventures, both big and small, is never quite satisfied. 

The first fly fishing experience came early with a Pflueger fly rod with a wind up” automatic” reel chasing brim with popping bugs. Another passion was ignited! Jump ahead several decades and a friend “forced” him to take a trip to Mosquito Lagoon in Florida in which he could barely get the fly out of the boat on the first day. But, by day three he got two “nice cast” comments from the guide. Most recently, the passion has been tweaked just a bit to include fly fishing salt water flats. 

Since then, Dennis has loved fly fishing in streams of South Africa for huge browns, the flats of Florida and Belize for bones, snook, tarpon and permit, the western streams of Virginia and West Virginia for trout and smallmouth, wet wading some of the famous streams of the West for browns, rainbows and cutthroat trout and local ponds and lakes for bream, bass and crappie.
He is a recently retired pharmacist whose specialty for over 20 years has been the education and vaccination of international travelers. 

Here is a link to the May 2023 Singing Reel Newsletter:

Captain John Mauser is a fly fishing and light tackle guide out of Swansboro,North Carolina. He has been fishing the waters of North Carolina for thirty-five years. John spent his youth on the Chowan River in the North East part of the state hunting for bluegill and bass. The Chowan river was also thelocation where he first cast a fly rod…throwing little popping bugs at lilypads in search of bass. As a teenager, he became more familiar with thegreat saltwaterfishing available along the coast.

John graduated from UNC Wilmington with a Marine Biology Degree and soon started working for the North Carolina Aquariums. For the past 15 years, Mauser has called Swansboro his home and has spent a great deal of his time learning the local waters. He and his wife have two sons, a ten-year old and a four-year old, who always keep life interesting.

John helped establish the local “Crystal Coast” Project Healing Water’s Program, which rehabilitates disabled military veterans through fly tying and fly fishing activities. Six-years later, John is still an active volunteer with the program, assisting with casting instruction, fly tying and fishing trips for the veterans.

In 2014, John helped re-form the Cape Lookout Albacore Festival, and served as a board member for the first five years. The Cape Lookout Albacore Festival is a 3-day event, held each October around the height of the fall False Albacore run. The Festival consists of a private fishing event for disabled veterans, a public fishing tournament, auctions, dinners and captains parties. All of the funds from each C.L.A.F. is donated to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing at the State and National Levels.

In 2017, John launched Mauser Fly Fishing. A local manufacturer of USA made fly rods. John’s love for guiding anglers and giving casting instruction, led to the formation of this brand. John will tell you, that this company is the most challenging thing he’s ever attempted, and he loves every second of it.

www.TailingTideGuideService.com

Mauser Fly Fishing

Here is the March FFV Singing Reel Newsletter:

Fly Fishers, 

Very sad news to report.
George Crosby, the last of the four founding members of The Fly Fishers of Virginia, passed away on New Year’s Day at his home in Center Cross.

Here is a short obituary from his son Dave:
George David Crosby, Jr, formerly of Varina, peacefully passed away on January 1, 2023, at his long-cherished river home in Center Cross, VA.  George is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jane “Bettye” Bowden Crosby.  George was born August 21, 1935, to George David Sr and Eva Owens Crosby.  He graduated from Varina High School in 1954.  He attended the University of Virginia and graduated with a degree in Economics.  He was a lifelong, loyal fan of UVA athletics.  While attending UVA, he was a member of the Air Force ROTC and was also a reserve member of the National Guard.  He retired from Virginia Power after a 38-year career in 1995.   He was a lifelong member of Fort Lee Baptist Church serving as a Deacon, Treasurer and Trustee.  He served as a Sunday School Teacher for 65 years.  His love for hunting and fishing allowed him to spend time with many friends.   He co-founded the Fly Fishers of Va. in 1985.  He was a member of the James River Ruffed Grouse Society and served on the Va. Fishing Forum.  He also started his own business, Bird Shooters Fly Catchers, in 1986.  He sold firearms and tied and sold original flies for Fly Fishing.  He was an active member of the Downtown Club and served as President from 1997 – 1998.  He is survived by his wife, Bettye, son Dave and wife Jaime, daughter Dana and husband Tim Blake.  He adored all his grandchildren: Hunter David Crosby, Eva Anne Crosby, Christopher (Chris) Shawn Blake, Katherine (Katie) Blake Shaw, and Jackson Parry Crosby.   He shared much time with them and created many memories.  He will be missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Fly Fishers of Virginia, PO Box 29477, Richmond, VA. 23242 to support children learning how to fish/art of fly fishing thru the George Crosby Scholarship Fund.

From the FFV By-laws:
George Crosby Youth Scholarship    
Named for FFV founding member George Crosby who has always encouraged young people to take up fly fishing and to learn the importance conservation plays in protecting our fisheries resources. The scholarship is open to FFV youth members and to the children, grandchildren or relatives of club members in good standing.

Further information will be sent out as it becomes available.

Here is a link to Hawk Lake Lodge.

Our 2022 Annual Banquet will be on a FRIDAY this year.