Gilly the Ghillie: More Chronicles of a West Coast Fishing Guide returns readers to a tiny West Coast island in the 1980s, where salmon, storms, and strong personalities collide. Drawing on life as a seasonal salmon fishing guide on Stuart Island, David Giblin spins a fresh collection of short, interconnected tales full of humour and sharp observation.
At the heart of these stories is Gilly, the first woman to join the fiercely traditional, all-male guiding crew. Her arrival upends old habits and exposes the assumptions, rivalries, and loyalties that shape this close-knit coastal community.
Readers meet a cast of returning characters with unforgettable nicknames—VOP, Troutbreath, Lucky Peterson, and Wet Lenny—alongside wealthy visitors and elusive fish that always seem to be just out of reach. Through mishaps on the water and late-night dockside banter, the book captures both the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the oddities of those drawn to its remote fishing lodges.
Blending tall tales with the realities of guiding life, this maritime collection will appeal to anglers, coastal residents, and anyone who appreciates character-driven humour set against rugged West Coast scenery.
- Humorous fishing and boating misadventures
- Vivid portrait of a 1980s British Columbia island community
- Focus on the first female guide in an all-male crew
- Perfect for fans of quirky, character-rich coastal stories
