Icons, a web series from Swing the Fly, looks at the most influential figures in spey casting and swinging flies from North America and beyond in the 21st century. In this installment we visit with Kara Knight, a highly-accomplished competitive spey caster and fly industry professional in Smithers, British Columbia.
You grew up in Calgary, but didn’t fly fish then. What did you do growing up, both as indoor and outdoor pursuits?
Both of my parents are avid outdoors people and my younger years reflected that. We spent a lot of time hiking, camping and skiing in the Canadian Rockies, only an hour away from Calgary, and did some more extensive backpacking, canoeing and sea kayaking trips further afield as well. This instilled in both my brother and me a deep appreciation of the outdoors, and to this day we’re both employed in outdoor industries. I also played a variety of sports and was pretty passionate about music.
When you are fishing on your own, which river do you consider to be your “Home River” (or rivers)?
I currently live in Smithers and would consider the Bulkley my home river these days. But one of the perks of living in this region is being able to access the entire Skeena watershed – multiple world-renowned steelhead rivers are close enough that you can fish them in the same day. It’s a pretty amazing place, and it’s difficult to choose just one river!
Which river that you have never fished before would you most like to try?
I haven’t yet steelhead fished in the US, but I’ve heard so much about the rivers there. I’d love to fish the Deschutes and Klickitat, and also hope to fish the OP someday. Experiencing an Atlantic Salmon fishery is also high on my list.
What is your favorite fly?
The wet fly I reach for most with steelhead is the Hoh Bo Spey, but I really prefer to tie them for myself – the trailer loop on most commercially tied ones is much longer than I like and I don’t love that for the fish. For a steelhead dry fly, I’m a big fan of a Grantham Sedge or a Pom Skater.
What is your favorite two-hand rod, and what line do you most like to use with it?
I have had a 13-foot Pieroway Metal Detector 600gr rod for years and I still love it as much as the first time I cast it. It’s a great feeling rod and I enjoy it equally whether I’m fishing Skagit/Scandi, dry/wet flies. At the moment it’s paired with an 575 Rio Skagit Max Long. I also have a 15-foot CND rod paired with a Bridge Tributary line for dry fly fishing, and it’s been a fantastic combination.
What is your favorite memory from your times on the water?
Oh man, every fish encounter is special for its own reason and it’s impossible to choose one moment out of so many! his question makes me think of all the extraordinary places that fishing has taken me and the amazing people who have shared those experiences – that combination of people and places, connecting in the outdoors and sharing adventures, makes for a feeling that’s pretty incredible and I think that feeling is actually my favourite thing.
You have entered casting competitions in many different countries. In which country did you have the most fun, from the standpoint of the casting environment itself?
So far, I’ve attended Speyorama, held annually in San Francisco, as well as the 2024 Flycasting World Championship, held in Åhus, Sweden. Both casting environments were quite different – Speyorama is held in a set of manmade ponds and only focuses on one discipline (15-foot Spey), while the event in Sweden was held in the ocean and featured multiple disciplines (single and double hand). I liked the variety of disciplines you can participate in at the Worlds event, but I like the controlled environment of the ponds at Speyorama. But for both, the best part is the community – many of the same competitors attend both events, and the environment is incredibly supportive and fun.
You have made many contributions to steelheading and two-hand casting. Is there one you’re particularly proud of?
Although I don’t feel like I’ve contributed much to the fly-casting community yet, I do feel like I’ve been able to contribute to individuals – clients, colleagues and friends – in the steelheading world over the years. Adventures and extraordinary experiences have been an integral part of my life and are something I value deeply – being able to bring those experiences to the lives of others is something I find very rewarding. You build a unique kind of bond with people when you share some of those bucket list moments and achievements with them.
In all of the lodges where you have managed and/or fished, which one has made the greatest effort to enlighten guests to the importance of saving wild fish?
I’d say the efforts have been pretty consistent across the board. More and more, regardless of what country or corner of the fishing industry, I think people really recognize now that we will only be able to experience and appreciate these resources as long as we take care to steward them. Each lodge I’ve worked for has worked to do this in their own way. There are so many people who are passionate about conservation, and the challenge seems to be in unifying the many voices in this smaller industry to advocate for wild fish against some much larger players that don’t have their best interest in mind.
What are your plans for the next five years?
I intend to continue casting competitively, and look forward to attending both Speyorama and the ICSF World Flycasting Championships in 2026. I’d like to compete in all of the disciplines for the Worlds next August, which means I have some work to do.
I also plan to further explore the world of casting instruction through offering lessons and clinics here in Smithers and see where that takes me. It’s incredibly gratifying helping people gain confidence in their abilities on the water and I’ve particularly enjoyed teaching women who are just getting into the sport. Fishing is still a very male dominated industry, and although there are more women than ever, I think it’s intimidating for many to take that first step.
