Field Team

stanton Jack

Stanton Jack is a professional classical guitarist and head of the Guitar and Harp Department for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s School of Music. A passionate Canadian fly fisherman for over three decades, he applies the same dedication to fly fishing as he does to his music career. Growing up in Kamloops B.C., Stanton spent countless days fly fishing the numerous lakes and rivers within the surrounding area. In his mid-teens, Stanton became an active fly tyer and began designing trout patterns to match the hatches he observed on his local waters. Since then the art of fly tying and fly fishing for trout has become a true passion.

Stanton’s competitive angling career began in 2017. Although a relative newcomer to competition angling, his past experience in the sport of fly fishing has helped him achieve numerous top place finishes in local and national level events. In 2023, he was selected for the Canadian National Fly Fishing Team competing in Islay, Scotland. Stanton’s focus now is in the growth of competitive angling in Canada. He remains an active member of Fly Fishing Canada where he serves on the Board of Directors and also an event organizer for the British Columbia Fly Fishing League

kyle meek

Kyle was born and raised in Terrace BC, so a fly fishing addiction for him does not come by surprise. What is a surprise, is a guy from BC’s mecca salmon/steelhead river country, is a full on stillwater trout wizard! You can find Kyle fishing lakes from ice off at the end of March until the day they freeze in mid-end November.

If he’s not on the water he’s on the vise preparing for the next trip out or helping to fill a fellow anglers boxes. His favorite method of fishing is hanging chironomid patterns under indicators in the spring, followed closely by stripping staples in shallow water in late fall. Immense amount of angling days per year have allowed Kyle to develop a great knowledge and understanding of the interior BC lakes and their hatches. If you are fishing lakes in region 3 or 8 in BC, you’re bound to run into Kyle eventually. Don’t hesitate to say hello and introduce yourself as he will never pass up an opportunity to talk all things trout and loves helping fellow anglers get on the fish!

“FORGED® is thrilled to have Kyle join its ranks , and is even more thankful of the knowledge and ideas that Kyle brings. A huge passion for the sport and a willingness to help out others makes us so grateful to say that Kyle is an asset to whoever he meets on the water. Check out his Instagram today!”

dakota mercer

Dakota has been fly fishing since the age of 6, taught by his father on the banks of the Tetsa river deep in the Northern British Columbia mountain range. Dakota is currently endorsed through Simms Fishing Products, and Nautilus Fly Reels. An avid steelhead and trophy Bull trout fly angler, Dakota has an huge follower database through instagram which all are welcomed to follow (@tightlin3s).

He’s written articles for flyguys.net , Wilsons, and is currently writing something for flyfusion magazine on bull trout. Dakota will be moving to the coast next year, to become a full licensed guide for Steelhead and Salmon in the Kitimat-Stikine region of BC. This is just another step into his addiction of this madness which he loves more than anything in the world. Look out for his new youtube channel in the works!

Forged® Owners Note: Dakota is one of the very best guides I have ever had the pleasure of using, and his knowledge helped make our steelheading footage for “The Dimestore Fisherman” a huge success on the Kitimat River. Aside from that, he’s a fantastic person, especially when he’s out-fishing you! I’m truly glad to have him as a Guide, Pro staffer and friend.

kage kossler

“Hi, My name is Kage Kossler, and Fly Fishing is my passion. I started at age 8 in my hometown of Bend, Oregon. In 2013 I moved to Alaska with my family and started fishing all over south-central Alaska and around the Kenai Peninsula. I’ve fished for grayling, rainbows, dolly varden, steelhead and salmon. In the past couple years I was fortunate enough to compete in the North American Loch Style Championships in BC, and the Youth Nationals in North Carolina. I also attended and watched some of America’s top fly fisherman compete in the US Nationbals here in Bend. These experiences have helped me better master loch-style lake fishing and euro nymphing! My ultimate goal is to make the US Youth National Fly Fishing team and Represent the USA.”

Forged® Owners Note: “I was able to compete against Kage in the North American Loch Style Championships this past year, and never have I met a young man so talented, respectful and eager to learn as Kage. His attitude and personality made everyone who had the pleasure of him as a boat partner or teammate thankful for his attendance.

Forged® will be there to help him achieve his dreams, and we can’t wait to see it happen.”

PAt Demeester

Pat Demeester grew up in small town tobacco country in southern Ontario. He grew up fishing small irrigation ponds, small creeks , and the tributaries of lake Erie. Like his great grandfather, he was completely and utterly obsessed with fishing . After catching a skamainian in a lake Erie tributary and learning about the different life histories , and the histories of Oncorhynchus Mykiss (rainbow trout) on the west coast , he set out on foot as a very young teenager, to see the Pacific ocean Steelhead .

He lived in a small tent on Vancouver island , and several gulf island communities and fished the rivers found in the books and magazines of his heroes like Mr Roderick H Brown , Art Lingren, Berry Thornton, Ian Forbes, and Trey Combs . At 16 he lived on the gulf islands and fell in love with coastal cutthroat as well. Now having lived his life in the tributaries of the Salish sea basin of British Columbia for decades, he is in the top of his field as a citizen biologists, working with both the province and the private sector to study and catalog different life histories of both wild rainbow trout populations such as Amphidromous fjord fish and velocity barrier summer Steelhead, Coastal cutthroat populations such as the large fish of the cutthroat coast , and sea run cutthroat in the inlets and islands , And sea run bull trout families in the great Fjords of the central coast .

He is the owner and operator of cutthroat coast guiding and is working on several different studies at any given time . He is a anti open net fish farming advocate , works to protect wild trout and Char in both his private and professional life . He lives with his wife Tera and their pack of Hungarian kuvasz in the coastal rainforest of the mainland of the salish sea , and spends 300 days a year on the water fishing , guiding ,studying and teaching in the basin.

Robert Bautista

“I have been fishing since I was probably 5 years old, bank fishing for anything that swam in the red river in Manitoba. I learned to fish for pike, walleye, bass and catfish on conventional gear. I moved to Kelowna in 2004 where I learned to fly fish, where I slowly honed my craft and now I specialize in Stillwater for fishing for trout. I also ice fish during the winter for perch, kokanee, pike, burbot, walleye and whitefish. If it swims I want to catch it. I don’t care if it’s on the fly or lures. I love to fish!”

Bobby has been a vital part of Forged’s success, as he has helped with design aspects of the reels over the years. He can be visited at TW outdoors in Kelowna, when he isn’t the envy of every other angler on the lake he is on.

Tyler Ekdahl

I grew up in a small town in British Columbia called 100 Mile House that has some amazing trout fishing and some beautiful lakes. I have been fishing for as long as I can remember. I am now 30years old and love it more and more every-time I am out on the water. I took up fly fishing when I was 19 when a friend took me out on my first fly fishing adventure, I can still remember hooking that first fish and really feeling how the fish reacted to the bite, not only that but the sensitivity and control I had was unbelievable and from that moment on I was HOOKED!!

I love to fish everything from trout.. bass.. steelhead and salmon ! Fly fishing is my choice of weapon and love everything the sport has to offer

I now find myself fully committed to my fishing whether I’m out fishing, studying bodies of water, researching bugs or tying flies I spent most of my days fishing. I also love tying flies. Chironomids, leaches, minnows, boatman, scuds, nypmhs, boobies, blobs, drys.. you name it and I tie it.

I spend a lot of time examining insects and trying my best to replicate the colors and movements in these bugs that I am seeing the fish feed on. I recently took on competition fly fishing and have done extremely well. I am looking forward to many more years of competing, fishing, and tying!!

Russ Kronstrom

Russ lives in Duncan, British Columbia, and is an amazing outdoorsman and angler to have as a Field Team Member! The Duncan Gone Fishin’ Shop is where you’ll find Russ running things when he’s not out on the water, making himself invaluable designing and testing out our reels and gear.

“Hi, My name is Russell Kronstrom and I am honored to join the Forged Fly Fishing Field Team. My outdoor activities include Hunting, Sturgeon and Ocean fishing, and freshwater angling. I hope to share my angling journey with the Forged audience as much as I can! Cheers!” – Russel

Jamie Bell

Fishing runs in my blood, as a fifth generation Vancouver Islander I have been fishing the waters of Vancouver Island for nearly 40 years. In the early 90’s I discovered the art of fly tying and have been tying all of my own flies ever since, as well as tying for a number of other local fishermen. In the mid 90’s I worked with my Dad trapping and sampling migrating salmon and steelhead on the Puntledge River as part of a study of the impacts of the BC Hydro dams on Puntledge River. Since I have become a product tester for a number of BC based fishing product companies and manufacturers and take great pride in the opportunity to test out and weigh in on and assist in the development of the products coming to the market for the sport we all love. It is an honor to be part of the process of development and having the chance to see all these premium quality products come to life by companies right here in BC. Hope to see you all on the water!!

scott fonda

Scott is an avid fly and gear fisherman based in southern British Columbia. Growing up in Northern B.C. his passion for fishing and the outdoors began at a young age. Scott’s passion for spey casting , takes him all over the the province chasing that next grab finding new adventures. Although he is a multi-species angler, he is always on the hunt for the elusive steelhead. Words he lives by “ No bad vibes.” “Work hard, stay humble.” “That’ll fish “ “Catch fish , not feelings.” “Live your best life.”

Zack Tyson

Born and raised in Kelowna, B.C., I grew up in a family that spent as much time outdoors as possible. I picked up a fly rod at a young age, and what started as a hobby quickly turned into a lifelong obsession with fly fishing and fly tying. These days, I’m all-in on sharpening my skills and pushing myself to become the best angler and fly tyer I can be. I spend most of my time exploring the mountain lakes of Region 8, chasing rainbow trout and the thrill that comes with every new day on the water. For more of my fly fishing journey, you can find me on Instagram: @lunkslap

Jayson Giasson

I am a fishing fanatic. My name is Jayson Giasson. I am originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I started fishing at the very young age of seven. My parents worked most weekends but I was lucky to have an uncle who was also seriously into fishing. This uncle, originally from Newfoundland, took us out almost every weekend to our favourite lakes in Manitoba in search of walleye, northern pike, and perch. And who could forget “Manitoba winter” ice fishing, sitting on 6 feet of ice and enduring the cold for the “bite”. After my mother’s passing, my father moved to British Columbia, and I soon followed. When I’m out on the lake or the edge of the river, I often remember what my mom used to always say, “do what you love to do”.

Soon after moving to BC I met Krystal, who is also an outdoor enthusiast, and we created a new life in which we spend a lot of time in the great outdoors. Krystal happened to have a best friend who’s husband loves to fly fish, and he soon introduced me a new way of the sport, euro nymphing and stripping flies. I am so grateful to have met Brian and his enthusiasm … it was like I was born again. I took to fly fishing right away, and with a lot of practice I’m now in competitions with the British Columbia Fly Fishing League. In 2019 our team finished 3rd overall at the North American Loch Style competition and put me in the rankings at 11th in BC and 25th in Canada. My passion for the sport continues to grow and I’m eager to learn more about the sport as I get out and fish every chance I get.

Whether it be on the lake with friends or in competitions, I continue to thrive in the sport as I get out on the water nymphing and throwing flies, searching for the next big one. My ultimate goal is to join Team Canada and compete in the Commonwealth Championship.