Sean Britt started his angling and fly-tying career 17 years ago in central Massachusetts. It was growing up on the small streams searching for native brookies that ignited his passion for all things fly-fishing. In 2003, Sean was first exposed to the fisheries of southern Alberta and was introduced to the cutthroat of the waters off the forestry trunk road. As he was falling in love with the fisheries, he also fell for a Canadian lady and followed her to Calgary in 2005. Since then he has been exploring the nooks and crannies of the Bow, along with the waters of southwest Alberta, southeast BC, and western Montana. In 2009 he began exploring another past-time, rod-building.
When not on the river or in the shop, you can find him at the dog park with his wife and dog or engaged in his other passion-archaeology. Sean was inaugurated into saltwater in 2010 with a trip to Baja in April. His 2011 saltwater destination is Cuba in early May.
More about Sean:
How long have you been fishing? 23 years
How long have you been fly fishing? 17 years
How did you get started in fly fishing? My father and his best friend were fishing buddies. After he passed away when I was 4, there was nobody to teach me how to fish. Then along came my dad’s best friend’s son Kurt. We became close to the point I now refer to him as my cousin. He took me under my wing and taught me how to fly-fish, tie flies and hunt. I can’t wait to head back east and chase stripers with him off of the Rhode Island coast!
Favorite species?
- Freshwater – Brown Trout
- Saltwater – Roosters
Favorite water?
- River: Bow River
- Lake: Any alpine lake.
- Saltwater: Sea of Cortez
Favorite technique? Nymphing. While some anglers look down upon it, I find it is equally if not more challenging than dry-fly fishing as there are so many variables: size/shape/color of pattern, depth, drift, etc. Also, fish feed the greatest percentage of time underwater and I like to catch fish, therefore I fish where they eat.
Favorite flies?
Freshwater:
- Barr’s Go-2 caddis
- Wilcox’s Para-Variant
- Flashback hare’s ear
Saltwater:
- Black Death
- Avalon Permit Fly
- Any baitfish pattern
Favorite fishing book or DVD? Note: “My attention span isn’t always that great, so picked a movie and two magazines.”
- Red Gold
- The Drake (great selection of tidbits and stories)
- Fly-Tyer (always great patterns and tips)
Favorite Vise (as in the tool.): Renzetti Traveler 2200
Favorite pattern to tie? All patterns are fun, but I won’t tie anything that takes me more than 10 minutes. This year all my fun has been spent on tying saltwater flies for Cuba. About 200 and counting…enough for 10 trips!
Favorite material and why? Must say beads. I don’t like to use weight and with the different types of beads out there (tungsten, etc.) I can play with weight on my flies, which then allows me to play with weight on my line depending on which fly I choose.
Prefer to fish alone or with friends? Alone and in the early am. A great and rewarding way to start the day.
Two things you wouldn’t go fishing without (aside from rod, reel, line, flies): Can’t limit to two. The three must haves I bring are: ball cap, buff and shades (protection from sun and stray flies). And when she’s good, my dog Bizzy.
Interesting anecdote (ie. Embarrassing moment with a fly rod, interesting story about something you caught, etc.)
I was fishing the Livingston a few years back while staying at a friend’s ranch in Beaver Mines. The day turned to dusk and the hatch turned on! Bugs were EVERYWHERE, and so were the feeding fish. My concentration was so focused that I didn’t see the grizzly that was crossing the river upstream, 20 yards away, until he was part way in the river. I could have easily hit him with my back cast! I simply turned and faced him, didn’t make eye contact, and put my hand on my bear spray. He simply made his way across the river, ate some berries from a nearby tree, and continued his way up river. While this wasn’t my first encounter with a bear, it was certainly the closest and made me realize how amazing they are and how they simply don’t want to bother you as much as you don’t want to be bothered by them!
Most interesting (remote, distant, crowded, etc.) location you’ve fished.
I often ranch sit for some friends down in Montana. The East Gallatin is literally about 100 ft from their back door and one of the nicest pools I’ve ever fished is right there. Whenever I’m down there I fish this water and have a blast. Then, last Christmas I get a card from my pals that says “look who dropped by for a fish.” Who was pictured fishing “my hole” but President Barack Obama. Now I don’t know what to say: Barack fished my water or I fished his!
Your destination/species wishlist:
- Taimen-Mongolia
- Tarpon-Cuba
- Giant rainbows-Alaska
Given the opportunity who would you choose to fish with? Or someone who has inspired you as an angler/tyer/teacher/guide.
- Go fishing anywhere with my dad.
- Go striper fishing in Rhode Island with my cousin Kurt.
- Go for native brookies in Massachusetts with my great Uncle.
