Fly Gal Contest Winner!
Thank you ladies for all the wonderful photos and stories that each of you took the time to share with me!
Each of you is truly an inspiration to me and other ladies of the sport and deserve to be recognized as “bad-ass women of fly-fishing”.
Choosing a winner was harder than hell, though with careful deliberation I feel that the woman I’ve chosen to take this contest down has worked damn hard to get to where she is today!
Congratulations Pat Horn of Missouri!
Here’s the story as told by her hubby….
“My bride of 32 years is Pat Horn. No silicone here! hahaha! As a matter of fact this special lady has quite a story behind her. She is three years out from breast cancer. A mastectomy, reconstruction, chemo and radiation. Like I said no silicone, as she opted to use part of herself in the reconstruction ; ) I had somewhat introduced her to fly fishing and she liked it. I had read where she could apply to Casting for Recovery http://www.castingforrecovery.org/ she did and was accepted the following Fall after her treatment. What a deal! This turned her into something else. It was good for her mentally, physically and secured me a fly fishing partner forever. We both are volunteers now for the CFR cause and helped out with the retreat last Fall.
Attached are some photos of Pat. One of her with a local farm pond’s surplus for dinner which she helps clean. A series of shots from our vacation last week where she caught at a small stream in Utah. Pat said as she set the hook “Give me the net, I can do this myself”.
Ape I am a lucky man.”
Marty and Pat Horn
Thanks Pat for being you!!!
Other bad-asses that deserve mention:
Geneviève Fournier from Quebec
Girl! You were close with this story! Painted a smile on my face like you wouldn’t believe!
“Hey April,
These are three photos of fishing on the Alness River in Scotland. I
feel like silly connecting this story back to a guy, but this is the
first time I ever felt like a bad ass fishing chick. I was living a
broad in Spain and I had left my boyfriend back at school. He was my
fishing buddy. He was there when I caught my first fish, he helped me
pick out my first rod and he gave book after book about the the rivers
in Utah. When I found out, I no longer loved him, this first thing I
did was escape. I was shocked to find the only place I wanted to be
was on the river. On a whim I decided to hop on a plane and ended up
in Evanton Scotland, a tiny town with two pubs and a fly shop, forty
five minutes outside of Inverness. It was my first time using a spey
rod and my first time fishing without him. When I got on the river and
my guide handed me a 15 ft. 10 weight Rod. I looked at it and was
thinking to myself, “How the Hell am I going to Cast this thing?” But
once I experienced the sheer power of the rod, I knew I was hooked.
After fishing three days sun up to sun down in the freezing rain, I
got my first Atlantic Salmon! The hunt, the struggle and the victory
left me in tears. I don’t think I’ll ever have a more joyous moment
than pulling in my big beautiful hen out of the Alness river!
Thanks,
Christin Aucunas”
“Hi April
Saw your page on facebook, wow i’m impressed!! You had me after that section on how silicone – infested chicks holding fish (that they obviously never caught) makes you kinda sick! I agree… and believe that most girls aren’t into fishing because they’ve never tried it! once you’ve landed a fish you can only be hooked for life! Besides the fishing, just being out there in the most beautiful spots with your mates – now what could be better?!!
I’m from South Africa and I guess it’s a bit far to send the hoodie – but it rocks so much – I thought I’d try anyway!!
I fish a lot, mainly saltwater, mainly vertical jigging, popping etc, but I love flyfishing and fly tying too and have started getting more into it lately. The attached pics are from my last trip to Zambia (Sekoma Island lodge). What a place!! Landed my first tigers on fly, after being smoked a few times by some slabs! Also targeted Nembwe, a beautiful bream species along the Zambezi.
Tigerfish are endemic to Africa, have razor sharp teeth and are powerful, aerial, fighters. My biggest for the trip was 13lb but fish of up to 20lb or more are caught (area dependent).
Time you visit Africa for some tigers! You might also enjoy targeting yellowfish (another family of endemics)
Take care
Jackie”
Ashleigh Paulk with a beautiful trout from Spring Valley Anglers www.springvalleyanglers.com
Anna Riggs teaching a new generation of fisherwomen the joy of the sport on the White River in Arkansas.
Jenefer Smalley (she’s one of my favorites)
“So This BAD ASS Beauty was caught off shore Lacey off Langara Island in the Queen Charlottes. So PIMP!! (as Yos would say!!) This was one of the best days of my life! It was a dream come true to catch and release a Tyee!
Hooked line and smashed her it was all me! I’m a DIE HARD Bad Ass man and I would love that hoodie and street cred haha!!
I’m relatively new to fishing. All it took was two summers in the Charlottes with the boyz workin hard, fishen hard, gettin ragged on for farmin fish…then proving myself with my Tyee and many other incredible Salmon. I now own a 5 pound test fly rod which I have put to the to good use and caught some lil beauty’s on this summer. I have found my true calling/passion…through fishing. I’ve heard you speak and share your passion. There’s nothing like the challenge and pay off of a successful battle and release.
UPness,
Smalley”
Jeanette Lark
“Hi April,
I hope I’m not too late to enter the contest. My name is Beth Godin. I live and fish in Vermont. Not only am I a bad ass fisherwoman, but my toy poodle is too! (See her behind me in the carp photo!) No…she is NOT Musky bait! Don’t get any ideas! : P
I have the great fortune of being engaged to a fly fishing guide and been “used” (oh poor me!) as a scouting partner. We fish for many “unusual” (well unusual for VT) species such as gar, carp, bowfin and sheephead. I really enjoy the sightfishing aspect of targeting these fish and I don’t think I’ll ever understand why anyone would just sit in a boat or on a bank waiting to feel a tug…how boring! Fly fishing engages all my senses and many interests. From photographing and viewing other wildlife, to getting a fun and good workout rowing the canoe around. And of course having fun adventures with my fiance. We plan to go to Belize for some flats fishing for our honeymoon! I almost am more excited about that than the actual wedding!
And I agree with you…I’m not at all against fishing bikini babes either. You can catch some nice bass in a bikini top…and man, does it feel much more comfortable on a 90 degree day on Lake Champlain than some fancy SPF infused expensive shirt! Ventilation flaps? So what…You get some extreme ventilation in a triangle top!
Tight lines (and tight knots on those bikini tops! Wouldn’t want to pull a Janet Jackson while fighting a big carp!)
-Beth”
Terry Polk
“This is my Mom who is an amazing woman all around, but who really shines on the water…She sent me my first rod when I was living in Colorado and I was missing the water, never realized that the best fishing is a long ways away from the Chesapeake Bay sometimes. Anyhow her and her husband travel pretty much every chance they get to hike and fish. She says, the best thing about trout fishing is that trout live in the most beautiful places in the world and we get to visit when we fish.
I’m attaching a couple photos of her in Idaho and Oregon where she has a little fishing cabin. She is the real deal and outfishes the boys a lot of the times we are out. Well, there you go!
Hope you like these, regardless of whether she wins or not. Oh and she just called and wants me to add that not only is she a mother, she is now officially a fishin’ grandma. The last one is a pic of the family, me, my lil sis, my mom and stepdad fishing the Wallowa near Hells Canyon in Oregon.
Skoal!
Martin”
Sarah Exton is a hard-core angler who travels the world in pursuit of fins.
“Hey April,
My name is Stormie Tench. I live in Northeast Georgia. I have only been fishing for about a year now. My boyfriend got me into the sport. The photo that I have entered into the contest was a picture that was taken the first time I went fly fishing. Although, it took half the day for me to even hook one of the rainbow trout, and it wasn’t the biggest fish, I was so proud of myself! The feeling of hooking onto a fish is so awesome! It is very exciting. I enjoy this sport and want to continue learning all the techniques.
-Stormie”
Caca Zarif-Pires
“Hey April,
Robin from Portland here!
Hope you are doing well, here is a picture of me on the Deschutes that
my husband took. It’s always been one of my favorites.
Robin Healy”
“Dear April,
I am a French Quebecor girl (my english is not very good sorry) and I took my FIRST great Atlantic salmon on July 18 2009 on the Ste-Anne River in Quebec, and I’m very very proud of it… I took this salmon with a white-green dry fly (bomber) and that makes me even more proud and crazy. I don’t think I am a “bad-ass woman” but perhaps soon, I hope for it !
My photo is simple, nothing extraordinary, but big emotions.
I am impressed by your fisher’s talent, you are an inspiration and I hope more women will be a “bad-ass woman” like you.
Long life to you.
Sincerely
Renée Bernatchez”
Québec City
Danielle Will- Simms Field Testing Coordinator
“I am super proud to be a fly fishing woman. I am competitive in nature (usually just against myself) but I drive along the rivers, watching people fish and 99.9% of the time it’s all men. Ever hear the song, “Anything you can do I can do better”? Well that songs starts up in my head and I get excited. I get excited that hell yeah I can do that just as well or better.
I am super stoked on more and more women joining this amazing sport and will do my best to push the development of new and improved WOMEN’S products.
By the way-ever going to make it to Bozeman one of these days?”
Sheila Hunter
Winston-Salem, NC
“One look at my picture and you might not think that I qualify as a “bad-ass” angler, but I can hold my own, even at the age of 49 and standing all of 4′11″ tall. (I’m sure I would never get a job as a model at that height!)
I love to fly fish but I also occasionally fish with spinning rods; however, my primary goal in fishing is to catch fish on flies that I have tied no matter what type of rod I use.
The attached picture is of me holding a largemouth bass that I caught this summer on a popper that I made out of a wine cork. Since most of my family members do not fly fish, I wanted to create a fly that was heavy enough to cast with their spinning rods.”
Mini Fly Gal….
My girl Rebekka!
“Hi!
To me fly-fishing is my salvation, my escape. It’s my reality.
Part of the year I live and work in Hollywood ..aka the land of silicone . And let me tell ya there are very few people I’d consider to take fly fishing with me. I don’t tell too many people about my fishing. I like to keep my life private. Many people think I am another barbie blonde, who loves to go shopping…and my favorite phrase is “oh my God”(in the valley girl voice).
Ha! If they only knew……the real me…..
I grew up with 2 brothers. Both hard core fisherman. Both over 10 yrs older than my self.
They never wanted to have me “tag along” on fishing trips. Until my cry’s and pleads to take me wore them down. I remember going with them when I was about 7. I caught my first fish(a pickerel)…and I didn’t want to touch it! But I was totally hooked on fishing… I was determined to go fishing again….and again. The battle to get my brothers to take the kid sister fishing was less and less as I grew up. I soon found independence, my mountain bike! I’d back pack to our local lakes and rivers. And Fish the days away.
For my 16th birthday my mom surprised me with a trip to BC! She booked me and her a cabin at a fly fishing resort. With a rainbow stocked lake.
Well – I couldn’t pack fast enough!!!! I still remember the looks on some of my friends faces….”your happy your mom is taking you fishing to BC? ….Are you sure your a girl? All you like to do is fish and ride horses!” I soon out grew those friends. They where boring anyways.
I remember the moment I wanted to try fly fishing . I read about it in my grandfathers old fishing books. I didn’t have the internet…actually I didn’t have a computer…so I found my self at the library reading all about fly fishing….it was not easy to find that info in my city. As the area is primarily bait fisherman.
I also learned through my grandfathers collection of books – was that he learned from HIS MOTHER! Yes…the 1st person to fly fish in my family was a women. She taught her children to flyfish. That female empowerment was certainly not lost in the genetics.
I am proud of being a fly fishing women.I taught my self . I need no guy to bait my hook, add on a new fly, tie a blood knot or cast my line. I out fish my brother these days with my fly fishing – as he bait fishes. 
The bad ass part? LOL – well – I can be a bit rough around the edges when I’m fishing….hence not very “lady like” – I curse up a storm when landing a fish…curse like a sailor if it spits the hook out….I kiss more fish then I do men…& that’s by choice. At least the fish is happy about me releasing it…..men…..not so much 
My truck has some good wear spots on the over head viser from being used to store fly’s. It also has a full brush guard, 4 inch lift kit, new off road tires, and of course a hitch for the boat, and a comfy spot for my 2 dogs, “Tuff and Rebel” ;)
My mail box gets victoria secret magazines along side Canadian Flyfisher mag, cabela’s , and other various outdoors mags. LOL.
Bad ass – I think I’m there….I’m not a frilly lace kinda girl….I like functional wear. In fact my birthday is september 2nd – and my family asked what I needed/wanted….and my response was ….more fishing gear!
Bad ass or not – I am proud to be an empowered women in the over testosterone filled world of fishing.
I hope I will be considered to win this contest. And be able to wear the fly gal brand. I would be honored and would wear it proudly amongst my travels.
Thank you for considering me!
>><<)))’>Tight Lines <’)))>><<”
Ginger Rowe
“I wish this was a better pic, but here she is…. your bad ass girl! She is my sis, and she is the one who got me into fishing! If it weren’t for her, I never would have picked up a fly rod! Like I said, not the best pic but she IS BAD ASSSS!”
Shannon Beall of BC.
“As for being a bad ass I am soooo not but… I am happiest with a cold wind
at my back and ice forming on the guides. They don’t call me “Blue Toes”
for nothing! Love ya girl, can’t wait to catch up, Shannon.”
“Hi April,
This was taken of my first steelhead fishing trip up at the Salmon
River in NY in February. I had been having a bad couple of weeks due
to a miscarriage and a cut in hours at my work, but my husband, an
avid fly fisherman, insisted that we continue with the trip. It was a
great idea — being on that river, hooking several steelhead and
bringing in a few, I was able to take my mind off of current events.
I was very proud to land this one — the biggest fish of the day.
As I said before, my husband is a big-time fisherman, and going out on
the rivers with him has been a great way for us to spend time
together. I’m still getting into the sport, but each fish I catch
brings me a little closer to being a true “flygal” myself.
Thanks,
Alicia Michels”
True Fly Gal Susan, who is about as bad as they get!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PHOTO OF HER HOLDING THE BOAT WHILE THE BOY STANDS BY!
“This is my daughter Alexis, My precious little Flygal in training. In this particular pic she was casting spinners for cutt’s in the lower Snohomish river system. She truly loves to fish and be outdoors with me far more than I could have ever imagined. I am a very proud Father!
Do you make your sweatshirts in 2t? LOL. Thanks.
Mikal Bell”
“Dear April….Probably one of the most fun memories I will ever have was this day. Not only was I with an amazing friend, but I caught a fish (a rainbow trout)..and I stripped in another fish that day.
I still have not mastered holding the fish for a picture yet, but I will learn.
Hopefully I win, since you have inspired me to go try out this amazing sport. I LOVE IT SO FAR AND WOULD LOVE TO DO MORE AND MORE AND LEARN MORE AND MORE.
My name is Maryam Peigahi and I live in Eugene Oregon. As you probably know…I have lots of great areas to fish close by which makes it great. I just have to find some good partners to tag along.”
Caitlin Patrick
“These pictures are from my trip to Alaska to fish on the Agula Pak river off of Lake Nerka. The trip was amazing, spending 8 hours a day on the river, I caught lots of fish and had a great time with my guides, especially Nick and Isaac English.
The first picture is with a 22in grayling. Caught with an adams.
the next two were a 19in grayling caught on a nymph.
The last picture is a 22in char caught with an eight weight and a streamer, put up a good fight.”
Val Young fishing the morning midge hatch while waiting for
her coffee. She is no slouch with the flyrod either and will outfish
the boys on most days.
The wonderful, fish crazy T-Bird (Teresa VanWinkle). This gal is beyond kick-ass! Her fly-tying skills speak volumes and she fishes more days than most. Damn you’re hot T-Bird! Keep rockin’ the nails baby!
My guide from the Queen Charlotte Islands; Sumiko Sakiyama. Sumi’s my favourite guide so far! If you’re heading to the Charlotte’s anytime soon, look for Sumi…she’s guaranteed to make your trip excellent!
“Hey April!!! I am entering this photo because it is something a little different compared to fishing in waders! I am a salt water fishing guide in the Queen Charlotte islands, ten hour days in all sorts of weather hunting the elusive chinook salmon. This day it was blowing 30-40 northwest, we are actually sitting in a 17 foot boston whaler waiting for a chinook bite! These days are pretty crazy, fighting the water and when you do get a fish on it can get pretty interesting when the fishing guide can barely even stand in the boat! I am super proud to be a “bad ass fisher girl” because I am able to spend time with people from all over the world, share that amazing adrenaline filled feeling of landing a giant salmon and show them a piece of BC that holds a special place in my heart. And to top it all off, I am just a little girl in green Hellys!”
“Hi April! Well I saw the contest on your blog and thought I would share my fav of the few pics that I have of me. I am on the water here in New Brunswick on the Dungarvon with my husband over the July long weekend. The HUGE smile on my face is because I just busted out a beautiful double spey cast and I was so damn proud! I had been practicing for what seemed like forever and my hubby has been so patient with me since I started fly fishing with him this year. I love to fly fish because it is something g that we do together as a couple, we have been together for 7 years now and just celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary on August 9, 2009. We are already planning our 10 year anniversary trip to Patagonia or Alaska, I can’t wait, and yet I can, I need more practice! I’ll be learning to tie flies this winter and will be sending in my creations for Flies For Fins. This chick loves fly fishing so much that my husband now fears he has lost his Meiser!
Kickin’ tail in NB,
Kristy Arnett”
“Hi April!
I decided to send in a picture for your awesome Fly Gal contest. Still enjoy reading your blogs…and thanks again for all the advice you’ve given me!
Photo Attached:
Jessica Ruskin with golden trout, caught in Cherokee, NC. 19 inches and approximately 4 1/2-5 pounds. Caught on a hare’s ear nymph. My husband (who has been fly fishing since he was 10 and taught me to fly fish) and cousin had been attempting to catch this particular trout for hours while I was away shopping with my mother. I met up with them later for some fishing, took 2 casts, landed the fly right in front of this fish, and screamed in delight as I realized I’d actually hooked up with this beautiful trout. She put up a hell of a fight; I was actually shaking when I landed her. Please excuse the fact that my husband is in the picture – we forgot to bring the net, so he had to help me land the fish.
I’m proud to be a bad-ass woman of the sport because it allows me to prove to my husband that I can clean house and decorate, have dinner ready every night, dress up in a cocktail dress for a night out, yet still kick his ass out on the river. It gives me a chance to take part in a beautifully creative art form and is quite an amazing stress reliever.”
Jessica Ruskin
Proud Mother Adriana (above) and daughter, Tyla. While fishing for chub and other little critters, Tyla (6) managed to hook this sturgeon and landed it on super light tackle and 8lb test!
This is a family who truly loves spending their time together on the water! Check out Adriana’s lodge on the Fraser River at www.fraserriversedge.com
“Hi April,
My name is Caitlin Gifford, Im nineteen and have been fishing since I was
six. My home waters are the Bow River in Calgary AB and thats where I
spotted this brute.
I work in a fly shop full time during the summer and part time while I’m
at the U of Calgary, I literally don’t remember a part of life that hasn’t
been centered around fly fishing in one way or another. As soon as he
could my Dad threw a fly rod in my hands and I haven’t put it down since.
I’m a “bad ass fishing chick” because thats what I was born to do, I talk
fish all day in the shop and fish on my days off. I’ve traveled the world
in the name of fish from Mongolia to Cuba and many more to come. I fly
fish not only for the catch but also for everything in between, the cast,
the fly, the laughs, the eat. It’s my world!
On a side note check out the shop blog at
http://countrypleasuresff.blogspot.com/
for Bow River/southern Ab pics and such.
Thanks and if your ever in Calgary we should hit the river, there’s
nothing better than dry fly fishing for big ass browns on the Bow.
Caitlin”
Kaylin Bickle with an awesome Alaskan rainbow.
Vanessa Pietrowski
Atlanta, Georgia
“Attached is the photo I’m entering into your contest. I love your site and what you do! This photo was taken last August on the Bighorn River in Montana. We were nearing the end of our float for the day when I hooked a feisty rainbow while lounging on the front of the boat. 30 minutes later, my wonderful guide got her in the net. Needless to say, it was a pleasant and exciting surprise and a great way to end the day. There are 6 other photos that are pretty cool (I was standing holding my rod as high as I could in a few of them) but I love this one the most.”
Camille Egdorf (a guide in Alaska) in Montana with a nice brown.
Nicole Darland
“These are a few pics from my recent trip to Bolivia…first chick to catch Golden Dorado, Paku, Yatorana, and a sub species of Golden Dorado on these waters..and they were all on the fly…kind of fly huh?!
The one submerged was my largest GD…32lbs…largest they have caught there…about 40lbs…girl power!
Anyhoo—just enjoy the fish porn…
Cheers,
N”
Marie Stull
“She is 69 years old and flew up the end of last year to fish the Kenai in 20 degree snowy weather. Pretty hardcore. She fishes more days a year than most guys I know.
She works at Simms part time and fishes all winter around Montana.”
This was on the Copper river outside of Iliamna.
Guide Amber is holding the fish that Lauren caught.
“Hi April
I am Louise Dunn from Arkansas. Here are a couple of my photos I am submitting for this contest. This 22 pound brown was caught at the Bull Shoals Dam on the famous White River. This is my once in a life time fish!! Or maybe not. What a day!! It was the most thrilling day of my life to cast to this beast and have him take the fly and have the rush of my life when landing him. Not to mention being the only woman on the river and have all these fly fisherman stand and watch in amazement. This is my bad ass fly fishing adventure!!
Louise Dunn
PS- I had to just throw in this photo. One of my favorite fly fishing destinations. Alaska,
What a week of being in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and to catch these huge trout, one after another, and to be so fortunate to be fishing with the bears what an adventure!!
Thanks Louise”
“Hi April,
Attached are a few of my favorite fishing photos. I fish a lot! Most of these were caught on the fly, with the exception of the flathead catfish, and the larger of the two Steelhead. The Steelhead are from the Milwaukee River and the trout are from SW Wisconsin. The smallmouth and flathead are from my home river, the Fox, in the NW suburbs of Chicago. Hope you enjoy the photos!
Best,
Crystal”
Me, proudly teaching two young fly gals at a trade show in Abbotsford. These two ladies picked it up so fast! I was beyond impressed!
Well, there you have it folks! Some seriously kick-ass ladies who help to make the sport more enjoyable with that feminine touch….
Damn, I’m proud!
Hope to see each of you on the water!
Ape.
Reminiscing Last Year’s Steelhead……
July 5, 2009, 8:26 am
Filed under:
Articles,
On The Water.... | Tags:
Aaron Goodis,
April Vokey,
BC,
BC Interior,
Brian Niska,
Bulkley River,
Dave Allen,
drift,
fish,
fly fishing,
hardcore fishing,
James Whalen,
Kispiox River,
Scott Baker,
Skeena,
Smithers,
Spey fishing,
steelhead,
Tommy Thompson,
Water Master,
Yos GladstoneThe Steelhead season.
It never can come too early for the hardcore steelhead bum. I wrote this little piece last year after an epic six week trip to BC’s interior and thought I would share.
Cheers to BC steelhead!
Cheers! (April Vokey photo).
The Golden Valley
Whoever said that “running away from a problem is not the solution”, obviously never ran far enough away. Either that, or he was the asshole that was being run from.
Running was exactly what I was doing. Months of suffering from the common fisherman’s discomfort otherwise known as the “relationship migraine”, combined with other headaches courtesy of web designers, employers, and an over crowded house had all driven me to a near breaking point.
I packed my duffle, waders and Spey rod and met my two most reliable fishing buddies, my Water Master raft and my Toyota 4×4, outside in my driveway.
“Off we go boys….”
I didn’t know exactly where we were going, but I knew it was somewhere far up north to B.C.’s interior where wild Skeena steelhead were plentiful and equally as feisty as me.
The Skeena River is the second largest river in British Columbia and is one of the most famous Steelhead systems in the world. The Bulkley, Morice, Kispiox, Copper…. the list of tributaries seems endless and an unusually warm October was bringing some of the best fishing the Bulkley River (a mid sized river flowing through the small town of Smithers) had seen in years.
The Bulkley River on an October evening. (April Vokey photo)
A healthy gas station diet of energy drinks, chocolate, and beef jerky made the fourteen-hour drive to Smithers pass quickly, and the large statue of an old-school fisherman confirmed that I had reached my destination. The autumn trees swayed gently in the breeze, shaking loose their colourful leaves and creating a highway of gold. A snowy white mountain shone in the distance, lighting up the blue sky, easing my mind and ridding me of any negative energy; my emotional detox had begun.
Apparently the memo about the hot fishing had spread like an infectious plague throughout the tackle shops and fishing forum community. Fortunately, word had also spread to a majority of my “not so well-behaved” fishing friends who had opted to make the trip at the same time. It looked like my three-week vacation was about to take an unexpected, yet far more entertaining, turn.
Some of the usual suspects…….
Tattooed Dave Allen
Tommy Thompson
James Whalen
Aaron Goodis
Scott Baker McGarva
Brian Niska
…….To name but a few.
Drift boats, jet boats, and anglers from all around the world (ones that actually wake up for first light) made fishing…tricky. There was no need to panic, however, as this dilemma was easily remedied by applying a strategy common to many of us B.C. natives.
We launched our boats at unknown take-outs, fished runs and pockets that most anglers rowed over, fished behind steelhead first timers and, my personal favourite, slept in and let the eager rush push through.
Locked and loaded in the Fly Gal rig.
The fishing had begun to slow down, but it didn’t really matter to any of us. Between the sun, friendship, quiet drifts, and a decent supply of uplifting B.C. greenery, I had long forgotten about the stresses that were probably multiplying back at the home front. It was perfect!
The boys sharing a pontoon. Yup, they actually did the entire float sharing one boat. Suicidal…
Anyone who has ever visited the small town of Smithers understands that “small” is an understatement. So, it should have come as no surprise that when I foolishly agreed to participate in a “night out on the town”, we ended up in a tiny strip joint that even the locals opted to stay away from.
Exhausted from a day of rowing and fishing, I faded in and out of focus, catching brief clips of the standard fishermen b.s. and glimpses of a very naked blonde dancer.
I chuckled to myself. Standing beside my fifteen-foot Spey rod with my blonde hair and long fake nails, I could quite easily pass as one those girls. Perhaps this is how rumours get started…. Uh oh…. I promptly stopped chuckling and dyed my hair brown the following week.
The next day, I hit the river with good friend, Aaron Goodis. Fishing with Aaron always makes for an enjoyable day even if the fishing is on lockdown. Just watching Aaron cast puts a smile on my face every time.
We dropped his truck off at our pullout, loaded into my pickup and headed up river. At the small launch, we pumped up our boats, wadered up, secured our fly rods and set out into the current. The sky was blue and the water was just the right color. All the early risers had already pushed through and we had the river to ourselves. I sat back and closed my eyes, listening to the sweet sound of chirping birds and…hissing air!!?
“Damn it!” I cursed. Somehow, in a state of idiocy, I had managed to put a fair-sized hole in the bottom of my raft and it was blowing bubbles like unwelcome farts in an oversized bathtub. “Great!” I muttered countless obscenities and rowed into shore. My raft was leaking badly and in need of immediate repair.
Aaron and I found a roll of electrical tape and wound it around the chamber until the hissing stopped. Miraculously, it held and we continued our search for chrome bars.
Although daylight was fading fast, neither of us had hooked a steelhead yet. How could fish not be here!? With no fish looking to battle, Aaron’s tight loops had provided the best entertainment of the day.
Note the electrical tape. She was wounded, but floating, and that was all that mattered.
Every day, the fishing seemed to dwindle a little more than the last. Though everyone was having a good time between the scenery, camaraderie, and occasional recycling of road kill, I was itching to play with some steel. My girl Kateri had mentioned that the fishing in her neck of the woods looked promising, so several of us packed up and headed her way towards the Kispiox Valley.
No need to waste (Dave Allen photo).
Ross, a friend of ours, has an A-frame cabin that is located directly on the river in the Kispiox Valley. The cabin comfortably houses six people and several menacing mice. Ross is one of those guys that, although everyone knows his name, no one knows his age. The epitome of a fishing bum (and bachelor), eight months out of the year he disappears into thin air, reappearing when (and only when) steelhead season rolls around.
Oh Ross; Why must you torture me so? (April Vokey photo)
Although it was only eight in the evening when we arrived, Ross and fellow fishing bum, Doug Wiseman, were sound asleep. Unsure as to whether they were so tired as a result of fishing too much or as a result of old age (this is what he gets for withholding that information), we made the unanimous decision that it was far too early for sleeping. We threw down our bags, flicked on the lights and counted out pennies, preparing for a poker game. All it took was the sound of shuffling cards and, wouldn’t you know it, the two of them were up and ready to play.
The next week flew by. Fishing picked up again and I found myself increasingly thumbing through the local paper, checking out available real estate. I was enjoying one of the best fishing trips of my life and was not ready for it to come to an end.
Dirty truck for a dirty boy (Mr.Gladstone). I couldn’t help myself…
Challenged to a push up contest, and you know I had to take it. You still owe me $20.00 Niska!
Unfortunately, falling snow, an empty bank account, and a full mailbox told me that it was time to head home, so I packed up the truck and hit the freeway, driving back to reality.
My stay in Smithers provided me with the three things that every fishing trip should deliver – tranquility, excitement and ever-lasting memories. True, I had some serious emails to catch up on and, yes I had a lot of making up to do with my guy, but I’d do it all over again in the blink of an eye. I had taken the time to ground myself, and as a result, came back an energized, relaxed, and appreciative woman. It was a refreshing and much needed break.
So, while some may say that I was running away from my problems, I prefer to say that I was running towards a solution. A solution that just so happened to include giant steelhead. How can anybody argue that?
A Shout Out!
May 8, 2009, 12:59 am
Filed under:
Opinion | Tags:
Adrienne Comeau,
April Vokey,
fish,
fishing,
fly fishing,
Fly Gals,
Hannah Belford,
hardcore fishing,
k8,
ladies fishing,
steelhead,
women fishing,
women fly fishingIt wouldn’t be right of me to have a blog for fly gals, and not give a shout out to some true fly gals!
K8 rocking the fish dance (Michael Davidchik photo).
I’ll name but a few, make sure you check out their sites!
I remember the first time I met my girlfriend Kate (aka K8). I was beat and trying desperately to get a classic fly finished when her loud laugh shook me up.
“Who wants a Caesar!?” She was just in from off the water and was ready to bust out the vodka.
For the past three years I had made the Hilltop Hostel in Spence’s Bridge my home while fishing the Thompson River in below zero temperatures. Another female presence was rare, and though she was welcome, she startled the hell out of me and several other guys around the tying table.
Kate soon proved that like the rest of us, she was crazy about fishing. Not casting, or meeting guys, or any of the lame garbage that one too many people use fishing as an excuse for; nope, Kate simply loved to fish.
K8 in Alaska
It didn’t take long for me to decide that this was a gal I sincerely wanted to be a part of both my fishing crew and my life.
Kate had started a site called ‘Rogue Angels’. The site was pimped and truly devoted to the bad-ass female anglers who braved harsh weather conditions and equally harsh scrutiny.
I loved it.
Yeah, Kate had me at “Whew, tough fishing out there…”
Check out Rogue Angels http://www.rogueangels.net/
Then there’s Ade. Adrienne and I go way back.
As girly as they come, Adrienne won my heart when I met her working the counter at Michael and Young Fly Shop.
She had the cutest giggle, the slightest lisp, and the most absurd collection of fishing hats I had ever seen!
Ade was a breath of fresh air in a male dominated sport, so I suppose it was only natural that we’d exchange numbers with the intent of wetting a line together.
Adrienne on the lake.
We spent days laughing, crying and jumping up and down like school girls on the river bank. We were a team, and a fierce one at that. To write about Ms. Comeau would take hours so I’ll let her tell you her story in her own words…
Check out her blog at http://www.thefemaleangle.com/
Last but not least, there’s my girl Hannah.
I first saw Hannah while jetting by her on a river in Northern BC. Her hair blew into the wind and her face was serious. Her eyes followed me as I passed by.
I knew exactly who she was. The woman in the Simms catalogue with the intense stare and the enviable fishery on the Damdochax River.
The fly-fishing industry is small, and the female population is even smaller. We pulled in to say hello.
It took her a sec to uncross her arms, and I watched her size me up. Yup, I’d heard about this one. Strong, hard-core and no bullshit, I must have looked like a freakin’ Barbie doll stepping out to meet her. I shook her hand and was sincere when I said, “Nice to meet you.”
She smiled. Man, she had a beautiful smile! Hmmm…..she wasn’t so scary. I made a mental note to shoot her an email when I got home.
Several months later, Hannah and I were headed on a trip to the States to wail on some winter steelhead. She entertained me on the long drive with stories of life, love and, of course, steelhead.
Very few people steal my heart, but I can sincerely say that Hannah did just that.
The damn girl stole my heart.
Love that smile!
Her site is awesome and is great for ladies looking to network and catch up on the latest gear reviews. I highly recommend checking it out!
http://www.flyfishergirl.com/
