Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Lawson-Johnston.
I grew up saltwater fly fishing with my father in the summers in New England. He would wake me up really early in the mornings and I would jump out of bed and we would chase striped bass, bonito, bluefish, and false albacore in my dad’s ’99 Maverick flats boat. I was addicted from the start and after a few years, I was the one rushing into my dad’s room to wake him up to go fishing. My passion for fly fishing developed over these summers spent in New England and after a few trips down to the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos islands as we fished for bonefish.
My love for the Lowcountry also came at an early age. I am very fortunate enough to have an incredible grandfather (who I share a name with) who owns a bit of hunting property just outside the Charleston area. In the fall and winter, we would spend our school breaks there with him, hunting whatever was in season. Namely, we hunted quail, dove, turkey, whitetail deer, and ducks. Over time, I began to sharpen my skills as a hunter during our vacations spent there.
Fast forward a few years and it’s time to go to college. I knew a friend in the class above me who went to the College of Charleston and told me it was an incredible place to go to school. I started hearing more about it, then visited the campus and immediately fell in love. During my sophomore year, we trailered my dad’s old skiff down to Charleston from New England. This gave me the opportunity to start exploring, learning the waters and fishery.
From that point on, fly fishing became an addiction. Whenever I had the free time, I wanted to be out on the water and learn as much as possible. After college, I worked two other jobs but in 2017, I decided to become a full-time saltwater fly fishing guide in Charleston. I remember being younger and fishing in the Bahamas and telling my dad, “Those bonefish guides have the coolest jobs in the world! You get to be outside all day in the sun, making money guiding people to catch fish with a fly rod.” I think that was always in me, the knowledge that someone could do something they love, develop a career out of it and make a name for themselves in this ever-growing community of saltwater anglers.
I have now been a full-time guide for the last 5 years. Three years ago when Orvis opened up a storefront on King Street, I applied and was accepted as an Orvis Endorsed Guide. Being part of that program has been fantastic and my business has really gotten off the ground due to it. Today, I particularly enjoy chasing trophy class fish in the Charleston waters with the fly rod. In addition to that, through the Orvis network, I guide a lot of beginners to fly fishing or beginners in the saltwater. Some of the best days are teaching clients, watching them develop their skills and getting hooked on this sport.
The biggest hurdles so far have been having the patience the first year and a half or so to build and grow my client list. Second, would be dealing with criticism from either other contemporaries or clients. Third, would just be me: being comfortable with my program, how I do things and how I conduct myself around others, on and off the water.
I was a Studio Art major at CofC and have always had an artistic side to me. In high school and college, I learned to weld and did a ton of sculpture and metal work. I still have many pieces around my home and my parent’s home. After college, I didn’t have the provided studio space anymore, so I took up another hobby that I had always been pretty good at and that hobby was photography. Outdoors photography is so much fun to me, capturing wild scenes and animals that many people never get to see in their lifetime. In fishing, it’s the most fun for me to capture whatever fish it may be while it’s actively feeding. Some of the scenery and wildlife in these places are magnificent. I like to take photos that are print worthy to hang on your walls and decorate your house with.
I would have to say my friendliness or my ability to get along with just about anyone who likes to live in the moment, enjoy the now and be real.
Pricing:
- I basically offer 4, 6, or 8-hour charters
- the pricing for those is $100/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lowcountrypremierflyfishing.com
- Instagram: @lowcountry_premier_flyfishing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lowcountrypremierflyfishing
- Other: https://www.orvis.com/peter-lawson-johnston/28ZR.html
