Forged in Water

Meet the Echo Army.  Our team of professional ambassadors might be misfits, but they’re all dedicated to both the growth of the sport and the long-term health of our fisheries.  Their love for fly fishing is at its core a driving need.  Whether that need is driven by fish, smiles, or the slinging of flies, their passion has been forged in water.

Dagur Guðmundsson

Dagur Guðmundsson

Dagur Árni Guðmundsson was born and raised on the icy, windswept island of Iceland, where his earliest memories are of fishing for cod and pollock off the piers, and pulling apart shoelaces and finding feathers to “tie” flies onto worm hooks.

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Hogan Brown

Hogan Brown

Hogan grew up on the Lower Yuba River in Northern California, an only child who really liked catching fish. Playing with bugs didn’t make him the coolest kid on the block and he developed a penchant for solitary activities: fly fishing and playing guitar.

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Hunter Derrick

Hunter Derrick

Hunter Derrick was born in Boise, Idaho, and lived in southern Idaho until middle school, when his family moved to Northern California. Much of his childhood was spent outdoors in these two states.

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Chef Joshua Schwartz

Chef Joshua Schwartz

Chef Joshua Schwartz is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont. On his journey to becoming a chef he spent time in some of the country’s finest restaurants including Bouley, The French Laundry, Bouchon, and Per Se.

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Juan Lucero

Juan Lucero

Juan Lucero was born in Agua Amar, Baja California Sur. After completing only six years of school, he dedicated himself to fly fishing, accumulating 26 years of experience.

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Kodie Kowitz

Kodie Kowitz

Kodie Kowitz was born and raised in West Michigan, where his fishing journey began. After becoming passionate about steelhead and salmon fishing, he left Michigan to guide in Bristol Bay, Alaska, during the summers for over ten years.

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Koji Sumalde

Koji Sumalde

Born in the Philippines, Koji Sumalde immigrated to Florida at the age of 2 with his mother and sister. His step father put a fishing rod in his hand and they would walk the Emerald Coast looking for schools of redfish, and tossing big spoons for the occasional Spanish Mackerel.

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