I have been blessed with good friends….without those, really, what else do we have?
Between Andrea Charlton (dear friend and patient April survivor) and Colby (the love of my life), I am one lucky girl….
Thanks Andrea. I love you…..
(Ron Hjorth photo)
….To all.
And to the rest of us who are playing for the other team this year (don’t worry, you’re not alone), let us find love with that special someone who lets us down regularly, plays cruel and finicky games, and has an eye for shiny pretentious things….our lover, friend and foe…..the steelhead.
(Mathew Moisley photo.)
Alright, alright….
I hear you…..I’ve been chuckling to myself all morning as I am slowly realizing that I know some of the guys who I quoted on my last blog.
The kicker? They’re guys that I like….Guys I sincerely like.
I’ve been a waitress long enough to know that women can be just as cheeky. I will argue though to the ends of the Earth that they aren’t quite as vulgar and they certainly don’t go out of their way to voice themselves online, or anywhere other than a group of friends for that matter….nonetheless, I know what’s said on a girls night out.
Anyhow, fair is fair.
You win….
Off to the river! It’s Sunday baby!
Ape.
Dear God,
If I have to gag at one more ‘fish of the week’ picture of a topless fruitcake, I’m going to have to make sure my lunch is damn good so it tastes half decent the second time round.
Is this seriously what grown men do with their time? (Alas, most of you are not this pathetic and I apologize in advance for those who may be offended.) But really, the whole forum mentality of “I did her” is just so embarrassing….
Reality Example….
***Photo of a hot babe weighing in at maybe 115 lbs***
“How in the hell did you get a picture of my girlfriend?”
Suckit “Thaaaaarrrr she blows!”
sideshow “I think I did her”
Tiger Woods “Dang I like an arched back. It makes me look right past the cottage cheese on that butt cheek.”
Richard Cranium “I wonder what she was really holding in her hand?”
BBT “looks like she just felt some skeet hit her back”
psj “Do you think it was a cock?”
echinsu_ocha “There’s nothing wrong with that!”
Hillary Clinton “..lol nice !”
Tom G. “Enjoy my sloppy seconds!”
Dunkin MaCockinya “there must be something sticky between her shoulders…
I didn’t think I could still reach that far.
Glad we’re finally out of the waders, there such a cliche and in this case they are just in the way.”
fishhead “Sista Satan!”
salmotrutta If it weren’t for the Rogue Angels and Fly Fisher Girl I think I’d lose all faith.
Anyhow, seeing as the response we had in our last photo contest was incredible, I figured I’d announce a “Fly Gal of the Week” photo post.
Yep, this one’s just for fun but I figured it’s a nice break from the “shameless promotion” (for those out there who have forgotten that this is in fact a blog attached to a business website meant for exactly that….business….with a touch of spice and opinion.)
: )
So, if you’d like to have your photo posted next week and keep me from recycling my lunch, I invite you to email me your photos to april@flygal.ca
Did I mention I’m back in BC?! Yeeoowww! The Vedder is about to be menaced…..
Hope to see you on the water,
Ape.
I would say I’m a fairly honest individual.
I speak my mind, say it how it is, and am always the first to stand up for what I believe.
Call it inappropriate, call it “unladylike”, call it whatever you will….I’d like to speak about this over-sized elephant in the room that keeps whispering in my ear and tempting me to rant for just a moment.
This ugly elephant is whispering about the notorious fame factor.
This “fame factor” is a topic I have found myself overhearing for the past two years about most anybody who manages to have a light shone on them for longer than ten seconds in the fishing industry.
This said, I would simply like to respond to the caddy conversations of whispering scrutiny and stereotyping that a young blonde woman in the sport so regular overhears about being hungry for fame…..
You see “Fame” can be found in multiple variations.
-There’s the desperate and attention starved ‘make a personal tape of private entertainment’ and then “oops!” let it leak on the net.
-There’s the overly obnoxious loud mouth on your local forum who just has to be heard.
-There’s the reality TV star looking to catch 30 seconds of guitar time while serenading a wealthy bachelor.
-There’s the plastic surgery nightmares who simply can’t help themselves and seemingly forget their bra on every mid-day outing.
There are people trying to be famous virtually everywhere you look.
In my neck of the woods (Vancouver, BC) while growing up in both a world of music students (what I originally went to college for), and a world of a straight up shockingly beautiful crew of model girlfriends, witnessing this strive for fame always made my stomach churn a little.
Hell, I just wanted to fish. Attention from men became boring by the age of 17 and comments based on looks and low-cut tops were nothing short of humorous and mind-numbing.
I pondered why in the world anybody would want fame. To me it only made sense for three reasons.
1) To make a living. (Which undoubtedly is nominal in this industry.)
2) To have people know who you are so they are willing to pay you to do SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE, thus allowing you to do it every day.
3) To inspire others to do right (which in all sincerity feels the best of all three options).
Why anybody would want to be in the public eye for the sole purpose of being the victim of critiquing, judging and God knows what else, I never could quite understand….
So when I made the decision to save my vocal skills for my own personal enjoyment and long car rides, I was ecstatic that I had made the right choice.
For I was going to fish for a living!
There was only one small problem.
I had a mortgage, a truck, and one hell of an appetite for good steak. How on Earth was I to be able to fish all day and still be able to make my payments while doing what I loved?
The answer was simple. I had to find clients who would pay me to take them fishing.
To do this successfully would require marketing….aka trying to get “famous”.
But isn’t this how all successful businesses are supposed to work?
Market wisely, provide quality work and then continue the process until the fishing season is booked?
How then is it different when it’s a young angler looking to excel their business so he/she can find happiness in doing what they love?
For me personally, if fame was really that important I’d be posing in bikini bottoms with my arm covering my bare chest and my hair blowing in the wind.
Perhaps I’d be married to a television producer or maybe standing in line for American Idol.
I can tell you one thing….I wouldn’t have given up my singing career.
So there you have it Mr. Elephant, don’t let the door hit your large gray ass on your way out.
Ape.
It 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!
I remember the first time I ever stepped foot into a Bass Pro Shops store.
Between my initial awe, shock and complete overwhelming nausea, I didn’t know whether to turn left, right or simply around and out the doors.
I was a part-time worker at a small fly shop close to my hometown (Reaction Fly and Tackle in Abbotsford, B.C.) and truly loved the feel of working with a relaxed and tight-knit group of guys who, like me, worked to collect discounted fly gear instead of nominal pay cheques.
Petrified of the industry (not always the most compassionate crew), I was shaking in my boots that word would get out that I had stepped foot into the devil; Bass Pro Shops.
Bass Pro Shops in Calgary.
I muttered as I walked through the aisles, shook my head at the life sized photo of Bob Izumi, bitched to myself that this was the reason fly shops have a hard time making it, and found myself briefly questioning if the cartoon character from King of the Hill was sponsored by Bass Pro and if he even actually fished.
Dave Mercer rocking the stage (he is one seriously funny dude!)
It was an uncanny feeling. I was both incredibly impressed and disgusted at the same time; similar to that feeling of meeting a beautiful man who simply can’t stop saying something stupid.
Ladies, you know what I’m talking about…….
So several years later when (now) friend George Wallace (who consequently works for Bass Pro in Toronto), asked me to participate in a seminar at the new store opening in Calgary, I immediately had my answer; “No.”
The fact that the grand opening fell on my birthday weekend certainly didn’t help matters either.
“I already get enough grief, being who I am as is. There is no way I’m getting involved in this one George. Calgary will have your head, and if you ever think you’ll make it in B.C., you’re wrong.”
Man, was I ignorant. It’s amazing what indoctrination, incorrect influence, and close-minded people will do to one’s opinion.
It’s no secret that I’m one to voice my thoughts (unfortunately), so I sat down to a phone conversation with George to let him know my gut feeling on the whole situation.
“You’ll put the ma and pop shops out of business”.
He was patient and answered me kindly, “This is about inspiring people to love, enjoy and conserve the Great Outdoors! The “Ma & Pa Shops” you speak of will always enjoy the support of their core customer-base . . . no matter the destination, or if you prefer, preference, the overall experience and the success therein will always be defined by the level of customer service.”
“Well, sounds like just a bunch of rich dudes who don’t fish, and promote the sport to the equivalence of a carnival”.
“I’ll try and keep this short; two words for you: Humble Beginnings . . . back in 1972, Bass Pro Shops started out with a mere 8ft of space in the back of a local liquor store. Yup . . . I said it! Since then, Bass Pro Shops has grown into the leading retailer of outdoor recreational products. This didn’t just happen overnight; and, we didn’t get to this point without the clairvoyant vision of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops Founder – an avid angler himself! From the novice angler & hunter to those considered unrivaled in their “game”, including those inducted into the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame, Bass Pro Shops is home to the outdoor enthusiast. Much like yourself, albeit we’d rather be on the water or afield, a big part of Bass Pro Shops’ success has been its commitment to conservation; not just to those that volunteer countless hours of their own time, but to the resource as a whole.”
“There are two things I’d like you to take away from this; it’s paramount that those we support in the field not only be at the top of their game, but ultimately embody the character of Bass Pro Shops. Second, and last, as you said, at the end of the day, it all comes back to inspiring people (young or old) to love, enjoy & conserve the Great Outdoors!”
“You’re geared for the newbie, commercialized, fruity, and way too mainstream….” I caught myself on that one. Too mainstream? Seriously? Did I just say that? When did fishing hold the same standards of couture clothing and underground hip-hop? Wasn’t fishing supposed to be about having fun? Wasn’t I promoting the sport for the sole purpose of getting more people involved? God knows, I don’t do it for the money…….
And “geared for the newbie?” Yeah, so?
If everyone has to start somewhere, doesn’t this just make perfect sense? As an angler advances, they will undoubtedly adopt more advanced recourses, meaning quality fly shops, with quality staff and quality gear. It’s inevitable that as they advance, so will their knowledge of gear, fishing buddies and ultimately, choice shopping locations.
Bass Pro was taking the Joe Blow that holds the light-up spinning rod, and turning their heads, if not only for a second, to witness a fish caught on a fly rod. These same anglers are lost in the aisles of Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart, either unaware of ulterior methods or intimidated by major fly shops who can be frightening to approach.
Giving a tying demo at the Calgary store’s grand opening (Richard Gibson photo).
Either way, they would be bound to be a lost cause.
I would know. See, I was there once too. I was scared to death about stepping foot into a fly shop for fear of looking like a complete fool. If only I knew then what I know now……
It became clear as we chatted, that Bass Pro Shops was the first step for many in a sport that consists of an endless flight of stairs.
One month later, I was on my way to Calgary, eager to step foot into their new Bass Pro. The people there were kind and the customers were excited and sincerely eager to learn what I was doing with my “crazy flying rod”.
The boys behind the scenes were hilarious and nothing like what I figured a multi-million dollar company would be. They laughed, treated each other kindly, and made wise cracks that had me clutching my ribs at times.
Me and Johnny Morris (BPS founder and a pretty cool guy). Richard Gibson photo.
Perhaps the highlight of the show was the infamous Man Tracker. I have never in my life seen so many people line up to get a glimpse of a hot cowboy. In his defence though, there was something sexy about the Sean Connery style man with the rodeo hat.
All the talk of the cowboy had us itching to rip it up on the dance floor surrounded by drunk party girls in mini skirts and leopard hats. So we headed to the local club suitably named “Cowboys” to celebrate my birthday.
I think I’ll leave the rest to your imagination….
All in all it was a fabulous trip.
The shop was magnificent, the staff was more than accommodating, Mercer was hilarious and I had one hell of a birthday.
I’m thinking the next time I walk into a Bass Pro Shops, I just may have an attitude adjustment.
Ape.
When was the last time you closed your eyes and let the sun warm your face? Allowing that fantastic orange glow to trap itself inside your eyelids, forcing you to slow down both your breathing and your mind.
That slight warmth is a true appreciation.
(Aaron Goodis photo)
I have a best friend who regularly forces me to do just that; slow down and appreciate.
Sharing strawberries on the river (Jan Wolff photo).
Last November I fell in love with a small puppy in the pound. His head stuck out with distinctive white markings, and his paws were huge.
Colby at ten weeks old (April Vokey photo).
“He’s going to be big….” They warned me. Half St. Bernard and half coon hound, I fell in love with the mutt, knowing full well that he was about to be adopted into the life so many creatures long for…..an outdoor adventure alongside river banks and evergreens.
Yup, he was going to be a fishing dog, and he was going to be my saving grace, “the glue that holds me together”, as one of my buddies so eloquently put.
So I named the “mutt” Colby, and started his training at ten weeks old.
Boat training (Scott Baker McGarva photo).
(Aaron Goodis photo)
Training gone right. Keeping still while mom looks for fish (Hannah Belford photo).
Yup. Been there before…. (Michael Davidchik photo).
It’s amazing the difference it makes when you are accompanied on the river by someone you love, and even more amazing how much of a difference it makes when they can’t speak English or say something stupid to ruin your day.
(Michael Davidchik photo)
We play in the sand and share strawberries on fallen cedars. He walks me by my pinky finger and gets excited when he hears my reel wind line back in. He has brought a whole new meaning to appreciation in all of it’s most simplest forms. Amazing how those simple forms can often times carry the most impact.
(Matt Moisley photo)
Please take a moment to love and appreciate. Happy Easter.
Ape.
I’m allowing myself ten minutes to remove my tongue from between my teeth and say a little something that has entertained my thoughts for the past six years.
Assumption and I go way back. Way, way back.
High maintenance, made-up, prissy, fake….
My fishing buddies and I always chuckle when the guy who has too much time on his hands feels a strong desire to make a crack about my makeup or color of my hair.
If only they knew the joke was on them….
Enjoying a laugh (Dave Allen photo.)
Truth be told, as a casino cocktail waitress for longer than I care to admit, serving drinks and pretending to care about the pace at which chicken fingers are served, allowed me to fish like a maniac during the day and learn more about fishing faster than the average weekend angler.
Tight shirts, combed hair, manicured nails (I always had fake ones to try and conceal my embarrassingly calloused and rugged fishing hands), and an ‘easy on the eyes’ image were all part of the uniform.
For years I would work until the early morning, only to clock out and head straight to the river for some early morning fishing. Car packed with all my gear, a toothbrush and a small tube of paste, I would drive all night through icy canyons, stopping only for the occasional energy drink, day-old coffee, and consequently, dreaded rest stops.
When my eyes began to feel heavy, I would nap in the lonely bend of a highway pullout until I was snapped back to consciousness by a loud passing semi-truck or obnoxiously honking train.
Hell or high water, I was making it to the river so I could fish all day, before driving all dusk back to work to do it all over again.
Straight from work to the river, crimped hair and all…..(Matt Moisley photo).
There were days I fished with nylons under my breathable waders, and days I fished with rhinestone earrings sparkling in the snow. There were days I reeked like beer and stale perfume, and even more days where mascara flaked my cheeks.
But I didn’t care. I was fishing….. and I didn’t have the time to be bothered with high maintenance facial scrubs, make-up remover or hair elastics.
Ironic, isn’t it?
This said, I still sport mascara, and my hair will always fall into place, but before being so quick to judge that one must be wearing enough paint to place in the finals of America’s Next Top Model, it would be my advice to assume that perhaps there are some women out there who truly just look like they are.
“A what!? What’s a blog?” Man, I felt old having to ask my little sister for the definition.
I always figured I’d stay far, far away from keeping a “blog”.
An online diary filled with updates about my scattered life and sometimes chaotic days on the water…. Hell, it even sounded like a messy word; like some sort of stain or gross spill on a sheet of paper.
But as I miraculously began to gain some knowledge about computers and inevitably, the internet, I soon realized that I am a woman who has a lot of things to say with no one to say them to.
Hmmm. A blog was starting to sound quite interesting….
I suppose an introduction would be fitting right about now, wouldn’t it?
My name is April Vokey and I am a fishing bum who has built my life around this passion.
There are several questions that I find I am asked fairly regularly and would like to address them first and foremost:
April Vokey holding a small but sweet piece of steel (Aaron Goodis photo).
What/Who got you into fishing?
How long have you been fishing for?
What else do you do?
Are you one of those girls from ‘Fishing With Shelley and Courtney’? (Yeah, I really love that one).
I always cringe when the question, “so, what else do you do?” is shoved in my direction.
I especially love it when it’s asked by one of those guys who makes David Beckham look unathletic.
(You know, the good looking guys with the spiky hair and uncomfortably tight shirts who stink of adrenaline? The ones with pecs so huge, I find myself covering my own chest in embarrassment…)
My answer is always the same. I shift feet, turn a funky color, and stammer pathetically trying desperately to think of another interesting sport or hobby that I may have tried once in previous years.
“I studied jazz and classical music in university, and have had a number of roles in musicals…..” I watch their eyes glaze over.
Acting a fool, as usual.
Truth is, I really don’t (and never have done) much of anything else. I fish, I write about fishing, I read about fishing, I tie flies for fishing, I take other people fishing…and I love it.
Onto the next question.
I started fishing when I was three. Dad wasn’t much of a fisherman, though I must give him credit for trying. We trolled worms around the lakes and were equally excited about the bites we missed, as the fish that we caught.
Mom, always got a kick of how fast I could race into shore with a chain full of blood soaked pan-fries.
(*Note to fathers with young daughters: These are the days that your girl(s) will cherish forever. If you don’t already, take her with you on your next outing to the water. Though you may not realize it at the time, you may be starting something truly wonderful!)
Three years old and crazy about fishing already….
As the years passed, our roles began to change, and it was I who was waking up at the crack of dawn to catch the first bite.
By the time I got my drivers licence, there was no hope for me. I spent every waking minute at the river learning about fishing. Lord knows, how many spinning reels I blew up before buying my first bait caster, and consequently, how many bait casters I banged up before buying my first fly rod.
For years I slugged away alone on the river bank, learning how to read water and find sitting fish. These years were filled with innocence, excitement, scares, enlightenment and countless other emotions that turned me into the woman I am today.
I found inner strength and a true sense of independence, all the while meeting some genuinely wonderful people along the way…..
Last question.
Nope, not Courtney.
And certainly far too short to be Shelley.
But while we’re on this subject, my friends call me Ape (as flattering as that may be), and ‘April’ usually means I’m in trouble…..
It’s up to you.
So there you have it. The basics.
NOW!!! I would like to take a moment to utilize this blog for its true purpose. Please read the following:
B.C. Steelhead numbers have been on a steady downwards spiral for far too long than most of us would like to admit. These fish are wild, native, unique, and loved by anglers from all over the world.
I have conveyed a message to all of my fellow anglers, and to anyone else who is willing to listen.
It is as follows:
Listen up!!! This message is for you whether you live in Norway, Oregon or British Columbia….
Our steelhead are suffering and need your help!
I have started a fundraiser called Flies For Fins. I don’t want your money, but I do need some of your time and tying materials.
I am working with Reaction Fly and Tackle, Pacific Angler, Michael and Young Fly Shop, Whistler Fly Fishing and Sea-Run Fly and Tackle to raise money for the Steelhead Society (steelheadsociety.org).
Each location will carry a cork board that is full of steelhead flies MADE BY YOU. These flies will be sold at the shops, where proceeds will be donated to the Steelhead Society. In the middle of each cork board will be a graph that is updated weekly to show how much money had been raised. (I will also update the graph on this blog)
Mailing flies only takes a couple stamps (just make sure that they can be flattened in an envelope.)
This is for a great cause, please choose to take some of your time and flies out of your box for it.
I will have a Face Book page up in the next several days for Flies For Fins, however, we need flies RIGHT NOW.
“Wizard Of Oz” Design and tied by Vokey.
Flies can be shipped to:
8505 Norman Cres.
Chilliwack, B.C.
Canada
V2P 5C6
Feel free to send one fly, or ten! Make them as fancy or as plain as you would like. Please include your name.
Envelope, stamp, fly. It’s that simple.
Please do your part and help us make a difference!
Thank you so much,
Ape.
april