More about Bo Bennett

I have fished across five continents and have hunted on four.  In 1980 I become a bush pilot and professional hunting and fishing guide first in Northern Canada and then in Alaska.   I guided for some of the most famous and infamous fishing legends and recently managed Alaska’s Kulik Lodge, as well fishing in the noted Salmon Master’s with Westcoast Resorts. 

To say fishing, hunting and living the outdoor lifestyle is in my blood is a vast understatement. My father was an ardent flyrodder. Under his direction I learned how to cast and tie flies at a very early age. I didn’t realize how lucky I was then, but I had fished most of the fabled British Columbia Steelhead Rivers including the Babine, Dean, Kispiox, Morice, and Skeena by the time I entered grade 10. I Graduated high school 1966 and immediately joined the University of Washington on a full gymnastics scholarship. While traveling to compete in numerous national and international championships, I used every spare moment to fish as I traveled the globe. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970 in Speech communications. I began teaching English (and fishing) in Kamloops, BC, Canada in 1970 and also tied flies for the Hudson Bay Company. I moved to Eugene, Oregon to coach gymnastics and teach English in 1972. Again following in my father’s footsteps, I learned to fly and qualified for my commercial pilot wings and instrument rating in 1974 and soon after bought my first airplane a Maule M-4. The draw of the north and the lure of fabulous fishing and hunting pulled me back into Canada in 1975 as an elementary school principal. I Left the education business for good in 1980 to become a full-time bush pilot and professional hunting and fishing guide first in Northern Canada, and then in Alaska. I currently have more than 16000 commercial flight hours in airplanes and helicopters. 

I have fished across five continents and have hunted on four. I flew for a safari company in Botswana and in South Africa (Tiger fish) and managed the first fly-out fishing lodge in Southern South America at Termas Puyuppi, Chili (Sea Run browns). In Alaska I guided for some of the most famous and infamous hunting and fishing legends including Master Guides Don Johnson, Lynn Castle, Clark Engle, Bob Cusack and at Jack Holman’s No See Um Lodge. In addition I managed Alaska’s most historic and prestigious fly-out fishing destination, Kulik Lodge, for 12 years.  After 20 years in Alaska I returned to the lower 48 to oversee the development of a fishing retreat in the Northern California at the request of one of America’s great wine families. Concurrently I operate Kettle River Valley Outfitters providing custom hunting and fishing adventures in Northeastern Washington State as well as participate in fishing adventures around the world. For the past 5 years my wife, Lynn, and I have fished the fabled Salmon Masters Tournament in British Columbia. We were fortunate to win more than $20,000 in the tournament in 2016. We also participated in the “Fishin’ for the Mission” Dorado Tournament in Loreto, Mexico.

I am a member of the IGFA Royal Salmon Slam Club and while hosting our “Golden Trout Extravaganza” in 2016, I was able to complete the coveted IGFA Royal Trout Slam. Over the years I have had several hunting and fishing stories published and my first book, Rods & Wings, A History of the Fishing Lodge business in Bristol Bay, Alaska was published in 2000.