By James Snell
reporter@thefreepress.ca
The Elk River Valley is on the threshold of fall. With the changing season, Troy Sapara, an employee with ConocoPhillips, has begun a new journey by taking up fly fishing.
Sapara was found casting a large yellow dry fly in the Elk River near the boat launch in Fernie.
Clusters of fallen leaves drifted past as he stood in the current.
“This is my first year fly fishing,” he said. “My favourite part is just getting out in nature and enjoying the views.”
Sapara has been trying hard to land fish.
“I haven’t caught any big ones yet,” he explained. “I’m from Saskatchewan and this is a way different type of fishing. I’ve been working two weeks on, and two weeks off, so this is what I do in my free time.”
Sapara is slowly learning the biology of the river.
“There are bull trout, and a few other species,” he said. “I’m just trying to catch these bull trout right now.”
“I think fly fishing is one of those things that you can try to master your entire life,” Sapara added. “I’ve seen a lot of people catching big bull trout, that’s for sure.”