April,

Not all of your “viewers” have had the great pleasure such as I to sit down and share a meal and evening with you. I find it sickening, but not hard to believe, that people may give you a hard time, for simply being you. It’s unfortunate that our society has learned to feel sorry for people when they are down and be jealous of people when they are up. We have not fully embraced as a culture to bask in one another’s light and success how ever that might uniquely be expressed. Your heart is sincere, your passion is inspiring, your voice is full of truth and authenticity. You just keep doing what you do.

Lots of love to you!
Your yoga teaching friend from Austin,
Mandy

Well said!

Very well said April, just keep doing what you do and keep loving it. You will never make everyone happy and be sure there are a lot of people jealous of those of us that get to fish for a living, having no idea of the work that goes into it.

Men are generally shallow enough to under-estimate any attractive woman…at first. That can be used to great advantage. But it can also be very annoying.

Women are usually insecure enough to loathe an attractive and talented woman. I mean, if you’re just talented, that’s OK because you’re not attractive. And if you’re attractive but a total bimbo…well, you’re a bimbo! But when you’re talented AND attractive, frankly that just sends chicks into a fearful rage.

Many people are very SMALL, April. You must remember that small people do not actually matter. You smile and let them think that they do, but don’t let YOURSELF think that they do. That’s the trick to being “famous” and keeping your sanity at the same time.

Take it all as encouragement Ape. Just like crabs in a bucket, no one gets attention until they start to climb higher than the rest. When you begin feeling the pull of those without vision or talent, that’s when you know you’re achieving something others only wish they could. It’s like a spur: It may prick initially but channeling it can drive you to new heights.

I’ll admit it …I’m jealous!! Of those crazy fish you catch and the beautiful places you get to travel to!! Keep it up April! You are a role model and an inspiration. Us female anglers need someone in the spotlight ..and I’m so glad it is you…who so obviously knows her stuff, cares for the integrity of the sport, the health of the fish and the habitats, and shares that knowledge and love so generously!

As long as you got the game to back it up then it nothin but a thing. Small price to pay for getting to fish for a living. I didn’t get to fish for Atlantic salmon in Norway this year. Live the dream for the rest of us. Those a$$holes out there will be there whether you are happy or not. Happiness is the greatest revenge!

If you did not let people know who you are and what you do, you wouldn’t have the perfect job. We are all jealous of your success in teaching and fishing. I can’t even buy fish locally that are as big as the ones you catch.

I have said it for years people hate a winner! Sure your cute and have a great smile, and fish in places alto of ppl could only dream of. The industry is flooded with back stabbing idiots who should all be for the same goal the preservation of the fishery. Most of them are fishery pimps and could care less about how they affect their fishery. You’re a thick skinned gal “you waited tables you will be fine”! Take care Ape and just think to yourself “KMA”!
Cheers,
Tom G.

April who?

Hey Ape-to steal a few lines from Rocky Balboa, “It ain’t about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take and keep moving forward.” Just keep punching kid, you’ve set your business up brilliantly. Rock on girl-
-Mike

It should be based on old fashioned hard work. Let me be the first to agree. But as a father of 3 girls your also getting a another kind of atenttion. A kind i don’t want want to bring up. Why because your girl. Some of which that see you as nothing but a pretty face. I am sure that is not kind of atenttion you want. April this & April that. Followed by something about your looks. That’s not something you worked for. That is just some shallow minded freak that see’s you as a hot chick that can fly fish. To me that’s not a very flattering type of image. So some of that atenttion is not good for you. As i’ve study you. I’ve come to see somebody who worked really hard to get where your at. Keep up the good work.

I don’t begrudge you your “fame,” and I’m sure you work hard and fish well, but it sucks that like Lefty and the Becks, you’ve sold out to the Donny Beavers and Adam Maris’s of the world. I’ve seen the bags upon bags of pellets that Mar(r)is throws to his pets and the heard the constant line of bullshit and exaggerations he spouts to his members and industry folks. He’s mellow, polite, a good salesman and a great bullshit artist who illegally stocks and feeds his pet trout. I wish you’d share the proactive attitude you have toward BC anadromous fish with wild fish and public water everywhere, instead of becoming just another “pro” for sale to the highest bidder.

Note: I tried to email you back privately, but was bounced back when it said that your email was invalid.
I Responded The Following To Your Arkansas / Highest Bidder Comment:

Hey Jay,
Got your comment and must apologize for not posting it….
I try to be honest with any blog viewers and allow all comments to fly, but this one moved me a little more than most so I thought I’d respectfully respond to you via a personal message (and a long one at that).
You see, I only wish that what you make mention of in your email was all that simple.

On a financial level, I can be more than honest in telling you that I make far more money in the comfort of my own home, even on a fishery of triploids and hatchery steelhead (when wild steel are out of season) than here (Arkansas) working whenever I can as a part-time guide.

Hell, I’d make three times the amount of money in Ontario, Alaska, Vancouver Island…. you name it. I can swear on my Grandfathers grave that I am certainly not here for the money.
: )
My bank account is chuckling quietly at the thought of that….

To be perfectly honest, it is my heart that has lead me here on a personal level that I couldn’t even begin to try to explain…..I’m sure you can at least understand that.

You see, when I first heard of Adam and his fishery, my reaction was the same as yours. “Hmmph, private water? Nope, not for this girl…. Where I come from, we don’t roll that way.”

You see, the difference between my proactive attitude for wild fish and the notoriously wild British Columbia truly cannot even begin to be compared to a fishery such as this.
For if there were no stocked trout in this river, it would likely be barren (please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong).
BC however, is an entirely different story, and yes, I will fight like hell to make sure it doesn’t have the misfortune of becoming barren. The thought of stocked, pellet-fed fish in the waters that should rightfully be owned by strong and wild fish makes me ill.

In regards to the aforemenioned “pros”, I don’t know how Lefty and the Becks handle their affairs though I can assure you that they are not involved with Mr. Maris in the same way that I am.
I circuit through Arkansas regularly and can say with a smile that the fishery is simply a bonus (a bonus with some pretty outstanding fish).

Now, I would like to take a second both to try to open your mind (if you’ll let me), as well as allow you the opportunity to open mine. If I’m ignorant, I invite you to help me to understand your debate (though a personal email this time is preferred please).

Here’s my take and I’ll even be honest with you about my initial argument (and believe me, I have expressed my views to Adam openly, as will probably come as no surprise). It was once similar to that of yours…:

1) Spring Valley has taken water that was once private and opened it up to others (this river was never public….Again, please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong). This group of others includes countless groups of troubled children, women of all ages, Reel Recovery cancer patients, disabled people, etc. SVA and myself have donated so much time, labor and money to these groups that it’s almost a joke to have to defend myself with this one……

You see Jay, this fishery could have remained closed to all (except for the greedy hands of fish retaining land owners), rather it is now open to others (members, non-members with a guide fee and these specialty groups mentioned above).

Do you have any idea how hard it can be to cater to a group of troubled children and not run into a group of rowdies who cause more damage by demonstrating bad influences of vulgar language, littering, alcoholism and poor fish handling? They are also a distraction and I quite personally am tired of fighting drunk morons on the river and risking being beat and raped in the bush….

Lastly, this fishery is still available for day trips to any angler who would like to fish it at a daily guide rate which I feel is more than reasonable.
You would be amazed just how many fisheries work on this basis…. yes, even in BC.
Hell, some of these BC fisheries have no access (again, all the land is private thus allowing no access) unless you hire a guide or own a $50,000 jet boat. It’s the same thing….

2) There are private fisheries everywhere that no one seems to complain about. I am sincere when I question why that is?
Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, England, certain lakes in BC, certain lakes/rivers all over Canada, Quebec!!, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Texas…..I could go on.
The price it costs to visit one of these rivers for a week is the same or more as an annual membership fee…I would love to hear why these seem to bother no one in the way that private clubs do (and please don’t even get me started on Donnie Beaver. To compare the two simply reeks of ignorance.)

3) Pellet fed. So? (Again, please don’t make assumptions… I can assure you that there is more to the story than I care to write in this already annoyingly long response).
I know Jay, I would love nothing more than to see a wild strain of rainbows magically appear in the heart of Arkansas and I’d also love to believe that the White River is as wild as those in Alaska, but we both know that’s not the truth.
Essentially, isn’t all that matters that on a quiet Sunday afternoon, there is a peaceful angler, unbothered by life and it’s pains….for the moment solely concentrated on an unlittered and safe environment?
What about the sons and daughters who get to spend sincere and unbothered alone time with their fathers who would otherwise never have had the opportunity to share such an experience?

Well, if it takes hatchery fish (fed or otherwise) in a stream that once held nothing to bring this tranquility then I simply can’t complain about what these fish eat. To imply that it has been stocked illegally by Adam is sincerely false, and I apologize on his behalf for that confusion. To my understanding, historical records indicate that trout were stocked over 100 years ago in this creek….
Furthermore, watching these fish spawn (I’ve seen it with my own eyes) is a sight in itself so I wish not to speak any further on the stocking debate.

Finally Jay, #4 is the simple fact that I like it here (again, when the steelhead aren’t in at home). My dog loves to roam freely, I feel safe, the warm weather is unique and appreciated by me, and the company I keep is that of which I have searched for for 26 years.
Call me foolish, but for a girl who preaches that life is about being happy I feel like I am following exactly as I would hope others would; a “proactive” life in searching for happiness, not money or fame….just love, quality time and appreciation. If the “highest bidder” pays me in that, then I guess Adam wins afterall.

Happy Thanksgiving,
No hard feelings on this end,
Ape.

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Hi April,

I tried to find the email that I sent you last March when you were paying attention to those who feel threatened by your successes, but it gone.

I think what I was trying to say back in March was that when a young person accomplishes as much as you have, given the length of time you’ve been at it there is going to be jealousy and resentment by those who are not as capable.

Just keep doing what you are doing and ignore all the bull shit because that’s all it is.

The number of people that you inspire by far out weigh the few dumb assess that piss you off.

Maybe we will see you on the T in December I could use a few tips.

Be there or be square.

Darryl Rigets

Thanks April for having a good head on your shoulders. The inspiration I have personaly seen you create is a thing of beuty. I hope the long days of happiness on the water are many for you. Thanks for being you

April,

You might want to mention to Jay that if it wasn’t for our pellet fed hatchery fish or our small stream and river fertilization programs we wouldn’t have many steelhead left in the rivers of southern BC or the American pacific northwest.

Cheers

April,

As long as you are true to yourself and treat others with respect, you have to explain yourself to no one. Jealousy comes in many forms and it is most often expressed in criticism. Look at it. Consider it. Learn from it. Move on.

April,

Once again you have proven your point both eloquently and professionaly. Keep up the fantastic work and spreading the messages of conservation and appreciation for the worlds wild rivers. As for the nay sayers and the critics..sometimes you just can’t buy that kind of exposure.

All the best,
Adrian

Ape, you fish?

Just kidding.
See yah on the water.

i can’t hear you with your shirt on!
jk

Hey April…I loved this post!! I think you are very beautiful and very intelligent. You seem to have your head on straight and understand what the important things in life really are. I know, for a fact, that there are a lot of fishergirls out there who look up to you so keep up the good work!!!

Lizzy

As far as I can see, you’ve earned every bit of your success. Keep doing what you’re doing, and ignore the “haters”. You set a great example for fellow female fly-fishers out there. Hope to see you on the river someday!

Well well..isn’t this a gathering of AA..April Anonymous. Get a grip guys. April is famous in the ranks of single and 2 handed fly fishing. So? She’s paid her dues..made her appearances..done her guiding..and offered to teach those that haven’t ever picked up a rod before. Kudos to her. But please, I can’t accept that she is looking for all of the heart felt accolades that you all are bestowing. She’s a tougher broad than that. Now, ask yourself what is she really saying in her post. Hmmm.

April that was one of the best written pieces I have ever seen on a blog of any type. I wish you much success as you do a lot of incredible things for the fly fishing industry and it is great to see a smile that is so sincere when you have that fish in hand! Keep up the positive promotion Ape! We could all learn from you!

Joel

what kind of music? do you play an instrument. Do you compose music. I believe fly fishing and music are two of the greatest ways to relax a tired worried mind and soul! Hey and you can get famous playing music. HAHA if that’s what they call what is on the radio these days! Listen to some redneck jazz explosion or keb’mo or kenny sultan or pete seeger. WOW..that’s music!

I like IT!!!

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Who is this Jay guy? Why is he sooo uptight. There are fish in ariver that has no wild ones.Good feed them pellets…..thay help disabled children learn abouth them and fishing..GOOD..maybe I should bring my son there. April your idea of life is great. keep living and never let the music die.

[...] Best trips of the year so far – Your awesome ‘Elephant in the Room’ blog entry – take us through that – Dinner with Lefty. – Flies for Fins – You don’t have any feet, right? [...]

Just curious why you need to go out fishing with all that make up on and dressing like you do. It’s completely impractical. I know a lot more rugged better fishing chicks then you that would laugh you out of a room. Just call it what it is and quit pretending its all about the fishing.

Hi John!
Well, I am flattered that you feel mascara and blistex make me look ‘made up’, I will take that as a compliment ; )
And my clothing? You mean one old photo of a low cut top? Perhaps you mean my Simms, Patagonia and other old fleece tops….. Hilarious. I think I’ll laugh you out of a room instead.
I apologize for your ignorance and your desperate self-conviction that I am not the real deal,
Sincerely,
Ape.

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