Brian Pitser
Hometown: Traverse City, Michigan
Guides in: Northwest Lower Michigan
To call Brian “hardcore” is an understatement. He once guided 280 days in a single year. He owns and operates The Northern Angler Fly Shop in Traverse City, Michigan, a fishing obsessed town where there really isn’t much of an off-season. The only thing Brian might love as much as fly fishing is music, and we have it on good authority that he owns more Grateful Dead merchandise than any other fly shop owner in the country. Brian’s a master of the Manistee River’s subtle nuances and can sniff out the subtle nuances where migratory fish might pause and eat a fly. Despite his drive and passion, he’s a surprisingly laid back guy who’s just pleasant to be around. He’s intense but fun, jovial but serious, fishy and funny. His shop put on the annual “Cheese Cup,” a completely unserious fly fishing tournament that raises money for local suicide prevention. Brian’s one of those people who builds a community that looks after each other.
Things About Brian
Guilty pleasure fly: Bass popper
Fishing superstition: “I like a daily routine during peak seasons and will wear the same "lucky" hat and clothes every day if I am on a roll. Music and playlists have always been a critical component for me to get tuned into the day. These things bring good fish karma!”
Always brings: “Gear bag, sunglasses and rain gear.”
Favorite knot: “Uni Knot is by far my favorite knot, and I use it for almost everything. Easily tied with frozen fingers and always holds. In my opinion, the most versatile knot in fishing.”
More Things About Brian
Waders smell like: “A cross between a gym locker and a fish hatchery.”
Most iconic fishing vehicle: "Herb Jacobson’s early 70's Chevy Suburban towing a beautifully crafted but "guide quality" wooden drifter on the Olympic Peninsula.”
Tying your own flies is... “One of the last things that can separate an angler from the masses and can give you both a psychological and real advantage on any given day. It’s part of the process.”
Hopes to one day fish with: “My kids, on a saltwater flat.”
Prefers: Moscow mules over GnTs, IPAs over PBRs, browns over rainbows, smallmouth over largemouth, carp over bonefish, permit over tarpon, jacks over redfish.
“The RS Jacket is the absolute best piece of rain wear that I have ever worn. Fishing in the cold, wet weather of the spring, fall and winter, it is critical for me to stay warm and dry. This shell performs flawlessly, and the cuff system is second to none in my book. Coupled with the 3/2 Fusion Puffy, I can remain warm on the coldest of days.”
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