Water Doesn't Get Tired, but You Will! Fly Fishing Safety with Gregg Murphy

Gregg enjoys a day on the water with safety and consideration of his surroundings.

It's easy to step into a stream, excited to start fishing, and not realize some of the very real risks of the wilderness. Brand-new anglers may not recognize the dangers inherent in being in the outdoors, and experienced anglers may get a little too comfortable and overconfident, forgetting some of the most basic practices in safety and preparedness.

This month, we're excited to learn from Gregg “Murf” Murphy. Murphy is a retired firefighter, EMT, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, inventor, and lifelong fly angler. After decades in emergency services and countless hours on the water, he recently released Stream Safety & Fly Fishing. This book is dedicated to helping anglers understand fly fishing safety and make smarter, safer decisions in moving water and all of their outdoor adventures. Murphy allows his personal tone to shine through in his writing, too. His wit and humor throughout this book will ensure readers are still thoroughly entertained even with such a serious topic as stream safety.

We sat down this month with Murphy to talk about his background, why stream safety matters, and what every angler should think about before stepping into a river.

Q: Gregg, tell us a little more about your background and how it connects to fly fishing and stream safety.

A: In December of 1988, I joined the Charlotte Fire Department. After six months of intense training, I graduated from "Rookie School" as a Firefighter/EMT. I quickly realized one of the best benefits of being a firefighter was the schedule, because I had plenty of time off for my outdoor lifestyle and fishing habit. Another benefit of the fire service was the training opportunities. In June of 1996, I successfully completed the first section of a class called Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and then I completed the second section the following year. Little did I know after 33 years in the fire service that one day I would use all of my training and experience to take on the challenge of writing a book.

Q: What made you realize the need for a book about stream safety?

A: Well, for some unknown reason in my life I became too busy to go fishing. Folks, I do not recommend this! However, a couple of years later, coming to my senses, I got back into fishing and I went full bore! Feeling "behind the game," so to speak after my absence, I began watching fly fishing videos on YouTube. During this, I noticed people doing things in the water that really were not that safe.

So I began to do research to find out if anyone had written anything on fly fishing safety. There is a bit here and there but nothing in depth, so this is when I decided to sit down and write a book on this long-overlooked and ignored subject.

Q: Gear gets a lot of attention in fly fishing. What safety gear do you think anglers overlook the most, and what gear is always with you when you fly fish?

A: One of the most important things I learned in Swiftwater Rescue Training was to have a third point of contact when in moving water. So with this being said, I always use a wading staff while fishing. To make a long story short, I invented my own wading staff design, because I quickly grew tired of the big name brand models getting stuck in sand and mud and being too noisy while using them. I came up with a simple one piece design that is quiet and dependable. It's called the Stealth Staff. Yes, I talk about the use of wading staffs in my book as well.

Q: In your research, what is one of the most common safety mistakes you see on the water?

A: I noticed people doing things in the water that really were not that safe. There were a couple of videos of people fighting the current to fish. I saw people standing in water above their waist, leaning into the current, because it was so strong. Alright folks, when you do this you are using up precious energy! You don't want to be too tired to get out of the water, especially if you fall in! Please remember, water does not get tired, you will!

In his book Stream Safety & Fly Fishing, Gregg shares these tips and many more insightful ways to make sure you are safe and prepared for anything on the water. Grab your copy of Stream Safety & Fly Fishing online, or by heading to your local fly shop. You can find his book on the shelves at Carolina Mountain Sports (Statesville), Tuckaseegee Fly Shop (locations in Waynesville, Sylva, and Bryson City), Rivers Edge Outfitters (Cherokee), Maggie Valley Fly Shop (Maggie Valley), Jesse Brown's Outdoors (Charlotte), and Little River Outfitters (Townsend, TN).

Plus, explore more of Gregg Murphy's handcrafted Stealth Staff at www.stealth-staffs.com.

When he's not speaking at local fly fishing clubs and outdoor stores across the region, Gregg will also be excited to connect with interested anglers at the Maggie Valley Fly Fishing Festival May 22-23, 2026. Or you can reach him via email at stealthstaff01@gmail.com for more information.