Joe’s interest in tying flies began in 1973 while stationed with the Army in Maryland. Here he joined the Maryland Fly Anglers and tied primarily trout and shad flies. Upon release from the Army, he returned to Georgia and began tying flies on a part time basis for several local fly shops. In 1987 he broadened his tying business to include saltwater flies and by 1989 he and his wife Rose were tying flies full time for shops and guides. Although Joe is a contract tier for Umpqua Feather Merchants he does not tie commercially anymore, tying mostly for a few friends and guides.
Articles he has written appear in Se Council of the FFF and in several saltwater fly fishing magazines, and salt water fly pattern books. Joe is credited with several flies of his own design: the Epoxy Charlie, The Swimming Crab, Branham’s Shrimp, Branham’s crayfish and several other patterns.
His passion now is his web site BranhamsSaltwaterFlyfishing . The web site is designed for anyone tying flies for saltwater from a novice to advanced levels. His site has numerous tying lessons, tying tips, tying information, saltwater fly patterns with tying instructions with step-by-step photos as well as a pattern data base.