KARL KORTEMEIER

KARL KORTEMEIER lives in Decatur, Georgia. He grew up along the banks of the Chattahoochee River and Sope Creek in Marietta, Georgia.  Karl spent his early years perusing Bass Pro Shop catalogs and fishing as much as possible. He spent most of his time exploring Sope Creek and the “Hooch” below Morgan Fall’s dam.  It was here that Karl gained an appreciation for the outdoors, and wild native fish in particular.  He attended the University of Georgia in Athens, but left to pursue a job with the National Park Service as a firefighter in the Everglades. Karl has worked as a Hotshot firefighter in Northern California, and a fishing guide in Alaska and the Bahamas.  He eventually finished his degree at UGA, and opened a fly shop and guide service in Athens, Georgia. Karl is a former TU chapter president, and looks to use his role in NFC to gain protection for Georgia’s wild native fish. He can be reached at Info@nativefishcoalition.org