Jimmy speaks with a customer at an outdoor Art Fair in Brentwood , ca. 1995.
Jimmy Gilbert ... A true and dear friend and mentor, sadly lost in November of 2000.
I met Jimmy at his "all fishing tackle" garage sale near Brentwood when he had sold his long time home and was close to moving into his new residence in Metchosin.
I can't recall what year that was, (1993?) but this meeting was significant for me. Not only was Jim an amazing friend, but he helped to guide and encourage me with this passion I have for collecting fishing tackle and fishing history. I am so grateful that I met this wonderful man and got to share time with him.
Jimmy's father , Harry Gilbert, lived in Brentwood on S Vancouver Island and ran a salmon guiding/ boat rental operation. I never met the man, but have heard many stories and he was no doubt a character, an inventer and one heck of a fisherman. He lived in the days before downriggers, depth sounders, and nylon monofilament fishing line............. An era that I often ponder and wish to be able to row back into ... through some portal of time.
Jimmy Gilbert was a biologist , but decided to persue a career in the fishing tackle and guide business. Over the years at Brentwood he guided the likes of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, Gordy Howe and many other celebrities. Jimmy's passion was fishing for the salmon of the Saanich Inlet , but he also was a terrific , self taught artist. He studied the local native carving, West Coast designs ,form and culture. He authored several books on this art, as well as combined efforts with Charlie White .. and his book on drift fishing lures. Some of the first drift lures in BC were imported by Jim Gilbert Enterprises, Saanichton BC (Jimmy's company) Over the years he invented many fish catchers , and marketed them locally and world wide.
Jimmy 's creativity knew no bounds and he made/produced the famous Kripple "K" minnow and plastic (anchovy) teaser heads that are still being made and produced today . I have caught many salmon using them myself... They are just simply excellent salmon catching devices. Jimmy was also best friends with Tom Moss who established Tomic Plugs. The two of them guided for Harry Gilbert in Brentwood Bay.
I met Jimmy at his "all fishing tackle" garage sale near Brentwood when he had sold his long time home and was close to moving into his new residence in Metchosin.
I can't recall what year that was, (1993?) but this meeting was significant for me. Not only was Jim an amazing friend, but he helped to guide and encourage me with this passion I have for collecting fishing tackle and fishing history. I am so grateful that I met this wonderful man and got to share time with him.
Jimmy's father , Harry Gilbert, lived in Brentwood on S Vancouver Island and ran a salmon guiding/ boat rental operation. I never met the man, but have heard many stories and he was no doubt a character, an inventer and one heck of a fisherman. He lived in the days before downriggers, depth sounders, and nylon monofilament fishing line............. An era that I often ponder and wish to be able to row back into ... through some portal of time.
Jimmy Gilbert was a biologist , but decided to persue a career in the fishing tackle and guide business. Over the years at Brentwood he guided the likes of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, Gordy Howe and many other celebrities. Jimmy's passion was fishing for the salmon of the Saanich Inlet , but he also was a terrific , self taught artist. He studied the local native carving, West Coast designs ,form and culture. He authored several books on this art, as well as combined efforts with Charlie White .. and his book on drift fishing lures. Some of the first drift lures in BC were imported by Jim Gilbert Enterprises, Saanichton BC (Jimmy's company) Over the years he invented many fish catchers , and marketed them locally and world wide.
Jimmy 's creativity knew no bounds and he made/produced the famous Kripple "K" minnow and plastic (anchovy) teaser heads that are still being made and produced today . I have caught many salmon using them myself... They are just simply excellent salmon catching devices. Jimmy was also best friends with Tom Moss who established Tomic Plugs. The two of them guided for Harry Gilbert in Brentwood Bay.
