You know it’s been a busy year when every time you sit down to write a blog post, sheer exhaustion wipes you out as a constant (and over dramatic) reminder that there are simply too many updates to report.
Playing “catch up” is not my style; I much prefer paving new roads… granted if you don’t put your foot in the stirrup, you’ll never get back on the horse, will you? :)

That said, I think today I’ll take a ride…

2012 came fast… too fast really.

A whirlwind of people, shows, shops (thank you to all) and the best trip of my life (more to come later), a full winter steelhead season and a blessing to wake up every day with a smile; it’s been a good year so far.

Moving forward, I’m excited to share some recent photos/stories and I intend to update this page again regularly.
I’m steering this horse back on track… and tomorrow I’m riding it back to Michigan.

See you soon! Updates to follow!

Sincerely,
April.

First things first! We are finally heading to Kelowna to put on two steelhead "Intruder" variation fly-tying classes!
February 25th (5pm to 9pm) and February 26th (9am to 1pm). Price is $65.00 plus tax.

Only 8 spaces per class so don't wait!

And of course, winter steelhead season is just around the corner!

Mid February to the end of April is a great time to try your hand at winter steelhead and maximize a day on local water to learn new casting and angling techniques.

With a calendar filling up fast I figured that I should post available dates that are still up for grabs!
If you’re looking to fish with me (April), then please note the following openings:

Feb 18th to 22nd, March 22nd to 26th, April 4th to 12th, 23rd to 30th.

Greg and Steve also have some available dates for the season if any of the above dates don’t work for you.

Email april@flygal.ca to book or visit http://flygal.ca/winter_run_steelhead for more details.

Day trips welcome!
Happy New Year!
April.

....Inventory!
We've slashed all of our prices and are looking to clear out our Fly Gal inventory to make room for some exciting new products!

Have a look at the cart here and remember that it's free shipping on all orders over $99.00 (even international orders)!

Happy New Year to all and a cheers to an exciting new 2012! See some of you very soon!

Sincerely,
April.

As previously published in Fly Fusion magazine.

With frosted edges and delicate tips, it landed on my nose before softening and disappearing into the warmth of my skin.

It was winter in western Canada and the trees were awaiting their new dress. They stood naked and bare, lining the secluded river bank, shivering in the wind and grasping for my back cast.

They, like me, were only moments away from the season’s first coating of fresh snow.

A light wind floated the flakes gently downstream and they lingered and danced in the air with each gust.

Evening had fast been approaching but the sudden snowfall lit the moody sky and I smiled at the extra thirty casts I may have just been gifted.

I pulled up my hood, burrowed my chin into my fleece and watched the blood rush into my hands as I gripped my Spey rod firmly. With a current that ran as smooth as melted butter, my confidence soared and my heart beat faster.

Boulders and troughs played hide and seek though the river’s glare, cheating the fish and giving away their hiding spots. I loved this game…

Alive and excited, I stood with my back stiff and shoulders tensed; a posture of dedicated concentration.

An obtrusive fluorescent green fly line filled me with a false sense of security, connecting me indirectly with my fly as it swung through the current.

My eyes pierced the water intensely, straining and drowning themselves in deep thought.
I envisioned the fly, quivering and darting through the flow enticingly. “C’mon, eat it…” I mumbled.

My fly hit its dangle as the line swung parallel with the shore and I waited for a grab...nothing.

Refused and neglected, I stripped in my running line, took two steps downstream, and proceeded to do it all again.

This scene is a familiar one for a small and unique group of anglers.

From British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California in the West, to Ontario, New York, Ohio, and other Great Lakes states in the East, winter steelheaders escape the hectic stresses and aftermath of holiday hype by seeking recluse on the abandoned riverbanks.

‘Tis the season; not of shopping malls and home renovations, but the season where we hold our breaths as we turn down back-roads until we’re greeted by puddles of unbroken ice.

Yes, to put it bluntly, it’s the long awaited time of year where we can rely on the weather to single out the die-hards and open the waterways to those willing to sacrifice feeling in their toes for a single fishy grab (if we’re lucky).

As a fishing guide and booking agent, I find myself spending a lot of time answering questions from anglers looking to book a summer steelhead trip.

Usually I am thrilled to answer the expected questions; “What gear do I need?”, “What will the weather be like?”, “How far will I need to cast?”, “When do these fish enter the system?”, “What’s the average fish size?”, “Can we take our fish home?” (Huh? No!)

Like a family fishing Doctor, I have seen and heard it all. It’s a rarity when someone takes me by surprise and it is even more infrequent to find someone who can make me wince (with the exception of thoughtless back casts when I’m standing in the line of fire).

This said, there is one question that inevitably makes me cringe just the slightest: "How many fish can we expect to catch per day?”

It’s a fair question really, a question that I can answer and one that is relatively easy to answer consistently.
The truth is, I cringe because this is the cybernetic moment where I find myself discriminately gauging the experience and dedication of the angler I’m corresponding with.

I respond in red text below their question, “Typically a good day of fishing will result in one to three fish, though more productive days are not uncommon”.

Then I wait.

For some, standing in the water all day to possibly hook into a couple of steelhead simply isn’t an option. Regardless of the comparatively pleasant conditions that summer steelheading brings, there are some anglers that this sector of the sport just isn’t cut out for, and that’s quite alright.

But every so often, something beautiful happens; my inbox lights up with a positive energy, an exclamation mark or smiley face icon illuminates a sentence’s end, and an ecstatic response confirms to me that one or two fish hooked per day sounds brilliant!

In this moment, it is made clear to me that I am most likely in communication with a fellow winter steelheader.

Winter steelheaders are some of the most committed freshwater angling enthusiasts in North America.

Often battling freezing temperatures, bone-chilling winds, icy guides, frozen boots, slippery slopes, and high maintenance fish, it is the winter steelheaders who truly understand and demonstrate sincere appreciation for a successful day on the water.

As can be expected, winter-run steelhead aren’t exactly famous for their willingness to bite.

Notoriously a stubborn species, they often hunker low in the water column and taunt fishers with lock jawed tendencies brought on by their frigid environment.

I have witnessed gear anglers drift bait over winter steelhead so many times that the gooey stink almost hits the fish in its snout. Standing above the bank, I’ve watched them nonchalantly stray five inches to the left or right, only to return to their holding spot as if they couldn’t be bothered to entertain the desperate plea of 100+ casts.

Thankfully, most fly fishers are low enough to the water that they can’t observe this behaviour and they are saved from having to endure such torture and refusal.

While I am somewhat unfamiliar with the productivity of the Great Lakes fishery, I am quite confident to claim that one hook-up per day is a success for most any winter steelheader.

True, there are some days, fisheries, cycles and months where several fish can be coaxed into taking a persistent fly, however as a general rule of thumb, one landed winter-run steelhead typically results in one radiant smile, one very happy angler, and a whole lot of instilled confidence.

On occasion, however, the winter clouds will rest and the sun will flaunt its rays.

The day, though still cold, is welcoming and even the most depressed of trees seem to come to life as the orange glow pushes through their limbs and remaining few crisp leaves.

The water displays a brilliant green and sparkles like diamonds while the sun’s warming touch heats exposed flesh, dark clothing and sour attitudes. Uplifting and comforting, these sunny days are long-awaited and rarely go unnoticed or unappreciated.

With the good must come the bad and, like all quality fisheries, there are days when the fishing is hard and the energy is drab.

As the sun plays coy, the water loses its charisma and the featureless dark, tarlike currents drain the enthusiasm of many an angler who shows up to play.

Days are often quickly cut short by an extended coffee shop visit or by an excuse to linger in the warmth of a heated truck. Fishing buddies hold out on their secret desire to surrender until the other has displayed a mutual frozen fingered misery and they finally look at each other and agree that lunch sounds “really good right about now”.

It’s fantastic to watch and even more fulfilling to experience; anglers pushing themselves to their limits, each one of them ending the day with rosy cheeks and a smile, content and proud that they put forth the effort.

It is a mentality and a temperament that I only wish could be inherited by all freshwater anglers.

It’s one that cannot be taught, passed down, preached, pushed or posted on the net. Rather, it’s one that comes with the cliché gospel of blood, sweat and tears; one that is authentic and sure to change the patience of all those who are up to the challenge.

They are the appreciative, the deserving, the elite and the knowing. They are the old-school breed of ‘work hard to reap the rewards’, ‘no pain no gain’ mottos and ‘appreciate all that encompasses the sport of fly-fishing’; they are the winter steelheaders and I am thankful for every one of them that I meet.

Well, this is exciting!

After grueling nights of web design and countless pleas for donations, we are finally live here at Flies for Fins!

You can visit the shop at http://www.flies4fins.com/shop

We must apologize in advance as there are many items currently on their way to us via the mail right now that are not yet available in our cart. We will be sure to add them to the site as soon as we have them in hand, so continue checking in over the next week or two.

At this time, we are in desperate need for flies and we are graciously welcoming donations from all tiers; old and new! Please don't be shy to send in your flies. One of the wonderful things about Flies for Fins is the collaboration of our angling community and all of the diversity that it brings.

We have categories set for saltwater flies, trout flies, Atlantic Salmon, bass, steelhead, etc...you name it!

Our online auction system will be set to go live in the next few weeks and we are ecstatic to feature some incredibly rare flies from some angling legends; some who unfortunately are no longer with us.

We appreciate each and every one of you for taking an interest in our attempt to raise money for BC's wild rivers and steelhead. Without your support both as donators and as purchasers, Flies for Fins could never be what it is today.

Sincerely,

The Flies for Fins Team

Well, here we go! Flies for Fins is back!

Flies for Fins is a charitable organization whose primary mission is to promote and raise funding for specific projects dedicated to the conservation of various B.C. fisheries that are in need of help.

While most of these fisheries are fortunate to have the aid of other concentrated non-profit organizations, these organizations often still need significant assistance with fundraising. Flies for Fins was founded with the hopes that we could assist these organizations achieve their goals by reaching out to conservation minded anglers around the world.

Flies for Fins carefully considers and partakes in discussions with these organizations before committing to assist them in order to reach their maximum funding potential. This is done by collecting details of the current proposed project (via the selected affiliated organization) and establishing a set amount of money that needs to be raised in order to achieve the desired goal.

The Flies for Fins project works by giving conservation minded anglers an outlet to donate flies and equipment which is then added to our e-commerce system and available for purchase by individuals around the world via our website. This provides multiple ways to contribute; donations, purchases, or both.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of these items goes to help fund the currently selected project. Flies for Fins is operated by a small team of dedicated volunteers that maintain the website and shipping/receiving of donated items.

The F4F cart is set to go live on December 5th, and while most of the donated items are still currently somewhere in the air on their way here, the donations are starting to pour in for purchase!

With Christmas just around the corner, I can't think of a better gift than one that actually makes a difference!

So far, we'd like to thank:

Mud Dog Flies
Fly Fusion Magazine
Fly Fisherman Magazine
Patagonia
Rio Fly Lines
Loon Outdoors
Fish Bum Outfitters
Country Pleasures Fly Shop
River Bend Guesthouse in Chilliwack, BC
Moose Knuckle Lanyards
Chris Santella, author of 50 Places to Fly Fish Before You Die
Low Country Fly Shop in SC
Dally's Ozark Fly Fisher
LL Bean
FishPal
Recycled Fish

And many more....!

You won't believe some of the trips/items being donated!

We are also very pleased to announce that we have a very special collection of flies on the way from Wes Drain, Dennis Boulton, Alec Jackson, Leroy Hyatt, Frank Amato, Cal Bird, George McLeod, Walt Johnson, Joe Howell, and Mr. Polly Rosborough!!

We still are in a dire need of flies and other items....if this is something that you feel you can help with, please know that any and all help is beyond appreciated!

Thank you in advance!
Sincerely,
April.

No? Then join us at Riverside Fly and Tackle in Port Coquitlam for a fun-filled night of steelhead fly-tying instruction! Email april@flygal.ca to book your space!

With Christmas just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about gifts for that special person in your life!

From now until December 31st, we are offering Free Shipping on purchases over $99.00 (before tax). Yes, even on international orders!

We have even added a clearance selection to the site that has been discounted up to 35% off...

While we are having technical difficulties with our coupon code on the cart, email april@flygal.ca and I'll arrange your order for you in time for the holidays.

99.3 The Fox radio station has always entertained me.

They say it like it is, play fantastic music, and do so all while having a great time.

Recently, I was minding my business when a friend called to let me know that they had been speaking about me on the Jeff O'neil show (a popular morning show on the station) earlier that day.

He let me know that they had Mariko Izumi (a fellow Canadian conventional angler who has sought fame with a bikini and contagious party laugh; I think she's hot... say what you will).

Regardless, Mariko was on the show as Canada's hottest fisher woman and she handled their crude questions well. "Dinner plates or dimes?", they asked her.... Yes, they are classy guys.

Well as the show ended, they received some calls that encouraged them to contact me for an interview.

So as my inbox lit up with an email from one of the hosts, I took some time to think about if it was worth signing up for what could potentially be an embarrassment of perverse questions and a self controlled stifled temper.

I thought about it long and hard; it is a big radio station and I am trying hard right now to reach to the general public about the Shell issue that has me so fired up.

Before long I found myself saying yes to the interview, but warned them that I likely wouldn't be as much fun as Ms. Izumi. After all, how can I compete with underwear Olympics and a string bikini?

That morning I left bright and early, following the directions of my GPS and sipping on a coffee.

The "reliable" bossy woman's voice barked me from street corner to street corner "turn left, turn right to destination", and eventually landed me at a dead end; lost and shrieking at the stupid thing.

The radio program kept running and so did the clock... tick, tick, tick. I could hear them on the air "April Vokey was SUPPOSED to be here... You know how those country folk are. Maybe she got lost?"
Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to hear people talking about you and you still can't do anything?? Oh wait, maybe some of you do... bloody internet forums. ;)

Without further adieu, check out the link below to hear a very sweaty but recorded radio interview.

http://www.cfox.com/DJsandShows/TheJeffONeilShow.aspx

In June this year, Dana and I set out to Anahim Lake where we were scheduled to catch a small float plane into the Dean River.
Stevie was there waiting for us and he and I were anxious to see if we could hook into some Dean River Chinook.

Clients didn't arrive for another week, and we were eager to do some "research".

The water was especially high this Spring and the murky flow was a little concerning. Both wading and casting were difficult with the water so high in the trees, but the fishing proved incredible regardless.
Early steelhead were around and the Chinook fishing was off the charts! It is truly the only fishery that I will openly admit scares the hell out of me.
These fish are almost as big as I am, and while they aren't overly long, they are wide enough to hold most of their weight. We hooked into fish up to 65 pounds and spent a great deal of time standing in shock as we stared at our bare hooks after battling with a monster.

It was awesome...
http://www.youtube.com/user/FlyGalVentures#p/a/u/1/UMTM7iD3vHE

Even landed the first fish that I couldn't successfully pick up (the 30 minute fight didn't help... excuses, excuses, I know.)

Guests arrived the following week.... and fishing stayed hot!

Just as a brief side note, we are excited to announce that Simon Gawesworth will be joining us in June next year for a Chinook/Early Steelhead Spey School.

Only two spaces left... email info@flygal.ca to book.

Before long, the steelhead were numerous and the days flew fast as Stevie and I were kept busy while tailing fish and toasting the fish Gods.

We had some incredible anglers and personalities join us at the lodge... With accommodations of only 6, the nights were often long and the laughs were endless.

The season seemed to fly by and while the stories are countless, they'll have to wait for another day.

Here's a taste of some of our favorite people...

To be perfectly honest, words can't do the season justice... I'll let the pictures do the talking:

We are almost full for next year but do have some spaces available. Email info@flygal.ca to book for the Simon Gawesworth school or for one of our open slots.
Hope to see you there!

April.