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My
computer technician tells me that I
need to write a 'blurb' about myself ... so that you folks can see and
judge my credibility. He tells me that you need to know me better,
so that you can see that what I've written is well founded, gained from
personal experience, and that, as a professional guide, outfitter,
and writer, I'm well qualified to do what I do. He tells me that
you need to know this, so that you will be able to, with confidence, enjoy
my home page, and hopefully, consider some of my written products that
I offer for sale.
But it's not easy to write about oneself, so if I have come on too strong, or have not given you enough information ... please, feel free to e-mail me with your thoughts, concerns, and ideas.
Too, I wish to remain receptive to your ideas about this home page, what you wish to see more of, or less of, new categories, and the like.
I want you to feel comfortable, and I wish to be approachable ... drop me an e-mail/line - say hello.
As as young lad,I was introduced to the 'outdoors' at an early age. Indeed, my Uncle Buck took me down to the 'crick' when I was seven years old, to help tend his muskrat traps, and my dad was a master fisherman, and owned a fishing tackle/outdoor shop.
By the time I was twelve I was able to easily trap and catch muskrat, mink, and coon on my own, and my dad had introduced me to fly tying. By age 15, people from all across Canada were using my flies, and some were actually collecting them!
I hated school! But I had to go, and made the most of it by learning everything I could about animals, plants and wildlife. I could 'take stock' into light refraction/reflection - only if I were to put it to a practical use - such as what a walleye saw, or how this process related into glitter, or luminescence of a fishing lure.
By the time I was eighteen I was named by our district MNR as the top trapper in our huge district - but I was more interested in the price of fox and muskrat pelts to be humbled much by the experience.
By the time I was twenty-one, I had hunted and fished much of Ontario's water and hinterland. I was now quite adept at fly casting, tying flies and rod building, having tied thousands of dozens of flies, and built hundreds of 'custom' rods for people.
I never married, nor am I now, instead, as it
seems, having my love affair with coon puppies, catfish, and nearly all
of the 'outdoor pursuits'.
At the age of 22, I was asked by the local newspaper to write a regular
'outdoor column', which I still do to this very day. I'm
heading into my 32nd year as a pro writer, now the longest standing continual
columnist for that same newspaper!
At age twenty three, both the Oxford County Board of Education, and Fanshawe College approached me to run a night course for Fishing/fly tying, and rod building - I did this for about five years, teaching hundreds of ardent anglers 'the ropes'.
I continued to hunt, fish & trap, using all that I learned form my father and uncle, and others, and did quite a bit of guiding too, for waterfowl, fishing, and teaching many folks how to enjoy the outdoors.
Dad caught cancer and died, just before he was going to take an early
retirement.
I kept on hunting, fishing, trapping, guiding/outfitting, then decided
I had to 'give back' to the very resources I was participating in, 
so I enrolled in Fanshawe College, and went through, and became an Environmental
Engineering Technician, graduating as class valedictorian. I was
lucky, most had to struggle with the course, but owing to my background,
to me it was 'a piece of cake', and I won several
awards in college too - and if you can believe it - from someone who 'hated
school' - as a kid!
An outdoor writer friend convinced me to join the 'Outdoor Writers of
Canada', which I did. I've written a number of books (
most
of which are offered for sale elsewhere on this web site), and
continue to write more, feeling that I have a lot to share with other 'outdoor
buffs'.
I don't particularly like politics, and because I've earned every
one of my pieces of savvy, hate and detest any "Good Old Boy's Clubs",
and fight them at every opportunity. I believe that anyone with merit
should be accolade'd appropriately - not because a person is good at 'licking
bags'.
Now, at age 53, I have to slow down a bit - because of poor health I can no longer do a good job of guiding - but I have a young protégé - whom is capable, and able to aptly 'run & jump'. So, to keep earning a living, I'll guide part time, and rely more on my writing expertise, and share some of my savvy - with fine folks like you! I need to earn a living too - please consider my written wares that I offer for sale here in this home page - I need your support!
I regard myself as a 'grassroots' writer, and excel at "How To" and information articles, I've been 'teaching' for many years. I'm not a glossy writer, and prefer the 'need to know' format.
Here are a few of my accomplishments, in a nutshell:
and - thanks for your interest!
Yours in conservation, toward a 'sustainable' future
John A. Vance
| Author: John
A. Vance
Copyright © 1998 John A. Vance. . . |
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