Justin Rea started his career as a fishing guide in the High Sierra Mountains in the early 90’s. His day consisted of taking his anglers to different rivers from the Lake Tahoe region down to Bishop, CA area. The Truckee, East Carson, East Walker, Hot Cr, and Upper and Lower Owens rivers were some of his favorites.

Rea moved to Boise, ID to further his education at Boise State. He had the summers off from school and worked at South Fork Outfitters in Swan Valley, ID for five years as a river guide. Rea also guided anglers in the Jackson Hole One Fly yearly. In 2001 his angler won the award for Largest Fish.

Rea took a trip to the Keys in 2001 with some friends and decided to call the Lower Keys his home. Rea spent the first year of his career fishing and learning the water. He invited friends and family to come fish and much to his surprise most of them accepted.

Since then Rea has spent nearly 200- days on the water guiding anglers to tarpon, bonefish and permit. His experience on the river taught him a lot about how to feed the fish in saltwater and also helped in his creativity to tie new saltwater flies. One of Rea’s flies is featured in Umpqua’s Fly Gallery – "Rea's Triple Threat".

This fly was originally designed for the Redbone Super Fly Tournament. Rea placed in this tournament several years in a row and in 2008 he took the title of Grand Champion Guide with Cal Collier, Jr. of Atlanta, GA as his angler.

Rea competes in a variety of other fly fishing tournaments in the Keys including the March Merkin, Del Brown Invitational Permit Tournament, the Mercury Redbone S.L.A.M. and Superfly.

Rea is a full time guide and makes his home in Sugarloaf Key with his wife Loren and son Ryan.