Captain Duke grew up in Lake Guntersville, Alabama where he developed his love of fishing. He graduated from Guntersville High School in 1991 and enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. After graduation from the school of infantry, he was transferred to Camp Lejeune where he had the opportunity to take the assessment and selection to become a Marine Scout Sniper. Serving multiple combat tours overseas.
In 2010 he was injured in Afghanistan. Despite the injuries, and long road of recovery, his willingness to serve as a Marine, gave him the motivation he needed deploy downrange many more times.
Later, he was transferred to serve as the Marine Corps Rifle Program Manager. He was then made aware of a program called Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and became a participant, streamside guide and volunteer. This took Duke back to his childhood and gave him a release that created peace. Duke was medically retired after twenty-two years in the Marine Corps. Shortly after retirement he served on the National Staff of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing as the National Programs Director where he served over 200 programs and managed their participants attending over 300 national destination outings annually.
In 2015 he and his wife Kara were invited to attend a veteran retreat in Ketchikan, Alaska. They were both amazed at the beauty of Alaska and its surroundings. Their time spent there was precious and was a turning point in Duke’s recovery and made such an impression , that he and his wife decided to create there own nonprofit. In April of 2022 they took the plunge and founded Restoration Inc. A nonprofit for disabled veteran couples that uses the outdoors to introduce them to a lifelong mentorship. They have a several location's that they call "bases" including one elite location in Ketchikan, Alaska where they will guide disabled veteran couples each year on a no cost trip of a lifetime. This is just a small piece of their mentored journey of recovery in what is arguably the best salmon fishery in the world.
Captain Duke's love for saltwater fishing in the backcountry led him to Naples, Florida where he shares his passion of fishing with his clients.
Duke is a Beavertail Skiffs pro-guide, Temple Forks Outfitters Pro-Staff member, Flymen Fishing Company Guide, Brook Fishing Equipment ambassador. He is also a avid fly tyer with the Nor-Vise fly tying system, custom fly rod builder, and U.S. Coast Guard OUPV Charter Captain.
If you would like to find out how to help with their nonprofit efforts please email them at duke@restforheroes.org
The Beavertail Skiffs Mosquito is the technical poling skiff for today’s generation of anglers.
At 18’2” in length and with a 70″ beam, the Mosquito is a very capable hull for many situations – however it’s designed to do one thing with absolute perfection: silently stalk inshore game fish in the shallowest coastal waters.
It is powered with a 60 horsepower Suzuki with a 30 MPH cruising speed. It is perfect for shallow water with it's 5 inch draft. And like the rest of the Beavertail Skiffs lineup, its signature Carolina flared bow and integrated spray rails guarantee the driest ride available in its class.
Learn more about Beavertail Skiffs at https://www.beavertailskiffs.com/
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