Meet Our Board
TORI WALBURN
President
Meet Tori Walburn, a passionate angler whose deep love for the sport was sparked by her beloved Grandfather, affectionately known as Boompa. From the moment she cast her line upon the muddy waters of the Chattahoochee River, Tori was hooked. The river's serenity and the challenge of catching those beautiful yellow belly, red spotted brown trout ignited a lifelong passion for fly fishing.
Tori's journey took an exciting turn when she attended an event at Buford Dam attended by the Georgia Women Fly Fishing Club (GWFF). Surrounded by like-minded women who shared her enthusiasm for fly fishing, Tori felt an instant connection. Inspired by their camaraderie and knowledge, she quickly became a member and eventually assumed a seat on the GWFF board.
Today, Tori takes immense pride in serving as the President of GWFF, working alongside the board to cultivate a vibrant community of female anglers in Georgia. During her cherished free time, you can find Tori rowing her Hyde Drift Boat.
MEGAN NELLEN
Vice President
A native Atlantan, Megan learned how to cast when her childhood minister, PRUMC's Don Harp, put a fly rod in her hand in front of a mosquito-infested pond in south Georgia. It wasn't until 15 years later that she heard the zingggg of her reel and landed her first fish - a bonefish on the flats of Belize.
Megan's first years as an angler were spent in the salt, but she picked up freshwater fishing five years ago - about the time she joined GWFF as a member. Recently, memorable freshwater trips include hiking and fishing for bull trout throughout in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and floating the Missouri River in search of the big browns. An educator, Megan is most passionate about her volunteer work with Casting for Recovery - Georgia and more recently as a guide for All Kids Fish in Helen.
ELLEN BEGLEY
Newsletter
As an Atlanta native, Ellen spent most of her summers playing and working at an all-girls camp in Clarkesville, Georgia teaching outdoor living skills, canoeing, and helping the horseback cabin at the barn. It wasn't until she moved back to Atlanta from Virginia and Maine a few years ago that she began fly fishing. She checked out every book from the library about fish and entomology and spent as much time as she could hitting the Ocmulgee river in Macon, GA.
After returning to legal practice in Atlanta, she quickly was spending every free moment on the Chattahoochee or researching her next trip back up to follow blue lines in Madison County, North Carolina. After volunteering at her first All Kids Fish event in October 2022, she began becoming acquainted with Georgia Women's Fly Fishers and have been trying to force its members into friendship ever since. She now serves on the Becca Sue Klein's All Kids Fish host committee.
When not flirting with bad hooksets on her Redington butter stick or getting roasted by librarians for seemingly reading more about fishing than actually fishing, Ellen practices civil litigation defense and insurance law. She also enjoys kayaking, camping, and going to concerts with her dog, Quinn, and partner, Will.
DAISY LUTHER
Social Media Coordinator
Growing up in the hills of Northern Georgia has provided me with an abundance of fishing opportunities. When I was 6 years old I caught my first trout at a ‘kid’s fish day’ that was organized at a nearby state park. I’ll never forget the smell of canned corn, sticky hands, the thrill of my reel zinging, and the bend in my Zebco Snoopy fishing pole. My Grandpa snapped a picture. It was childhood spin fishing for trout that hooked me first.
My love for fishing only grew from there. Over the last 8 years I’ve picked up fly fishing and just can’t seem to put it down.
These days you can find me on the small streams ambushing Brook Trout or on the coast trying to figure out how to land a Snook on fly. It’s a joy and an honor to serve this group of women, and help ignite the same excitement for fishing in the hearts of others!
NANETTE O'HARA
Outreach Coordinator
After a career in science and environmental journalism, Nanette embarked on a second career directing public outreach for a regional partnership coordinating the restoration of Tampa Bay.
Then she launched a third career running her own environmental communications business before retiring to the North Georgia mountains in 2021. An avid saltwater fly fisher and Pacific Northwest steelheader, she is going all-in on small-stream fishing for trout, with a lot of help and encouragement from GWFF members.
Nanette is a former instructor for the Oregon Becoming an Outdoorswoman Fly Fishing Program, the former President of the Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club and the current social media manager for the Rabun Trout Unlimited Chapter.
She is learning to fish spring hatches on the Chattooga River till “oh dark thirty” like a real Rabunite.
DEBRA PAULI
Treasurer
As a child growing up in New Orleans everyone fished. Once I moved to Atlanta, I took up sailing on Lake Lanier where I was very active with Barefoot Sailing Club. Sailing was a hobby that I thoroughly enjoyed but all good things come to an end. I wanted a new challenge.
Had I lived closer to the coast, I think I would have ended up with a fishing boat so I could fill the cooler with my catch. Since that wasn’t an answer, I thought I would try fly fishing. I knew an old sailing friend was a member of GWFF and GWFF offered classes. I enrolled, knowing nothing, and loved it from the moment we entered the Hooch at Paces Mill. That was 2016. Recently, I’ve done some saltwater fly fishing and I am hooked more than any fish caught.
MARY PARKER FORBUS
Membership
I started fishing at an early age at my Grandparent's farm pond with a spinner rod and bucket of crickets. When I met my now husband - he introduced me to fly fishing. I immediately became hooked (pun intended). I like the calmness of being on the river - disconnected from what's going on in the world. When fishing you have to be focused on that and your mind can't be thinking about anything else. I joined GWFF to connect with other women who share the same mutual passion for fly fishing!
LAUREN ATTEBERRY
Membership
As a New Orleans native, I'm a true believer in the saying Laissez les bons temps rouler - "Let the good time roll!" I grew up fishing here and there with family and friends in the brackish waters of Louisiana. After moving to Atlanta 2016, I wanted to find a way to get back to nature, get my fish on and meet some like minded people. As a GWFF member I'm excited to learn all things fly fishing and share my love of the sport to others. My "church" time is found in nature and this sport brings out the best in hiking, camping, fishing and enjoying some peace and serenity.
In the real world, I am an environmental consultant, wife and mom to our border collie Ruby and cockatiel Scout!
EMALY RIVERA
Education
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THERESA WARD
Education
Theresa is a native of the Great Lakes region and has always loved being on the water. She's been living in Atlanta since 2009 and has enjoyed everything the Southeast has to offer from camping, hiking, and wakeboarding, to volunteering at the Georgia Aquarium.
When she's not outdoors, Theresa runs her own business as a professional communications and culture consultant. She's also a passionate furmom and yoga practitioner. She recently took up Fly Fishing and is loving the opportunity to support GWFF members by crafting educational experiences (while she learns so much herself)!!
FRIENDS OF GWFF
Georgia Women Flyfishers is proud of our relationships with so many supporters in the fishing community. We are partnered with, are supported by and provide support to the following
