Five Questions With Stanley Kerznerman

FLY TYERSFLY TYING
Five Questions With Stanley Kerznerman
Stanley Kerznerman is a fly tyer and angler born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. As a teenager, his first exposure to fishing was surfcasting for striped bass with wooden plugs on whatever beaches he could reach by bicycle. A budding interest in saltwater fly fishing turned into an obsession after he jumped his first tarpon on fly. A social worker by training, Stanley especially appreciates the community aspect of the sport and is an advocate for equality, access, and inclusivity in fly fishing.
Stanley is a fishy, fishy man. He does it all. If you are interested in purchasing some of Stanley's flies, please call the shop at 3054403406 to put some of his patterns in your box! Enjoy.
Talk to us about modern fly tying and fly design, where is it headed? What does modern fly tying need more of? 
Beyond new materials and techniques, modern fly tying is especially exciting with so many new folks getting interested in the practice over the past several years. It is inspiring to see a younger and more diverse group of people getting interested in fly tying. You see a massive exchange of knowledge information that just hasn't been possible in the past. Modern fly tying needs more passionate, creative young people getting into the sport with fresh ideas, especially people from communities that haven't really been given the opportunity to engage I'd also like to see a bigger push for sustainability in fly tying. I love synthetic materials but also want to stay mindful about not adding more plastic to the oceans. 

Who were your inspirations when you started tying flies? Who are your inspirations in today’s saltwater fly tying?
My own roots in fly tying very much started in the freshwater game. Pat Dorsey was a big inspiration, especially for focusing on tiny details and creating flies made for catching local fish. As my focuses have shifted to saltwater species and bigger fish,  some of the big guns in the industry have been very influential. Bob Popovics is a master with bucktail fly design and a big innovator in northeast striped bass fishing (seeing him use household silicone to shape a crankbait style lip on a fly was nearly mindblowing). Drew Chicone is another inspiration in the way he chooses materials and designs flies that downright catch fish.

What was the deciding moment that made you decide to take fly tying to the next level?
I don't know if there was a definable moment in all honesty. That confidence developed pretty naturally with years of tying who-knows-how-many flies and sometimes catching fish along the way.

What is your favorite fly to fish, and least favorite to tie?
This is probably a common answer, but my favorite fly to fish has to be something topwater, usually either a Gurgler or Bob's Banger. It's visual, dynamic, and sets you up for dramatic eats. Least favorite fly to tie is most of the small freshwater stuff. I've semi-jokingly made a pact with myself to never again tie something smaller than a saltwater size 8 and will almost certainly break that promise at some point.

Favorite and least favorite material to work with?
Marabou. For both questions. It's a natural, flowy, lightweight, and voluminous material that moves unlike anything else. The downside is it gets absolutely everywhere. Unless you want your partner to be mad at you, make sure to stay diligent with the handheld vacuum.

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