- Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec Canada
- Home waters: Ottawa River, Lanark Highland Lakes
- Years of fly-fishing experience: 10
- Preferred Species: Great Lake Steaelhead
- Preferred method of fly fishing: Spey Rod
- Pet Peeves: The scarcity of other BIPOC anglers in my community or lack of a way to connect with them
- Issues with fly-fishing community: The lack of sponsorship and visibility for BIPOC anglers
- Desired directions for the fly-fishing industry: Increased engagement with BIPOC communities
Nicole is from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her parents came from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. She notes, “I was raised as a proud Black person by parents who encouraged me to excel academically”.
Nicole has lived in Ottawa, Ontario for the past 25 years. She lives with her spouse Jackie, her mother-in-law, two cats and a dog. She speaks French and English and is learning Italian. She was a researcher by training and spent 18 years working for the federal government.
Fly fishing was not a part of her youth. She claims that she has been trying to make up for it ever since. She started about 10 years ago when a neighbor informed her and Jackie of a course given by the local fly-fishing club. They both completed the course but Nicole was “enamored”! She notes, “Jackie, not so much”.
From the start she was intrigued and challenged and started tying her own flies while being mentored by members of the Ottawa Fly Fishing Society. Thus, she jokingly claims, “I’m used to fishing with old white guys!” She served on the board of the club during COVID and also led the online fly-tying sessions.
Nicole’s home waters are the Ottawa River and trout stocked lakes in the Lanark Highlands. The Ottawa River is famous for its trophy musky but she has yet to land one on the fly. The closest trout rivers are the Salmon and Little Salmon Rivers in upstate NY about an hour and a half drive and a border crossing. She reports no difficulties crossing the border when she indicates that she is going fishing.
Nicole has fished in Iceland, Gaspé, Quebec for Atlantic salmon and striped bass, Newfoundland, Lake Ontario tributaries on the Canadian side, Alberta, the Catskills, West New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. When she’s not fishing or tying, she is usually planning her next fishing excursion. Her next big trip may be to the Pacific Northwest.
Her favorite fish to pursue are Great Lakes Steelhead or anadromous rainbow trout with a Spey rod, swinging streamers. She ties flies all the time and when possible, prefers to fish her own creations. She claims to have a more established Stillwater game than a river game. She enjoys reading fly fishing books and watching instructional YouTube videos. Most of her travel is related to some sort of fishing pursuit.
During COVID she started ice fishing and specifically tie’s and fishes flies through the ice. Nicole is particularly proud that she has mentored and befriended her neighbor, Gavin, who is now 16. She taught him how to tie flies and how to fly fish and they plan fishing trips together.
Nicole is unaware of any other fly anglers of color in her immediate vicinity. She was really excited to meet Bob, thanks to Heather Hodson-Neufeld. She would really like to see the fly-fishing industry become more inclusive. I think that an organization like the Ubuntu Fly Anglers can start to increase the visibility and clout of BIPOC anglers.
