April lives in British Columbia and is an avid angler and steelhead, salmon and trout guide. She was born with an unexplainable passion for fishing. As a young girl she coaxed her father into going fishing and by the age of sixteen, when she was old enough to drive, she was devoting all of her free time to her local rivers. She is passionate about Spey casting to wild steelhead, the environment and tying Salmon/Steelhead flies. She has made it her mission to encourage and introduce aspiring anglers to the sport, in hopes that it will bring them as much pleasure as it has brought her. She takes pride in being an eternal student of fly-fishing and an active conservationist. In 2007 she founded B.C. based guiding operation, Fly Gal Ventures, where she presently guides and instructs anglers on some of B.C.’s best steelhead destinations. Fly Gal’s trips and events can be found at www.flygal.ca April is a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor and fly-fishing columnist. She is the Canadian field editor for Chasing Silver magazine and the steelhead columnist for Fly Fusion magazine. Her works and photos can also be found in Fly Fisherman Magazine, Salmon Trout Steelheader (STS), Field and Stream, Canadian Fly Fisher, Flyfishing and Tying Journal and several other international publications. April sits on the board of directors for the Steelhead Society of BC and the BC Federation of Fly Fishers. She is the founder and director of the popular fundraiser, Flies for Fins (www.flies4fins.com), and in 2011 she proudly joined the Patagonia ambassador team, where she continues to assist in the design and direction of an upcoming women’s line of fishing apparel.
FD: When did you start fly fishing? Could you tell us about your memories from those times?
AV: I began fishing on a near daily basis upon getting my driver’s license at 16 years old… I had fished from the age of 3, but didn’t find myself alone on the river until I was old enough to drive. I remember as a kid seeing a heavy, fresh Chinook salmon that had perished while trying to wrestle through the canyon… my parents explained that large fish had to make their way through the 30 foot wide river. It was then that I pieced together that I had a fair chance of catching such a monster.Fishing gave me independence and helped me to find myself, bringing me closer to nature and adventure. I was drawn to the water first and the fish second… That has yet to change.
FD: What is your favorite freshwater species? Why?
AV: No question. BC steelhead. Why? Because they are wild, untamed, angry and unruly. I understand these fish and they will never fail to make my heart pound as they fight for everything they stand for. They were my first love and will likely be my last.
FD: What is your favorite saltwater specie? Why?
AV: Permit. Because they are so cruel to me, and I love it. Those tails…. Gah, those tails….
FD: When did you become a professional fly fishing guide? How?
AV: I started guiding when I was 22 (I’m 29 now). I guided for a large operation in the Fraser Valley for sturgeon/salmon. When I decided I could give my clients more of a memorable experience, I began my own guiding operation at Fly Gal.
FD: What’s the secret behind your perfect classic salmon flies?
AV: Lol! Mine!? Oh no… they are far from perfect. I tie steelhead/salmon flies to fish, to frame them would be an eye-sore. I need to give credit where credit is due for perfect salmon flies and it’s not anywhere near my vise.
FD: When you visit new waters: Do you prefer to be guided or fish on your own?
AV: This depends if I need a boat or not. As a guide myself, I respect good guides… however, if I had it my way, I’d fish on my own. That’s largely the reason why I fish; to be alone… it’s no disrespect in any way. A good guide put me into my first permit, however, and I will never forget chasing those tails with him…
FD: You are an FFF certified fly casting instructor. Did you have to practice and study a lot?
AV: Sure did! It was great! I learned a ton about casting mechanics, as well as the language to help cure casting errors. I’m working on getting my THCI at this time to allow me to teach Spey instruction.
FD: How much weight do you bear to the cast in the general equation of a complete angler?
AV: This truly depends on the fishery. For the two fisheries that I am passionate about, the cast is quite important. For steelhead, distance is often an advantage, whereas in the saltwater, accuracy is vital. I believe that there is too much emphasis and snobbery towards “who casts better than whom”, and while I would like to see that minimized, I will defend that a decent cast is an angler’s partner when it comes to targeting most fish.
FD: Two handed rods have become very popular worldwide. When did you started using them and how do you like them?
AV: I started casting a double handed rod almost ten years ago. They are miraculous for achieving additional distance, especially in the rugged coastal mountains of BC where a back-cast isn’t given much (if any) room.They are kind to my often aching back and I find myself applying “Spey” techniques to my single-hand rod as well.
FD: You have been travelling all over the world fishing for several years. A) Which are your favorite fresh and saltwater spots? B) Could you tell us some of your funniest memoirs from your trips? C) Any very risky situation you’ve been into?
AV: That is a very full question…A) Freshwater is British Columbia (if I told you all my secret spots, I’d have to hunt you down). ;) Saltwater is the Seychelles. B) Funniest memories would likely entail something inappropriate and will have to wait for another day. C) Risky situations? Of course, every day. That’s the best part about it. I don’t fish to relax… I never have. If there aren’t rough rapids, lurking bears or creeping cougars then it’s simply not as much fun for me. I fish for the adventure. The fish are my reward for surviving all the predators that stalked me while I was busy stalking. Ironic, isn’t it?
FD: Flies for Fins is a great initiative. How did you start it? How can people help?
AV: I started Flies for Fins one night while I was lying on the couch with a broken foot. My mind was racing aimlessly and I had a myriad of ideas knocking on my mind. That same night I made an announcement that I was launching “Flies for Fins” and the rest was history. Up until recently it’s been a one-man show and the funding came slow… regardless, Flies for Fins has made near $25,000.00 and with added assistance/expansion, we expect these numbers to multiply. People donate or buy (what has been donated) and the money all gets donated to a specific project at hand. It’s very simple, yet effective. Please visit flies4fins.com for details on how you can help our next project on the Skeena River.
FD: Fly gal is your guiding company. Could you tell us about the fishing trips you are offering?
AV: We specialize in steelhead and salmon trips. Some of BC’s most exclusive and pristine fisheries such as the Dean and Skeena systems are on our list of direct rivers that we guide on. We work directly on these rivers, rather than act as booking agents for them.
FD: Which spots and species are in your bucket list?
AV: Bolivia golden dorado .Seychelle giant trevally. Alaskan pike.
FD: Do you consider important to know about fly fishing history? Why?
AV: I do. I believe that history is important in most any passion or sport… it adds a whole new appreciation to the learning process. The beauty of it is that we live history every day in fishing; while many aspects have changed, most of what we do today has been either reinvented or re-used.
FD: What does fly fishing mean for you?
AV: It means a modern day escape to truly live as a human being… away from the glare of computer screens and deafening electronics. It’s one of the few final ways that we can actually experience life as we are supposed to; wild, enlightened, hopeful and free… stalking and hunting, thankful for the little things that we so often forget in the concrete jungle.
FD: Thanks a lot April!
