April Vokey explains the perfect partnership
April Vokey will be teaching girls/women the art and philosophy of fly fishing in Iceland in the coming month.
Late next month, female fly fishermen will have the pleasure of April Vokey‘s girls school on Midfjardara (one of our listed rivers). April is a 26 year old Canadian woman who, despite her young age, has vast experience as a self educated fly fisherman and fisihing guide. She also has a bussiness venture, which can be seen on www.flygal.ca. We asked Vokey for a short interview, and got it.
So, who are you?
“I am a 26 year old woman from British Columbia, Canada who has made it my mission to open the door of fishing to people of all ages, races and levels of experience. Without the aid of a fishing father or boyfriend, I have taught myself most everything I know about the sport, including how to cast both a single and double handed (Spey) rod, tie classic Atlantic Salmon patterns and extensively understand applicable fisheries.”
When and how did you get going?
“I started fishing when I was four. 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.
April showing her skills with a single handed fly rod.
A 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!”
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 at age 16, 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?..
What was your most memorable moment on the river?
“It was the middle of the winter several years ago, and fresh snow laced the mountains. With cold weather comes slightly less aggressive fish. I made a long cast into the sweeping run and waited for a slight pluck on my fly. To my amazement, my line was ripped out of my hand with the aggression of a shark! The fish was calm and rolled in front of me nonchalantly. He was huge, most certainly over 40 inches!!!
Indulging in her beloved Spey casting.
My heart raced fast and I fumbled to get my hand on my fly reel. I went to turn the handle and it was frozen! Needless to say, I was in such shock that I didn’;t even think to dip the frozen chunk of metal into the water to defrost, and my once in a lifetime fish snapped off. That was the only fish in history that dropped me to my knees, crying and cursing like a crazy woman. I went back the next day for him, and was rewarded with a huge doe. She was a beauty, almost 20 pounds, but nothing compared to the big boy from the day before. That was definitely my most memorable momen.”
What aspects of fly fishing do you Iike the most?
“I personally prefer Spey fishing to any other method of fishing because I love the romance of it, the finesse it requires, and most of all, the feeling I get when I hook a fish on a fly that I’;ve created. Casting tight loops gives me entertainment when my fly isn’;t in the water. This way I enjoy myself every single second that I am out on the water! There is always room for improvement and fly-fishing constantly keeps me challenged.”
What about your company?
“I started Fly Gal Ventures, www.flygal.ca two years ago, with hopes of appealing to a younger generation and, of course, women. Women are such naturals when it comes to fly-fishing and I felt that a lot of ladies just needed another woman to put it in their face. We focus on creating a genuinely unique experience that is so much more than the typical “get ‘em in, get ‘em out” companies that are out there. We keep it fun, and show beginners that fly-fishing is no longer about having to be a rich eighty year old man with too much time on his hands.”
What do you base your teaching and tutoring on?
“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.
Taming a big one.
In actuality, it is a fact that women are better casting students than men. 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.
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.”
