John Smolko

SITKA Waterfowl Community Manager · Fishing Guide · Outdoorsman

Meet John Smolko. Lifelong hunter, accomplished fishing guide, and Waterfowl Community Manager at SITKA Gear. Raised in Memphis, John grew up hunting the fields and flooded timber of Arkansas and Mississippi, building a connection to the outdoors that eventually became a career.

His time outside has since taken him much farther from home, from guiding anglers in Alaska to hunting Africa and chasing fish across some of the world’s wildest water. But whether he is standing in Arkansas timber, watching a blue marlin clear the water, or heading into the spring woods after a gobbler, the motivation remains remarkably similar: stay curious, respect the resource, and never stop looking for the next experience.

You spend a lot of the year bouncing between duck blinds and fishing boats. Which season are you most impatient for?

Honestly, turkey season.

Spring is my favorite, and I love the simplicity of stepping out of the truck and just walking. Their social interactions are fun to observe, and it can happen at any moment.

You’ve guided anglers in Alaska and fished some incredible water. What fish still makes you lose your composure a little?

Watching a blue marlin explode out of the water is pretty humbling.

To see a creature that size and with that much power on the end of the line lets you know you are in for a different kind of fight.

What separates a great fishing guide from somebody who simply knows where the fish are?

Being able to determine what your client is looking to get out of the day and managing expectations.

Some have ambitious goals, and others just want to enjoy a day on the water. Knowing when to push them, and yourself, and when to let off is key.

I always celebrate their successes. It is supposed to be fun after all.

You’ve hunted ducks all over the country. What place, species, or hunt still feels the most like “duck hunting” to you?

I grew up in Memphis and have hunted the fields and woods of Arkansas and Mississippi throughout my life.

It doesn’t matter if I’m standing in the timber or in a pit. It always feels like home when I’m back in that part of the world.

Working for SITKA gives you a front row seat to how hunting gear gets developed. What have you learned about gear that the average hunter probably never thinks about?

The time it takes to develop truly innovative products.

Some products take five to ten years to develop. In order to produce some of them, entirely new textiles, construction processes, and machines have to be created.

Then there are several rounds of material testing, prototype testing, and redesign before the finished product ever reaches the hunter.

You get to spend a lot of time with serious hunters and anglers. What do the really good ones tend to have in common?

A love for the resource, plus a curiosity to learn everything they can about the target species and the environment it lives in.

Being in the field and learning is what drives them.

Success is just a bonus.

What’s one lesson you learned while guiding that has nothing to do with catching fish?

The ability to lead and adapt in changing conditions.

When things are uncontrolled and changing rapidly, you need to make quick decisions and respond. That has served me well in the field, in business, and in life.

Which Williams knife has earned a permanent spot in your kit, and what does it actually get used for?

The Glide Folder.

I’ve used it for everything from cutting open boxes and turning screws to opening beer bottles, cleaning birds, and filleting fish.

What is one place you would go back to tomorrow, no questions asked?

Africa.

The hunting is incredible, the scenery is beautiful, and the people are friendly. There are also opportunities for world class fishing and whitewater.

You get one month with no work obligations during either hunting or fishing season. Where are you going?

This actually used to be a frequent occurrence between guide seasons.

I love traveling and adventures of all types. I’ve done extended whitewater and sailing trips, sometimes on their own and sometimes in conjunction with hunting and fishing.

I’m going wherever the next opportunity lies to have a new and unique experience.

Favorite quote or motto?

“Believe you can and you're halfway there.”
Theodore Roosevelt