Mr. Wotton, Your Reputation Precedes You....

I'd heard of Davy Wotton; fly-fishing instructor, White River guide, tv personality and renowned fly tyer.

A legend in his own right, I was ecstatic when he contacted me and asked if I had a day free to hit the water.  Naturally, I took him up on his offer (twist my arm).

My GPS, notorious for taking me on the long route, had me pulling into Davy's driveway in the evening just as the sun was going down, and my stomach was rumbling for some dinner.

Davy and his lovely lady (and may I add, a fish crazy, fly-tying gem) T-Bird, Teresa VanWinkle were waiting and they were equally as hungry.

We kept conversation to a deliberate minimum and rushed to the nearest open diner to share our stories over a plate of liver and onions piled high with gravy.

Between Davy's wealth of knowledge and T-Bird's exciting stories, my head was spinning and I was itching to hit the river to try and finally land that big brown I'd been dreaming of for so long.

The night flew by as the couple's energy painted a permanent smile on my face and I eagerly anticipated the arrival of the next morning...

We couldn't wait to hook into some Mother Nature...Obviously (see below). Davy's a nature man all the way, and wrangled this creepy looking thing in the dark of the night when his equally adventurous pup cornered it.

One of the creepiest  creatures I've seen yet.....

The next day, I awoke to the friendly greeting of T-Bird and the bustling of a very busy Mr. Wotton. This was going to be awesome!

We hit the White River, and immediately hooked into some feisty rainbows.  Man, they pulled like hell!

T-Bird hit one side of the boat, while I hit the other, and together we fought for the tug of a brown trout.

Alas as soon as we got into the groove of things, the sky opened and rain poured like I had never seen before and eventually we gave in to the flooding boat and slosh of wet socks.....

A little wet, to say the least.

We hadn't seen a brown, but we'd seen an awesome day and I can't wait to hit the water with both Davy and T-Bird again.

To tell you just how great Davy is would keep me writing for days. He is beyond knowledgeable, patient and as about experienced as they get!

To book with Davy Wotton follow the contact info below:

Ape's Fav Five

As previously published in Chasing Silver Magazine

British Columbia is world famous for its majestic rivers and legendary steelhead.  A truly unique fishery, B.C. is home to steelhead twelve months out of the year where they are pursued by determined anglers who brave all the accompanying elements; icy guides, subzero snow storms, rugged hiking and treacherous wading are all factors that the serious angler will endure.

Matt Moisley knows what I'm talking about.

The arrival of West-Coast steelhead tends to be most abundant as the weather begins to cool down, typically drawing the fish deeper into the pools and often times easing their aggression. To stay in the game, seasoned anglers rig up their Spey rods with sink tips, and tie obnoxious flies to help coax the fish to bite.

Brrrr.  Ape with a double striper.

I remember the first steelhead I caught on one of my own fly patterns.  The breeze was cold and fresh snow laced the felts of my wading boots.  This was my favourite time of year.  Freezing temperatures kept a majority of anglers indoors, allowing us diehards to menace the rivers in true steelhead bum fashion.

Never a huge fan of nymphing or dead drifting, I always loved the concept of swinging a fly.  By casting towards the opposite bank and allowing my fly to sweep intrusively through the current, I was able to cover a maximum amount of water.  Working my way through the run, I would envision an aggressive buck tickled by the teasing feathers of my fly before lunging forward to attack.  Every step I made felt like one step closer to an epic battle.

Working the run (Michael Davidchik photo).

I had spent the entirety of my pre-season evenings behind my vice, stocking my fly box in preparation of this much-anticipated fishery. I had always been drawn to the art of tying flies.  Such a male dominated sport, I got a kick of how incredibly feminine steelhead flies tended to look.  Popular flies with names like Showgirl and Cotton Candy, provoked me to take advantage of my creative side and display my ‘girly’ traits through my fly-tying.

Ape at the vise.

So there I stood with an overloaded fly box that looked like a foam lined candy store.  I sorted through my flies until an aesthetically pleasing pink and blue intruder variation, stood out from the rest.  I tied it on and cast it into the seam.  Half an hour later, it was “fish on” and I had landed myself a heavy wild buck. It was at that moment that my love for the feminine pink pattern secured itself as my favourite and, to this day, remains on the top of my “preferred flies” list.

A pretty typical fly seen hanging out of most of my fish's mouths.....

The beautiful thing about fly-tying is that the tyer can showcase their creativity and originality through their invented patterns.  As long as the fly appears to come to life in the water (which is the reason why Ed Ward‘s attractor pattern, the ‘Intruder‘, became such a big hit in B.C. several years ago) or is a reasonable imitation of a natural aquatic species, the tyer can create countless unique and efficient concoctions.

Different lighting and water conditions are all important variables when it comes to steelheading.  I make sure that at all times my fly box consists of a variety of flies suitable for all conditions. Dark, bright, small and big flies all have their own unique purpose. I find myself fishing dark flies when the water is murky, and bright ones when the water is clear. The size of my fly usually depends on the level of the water, however I find that typically low and clear rivers fish best with smaller patterns.

But it’s not always that simple.  Different strains of steelhead sometimes require different tactics.  Different levels of aggression, time of year, genetic build are but a few contributing factors. Some fish occasionally throw a wrench into my standard approach, keeping me on my toes.  Though you’ll never hear me complain, for it wouldn’t be fishing if it were any other way.

With this, I give you five of my favourite creations.

*=Note

*I  prefer to tie most of my flies with a trailing hook.  This allows me to replace any dull or broken off points by simply switching the hook, rather than disposing of the fly entirely.

1)    Snip off four or five inches of thin wire, thick monofilament, running line or     something of the sort. 2)    Folding it in half, lay each end on either side of the shank and wrap the thread     over the wire, winding it upwards.  The tie in point should be where the hook     shank begins to curve. 3)    Fold the wire back over and secure it with multiple downward winding wraps of     thread. 4)    Clip any tail ends. 5)    After completion of the fly, use wire cutters to cut the main hook near the bend     in the shaft.

Sugar Pop

Materials:

Pink thread Silver oval tinsel Krinkle Mirror Flash Blue polar bear (or dubbing of choice) Blue eared pheasant (dyed blue) Pink rhea Pink teal Silver mini flat braid Pink tinsel Blue Flashabou Jungle cock Kingfisher

Tying Instructions:

1)    Tie in a strand of silver oval tinsel and wrap it up the hook five times, creating a     tag. 2)    Dub in the under fur of blue polar bear. *Any dubbing will work, though I find that polar bear shimmers the best in the     water, and is the most efficient in preventing the rest of the materials from     collapsing. 3)    Tie in the tip of a single blue eared pheasant feather.  Fold both sides of the     feather fibres rearward and continue to wrap the feather several times until it fans     over the dubbing. 4)    Peel off a side of a rhea feather and tie in the tip (*if rhea is unavailable, marabou     or ostrich can    make a great substitute).  Make several wraps until it fans over the     blue eared hackle. *You can stack the rhea if you prefer, though it will not result in the same     fullness. 5)    Tie in a strand of Krinkle Mirror Flash on either side of the hook. 6)    Peel a pink teal feather and hackle it over the rhea. 7)    Attach silver mini flat braid, pink tinsel, and blue flashabou. 8)    Wrap the mini braid forward, ribbing it with the tinsel and flashabou. 9)    Repeat steps 2-6. 10)    Pluck two small secondary feathers from a jungle cock cape and tie them in as     cheeks. *Use flat-nosed pliers to pinch the stems to prevent them from rolling. 11)    Lay a kingfisher feather over the jungle cock, again flattening the stem with flat-    nosed pliers. *The tip of a blue saddle feather makes a decent substitute. 12)    Whip finish and coat with head cement. *Clear nail polish works just as well (your wife will understand.)

Burnt Orange Prawn

Materials:

Black thread Gold oval tinsel Golden pheasant tippet Orange seal dubbing Red seal dubbing Gold Mylar tinsel Orange blue-eared pheasant feather Black rhea Dark orange ring neck pheasant Tragopan

Tying Instructions:

1)    Tie in a strand of gold oval tinsel and wrap it up the hook five times, creating a     tag. 2)    Tie in a single golden pheasant tippet. 3)    Pre-cut a piece of gold Mylar tinsel and select an orange blue-eared pheasant     feather.  Fold the feather fibres rearward, in preparation of step five. 4)    Dub the orange seal fur in a dubbing loop. 5)    Make two turns with the dubbing loop, securing the ends of the Mylar and blue-    eared pheasant with the wraps of the dubbing loop.  Let them dangle freely, while     continuing to wrap the dubbing loop forward ¾ up the hook. 6)    Rib the tinsel forward through the dubbing, using a pin to free any flattened fur.

7)    Wrap the pheasant hackle upwards, alongside the tinsel.

8)     Secure with thread and trim all ends. 9)    Peel a side of a black rhea feather and tie in the tip. 10)    Dub and wrap the red seal fur up the remainder of the shank. 11)    Hackle the black rhea through the dubbing.  You’ll only need to make two or three     wraps. 12)    Sequentially stack and layer three ring neck feathers, flattening the stems with     flat-nosed pliers. 13)    Tie in a pair of tragopan feathers as cheeks. 14)    Whip finish and coat with head cement.

The Five O-Clock Shadow

Materials:

Black thread Small gold tinsel Black polar bear Red ostrich Yellow saddle Black mini flat braid Silver oval tinsel Red tinsel Green tinsel Red polar bear Black rhea Jungle cock

Tying Instructions:

1)    Wrap the gold tinsel ten times up the shank, creating a tag. 2)    Stack in a small clump of black polar bear as a tail. 3)    Conceal the bump from the clipped tail ends with  a strand of red ostrich. 4)    Attach a piece of black mini flat braid, green tinsel, red tinsel, silver oval tinsel     and tip of a yellow saddle feather (one side peeled). 5)    Wrap the black flat braid first, then the green and red tinsel, and lastly the yellow     saddle. 6)    Counter rib over all of step five’s materials with the silver oval tinsel. *This is to slow the wear and tear of the rib during casting. 7)    Dub in the under fur of red polar bear or dubbing material of choice and make two     turns. 8)    Stack the strands of a black rhea feather all around the shank (top, bottom and     sides). 9)    Tie in a pair of jungle cock cheeks. 10)    Whip finish and coat with head cement.

Purple Whisper

Materials:

Black thread Gold oval tinsel Silver oval tinsel Turquoise silk Blue rhea Natural Amherst Purple marabou Cerise marabou Purple ring neck pheasant

Tying Instructions:

1)    Wrap the gold oval tinsel forward ten times, creating a tag. 2)    Tie in the turquoise silk, silver tinsel, gold tinsel and peeled blue rhea feather. *To peel rhea, pinch the strands at the tip of the feather and carefully pull down.      The membrane should separate from the stem with all its fibres intact.  This gets     easier with practise but is well worth a few casualties to be able to have such a     remarkable hackle, free of the bulky stem. When tying the peeled rhea onto a shank, wrap the membrane as though it were     the stem of a regular feather. 3)    Wrap the silk upwards and rib the tinsels atop the silk, side by side up the shank. 4)    Palmer the rhea up the hook, laying it directly beside the previously ribbed tinsel. 5)    Pick out a purple marabou feather that isn’t overly plumy.  Choose a stringy     feather over a fuzzy one to guarantee a crisp appearance. *When buying packages of marabou, take a moment to take the feathers out of the     package and find the package with the least plumy fibres.  These affordable     feathers can often double as rhea or blue-eared pheasant in many patterns. 6)    Tie in the tip of the marabou feather, fold its fibres rearward, and wrap it forward     several times. 7)    Do the same with a cerise marabou feather. 8)    Tie in an over-wing of three overlapping purple ring neck pheasant feathers.      Flatten the stems with flat-nosed pliers to avoid them from rolling. 9)     Tie in two strands of natural Amherst on either side of the shank, and top with a     pair of jungle cock cheeks. 10)    Whip finish and coat with head cement.

Wizard of Oz

Materials:

Turquoise silk Silver oval tinsel Blue-eared pheasant (dyed blue) Blue-eared pheasant (dyed purple) Bright green ostrich Jungle cock Blue ostrich Purple silk Hammered silver tinsel Blue tinsel Gold tinsel Green synthetic dubbing Golden pheasant

Tying Instructions

1)    Tie in turquoise silk and silver oval tinsel.  Wrap the silk forward half an inch and     rib the tinsel on an angle atop the silk. 2)    Tie in the tip of the dyed blue blue-eared pheasant and fold both sides of the     feather fibres rearward, while wrapping it forward. 3)    Stack the green ostrich, spreading it evenly around the diameter of the shank. 4)    Tie in a pair of jungle cock cheeks. 5)    Conceal cut off ends with a strand of blue ostrich. 6)    Tie in the strands of purple silk, hammered silver tinsel, blue tinsel and gold     tinsel. 7)    Wrap the purple silk towards the hook’s eye, and rib all three tinsels upwards on     an angle, making sure they’re wrapped side by side. 8)    Dub in a small amount of synthetic green dubbing. 9)    Repeat step three. 10)    Repeat step two with the purple blue-eared pheasant feather. 11)    Repeat step four. 12)    Tie in an over wing of two overlapping golden pheasant feathers.  Flatten the     stems with flat-nosed pliers to avoid them from rolling. 13)    Whip finish and coat with head cement.

For The Fly Gals- Part 2

So, here's the way I see it.....

Websites and magazines hold regular "Women Fishing" photo contests that seem to create a larger stir amongst the male portion of the angling community than the truly dedicated female population.

I would hope that one would be able to read between the lines of my writing enough to see that the hype and immaturity of "silicone induced, bikini babes holding bait caught fish", make me gag a little every time.

Now, listen to me carefully....

I am not against silicone, nor am I against bait caught fish....What I am against are the contest entries of legitimate, hard-core, bad-ass fishing "chicks" who don't get half the credit they deserve because they're overshadowed by a model whose primary purpose in the photo was to serve as boat decor.

This said, I would like to announce a 'contest' (though it's truly more of a statement with a hoody as a bonus).

Winner receives this Fly Gal zip-up hoody in desired size.

"Contest" Description:

Send in a photo of you on the water (or of something super cool you've photographed while fishing), with a brief description of what it is, who you are, and why you're proud to be a bad-ass woman of the sport.

Photos don't need to be strictly fly-fishing related; you'll find no discrimination here to the ladies of the spoons and spinners (though, you know it's my job to try and convert you, so expect some ribbing from me).

Feel free to break away from the usual grip and grins, and don't be shy!

I'll be posting entered photos onto my blog, so please make sure you're sending a photo that you're comfortable sharing.

Contest expires August 31st, and I'll announce the winner that day.

Send photos to april@flygal.ca

Rock on ladies!

I look forward to seeing what you've got!

For The Fly Gals- Part 1

As previously printed in the Canadian Fly Fisher magazine (2008).

I have a confession to make.

I’ve always been a sucker for a woman casting a fly rod.

I can’t help but watch in awe as she casts effortlessly into the cool breeze, gently throwing mends upriver, concentrating on her fly's presentation before stripping the line back in and preparing to cast again.  I try so hard not to stare but, the truth is, I just can’t help myself.

Ade you're sexy as hell babe!

Don’t get me wrong, I love to watch a tight loop cast from just about any angler, man or woman, but there’s just something different about a cast kissed with a feminine touch.

Hello ladies, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is April Vokey and I’m an avid angler and fishing guide in beautiful British Columbia.  Like so many of you, I’ve been bitten and deeply infected by the fishing bug, and, quite willingly, I allow it to consume my life.

Mathew Moisley photo.

My fascination with  fishing began when I was a little girl.  Never having the luxury of a father or grandfather who was really serious about fishing, the origins of my obsession with the sport has always been a mystery both to me and my family.

Nevertheless, my parents, always huge supporters of quality family time, were more than happy to take my sister and me to spend the day at the water, picnic basket and mini fishing rods in tow.  Although, as children, we had great fun casting worms and wedding bands, it wasn’t until I was old enough to drive, that I was able to take myself fishing and truly learn the ways of the river.

My first car; the Blue Beast (Buick Skylark).  This thing got me to the river and back and was the most reliable fishing buddy I had for a long time.

Getting started was intimidating.  I had a lot of questions and, with no one to answer them, I made my way to the library and took out every book I could find on different species of fish and methods of catching them.

I learned how they fished in the UK and the habits of countless ocean-dwelling creatures, but remained fairly ignorant about fishing in the Lower Mainland, B.C.  For this, I had to seek help from somebody with experience, so I headed to my local tackle shop.

The guys in the shop were more than helpful and provided me with knowledge about the river that I was interested in fishing, making sure that I was properly equipped.  They set me up with affordable gear, drew me detailed maps, and explained the basics of proper river etiquette.

Off to the river (Damn, BC is awesome!)  Aaron Goodis photo.

Little do they know it, but that was a day I will never forget.  Barriers dropped, and fears were forgotten, as I was welcomed with friendly faces, sincerely interested in showing me how to grow in the sport.  In return, that shop gained a loyal customer, never too proud to ask for advice and always eager to share her reports and experiences.

It is a relationship I strongly urge any aspiring angler to commit to.

As my days on the water accumulated and the years passed, a natural progression began. I found myself being lured by the beauty of the art of fly-fishing..... I longed to cast that fluorescent line with ease, my body flowing gracefully and my fly taunting unsuspecting fish as it swung across the current.

It has always seemed romantic to me, a classic sport as old as time, consisting  merely of a patient angler, several trusted flies, fly rod, spooled reel, and sheer appreciation of the tranquil surroundings and therapeutic songs of nature.

I never could, and never will for that matter, wrap my head around why such a poetic pastime has for so long been pursued primarily by men.

April Vokey photo.

Aaron Goodis photo.

Andrea and Jenna ready to rock 'n roll (Trevor Welton photo).

For the longest time, my friends and family thought I was losing my mind.  Seeing me endure long drives and freezing weather, they knew there must be something extremely unique about this sport that I  continued to stubbornly pursue.

Typical scene of a BC canyon wall.  Looking back now, no wonder my parents freaked....

Even my little sis, Dana, began to understand what all the fuss was about (Steve Morrow photo).

I suppose it was inevitable that I would eventually find myself agreeing to bring some of my close girl friends out with me to share the experiences of a day of catch-and-release fishing on the river.  The outcome proved to be something I’d never experienced before.

As an angler who had always preferred to fish solo or with capable male fishing buddies, I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t slightly concerned as to how the day would unravel.

April and Nicole (Marcel Saring photo).

The truth is, I was completely taken aback by how incredibly enjoyable our time together on the water was.

With conversation not varying much from that we’d exchange over a cocktail on a girls' night out, we easily lost track of time as we enjoyed our freedom and surroundings—hiking along the river bank, searching for that single adrenaline-packed moment.

It was much like taking a yoga class or a cleansing hike with a close friend—the adventure, movement, relaxation and concentration of fishing provided an escape from all the accumulated stresses of work, home, and life in general.  Spending time on the river with these patient, energetic and persistent women, it didn’t take me long to conclude that having a woman fishing buddy was the link that had been missing for me.

Guide Kate Taylor knows what I'm talking about.

Soon, I began to get phone calls and emails from other friends and acquaintances and, before long, I was taking women of all ages with me to experience a sport which so many of them had an interest in but were too intimidated to try.  These women included co-workers, relatives, friends of friends and guiding clients.

My girl Ashley.

Client Sheila.

It’s such a shame that intimidation prevents so many women from participating in fly fishing.  Afraid of lacking the strength and the skills necessary to be a successful angler, a vast majority of women opt to stick with sports more suitable to the physicality of a woman.  This is truly unfortunate, as there is nothing further from the truth than this major misconception.  In actuality, it is a fact that women are better casting students than men.

Giving a lesson.

Ask any reputable fishing guide or casting instructor, and most will agree that women do indeed learn more rapidly than men.

This is not meant as a put-down of the opposite sex, but rather as an observation of how each sex absorbs instruction and how easily they apply it to the task at hand.  Enthusiastic and open-minded, women sincerely listen to constructive criticism, immediately focusing on improving their faults.  Please note that this is not always the case when receiving instruction from one’s significant other, as that can often cause more harm than good.  You all know what I’m talking about!

Women tend to have a more gentle stroke, controlling the fly rod with careful movements, taking special precautions not to overpower it, the way most men do so regularly.

Maintaining the rod tip’s proper path in casting is crucial, and women are more apt in applying that unexaggerated, delicate motion, in which the tip is prevented from being forced too far back or too far forward on either side of the angler, enabling a sweetly loaded rod which delivers a beautifully timed, tight loop. With the realization that brute strength plays no part in the process of becoming a great caster, the intimidation factor is soon overcome and forgotten about completely, being replaced with the joy of perfect, effortless motion.

Right Shannon?  (Rod Vanderlinde photo)

As a firm believer in equal opportunity and a fishing buddy to both men and women, I have spent countless days on the water with a wide ranging assortment of anglers.

Over the years, some days have proven to be undeniably frustrating, and others, unbelievably picture-perfect.  However, my favourite days are just indescribably……..girly?

Yup!  With bright pink hats and manicured nails, I am self-admittedly a ‘girly-girl’.  I’m simply a woman who likes to play in the water, rather than a diva or a feminist—a serious angler in touch with my feminine side, who spends all of my free time chasing fish in the hope that they, in turn, will chase my fly.

You can be certain that there are more of us out there than you might think there are, and with time, as each woman begins to break through the subtle barrier of what has been up until now a ‘boys only club’, we are slowly finding each other and establishing our own niche.

Sarah Exton is feisty with her red nails!

Although it's only natural that there will be days when an intense conversation with a female fishing companion is the last thing you wish to engage in while angling, I strongly encourage all women to make some effort to get to know other fellow female anglers in their area, as these fishing relationships do have a lot to offer.  If meeting a stranger isn’t for you, don’t give up, chances are that one of your close girlfriends or co-workers are probably interested in having you take them out for a day or two.  Whether it be meeting someone in your area, or introducing that lovable but completely novice friend who wants to accompany you (remind them that instructional magazine articles for beginners are not gender specific), your local tackle shop should be able to assist you.

A local angler, Radine, who has blessed me with a smile on more than one occasion.

A day of fishing with a female friend is like nothing else, as it forges a bond that only another woman can fully comprehend.  Women speak the same language, and with this advantage in communication, we are able to teach and learn from each other with great ease.  Accepting each other’s flaws and idiosyncrasies, there is an inherent comfort level between us that makes the day so special.

As in Sex and the City (only without the sex and without the city), we giggle as we hike, discussing relationships and life, never fretting about how much we are sweating or how often we have to use the bushes as a bathroom.  It’s a perfect partnership.

A day of fishing full of laughs, girl talk and serious misbehaving....

We hurt from laughing the next day.

Alright Fly Gals, unite!

Stay tuned for a chance to win a free hoody in part 2 of 'For The Fly Gals'.