Memories of “Stan” Kuzia, a Canal Fishing Legend

By Carl Johansen

John ‘Stan’ Kusia succumbed at the age of 92 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. The fishing world has lost a man who was a pioneer in fishing the Cape Cod Canal. Pops, as I often would address him, and I spent many a time not only fishing, but collaborating on ideas to better understand the ways of the forever elusive striped bass. We shared bread on many occasions and also shared another love, playing cribbage.

To say he was his own man would be an understatement. Even as his disease progressed, he fought to the end, still trying to make “one more cast.” Stan had a profound ability to share stories. Even if you heard them before, he would relate them from a different viewpoint and make the story seem as if he was telling it to you for the first time.

Stan served his country when strong men were needed. He rarely would speak about his service to our country, but none the less he was proud of that service. After he was discharged he often drove from the other side of Boston, over the Cape Cod Canal, and down to Race Point Beach in Provincetown to fish.

Once he realized that as he drove over the Canal he was driving over some good fishing spots, he decided to stop and investigate. That was where, for me, he began his everlasting quest to learn how and why to better himself as a striped bass fisherman. He realized he could put his machinist skills to good use. Stan was a perfectionist in what he did. Many attempts along with successes and failures, was his hallmark in forever attempting to design and build the most successful lure of his day. Stan was a proud man who challenged himself to succeed in whatever he chose to do.

Stan designed many different prototypes for jigheads and eel-skin rigs, one of which is known among the canal brethren as the Ku Jig, in his name, or the Canal Special. He developed many styles of jigheads, which in most cases were one-of-a-kind jigheads. He also designed all of his own molds using his idea of how a canal/surf beach weight should cast well and hold the bottom. Only a few people have had an opportunity to see the various molds he made.

Another time, he collaborated with Stan Gibbs in building some of the early model plugs that were being specifically developed for the canal, providing different lead weights that were used in some of the Gibbs Plugs. I believe Stan had some influence on some of the early large-size pencil poppers that were in great demand in the early days and are no longer made today. He also had some input into the Polaris-style head that is still used to this day.

One of his other qualities was to share his knowledge and personal skills with those who would listen. Among his skills was the ability to cast long distances. No one, in my opinion, could cast like Stan. To watch Stan make a cast was like looking at a ballerina do a pirouette. He was by far one of the most fluid casters of his time. Many of those at that time who were into long distance casting can give thanks to Stan for his advice. He had a knack of being able to look at someone casting and immediately offer his council to improve that person’s ability to cast further. His advice was always welcomed among the brethren of the canal fishermen.

It has often been stated that you are judged by the company you keep. When Stan began his fishing on the outer beaches it included such names as Arnold Laine, Charlie Murat, Frank and Jack Woolner, Stan Dagget, A.W. Spofford, Red Chaplin, Stan and Celia Gibbs, Robert Black, Less Habilwait, George Carlezon. When he began his Big Ditch fishing, he was introduced to such folks as Floyd Roman, Bill Nolan, Dick and Peter Knoring, Bill Thomas, Edson Worcester, Al Phillips, Andy Larmati, Bunny DePetro, Bill McCluskey, Bill McClarin, Ed Poore, Liz and Don Stromeyer, William G Berka, Bruce Miller, Peter Johnson, Robert Gianferante, Eddy Click, John Bisset, Stan Frost, Charlie Foot, Dick Cook, Dave Thomashey, Robert Small, Robert Curtis and Ron Arra. A recent insurgent along the banks of the Cape Cod Canal to build a better plug began another memory for his expertise and many of those became recognized plug builders and collectors had names like Steve Shiraka, Scott Sargent, Bruce May, Ed Craigin, Mike Thomas, Peter Oneil, Steven A Sylver, Peter and Walter Hess. These are only a small sample of the people whom Stan had the fortune to council and fish along side with, over his lifetime. Many of those above were legends in their own time as well.

I’m sure his spirit will live on in the annals of Canal fishing history. We all can remember our friend John “Stan” Kusia this spring when you catch your next bass, give it a kiss and release it in his name. He would like that as he is looking down from his final resting place in King Neptune’s domain. It is my request to those who knew him say a silent prayer that his spirit and love of fishing transcend us all. The world of fishing has lost a true legend along the banks of the Cape Cod Canal; he will be missed by all that knew him. May his soul and spirit be forever at peace with our maker.