Ontario’s oldest Fly Fishing Shop – GRINDSTONE Angling

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I had the pleasure of chatting with John Valk, owner of Ontario’s longest running Fly Fishing Shop, GRINDSTONE Angling.

His shop is located in Waterdown just off the Main Street. It’s as I pictured in my mind with fish mounts on the wall, antique tackle and photos of anglers on the river. Racks of rods and fly fishing items were laid out like a neat fly tackle box. All organized unlike my tackle box!

Grindstone Fly Fishing Shop

John was in the middle of reorganizing his show room when I showed up. John said to help myself to the coffee pot while he answered questions from an anglers who had just returned from the Grand River.

I listened from the comfort of the new counter he was constructing as other customers in various sections of the shop continued to ask him questions.

 John animatley described what type of fish this rod was ideal for or how that fly would entice a certain trout on a secret stretch of river known only to his very qualified fishing guides. 

We finally found a few minutes to do a podcast episode on fly fishing. Episode #070 will be published Thursday February 7th, 2008.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/rippleoutdoorspodcast

I learned numerous tidbit and history about  fly-fishing as we chatted. John has an abundance of fly fishing knowledge. Did you know a NUN in 1469 published the first fly fishing book?

In fact long before computers and the Internet, Fly Fishing Books were the #2 best selling book next to the Bible!

 No wonder fly fishing anglers are held in such high regard!

Give John a call at 905-689-0880 or email him at flyshop@grindstoneangling.comto book your float down one of Ontario’s cold water rivers to hook that trophy trout from one of his unique drift-boats. 

Catch podcast episode#070 to hear all about fly fishing . http://feeds.feedburner.com/rippleoutdoorspodcast

John Valk

About Peter Wood 1194 Articles
As an avid lifelong angler and hunter, Peter’s outdoor knowledge and experiences keep expanding through his hundreds of hours of hunting and fishing podcast interviews with like minded experts. He has received numerous national writing awards. With thousands of outdoor pictures on Ripple Outdoors and many full-length articles with outdoor magazine and video clips you might say that he not only enjoys his outdoor lifestyle, but he’s quite the fanatic! In 2015 he earned fifth overall on the King of the Wood Contest hosted by Canada In The Rough team, pretty good for a baby boomer deer hunter. His buck was also one of the top bucks taken that season. Through Peter’s deer hunting seminars or by attending outdoor trade shows, like the Toronto Sportsmen Show and The SWOC Big Buck Show, he has connected with thousands of like minded people that love hunting and fishing. As a volunteer or member of local and national outdoor groups like QDMA, SWOC, Outdoor Writers of Canada, Archery Trade Show Association he continues to learn and hone his craft. Read his many articles, listen to his podcasts and rifle through thousands of photos on Ripple Outdoors. Discover Peter’s latest posts about outdoor gear, destinations, how to articles and interviews and you’ll be a better angler and hunter for the experience.