- Birthplace: Snow Hill, North Carolina
- Home waters: Mountains of North Carolina
- Years of fly-fishing experience: 30+
- Preferred Species: Trout and Bass
- Preferred method of fly fishing: Nymphing
- Pet Peeves: Discourteous people on the water (and everywhere else)
- Issues with fly-fishing community: Usually the only one out there
- Desired directions for the fly-fishing industry: Bringing young folks into the fold
Joyce’s fly fishing journey began in the nineties with a group called The International Women’s Fly Fishers. She went by accident and was invited to come to their meeting in Vermont and attended with a friend. The purpose of this club was to connect women’s groups all across the United States and abroad. She lived in Washington, DC at the time and was connected with a group of ladies called “Chesapeake Women Anglers.” They always met on the water.
After 9/11, Joyce moved to Charlotte, NC and joined the Rocky River chapter of Trout Unlimited. Joyce claims she was a surprise to them. She was also a member of a forum called Psycho Fly Fishers. A lot of the same guys were also part of the TU group.
Joyce was invited to North Carolina TU (NCTU) Rivercourse which is a conservation and fly fishing youth camp for (at the time)12 to 16 year olds as a chaperone for the girls. She enjoyed it and figured out that she wanted to teach casting. She eventually took a teaching course from Joan Wulff. Joyce likes fishing but loves teaching.
Since being in Charlotte, Joyce has been on the boards of Rocky River TU as 1st vice president, and NCTU as secretary. She co-founded the Rocky River Trout Unlimited Women on the Fly group which now has over 200 members. September 2018 Joyce was a member of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation Board of Directors and ran the NCTU Rivercourse for a few years.
On September 8, 2018 Joyce was honored to be inducted into the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians Hall of Fame, in the Humanity Category. The recognition was for her long-standing contributions to Fly Fishing and her dedication to helping others heal through the sport.
As a Joan Wulff-trained Fly Casting Instructor her greatest joy is introducing youth to flyfishing, supporting women through Casting Carolinas and working with disabled veterans through Project Healing Waters.
