5 years ago, half way through the 6 unexpected years I spent in southern Africa I began fly fish guiding for Tigerfish on the Okavango River in Botswana. It was a dream come true to start guiding, but more than a dream to be guiding over 16,000 kilometres from where I grew up.
I had an amazing head guide during the 3 seasons I worked there. John van den Berg of Mpafa Travel taught me more than I could have imagined I'd ever know about the Okavango, it's fish and wildlife. It was some of the best times of my life, and those memories will never fade.
2 years ago I was forced to come back to Canada as the hip problems I grew up with came back to haunt me. It was time to get them taken care of again.
I initially had one replaced late 2012 and thought I could manage with just that. Unfortunately, having only one hip done put me horribly off balance and gave me major back problems forcing me to leave a guiding job in the Spatsizi Wilderness and having to cancel my last opportunity to return to guide on the Okavango for Tigerfish.
It's been a very long and tough physical and emotional process, but March 5th, 2014 I had my second hip replaced, and can finally start to look forward.
On my 28th birthday, 6 days after the procedure, I was back home laying on my bed, when our neighbour from a few houses down came by for a visit. Bob Hull and his wife Jill have run a fly fishing operation on the Bulkley River for Steelhead for a number of years called Steelhead Excurisions.
Bob came by not only just to chat, but to offer me a job guiding with him this year on the Bulkley River. I had to think over a few things, but later called him back to say I'd take the job.
For over half my life I always thought it'd be cool to be a fly fishing guide. And that dream came true 16,000 km away from where I am sitting writing this. However, as fate would have it things have come full circle and this fall I will be guiding here based out of my home town of Smithers BC, Canada. I will also be returning to guide in the Spatsizi July and August.
I am incredibly grateful for those who helped me get to where I am despite the physical challenges I've faced.
Major thanks to John at Mpafa travel, as well as Billy Labonte and the Collingwoods at the Spatsizi Wilderness Lodge.
I had an amazing head guide during the 3 seasons I worked there. John van den Berg of Mpafa Travel taught me more than I could have imagined I'd ever know about the Okavango, it's fish and wildlife. It was some of the best times of my life, and those memories will never fade.
2 years ago I was forced to come back to Canada as the hip problems I grew up with came back to haunt me. It was time to get them taken care of again.
I initially had one replaced late 2012 and thought I could manage with just that. Unfortunately, having only one hip done put me horribly off balance and gave me major back problems forcing me to leave a guiding job in the Spatsizi Wilderness and having to cancel my last opportunity to return to guide on the Okavango for Tigerfish.
It's been a very long and tough physical and emotional process, but March 5th, 2014 I had my second hip replaced, and can finally start to look forward.
On my 28th birthday, 6 days after the procedure, I was back home laying on my bed, when our neighbour from a few houses down came by for a visit. Bob Hull and his wife Jill have run a fly fishing operation on the Bulkley River for Steelhead for a number of years called Steelhead Excurisions.
Bob came by not only just to chat, but to offer me a job guiding with him this year on the Bulkley River. I had to think over a few things, but later called him back to say I'd take the job.
For over half my life I always thought it'd be cool to be a fly fishing guide. And that dream came true 16,000 km away from where I am sitting writing this. However, as fate would have it things have come full circle and this fall I will be guiding here based out of my home town of Smithers BC, Canada. I will also be returning to guide in the Spatsizi July and August.
I am incredibly grateful for those who helped me get to where I am despite the physical challenges I've faced.
Major thanks to John at Mpafa travel, as well as Billy Labonte and the Collingwoods at the Spatsizi Wilderness Lodge.
