Kurtis joined team Fish Tales in April, 2010. Kurtis grew up in Calgary and started fly tying and fishing with the Calgary Hook and Hackle club at age 10. He’s been in the Calgary fly fishing industry for about 13 years now so many readers have probably seen him around from time to time.Kurtis fly fishes as much as possible and spends time year around on the Bow. He also frequently fishes mountain streams and Alberta and Saskatchewan lakes (go Riders.) Kurtis really enjoys streamer fishing and targeting brown trout, bull trout and pike. He’s an accomplished fly tyer who enjoys tying streamers, nymphs, and pike patterns.
More about Kurtis….
How long have you been fishing? Been fishing since I can remember. My Grandfather and I went every summer growing up in Saskatchewan.
How long have you been fly fishing? Started fly tying at 9 years old and fly fishing at 10.
How did you get started in fly fishing? My mom knew I had a huge interest in fishing and saw an ad in the paper for the Calgary Hook & Hackle Club. She didn’t know it was for fly fishing and she took me to an open house night at the club. I never looked back.
Favorite species?
- Freshwater – Northern Pike, Bull Trout, Brown Trout, Steel Head
- Saltwater – Giant Trevally , Permit, Barracuda, Shark
Favorite water?
- River – Bow river , Crowsnest River, Race horse creek, Whisper Creek
- Lake- Badger Reservoir, Lake Newell, Shhhh Lake , Zipper mouth Lake
- Saltwater- Cayo Coco , Tahiti
Favorite technique?
I would have to say my favorite technique is streamer fishing for sure with both spey rods & single hand rods.
Favorite flies?
Freshwater:
- Clouser Minnow
- Finntroll (my own streamer pattern)
- Sex Dungeon
Saltwater:
- Clouser Minnow
- Blue EP Crab
- Crazy Charlie
Favorite fishing book or DVD:
- Pike on the fly – In pursuit of the water wolf
- Skagit Master 2 Steel heading outside the box
- Nervous Water
Favorite Vise (as in the tool.) Nor – Vise
Favorite pattern to tie?
- Finntroll’s
- Pike & bull trout flies
- Any Streamer Patterns
Favorite material and why?
- Magnum Rabbit Strips – Tons of movement in the water, very durable, array of colors.
- Just-add-water SF(Steve Farrar’s) Flash Blend – Amazing Streamer Material, array of colors.
Prefer to fish alone or with friends? I Like both. It’s great to get away with friends but I also enjoy fishing alone.
Two things you wouldn’t go fishing without (aside from rod, reel, line, flies)
- Tim Horton’s
- Camera
Interesting anecdote (ie. Embarrassing moment with a fly rod, interesting story about something you caught, etc.)
My most embarrassing moment fly fishing…. I had ridden my bike down to the Bow river to fish. It was a very windy day as it can get in Calgary. I was fishing a clouser minnow with tungsten eyes from off a high bank down to the water when on my back cast a huge gust of wind came up and my clouser minnow proceeded to come flying up and impale itself into my very inner thigh right through my Neoprene waders – and this was back when barbs were allowed – and came really, really close to you know what….. So, I couldn’t get the hook out and I had to hop back on my bike while still pinned to my waders by this Clouser minnow and ride to the nearest clinic to get the hook out. Needless to say the ride there was very painful!
Most interesting (remote, distant, crowded, etc.) location you’ve fished.
My most interesting place I have fished was down in southern Alberta on the Castle river. We had walked way off the beaten path. The day was a bluebird day and the scenery was amazing. I won’t ever forget it
Your destination/species wishlist:
- Christmas Island For GT’s
- Tahiti for Huge Bones
- Cayo Coco for Awesome Barracuda!
Given the opportunity who would you choose to fish with? Or someone who has inspired you as an angler/tyer/teacher/guide.
- Walter Wyporowich (Grand Father)
- Kelly Galloup
- Simon Gawesworth
