Tomorrow is the beginning of the 2012 trout season here in Ontario and we want to pause to appreciate where we have come from and what lies ahead. We began our 15th year in business last week, we now have a second store in Fergus and this marks our 1,200th post on our blog. Any one of these occasions in our books is worth celebrating but we think the fact that they are all happening at the same time is pretty cool. Frankly, it boggles my mind that I have sat at a computer 1,200 times to type an entry onto this blog but it boggles my mind even more that WILSON’S is now in its 15th year of business. It seems like only yesterday that my parents (both now deceased), the rest of my family and my friends all gathered at our original location in downtown Toronto to celebrate the opening of our fly shop back in April 1998. That said, what completely blows me away is that we now have a second store in Fergus on the banks of the Grand River. To be honest opening a second store in Fergus is something I have dreamed about for years but in the category of “careful what you wish for” it is now a reality and our whole team is scrambling because we didn’t have time to properly prepare for it. In one sense this new store scares the heck out of us but we realize that had we not acted on it as quickly as we did someone else would likely have done so and the opportunity would have been lost – forever. So, after speaking with our families, our customers and our conscience, we took a deep breath and took the plunge. We have not yet resurfaced – and likely won’t for some time – but the shot of adrenalin we have taken through opening our second store in Fergus is keeping us on our toes!

I personally look back on the years since WILSON’S first opened with mixed emotions. Much has happened in those years on both a professional and personal level and to be honest I would not change any of it – even the dark times. I was 35 years old when I decided that I would open the kind of fly shop I wanted to find as someone new to the sport and while I am probably more surprised than anyone that 15 years later we are still around I am also proud of what we have built. I think the only reason why we are still here after the ups and downs we have experienced is simply because it is still enjoyable. If we take a step back we also realize that what makes working in a fly shop enjoyable is all of the customers we meet on a daily basis who share our passion for fly fishing. We realize there are very few people who are able to say they love what they do and we are fortunate to be part of that club.

We have had many people work in the store over the years – both good and bad – and we have learned much from each of them. Some of this learning was related to fly fishing, some of it was related to business and some of it was related to, well, let’s just say it is related to how some people choose to live their lives. Until recently, our friend Eli Garrett held the record for being the longest serving employee of WILSON’S. We appreciate Eli’s loyalty as much as his honesty and hard work and always enjoy seeing him at industry functions. Eli’s record was recently surpassed by Vasilios “Bill” Katraouras who manages our Toronto store. You could not ask for a better person to have behind the counter in a fly shop and Bill’s thoughtful words and actions make being a part of the team at WILSON’S fun.

We truely have a team working at WILSON’S and each one plays an important role in helping make our fly shop a business. Hugo Ma, John Lambert, Danny Desiato and Sheldon Seale are all equally passionate about fly fishing and each brings a special skill set that makes our team better with them on board. To that end, If you are not aware our rogues gallery now has a second chapter in Fergus headed up by Rob Heal who is managing our new store and heading up our new fly fishing guide and education programs. Rob is one of the most respected and well-liked fly fishing guides in Ontario and we are delighted to have him on our team. Working on a full-time basis with Rob is Mike Pratt who is one of those young guys who you want to find in a fly shop. You know the type: knowledgeable, helpful and full of energy. Jay Mowat and our old friend John Hoffman round out the team at WILSON’S Fergus and we are thrilled that they have agreed to join us.

So here we are. 15 years, 1,200 posts and 2 stores later and we all hope that you like what we are doing as much as we like doing it. We hope you agree we are heading in the right direction but we are always open to any helpful advice you may have so please send us an email with any thoughts you want to pass along. We thank you for your ongoing support and wish everyone tight lines this season!

One of the critical ingredients to running a business is having the right people in place. This is especially true in specialty retail and perhaps even more so in fly fishing retail. Unlike a run-of-the-mill retailer that sells, for example, shoes a fly fishing store does not have the luxury of being able to hire someone off the street, giving them a uniform and a name tag and putting them behind the counter to take orders. Customers who walk into a fly shop expect that the person behind the counter will know at least as much about fly fishing as they do – and hopefully more. People expect a level of expertise in fly shops that is frankly tough to find as an employer. Not only do these employees need to know fly fishing they need to know how to sell the product and, most importantly, how to treat customers. People come into a fly fishing store to shop the first time but they come back because they enjoyed their experience. Finding employees who understand the concept that the customer comes first is surprisingly tough in fly fishing retail. We don’t quite know why but in our experience many potential employees who we think are normal, sentient beings undergo a sort of transmogrification when they get behind a sales counter that turns them into complete knobs. Some put it down to the ego that is unfortunately found all too often in fly shops. We attribute it to being just plain stupid and the bad customer service that results is the reason why we have had to let go more than a few people over the years. These people for whatever reason could not grasp the concept that the sun in fact does not shine out of their derrières.

We are fortunate to have a great team in place in our Toronto store that is lead by Vasilios “Bill” Katraouras. Backing up Bill are Hugo Ma, John Lambert, Danny Desiato and Sheldon Seale. They make everyone feel welcome and we are lucky to have them all on our team but these guys can’t be in two places at once and with a second fly shop opening shortly we have been faced with trying to figure out who we can get to help Rob Heal who will be running the new operation under Bill’s guidance.

Well, we have! We are delighted that we have found a second full-time and 2 part-time employees to work alongside Rob in our new Fergus store. In addition, we have added 3 more fly fishing guides to our team all of whom have drift boats. There are temporary signs in the windows of Unit 6 at 105 Queen Street West in Fergus to make people aware that we are opening our fly shop on the banks of the Grand River shortly but the most important issue – having the right team in place – has now been resolved. We will be posting pictures and bios in the coming days as we start to move inventory and fixtures out of our store in Toronto (and my garage at home).

Watch for more details shortly – our team is growing!

We have fly tying classes every other Saturday in the store and WILSON’S is fortunate to have one of the better instructors in the Greater Toronto Area heading up our program. Sheldon Seale is a former President of the Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club, a frequent guest speaker at many industry functions and a great fly tyer! Each class starts at 9:30am and ends at 12:30 pm and the cost is $50 per session. Please note that you must sign up (and pay) at least 3 days before each course.

To sign up for your course or for more information please call the store or go to https://store.canadasflyfishingoutfitter.com/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=5307&category_id=714

I attended a meeting last night of the organizing committee for the 2012 Canadian Fly Fishing Forum – and I walked away from the meeting with a smile on my face. Sheldon Seale has volunteered to chair the Forum and he is gathering a formidable team around him with the single purpose of renewing and growing the Forum. Much is still waiting to be discussed but for the first time in a very long time, I am excited about this show which will be held March 31 – April 1 in 2012.

Please join us this weekend in the Holiday Inn Burlington for the 35th Annual Fly Fishing Forum! Admission is only $10 (each seminar is an additional $17), doors open each day at 8am and WILSON’S will have a booth at the show to promote our 2011 fly fishing education program so please come by to say hello and sign up for our free draw for admittance to our fly fishing school!

Here are some of the seminars you can attend:

BILL SPICER
Bill started fishing more than 35 years ago and after trying flyfishing 25 years ago has never looked back. Bill is an accomplished tyer, author, guide, lecturer and teacher and a FFF certified Master Fly Casting Instructor. Bill is Host of The New Fly Fishing T.V. show and has been a regular writing contributor to the Canadian Fly Fisher magazine with his casting articles. Bill has travelled extensively across North America and fly fished for most species including salt water. Bill is a passionate angler and a fixture on most area streams and symposiums, lecturing and at tying tables.Bill has an intense love for casting but would sometimes rather teach than fish and his easy bgoing nature together with his ability to make his students understand has earned him a reputation as a teacher’s teacher.

Seminars:
Fly Fishing Newfoundland and Labrador for Atlantic Salmon and Giant Brookies (seminars 21 (Sat.) & 28 (Sun.))
This talk will focus on flies, technique and the beauty of these areas. Exciting footage from The New Fly Fisher show will be included in this lecture.

Fighting Big Fish (seminars 25 (Sat.) & 24 (Sun.))
Proper technique is essential for success in fighting big fish. With the aid of footage from The New Fly Fisher show bill will explain the do’s and don’ts of fighting big fish.

JACK IMHOF
Jack is an avid angler and lifelong resident of Ontario. Jack has been fishing in Ontario since he was five years old. And fly fishing since he was seventeen. Jack’s interest in fly fishing has taken him all over Canada and the U.S. as well as England and Argentina. Jack fishes actively for trout, salmon. bass, panfish, pike ans American shad and occasionally musky.

Jack has presented fly fishing shows over the years at many Canadian Fly Fishing shows in Toronto, as well as clubs across Ontario and Canada and has published articles in various magazines. Jack was an aquatic ecologist and research scientist with the Ontario M.N.R. for 30 years ansd for the last eight years has been national biologist for T.U. Canada.Jack’s other hobbies include photography and martial arts.

Seminars:
Prospecting for Trout (seminar 31 (Sat. only))
This presentation will explore the links between geology, stream productivity and distributions. The tools presented can help the knowledgeable angler to prospect for trout around the world and determine the watersheds that have the highest potential for trout.

Natural Tendencies of Rivers (seminar 36 (Sun. only))
Rivers flow and scroll across our landscapes in various forms and patterns. Each stream form creates distinct and unique opportunities for fish. Understanding these natural tendencies of rivers can help the knowledgeable angler read the water and determine what habitat he can expect and where he will likely find fish.

MIKE VERHOEF
Mike has been chasing anything that swims for three decades and is also now entering his eighth season of guiding in S.W. Ontario. Having a number of T.V. appearances and magazine articles to his credit, there is a good chance you will be familiar with Mike’s passion and knowledge of the sport.With his upbeat personality and vast insight we are pleased to have Mike at the Forum again this year. He is always good for sharing an interesting story or two, a few secret fly recipes and coutless photographs capturing his past adventures pursuing fish with a fly.

Seminars:
Is a Two Hander for You? (seminars 1 (Sat.) & 8 (Sun.))
With the recent interest (maybe even craze) in spey or two handed rods, Mike will simplify why you should consider adding one of these weapons to your arsenal. Whether you are experience, a beginner or even just considering using a two handed rod, this seminar will offer you some insight as Mike shares his experiences of introducing numerous folks to a two hander.

Swingin’ for Summer Smallies (seminar 5 (Sat.) & 4 (Sun.))
Not imbibing midstream but a tactic Mike has nick named “swigg’in”. It has something to do with the act of swinging and using a jig fly while pursuing stream smallies and is sure to interest you. Mike will share his insight on the gear needed, the flies used and numerous photos of world class smallies caught using this tactic, which Mike says also works for trout!

STEVE WASCHER
At a very young age Steve sat and watched his father tie dry fly patterns for Western N.Y. and N.W. Pennsylvania on his old Herter’s vice.Soon thereafter Steve began tying himself. Forty five years later, Steve still approaches fly tying with a zealous enthusiasm.He has learned from tyers such as Chris Helm, Oliver Edwards, Mike Martinek Jr. and a host of others and continues to explore the limitless boundaries of the fly tying spectrum that is offered and in addition to being a demonstration tyer has had articles published in numerous magazines.

Seminars:
40 Years of Tying Tips and Tricks (seminars 23 (Sat.) & 26 (Sun.))
Whether you are a new or seasoned fly tyer, Steve has a few tricks that will certainly enhance both your ability to tie better flies and improve the durability of your flies. Steve will utilize both a power point demonstration and a hands-on tying demonstration in order to completely cover all techniques thoroughly. Steve will cover the following techniques; mastering the “parachute dry fly”, “muddled with muddlers”, showing several quick and simple variations to this already great pattern, “midge magic”, Steve will help you take the frustration out of tying small flies. The topics that will be addressed are tailing, hackling and whip finishing.

Spinning Deer Hair the “Wascher Way” (seminars 27 (Sat.) & 22 (Sun.))
As a master of the art of spinning deer hair, Steve will demonstrate a wide array of tying techniques: properly tying in a weed guard, stacking deer hair ( various colours ), spinning deer hair, trimming deer hair and selecting the best materials and deer hair. You’ll surely gain a great deal of knowledge from this unique presentation.

SHELDON SEALE
Sheldon has been fishing all his life and fly fishing for more than 20 years. He is a past president and director of the IWFFC, a long standing member of T.U. and Friends of the Grand River. He has written many articles for the Canadian Fly Fisher magazine and other periodicals. He is an instructor at the Wilson’s fly fishing school and frequently demonstrates and lectures on fly fishing and fly tying at sports shows and clubs. He has fished all over Canada, in the U.S. and Caribbean but, most of all, enjoys introducing the arts and skills of fly fishing to the public.

Seminars:
So you want to go to the Yukon? (seminars 3 (Sat.) & 6 (Sun.))
Going on the trip of a Lifetime is an exciting proposition but where do you go, what do you need to take and how do you get there ? Having just come back from such a trip, let me introduce you to fly fishing the Yukon, what you need to take and your options for getting to the fish there.This seminar will help you plan your trip and make sure you have precisely what you need to tackle the giants of the Yukon.

Knots and Leaders for Special Conditions (seminars 7 (Sat.) & 2 (Sun.)) – was “Practical knots for the fly angler”
The single most important connection between you and your fish is a knot ( or two or three ) In this seminar, I will introduce the angler to a set of knots for every occasion and special condition. This will be a hands-on program with every audience member tying along. No Bimini Twist or Ligature Knots. These are simple but effective knots and, from arbor to shock tippet, this will help insure your knot is not the weakest link.

TREVOR NOWAK
Trevor is a fisheries biologist living in Campbell River B.C. with his wife and fishing partner, Erin. Trevor was born and raised in Southern Ontario, but moved out West When he was 18 to study natural resource conservation at the University of B.C. When he was 8 years old, he learned to fly fish for brookies and Browns in the small tributaries of Georgian Bay near his parent’s farm in Grey County. His father Wally, played a crucial role in developing Trevor’s Interest in the sport by teaching him that skipping class or failing to Complete homework assignments was fine, so long as they both got to go fishing.

Trevor has guided anglers in B.C.’s central interior and the Canadian Arctic. He has been manager and head guide at Plummer’s Tree River Lodge in Nunavut for eight seasons. While his fly fishing Roots remain in Southern Ontario, Trevor has become fond of pursuing northern Salmonid species such as lake trout and Arctic char. At home in Coastal B.C. , he has shied away from chasing flagship species such as steelhead and salmon, choosing instead to pursue resident cutthroat trout, bull trout and Dolly Varden char.

Seminars:
B.C.’s Other Hatch (seminars 11 (Sat.) & 18 (Sun.))
The freshwater portion of the Pacific Salmon’s life. The spawning migration of Pacific salmon plays a vital role in the health and survival of riparian ecosystems. Resident trout and char are just a few of the many organisms benefiting from the freshwater portion of the Pacific salmon’s lifecycle. Anglers who recognize this phenomenon can be very successful in bringing lots of big trout and char to the net. Trevor will summarize the important biological role that salmon play in freshwater ecosystems. In addition Trevor will review fly patterns and techniques anglers use to catch trout and char in salmon-bearing streams.

Feather Throwing for Lakers (seminars 15 (Sat.) & 14 (Sun.))
Fly patterns and techniques for lake trout. Despite the fact that lake trout are one of the most widespread game fish species in Canada and can reach weights in excess of 30 lbs., they are often overlooked by fly anglers. Years of guiding in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories has taught me that anglers are overlooking a species worthy of targeting with the “ long rod “ This seminar will cover life history, fly patterns and techniques for these amazing and diverse char.

LYNE TRUDEAU
Fishing has been part of Lyne’s summer Activities for a long time, especially cod fishing and digging for clams on family Vacations on the beaches of New Brunswick. On two fishing trips out West and in the Territorities, she carried a fly rod along with spinning gear but only caught fish on the spinning gear. On returning to trout Fishing in Quebec, she improved her fly fishing to gain that thrill that Spinning simply could not provide.

Lyne joined the Montreal Fly Fishing Club ( MMM ) in 1997 and quickly learned how to properly handle a fly rod and to tie flies. Since then, fly tying has become a real passion for her. Lyne has been on the club’s executive board in recent years and has been repeatedly invited to the Quebec-Granby Forum as an elite tyer where she participated in various activities and presentations, promoting her club’s activities. Lynne has written three articles on the Atlantic Salmon for the French Saumons Illimites magazine and has twice won Bronze medals in the World Salmon Fly Tying competition.

In 2010 her club joined with the Montreal Breast Cancer Society to raise money, with club members tying all types of pink flies and demonstrating fly tying in sports shops and shows. The project was a financial success and it was for this project that Lynne created the “Pink Lady Amherst” Fly.

Lyne will be our Forum Banquet guest speaker with an Atlantic Salmon presentation, as well as being one of our guest tyers for the Showcase of Fly Tyers.

WILLIAM GERRARD
William has been fly fishing for over 25 years . During that time, he’s enjoyed catching warm water and cold water species in Ontario and Quebec, but has also fisher further from home including Alberta, New Brunswick, Scotland, Ireland, England, the U.S. and Cuba.

William is a recognized fly tying instructor and has taught people of all ages how to master the art of fly tying. In 1999 William was manager of the Fly Fishing Canada Youth team at the International Fly Fishing Tournament in Ireland and since 2002 has organized the annual Winter Hatches Fly Tying Symposium.

Having developed an interest in knot tying as a youngster through Scouting, William began making his own leaders not long after he started fly fishing.He has a no- nonsense approach to knots and leaders; “ time spent fussing with leaders is lost fishing time.A few good knots that can be tied quickly will satisfy most fly fishing situations”. William’s workshop should help take the complexity out of fly fishing knots and leaders.

Seminar:
Leaders and Knots for Beginners (seminar 33 (Sat.) & 38 (Sun.))
Whether you’re a newcomer or you already have some fly fishing experience, figuring out line-to-leader-to-fly connections can be a daunting exercise.

JOHN VALK
The owner of Grindstone Angling and Outfitters, John has fly fishing for more than 40 yrs and guiding since he opened Grindstone in 1993. He can teach you anything from the beginning levels of casting To advanced stages of double hauling for distance or the right presentation To fool any wary trout or steelhead. In 1995 John introduced the first driftboat to the great rivers of Ontario. He spends over 200 days a year On the water and can work any casting situation to produce a positive outcome for his clients or students. John is also a professional licenced Guide in British Columbia and Alberta ans chases trout and migratory species all over Canada. His experiences in fly fishing have taken him from the great Atlantic Salmon rivers of the East to the Steelhead rivers in the West, and south for the mighty Tarpon and Bonefish.

Seminars:
Flyfishing the Trout Streams of Southern Ontario (seminars 13 (Sat.) & 16 (Sun.))
This session will be an informative presentation on the location of trout waters throughout southern Ontario, included will be the species by stream or river and some access points. Included will be the methods and technique for best opportunities with an inclusion of hatches and fly patterns.

Thinking Outside the Box – Southern Ontario Alternative Species (seminars 17 (Sat.) & 12 (Sun.))
Southern Ontario boasts some of the best fishing in the world for multiple species. This presentation will cover some of those species (other than trout) that the fly angler can target for their enjoyment. Locations, access points fly patterns and methods will all be discussed or shared with the attendees.

IAN COLIN JAMES
Ian was the first guide on the Grand River and at the 2006 Canadian Fly Fishing Championships on the Grand River he coached the Les Chiens d’Eau team to a silver medal. Ian is well known for his razor sharp humour and his down-to-earth fly-fishing methods. His classes are guaranteed to be both educational and entertaining. With almost four decades of fly fishing under his belt, Ian knows his stuff. Take his beginner fly-tying class and you won’t be disappointed. If you took his fly-tying class last year, take it again and you will probably pick up a few more pointers. Ian is the club pro at the prestigious Franklin Club near Mount Albert.

Seminar:
Beginner Fly Tying (seminar 35 (Sat. only))
Learn to tie your first fish-catching flies with Ian Colin James, and his highly trained assistants. Considered by many to be one of the top fly-fishing guides and fly-tying instructors in North America, Ian has been teaching fly tying for 29 years, so you know he has learned an instructional trick or two. Well-known for his “no guff” approach to teaching fly tying, and his quick Scottish wit, Ian will have you turning out productive flies for Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Carp, Steelhead and Salmon in no time. As usual Ian and his cohorts “Madison Avenue” Jack Bramm, Steve “Epoxy” Hunt, William “The Hatchling” Gerrard and Bruce “The Vise Guy” Rattray, will be running the class without a safety net, a script and more importantly a back-up plan.
You will tie 5 patterns: The Bellwood Caddis, The Puke Fly, The Baby Doll, The Dog Nobbler and a Cat’s Whisker.

All necessary tools and materials are provided. This session is limited to 35 persons and fills up quickly; book early to avoid missing out!

ELLIOTT DEIGHTON
Elliott has over 30 years of fly fishing and fly-tying experience and is an award winning tyer and instructor whose passion lies in spinning deer hair bass bugs, using synthetics and tying salt water flies. He is also an FFF certified fly casting instructor as well as an outdoor writer. In addition to the Izaak Walton Flyfishing Club publications, his work has appeared in Ontario Out of Doors and the Canadian Fly Fisher magazines.

Seminar:
Fly Casting for Beginners (seminar 43 (Sat.) & 44 (Sun.))
A beginner’s introduction to fly casting covering overhead casting, roll casting, and side arm casting with an emphasis on line control for stream fishing. This double session will be held outdoors, rain or shine, and equipment will be provided.