Orvis Asheville Fly-Fishing School
The Orvis North Carolina 2-Day Fly Fishing School is held in Asheville on the exquisite 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate.

Store Manager: Andrew Kabel
An Asheville, North Carolina native, Andrew Kabel is no stranger to the great outdoors, having grown up working for his family’s custom home building business, as well as sharpening his retail skills at a small outdoor outfitter in the western end of the state. Andrew perfected his fly-fishing abilities in and around WNC, eventually adding fly tying to his list of loves. Most recently, wingshooting has been working its way up that list, though he still considers himself an amateur in that arena. A passion for fly fishing, the outdoor lifestyle, and nature conservation is what initially drew Andrew to Orvis Asheville in 2017. During his initial tenure, he sat on the Land of Sky Trout Unlimited chapter board while simultaneously acting as the Trout in the Classroom program coordinator. On his role as Store Manager, Andrew is excited to, “inspire people to respectfully enjoy the adventure and wonder in nature.” It’s a goal that will no doubt be easily reached, considering the vast variety of adventure opportunities in Western North Carolina.

Fishing Manager: Susie Lusardi  
Most ten-year-olds typically don’t receive fly rods as birthday gifts. But in Susie’s case, it was exactly what she wanted. She can thank her grandfather for introducing her to the sport; he was the Trout Unlimited chapter president of Nat Greene Fly Fishers, where Susie is still a member to this day. A self-professed “botany nerd,” Susie’s love of nature and the southern Appalachian Mountain region runs deep, and she’s often found hiking along the local roadways with her wildflower guide in hand. But fishing is Susie’s true passion. She gets out on local trout waters whenever she can, and even spent two summers in West Glacier; one season working for an outfitter, the other guiding float trips on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Teaching fly fishing, fly tying, and encouraging others to love and respect our natural resources and local fisheries is all in a day’s work for Susie. Her enthusiasm for and knowledge of the sport will inspire anglers and non-anglers alike to get out there on their next fishing adventure.