About KT
KT really had no choice. He was practically born with a fishing rod in one hand and a gun in the other. KT’s passion for the outdoors was fueled by a father and grandfather who allowed him and his brothers to tag along on hunting and fishing excursions at a very early age. In his own words:
“ I can still remember fishing with my grandfather, who became a guide after taking early retirement. He would put me in the front of his john boat with a cane pole. I would swing the hook back to him and he would spear a cricket onto my hook. Then I would swing it just ahead of the boat into a brush-pile and in no time my cork would take a dive and I would find myself hooked into a beautiful and scrappy little bluegill. I’d swing it back to him and he would unhook him and put another cricket on. It seemed like we filled up the fish basket on every trip. As soon as my legs were long enough my grandfather would let me follow him, my dad and his dogs as they quail hunted the East Texas piney-woods.”
KT’s grandfather ran the same breed of dogs that KT hunts with today. English setters and English pointers. KT left his hometown of Tyler in 1978 and graduated from Trinity University in 1980 which KT thinks was a miracle as he spent way more time chasing deer, hogs, and ducks than in the classroom.
After spending 10 years in the oil industry KT left a secure career to chase his dream. He spent the next seventeen years guiding fly-fishing and upland bird hunts in The Rocky Mountains of Utah and Colorado, eventually owning and operating a small hunting operation in Nebraska for three months of the year.
Then it happened. Tarpon Fever. And KT has it bad. It changed his life. He says, “I’d fished in Florida and Mexico a few times and had caught a few tarpon, most of them under a hundred pounds. Then, fishing out of Port O’Connor, Texas with guide and friend Scott Graham on the morning of August 2, 2004 my life was changed. 10 minutes into the hunt Scott spots a dorsal, then a tail. A rolling tarpon 30 feet away at 11:00 o’ clock. On my first cast the fish followed and then ate my fly 10 feet from the boat. An hour and a half later we leadered my biggest tarpon ever. About 140 pounds. The next day on my first cast I landed a 160 pounder that ended up breaking the rod in half.”
Six months later KT left the Rockies behind and moved to the Gulf Coast of his home state of Texas. After spending a full year learning as much about his new water as he could he attained his Captains license and now guides out of Port O’ Connor from March through October chasing tarpon, redfish and any thing else that will eat a fly.
The move to Texas brought with it an opportunity that KT had only dreamed of. The chance to share his passion with others through the art of filmmaking. KT teamed up with London Broadcasting through 41 Entertainment and The KT Diaries was born. KT says, “The concept is really pretty simple. I want to share the sights, the sounds, and the stories that are born from my passion for the outdoors. There is a story in every hunting or fishing trip. You just have to recognize it. Many of life’s lesson can be learned in the field or on the water. It is where I feel the closest to the one who made it all possible: Our Father in Heaven.”
Facts:
Born in Tyler, Texas on June 29, 1958
Parents – Royce & Gloria Townsend
Brothers – Kent & Kenneth
Graduated High School in 1976 from Tyler Lee
Graduated w/ Liberal Arts degree in 1978 from Tyler Jr. College
Graduated w/ Bachelor of Science degree in 1980 from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas
1980 – 1990, Rocky Mountain Region Sales Manager, ERC Wellhead Co.
1990 – 1995, Fly Fishing Guide on Utah’s Green River
1995 – 1999, Shooting Sports Director / Fly Fishing Guide at 7 Lakes Lodge, Meeker, Colorado
1999 – 2004, Fly-Fishing Guide on Utah’s Green River,
1995 – present, Owner/Operator of private hunting club, North Platte, Nebraska
2006 – present, Fly Fishing Guide, Port O’ Connor, Texas
2006 – present, Host of KT Diaries Adventure Series, Pursuit Channel
