Interview with PGH Fly Co.
PGH Fly Co. is a fly-tying company out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Kurt Shaffer in 2023 and works to bring a unique selection of flies to the global market. PGH Fly Co. has over ten years of experience in fly-tying and a lifelong background in fishing. We got the opportunity to interview Kurtt and ask him some questions about PGH, and his personal experiences being a professional fly-tier.
Question 1: Tell us and the readers just a quick background on you and the company.
Answer: I’ve been a lifelong fisherman. I caught my first fish at four and it has always been a part of my life. My first time fly fishing was in 2007 for Grayling but it wasn’t until 2013 that I really got into fly fishing. Around 2014 I got into fly fishing. I started buying flies and decided that I could make my own. I started PGH in 2023 and started tying different flies. I focus on my personal patterns, especially stoneflies. So far, it's been pretty solid.
Since starting this thing, I had no idea it would go how it has, across the United States and the World. It's interesting to see the flies people order for different pockets of the world.
Question 2: How did you get into fly tying?
Answer: About 2014 I started buying flies and seeing what they were made of. As a kid, I wanted to build lures but didn’t get into it until later. I started with tying pheasant tales and midges and collected materials to learn how to tie. That’s the great thing about fly tying, you never stop learning. I have always been creative, just never thought that creativity would come out this way.
Question 3: What is your favorite fly to tie?
Answer: This changes on a weekly basis, but the pearl midge right now. I discovered black, holographic, and pearl tinsel combinations and I'm impressed by the different colors that come out. The different tinsels will create different combos. It is an ever-changing fly depending on where it is in the water column and the light source it has.
Question 4: What is something you have enjoyed since starting your Company?
Answer: The different people and the different things go too. The Appalachian Fly-Fishing Festival was great! The people down there were so nice, and they all knew their stuff. To be welcomed by them was great. I love to see where the different people are from and the things they order. They're really nice people and they're a great part of the interactions and experiences. Everyone has been so supportive, and it has been a lot of fun. It really is the people that make it fun.
Question 5: What advice would you give to people wanting to start fly tying?
Answer: Give up on the notion that it is going to save you money to tie your own flies. But do it. It will give you endless possibilities to create your own flies and the feeling you of getting your flies to work is even better.
Question 6: Is there anything else you would like the readers to know about your company?
Answer: It’s a family business and I hope that this is around for a long time. If someone has some ideas or something to get into I would love to hear from them. I am open to anything as far as different styles of flies, and if there is something you would like to see me get into let me know. I am always looking for new ideas and making something new. I feel like people will start hearing the PGH name a lot more in the future.
If you want to check out more flies and patterns go to PGHflyco’s Website at https://www.pghflyco.com/
Or give them a follow on their Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/PGHFLYCO
