April Vokey: As Hard Core as They Come

April Vokey’s growing popularity has just as much to do with her success as an angler as it does with the fact she is an anomaly in a male-dominated industry.  While a female angler is a rarity, a successful female guide is even more so—especially in the rough-and-tumble world of steelhead anglers.

However, Vokey’s guiding business, Fly Gal Ventures, which she started when she was 23-years-old, continues to be a success.  Even more popular are her speaking obligations and fly-tying workshops.  On a recent stop Traverse City, Michigan, after someone called her out for using blue heron feathers, a protected species, she proclaimed, “I got it after picking off the maggots,” so to be clear that she did not kill the bird.  The comment earned instant approval from the guys questioning her commitment to the sport.  “Yeah, you are hard core,” one observer said.