Browns & Brews Speaker Series-Jan 2023

Featured Speaker: Rob Kolanda, Front Range Anglers
Topic: The evolution of the Euro technique - the more it changes, the more it stays the same.
Rob will present the elements of the Euro technique while discussing it’s history and evolution.

Rob Kolanda is a Colorado native who has made a living guiding, instructing, and managing in the fly-fishing industry for the past sixteen years. He has been a member of Fly Fishing Team USA and part of  several management teams for prominent shops in the  Rocky Mountain region, including Front Range Anglers and Taylor Creek Fly shops. In addition to his work on the retail side of the industry, Rob has also spent seasons guiding fly out fishing in Alaska’s Bristol Bay, and seasonally on Wyoming’s North Platte. He was the North American representative for Hardy and Grays LTD.  and is a current Sage Elite Pro, and signature fly designer for Solitude Fly Company

Rob's competitive history began in 2006, and in 2007 made the roster of  Fly Fishing  Team USA. In 2012 he qualified for the world championships in Slovenia and finished 36th among 154 anglers  that represented 31 teams, this finish was the second best among the US team. 

In 2011 he won the individual gold at the America’s Cup international in Vail Colorado, and finished 4th the following year. In regional qualifiers, Rob has 4 medal finishes in regional qualifiers, including a gold in the NE qualifier in 2012. He was ranked as the #2 competitor in North America by Trout Legend for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. 

Rob’s team finishes are his most cherished, and include multiple medals in the National Championships including 2 Gold. As well, Rob was part of two team victories in the America’s Cup, including one as a member of Team Emerger, an international team with members from Italy, Ireland, Canada, Poland and the US.