We challenge you, after reading these guide profiles, to find another Rockies’ outfitter that brings more to the fly fishing table than Dave Brown Outfitters. That’s not a boast. It’s a fact. When you offer clients unsurpassed angling on dozens of rivers and streams in six major watersheds across two Canadian provinces, you’d better darn well be able to back it up. We can. And we do – daily, all season long, trip after trip and client after client.
Those clients include U.S. Presidents, top Hollywood actors, countless professional athletes, the business elite and a glamorous supermodel. Equally important to use are the dozens of tradesmen, journeymen, public servants and daughters-next-door that we proudly guide each year. You see, whether they’re running Wall Street companies or running the kids to the football field, these people all have something in common – a love of the great outdoors and the desire to fly fish for wild trout in wild places. That’s where we come in …
It should come as no surprise that Dave Brown Outfitters (D.B.O.) has the highest retention rate of any guide service in Western Canada. We are all fly tying, sunglass wearing, drift boat rowing, fly fishing professionals. Collectively we’ve fished or guided in dozens of countries on five continents, yet each summer we return to D.B.O. to share that experience and breadth of knowledge with you. Our common goal is to provide you, the customer, with a Western Canadian fly fishing experience that you’ll talk about for years to come. We’re willing to bet that we have the highest retention rate of clients in the region, too – the best endorsement of all.
Our corporate endorsements are numerous and varied: D.B.O. is the guide service 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), and Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures.

We’re also 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. 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  - Patagonia AZ.
Dave 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 its kind in Western Canada.
Dave is a true "Trout Bum" He ventured into Fly-fishing and Fly-tying at age 13,since then Dave has  Fly-fished  on numerous rivers, streams, lakes and flats in 5 Canadian provinces, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, New York State and in Cuba.
Dave began his Guiding Career in 1988 on The Bow River .Since then  has been active in the Western Canadian fly fishing industry in a variety of capacities including: Fly shop manager, head guide, fly fishing instructor and, for the last 15 years, as a fly shop/guide service operator and full-time outfitter and lodge owner.Dave is a past -President of The Jumping Pound Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada and is the Vice President of the newly formed Southern Arizona Chapter of Quail Forever.

Dave and his pursuits with a fly rod and double-gun have been profiled in leading publications such as Fly Fisherman Magazine, Fly Rod & 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 books and columns. Dave himself has 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 (FFF) certified casting instructor and is on the Clackacraft Drift Boat advisory staff. Since immigrating to the United States Dave and his very patient wife Lisa call Patagonia, Arizona home; together they operate Dave Brown Outfitters U.S.A. L.L.C. – Dave’s Orvis-endorsed Arizona quail hunting guide service, and the booking agent for both the fly fishing and wing shooting Canadian operations. During his brief ‘off-season’, Dave 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 and his yellow Lab. Dave is a licensed B.C. angling guide and outfitter, a licensed Saskatchewan bird hunting outfitter ,a licensed Arizona hunting guide , and a soon-to-be-licensed Montana fishing guide.

Rick Harding -Okotoks AB.
Rick tied his first fly when he was 14 but didn't start fly fishing until he was 17 – go figure. Since that time Rick has spent over 30 years guiding full- and part-time on Alberta's Bow River and the Elk River  in B.C. He was the founding president of Bow River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada  and a past National Board member of that organization. He is an FFF certified casting instructor and has taught hundreds of people how to cast and tie flies over the years. He has also presented many programs to fly fishing clubs and at fly fishing shows across North America. Rick can usually be found on a river somewhere with his favorite fishing partner and wife Thelma. Together they fish and video tape the action to be shown on their web site 'The Fly Fishing Life.com'.

Quinn Styles - Okotoks AB.
Since 1994 Quinn has been guiding on the Bow River , the Elk River  and pretty much everything in between. In his off-time Quinn is an Investigator with the City of Calgary Fire Department, tracking down arsonists and working closely with local police authorities. An avid fly tier and upland bird hunter, Quinn’s also spent many a vacation in Belize stalking the flats in search of bonefish, tarpon and permit. Quinn has the rare capability 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 and keen wit. You might want to think twice about smoking in his boat; if you must just douse those butts carefully! His primary focus is on the Bow and other S.W. Alberta waters.
 

Derek Crawshaw -Salmon Arm B.C.
Derek has been with us since 2000. But he’s been fishing the Elk River and environs since he was propped on the bank and taught to hold a fishing rod. He learned quickly and well: Derek is widely regarded as the Elk's  ‘guides’ guide’ – the one we all turn to when things get difficult and knowledge is king. When summer wanes in the Rockies Derek heads west and spends his fall season guiding with Steelhead Valhalla Lodge on the Sustut River. During the winter months, Derek can be found guiding in Chile for the famous MartÃn Pescador Lodge, where he focuses on the huge browns and rainbows found in the area waters. In short, if it swims in freshwater, Derek has probably guided for it. You won’t meet a more versatile or experienced guide.

Mike Turnbull -Calgary AB.
Mike has been with us for the better part of 10 years now, and for good reason – he’s definitely a keeper. His infectious grin and expertise for all things ‘trout’ make Mike another extremely versatile and knowledgeable guide. He’s equally at home on the Bow  and the Elk, not to mention at least a dozen lesser-known waters in between, including the Oldman River from top to bottom. We’re not sure why, but for some reason women are drawn to Mike’s boat like cutties to caddis. It must be his big, er … net. Mike also helps out with our wing shooting program from time to time.
 
Andres Gonzalez-Fernie B.C.
Andrés is a passionate film maker and an outstanding guide from Patagonia, Chile. He began his guiding career in 1994 and quickly became the Head Guide and Manager for various Chilean lodge operations owned and operated by the ‘fly-fishing famous’ Dufflocq family. Andres also spent a season guiding in New Zealand. This time on the water allowed Andres to pursue his other passion – films and documentaries. In 2001 he released the first fly fishing documentary in Spanish. He’s also been a finalist at the Crested Butte Reel Fest in Colorado, and a featured film maker at the Banff Mountain Film Festival in 2002.
In 2008, Andres founded The Fishing Academy (Academia de Pesca), responsible for launching a new generation of fly fishing guides in Patagonia. He’s also taught at numerous fishing schools and events across Chile. After many years in South America, Andres decided to move back to native Canada with his wife and 3 daughters. Andres and his young family are now enjoying the Fernie lifestyle and the fabulous fishing in the Canadian Rockies.
Teaching, learning, sharing experiences and having fun have always been the hallmarks of a day on the water with Andrés. Just don’t be surprised when he nets your fish and films at the same time – another of his unique talents!

Chris Dawson--Winlaw B.C.
Chris has been fly fishing in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest for 30 years.  Over that time he’s authored two widely acclaimed books: Due North of Montana; and Woolly Worms & Wombats, an account of his 10-month trip backpacking and casting flies in the Australian Snowy Mountains, Tasmania and New Zealand.  The South Island has a special hold on Chris – he returns there each season to sight-fish and stalk the wily backcountry brown trout. “It’s like bowhunting for fish,” Chris says, chuckling. “And just about as productive.” Back home in the Kootenays, Chris is drawn to guiding by his love of fly fishing and the tremendous people he meets along the way. His articles have appeared in many of the industry’s leading magazines, including Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel and Gray’s Sporting Journal. Chris’ ramblings and rantings also appear regularly on our BLOG.

Very Honorable Mentions
Dave Brown Outfitters would like to thank the following ‘Independent’ guides for their excellent service over the past seasons:

Dave Sewell 
Don Jensen
Gregory Leach 
Darcy Richardson
Sebastien Stewart 
Brian Larsen

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