Dave Brown Outfitters prides itself on the quality of our guide staff and the fact that we enjoy the highest retention rate of any guide service/fly shop in Western Canada. We are all fly tying, sunglass wearing, drift boat rowing, fly fishing professionals with a common goal - to provide you, the customer, with a Western

Canadian fly fishing experience that you will talk about for years to come, and that will make you want to come back for more!

Since 1990, Dave Brown Outfitters has provided discerning anglers from around the world with exceptional fly fishing opportunities on the trout-rich waters of southwestern Alberta and southeastern British Columbia. Our list of “firsts” includes:

- first “fly fishing only” guide service on the Elk River

- first Western Canadian multi-river guide service

- first full-time guide service on B.C.’s Upper Columbia and Slocan rivers

- first upland bird outfitter in Western Canada to work with
pointing dogs.

We make it a top priority to satisfy our clients’ sense of adventure. We make that possible via our experienced, intrepid guides and “off the charts” venues. We’ll take the front road, the back road or no road - whatever it takes and you desire to put you into the best fishing available. It’s for that reason that we’ve developed a strong reputation in the fly fishing world as the "go to" outfitter in the Canadian Rocky Mountain West.

But don’t just take our word for it: Dave Brown Outfitters has also become the outfitter of choice in Alberta and B.C. for such prestigious travel companies as Cabela’s, Frontiers, Off the Beaten Path, Tailwaters Fly Fishing Company (Dallas TX), the Royal Canadian Pacific, and Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures.

Dave Brown Outfitters is the only full-time guide service of its kind in Western Canada. For us, this isn’t a “second direction” of another business used to supplement income. Outfitting is all we do and we do it year-round, so it’s in our best interest to provide you - the client - with the best fly fishing experience possible. No one knows the water like we do, and no one can offer you the same level of customer service, expertise and professionalism.
Click here to read some of our testimonials.

Meet our Fly Fishing Guide Team

Dave Brown  -  AKA - Super Dave
Dave Brown served for 5 years as a Paratrooper in the Elite Canadian Airborne Regiment and 3 years in the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (of Afghanistan Fame) his Infantry leadership experience has carried over into the development of Dave Brown Outfitters, this is evident in his "hands on" approach to Outfitting, his ability to lead and empower his team members, and his determination to always be on the “cutting edge “ of developing new venues for his clients, the result is the largest Outfitting operation of it’s  kind in Western Canada.

Dave is a true "Trout Bum" and has Fly fished for 35 years, on numerous Rivers, Streams, lakes and Flats in 5 Canadian provinces, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, New York State and in Cuba.

Since 1989 Dave has been active in the Western Canadian Fly fishing industry working in a variety of capacities including, Fly shop manager, Head guide, Instructor, and for the last 13 years as a Fly shop Guide Service operator and now as Fulltime Outfitter –Lodge Owner. Dave is also the first "Fly fishing only" Guide on The Elk River.

Sporting publications such as Fly Fisherman Magazine, Fly Rod and Reel, Gray's Sporting Journal, Field and Stream, Outdoor Canada, Shooting Sportsman, Pointing Dog Journal, the book Due North of Montana and many of John Geirach's recent books, have given reference to Dave and his pursuits with a Fly rod and a Double Gun. Dave has also contributed articles and photographs to Fly Fisherman Magazine, Frontiers travel, The Oklahoman, and the book "Angling in the Shadow of The Rockies". Dave is a Federation of Fly Fisher's Certified Casting Instructor and is on The Clackacraft Drift Boat Advisory Staff. During the off-season Dave and his Wife Lisa, call Patagonia Arizona home, from there he can be found at numerous Fly fishing shows, Fly shops, and Fly fishing clubs across North America presenting slide shows on fishing in the Canadian Rockies, or chasing Upland birds behind his 12 Pointing Dogs.

Chris Dawson, Guide and Author

Quinn Styles - AKA Firefighter Quinn
Since 1994 Quinn Styles has been guiding on Alberta's Bow River and S.E. British Columbia's Elk River. In his off time Quinn is a City of Calgary Fire Fighter, Flytyer and an avid Upland Bird Hunter and vacations are spent in Belize stalking the flats in search of Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit . Quinn has the unique and rare capability to be able to guide on a multitude of rivers and do a fantastic job! A day with Quinn is always fun as he has a great sense of humor. Quinn's Primary focus is on The Bow River and other S.W .Alberta waters.

Derek Crawshaw (holding the Bull Trout)
Derek has worked with us now for 7 years, and over the past 5 years guiding D.B.O clients in both Alberta and British Columbia. Derek has also gained an incredible amount of experience working for a Lodge in Patagonia Chile. For the last two years Derek has been filling the “Head Guide” slot for D.B.O and is fully capable and experienced to do so.

Mike Turnbull
For the last four seasons, Mike has been working for D.B.O in both Alberta and B.C. Mike is a very versatile guide and is equally at home on the Bow, Elk and Oldman Rivers. He has also been known to help out on the Wing shooting program from time to time.

Blair Parker
Captain Blair has worked with DBO for 6 seasons, and as a native of Alberta, he is extremely at home on the Bow and Oldman Rivers, he also has a peculiar fetish for the dry fly eating Cutthroats on the Elk and St. Mary Rivers.

Lisa Sacco
Lisa is a Personal Fitness Trainer who has recently moved to Fernie from Vancouver. Her belief is that life is an adventure meant to be lived and loved. Outdoor adventures in her “backyard” brought her to Fernie for the fishing, mountain biking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, camping, kayaking, exploring the wilderness or just plain floating down the river with friends on a warm sunny day.
Her passion for the outdoors started in early childhood. She lived in a small northern town, Houston, BC. From spring to fall, the family would spend every other weekend on remote wilderness lakes and rivers, camping, fishing and hunting.
She is very excited to work with Dave Brown Outfitters. She looks forward to learning how to fly fish from the best and most experienced guides and to work with the guests to help them experience adventures and memories that will last a lifetime.

Very Honorable Mentions
Dave Brown Outfitters would like to thank the following “Independent “ guides for their excellent service over the past seasons
Mike Lindsay
Don Jensen
Jennifer Buck
Kim Straker
Darcy Richardson
Steve Harris
Ken Colson
Brian Larsen

Click here for our Current Rates