Guide Profile – Tom Pearce

Tom is STS Guiding’s most senior guide after Vic Carrao with over 21 years of experience guiding on the Fraser River. Tom began his guiding career back in 1998 working the summer/fall busy season. Back in the early days the STS Team consisted of Vic Carrao, Eric Skanning, Jordi Williams and Greg Wolf & Brent Gill who both worked for Gills Tackle as well as STS. Vic explained “We worked out of the back of Harrison Bay Store which gave us great access to both the Harrison and Fraser rivers. Within minutes of leaving our dock we could be fishing on either river”.

Back then Tom was a repeat customer of Gills Tackle & Guiding, one of Brent’s best customers who fished with him often. Brent was about to go on a lifelong dream adventure to Costa Rica to work as a fishing guide manager at one of these remote lodges. Vic remembers Greg Wolf asking him if he was interested in hiring Tom who at the time was considering buying Brent’s jet boat. Greg and Brent had great things to say about Tom and 21 years later he is still with STS.

Tom is a go getter, he is at the dock 2 hours before his trip preparing his gear and bait for the day ahead. An 8 hour charter is more like 12 hours if you include Tom’s prep time. He really cares about providing a great trip for guests, always competitive and wanting to do the best job that he can. Vic recalls “Before Tom, I was usually the first person at the boats in the morning. I remember after hiring Tom, I would arrive at the usual 5am and see a light on down at the boats. At first I thought someone was stealing stuff but no, it was Tom getting his gear ready”. Tom has made a name for himself over the years as one of the top fishing guides on the Fraser, if not in all of British Columbia. He is our most requested guide and has helped Vic make STS what it is today.

As with everything in life, nothing stays the same for too long. Tom has taken on many roles and responsibilities over the years for STS. These days Tom mostly guides his repeat clientele and helps STS with larger groups and fishing tournaments so he can spend more time with his son Kyle and wife Jessica. Tom also works with our good friend Curtis Besse at his Jet Boat repair shop located in Mission. Tom continues to evolve as does STS. He is considered one of the best guides on the Fraser River and has an established clientele that frequently return to fish with him. On the fun meter, there is no better guide on the Fraser. If you get an opportunity to fish with Tom, you will be thoroughly entertained. We are very grateful for all that he has contributed to STS and the fishing community.

Celebrating 25 years of Guiding Fishing Adventures: 1994-2019

STS on Social media:

Join our mailing list – http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=vi9yq5bab&p=oi&m=1101609593109

Guide Profile – Doug Elias

Doug is a local boy who was born and raised in Abbotsford, BC. He played junior hockey for the Abbotsford Pilots as a youngster then as an adult went to work for corrections Canada.

Doug began working as a guide on a part time basis back in 2005 deckhanding for Vic Carrao who at the time was injured with a separated bicep from an ATV accident. Vic recalls the accident like it was yesterday, “My youngest daughter Deanna was loading her ATV on the trailer after a ride and accidentally hit the throttle instead of the brake, I grabbed the back of the ATV as it was launched off the trailer, I tried to stop it with no luck, the force was so great it tore my right bicep into two parts”.

At the time of Vic’s injury (2005) Doug was already an avid angler who mostly fly fished local rivers and lakes. He was working full time as a corrections officer and fished for fun and stress relief. “I saw an advertisement on the STS weekly fishing report and thought, what the heck, why not” recalls Doug. I went for an interview and was hired to help Vic get through his season as his right arm was in a full cast from surgery. So like many of the long-time STS Guides, Doug started as a deckhand for Vic.

Doug recalls many good times and stories, most of which we won’t repeat here, lol. The old Harrison Bay days when STS ran their entire guiding business out of Harrison Bay Store dock. Doug worked side by side with Vic that first summer, then began running one of their boats and eventually purchased his own jet boat in 2007. Doug recalls on one of his first trips his rods and reels didn’t hold up and by the end of his day they had all broken. The Idaho Boys were a regular group that came up to fish each summer, “they were crazy fanatical fisherman recalls Doug” I think they broke two of my rods before lunch says Doug.

Since those early days Doug has transformed his part time passion into a full time job. Retiring from corrections in 2014, Doug is now going into his 6th season as a full time fishing guide and 15th season as one of STS’s top guides. More recently Doug has purchased his dream jet boat a 2017 23ft Thunderjet jet boat fully equipped with the latest and greatest fishing gear and electronics. Doug is an accomplished fly fisherman as well as sturgeon and salmon in both fresh and salt water. Doug has also played an important role in helping STS promote the Fraser River attending many trade shows as one of their representatives. If you’re booking a trip with STS don’t hesitate to ask for Doug, if he is not already booked, he would be a great choice for any group.

Celebrating 25 years of Guiding Fishing Adventures: 1994-2019

STS on Social media:

Join our mailing list – http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=vi9yq5bab&p=oi&m=1101609593109

Guide Profile – John Popowich

John began fishing with STS over 15 years ago, as an avid angler John would take 2 or 3 annual trips on the Fraser River. STS put on an annual Jet Boat Seminar which John ha signed up for “While on the trip, head guide and owner Vic Carrao approached me and asked if I was interested in guiding. Vic was looking for a new guide and I mentioned to him that guiding would be my dream job” John recalls, “When Vic asked if I was interested, I immediately said yes.” Vic says that when he first met John he instantly recognized the guide potential in him. Guiding is 9/10th personality says Vic, “there are many great fishermen in our industry but very few great guides”.

John is going into his 9th season as a part time fishing guide, his full time job is construction so he mostly guides weekends and holidays. John is an accomplished sturgeon and salmon fisherman who can fish any style including fly fishing, spin or bait. There are some people in this world that you can instantly connect with, John is one of those people. He enjoys sharing stories, knowledge and his passion is obvious when you spend a day on the water with him. “I recall one of our very good clients telling me a story about how John got more excited than his guests when they landed a monster 10ft sturgeon.

John is married and has two young children, he enjoys all types of fishing including; fly fishing, sturgeon on the Fraser and a new passion, saltwater salmon fishing. John loves teaching and sharing his passion with not only his guests but also his family. John’s favorite thing to do is taking his family fishing and watch his little girl smile after tagging and releasing a small sturgeon. John also volunteers for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society mark –recapture program as do all of STS guides. Over the years John has been an integral part of the STS marketing team helping us serve customers at the Fraser Valley Boat & Sportsman Show.

“We are extremely excited with our team going into our 26thseason” say’s owner Tony Nootebos. John has been an incredible asset to our team for the past 8 years and we are looking forward to having him continue to provide great experiences for our guests. John has serious skills and a great personality so we are confident in him and his ability to provide you with the very best experience on the water.