About Us
At Smart Angling we share your passion. We are a company run by fly fishermen for fly fishermen.
We emerged from the necessity to address a gap in the North American market for premium, fairly-priced equipment and instruction on cutting edge fly fishing techniques.
Our distinctive educational program offers opportunities to learn from some of the world's and Canada's top rods.
The products we offer are the outcome of rigorous development and testing by some of the world's top competition fishermen from countries such as the Czech Republic, Spain, the UK, Italy, Canada and others.
We proudly serve as the exclusive distributor for Arcay Champion’s Equipment, Hends, Maxia Rods, JS Patch, OnTheDropper, Fish on Productions across all of Canada. Additionally, we are the exclusive distributor of Hanak Competition for Eastern Canada. We are also a distributor for Soldarini.
Ivo Balinov, Co-owner and Marketing Director
Ivo boasts over 43 years of fishing experience from Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and New Zealand. As a seasoned instructor, he has guided numerous anglers through their initial steps into fly fishing. His expertise extends to coaching advanced anglers, including several National Champions of Canada and members of Canada's National Youth Team. Ivo's own wealth of knowledge has been enriched through learning from some of the world's most accomplished competition anglers from Spain, France, the Czech Republic, and the UK.
Always eager to explore new techniques, Ivo delved into European nymphing in 2004 when these methods were largely unfamiliar in Canada and the USA. He later played a pivotal role in introducing numerous anglers to these highly productive fishing techniques through organized classes and casual encounters on the water.
Guided by a passion for continuous improvement and a desire to assist others, Ivo organized first-of-their-kind master classes in Canada, featuring top competition anglers from continental Europe. These sessions have covered a spectrum of advanced techniques, including dry fly fishing, lake fishing, nymphing, and more.
Today Ivo is the visionary and organizer behind the Smart Angling World Class Fly Fishing School. This initiative encompasses a series of on-the-stream and online classes, showcasing the forefront of global and Canadian fly fishing expertise.
Ivo is a successful competition angler with top finishes at major international and national tournaments.
Select competitions:
2024 Chateauguay Regional: Team Gold (with Morgna McLean) and Individual Silver
2024 Second Annual Franklin Lake Competition: Team Bronze (with Keefer Pitfield), Invividual 4th
2023 Quebec Provincial Championships in Memory of Mark Anderson: Team Silver (with Colin Huff)
2023 Canadian National Fly Fishing Championships: Team Gold, Indiv. 5th
2022 World Fly Fishing Championships, Spain: Team 8th (Canada's best team performance at an WFFC), Individual 34
2019 Canadian National Fly Fishing Championships, Team Gold
2018 Canadian National Fly Fishing Championships, Team Gold, Individual Bronze
2018 Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships, Northern Ireland: Team Silver
2016 Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships, Canada: Team Gold, Individual Bronze
2015 Canadian National Fly Fishing Championships, Team Gold (as captain), Individual 5th
2013 World Fly Fishing Championships, Norway, Individual 32th
Ciprian Rafan, Co-owner and Sales Director
Ciprian has represented Canada at major international contests including the World Championships in 2015 and the Commonwealth Championships in 2016. He has held various titles at Canadian competitions, including individual gold at the Quebec Championships in 2014 and 2018 and team gold at the 2015 National Championships.
Following his return to his native Romania in 2021, Ciprian swiftly earned a place on the national fly fishing team and represented the country at the 2023 World Fly Fishing Championships.
He is now busy with setting up Smart Angling's soon to be opened European branch.
Ian Troup, Pro Staff, Ontario
Ian has been fly fishing for some 35 years. A firm believer that you never stop learning, Ian spends all his free time improving his fly fishing skills and has had the benefit of learning from some of the best anglers across the globe, including World Champions and guiding mentorship from the late Ian Colin James.
Ian is deeply passionate about competitive angling and coached the first all-women team to participate in the Canadian National Championships. As the captain of a fly fishing team and a proud member of Team Canada, he has had the honor of representing Canada in multiple international events. Notably, Ian played a pivotal role in Team Canada's historic Gold Medal performance at the 2016 Commonwealth Championships, followed by a team silver medal at the 2018 edition of this prestigious international tournament. Ian himself earned the individual Silver Medal at the 2017 Canadian Fly Fishing Championships.
He has been guiding for the past 15 years, along with being pro-staff for the Franklin Club fishery. Ian is a certified FFF Fly Casting instructor.
Chris Puchniak, Pro Staff, British Columbia
Chris boasts an impressive 30-year journey in fly fishing, exploring various fish-rich destinations from Canada to Tasmania. Since 2011, he has actively engaged in the competitive fly fishing scene and has enjoyed the privilege of being part of two consistently medal-winning teams within Canada. Chris has been selected to represent Canada twice for international teams, competing in 2014 and 2017. Throughout numerous events in Canada, he has been fortunate to clinch several individual and team medals.
Chris has also been involved in helping the Canadian National Youth Team as an Assistant coach, as well as being involved with Trout Unlimited.
Keefer Pitfield, Pro Staff, Ontario
Keefer is a fly fishing guide in Southwestern Ontario. Specializing in guiding on both, the Grand and Credit Rivers for intermediate and advanced anglers with a focus on dry fly and nymph fishing.
Keefer has been a competitive angler & guide since 2008. A founding member of Team Dredgehogs and Team Manager, Keefer has competed at many regional, national and international events. He has spent countless hours with some of the top anglers in the world refining his skills. Keefer has been mentored by the late Ian Colin James, starting in 2004, followed by top Czech competitive anglers and most importantly and most recently by five-time world champion David Arcay of Spain - without a doubt, one of the globe's top anglers. He has been selected five times to represent Canada at major international competitions:
2014, 2016 (Gold medal team), 2018 & 2020 Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships in England, Canada, Northern Ireland & New Zealand respectively. 2022 World Fly Fishing Championships in Asturias, Spain.
Recent Achievements:
1st pl team & 4th pl individual - 2019 CNFFC
1st pl team & 1st pl individual - 2019 Ontario Fly Fishing Championships
1st pl team & 4th pl Individual - 2018 CNFFC
1st pl Team & 4th pl Individual - 2016 Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships
Morgan McLean, Pro Staff, Ontario
Morgan’s passion for Fly fishing and fly tying started at the age of 10 and grew into an obsession. Causing him to travel the Globe to experience some of the best waters available.
Since his early days of teaching in Virginia, Morgan has since instructed and Guided part time in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Southern Ontario and 15 years as a full time Salmon, trout and steelhead guide on Vancouver Island and Mainland British Columbia.
Morgan became a certified Fly casting Instructor with the FFF in 2001 and renewed his certification with the FFI in 2022. He currently works with some of the top tournament casters and tournament anglers to constantly improve his teaching and own casting and fishing abilities. Morgan is very passionate about competitive angling and spends most of his spare time training and practicing to continue to learn and grow.
He has represented Canada at the 2002 World fly Fishing Championships, the 2023 Common Wealth Championships in Scotland and the 2024 World Fly Fishing
Championships in France.
Morgan’s life-long passion for fly fishing has caused him to travel many places such as Chile, Argentina, most US states, many places in the Caribbean and Europe. His experience allows him to host unique fly-fishing adventures and learn proper techniques and casting styles to help whether you are chasing little brook trout or chasing record tarpon.
Sarah Lacasse, Smart Angling Ambassador, Quebec
Native de Lac-Mégantic, dans la province de Québec au Canada, Sarah Lacasse est née dans le monde de la pêche à la mouche, où elle a grandi avec la passion de son père. De père en fille, la pêche à la mouche à la rivière Chaudière n’est plus un secret pour elle. À toutes occasions, elle se rend sur les différentes rivières de la province pour y observer l’entomologie et y découvrir les plus belles truites brunes. Sarah influencée par la conception philosophique des pères fondateurs de la pêche à la mouche, Izaac Walton et Charles Cotton, elle milite auprès du respect de la nature, et de la remise à l’eau. À l’âge de 18 ans, Sarah s’engage professionnellement dans le monde de la pêche à la mouche. Étudiante à l’Université de Sherbrooke, et guide professionnel et instructrice de pêche à la mouche, elle est reconnue par ses implications auprès du RPMS, de l’Association chasse et pêche de Lac-Mégantic, et de Sarah Lacasse – flyfishing.
Originally from Lac-Mégantic, Québec, Canada, Sarah Lacasse was brought up in the world of fly fishing alongside her father, who himself taught her the fundamentals of this sport. From father to daughter, fly fishing on the La Chaudière River has no more secrets for her. At every occasion she is on the water to check out the insect life and find the nicest brown trout out there. Sarah was mainly influenced by the philosophical conception of the founding fathers of fly fishing: Isaac Walton and Charles Cotton. She is a proud militant for the protection and conservation of the wilderness, and practices catch and release. At the age of 18, Sarah engaged herself professionally in the world of fly fishing. Student at the University of Sherbrooke, and professional fly fishing guide and instructor, she is known for her involvement with the RPMS, the Association chasse et pêche de Lac-Mégantic, and with Sarah Lacasse – flyfishing.
Colette Stroud, Smart Angling Ambassador, British Columbia
Colette has been fly fishing for over 20 years. She was introduced to the sport by her father who not only taught her how to fish but encouraged the conservation and sharing of knowledge. Colette got into competitive fly fishing by accident and with time developed a passion for it. She loves meeting new people, learning new techniques and catching a glimpse of that "secret" fly pattern. Applying what she learns in competitions has made Colette a better recreational angler and teacher to new anglers. Colette has fished recreationally in New Zealand, Hawaii and is now getting ready to target bonefish on Andros Island, the Bahamas.
Colette's goal since getting into competitive angling was to fish on an international team. In 2023 she was on Canada's team that won silver at the 2nd Women's World Fly Fishing Championships in Kamloops, BC: Canada's first team medal at a WFFC! She would like to see more female anglers hit the competition scene in Canada, and in general on the water!
Almero Retief, Smart Angling Ambassador, New Brunswick
Almero has been fishing for over 35 years. His fly fishing journey started back in South Africa, but it was really only after moving to Canada in 2010 that his interest and passion for fly fishing got elevated to the next level. He is a regular on the streams and lakes of Ontario, Quebec, and the Adirondacks. He also fly fished across Scotland (2012) and Ireland (2017). In 2016 he joined the Eastern Canada Competitive Fly Fishing League and since then has been mentored by some of Canada’s best competitive fly fishing anglers and our Smart Angling team to help him in his quest of becoming a holistic fly fisherman - one who ties and swings flies with equal passion. Almero is a very skillful tyer who obsessively crafts armies of flies for all species and fishing occasions.
Francois Dallaire, Smart Angling Ambassador, Quebec
François pratique la pêche à la ligne depuis son jeune âge et a profité de plusieurs opportunités pour améliorer ses habilités en participant à des compétitions au Canada depuis 2014. Lors de sa récente participation à la Compétition Nationale de pêche à la ligne 2018, il a obtenu la médaille de bronze par équipe, et a réussi à se hisser à la 8e position au classement individuel. Ayant lui-même profité de mentorat par des pêcheurs séniors dans le passé, François s'investi présentement pour amener des nouveaux venus dans les compétitions, en leur offrant support et mentorat.
Francois took up fly fishing at an early age and has had the opportunity to hone his skills in various competitions held in Eastern Canada since 2014, culminating in a team bronze and an individual 8th place at the 2018 Canadian National Fly Fishing Championships. Recently he has focused on getting fresh faces to the competitive scene by helping and mentoring them as was done for him in the past by more experienced anglers.
Alex Baumeister, Smart Angling Ambassador, Alberta
Originally from Hudson, Quebec, Alex has been fly fishing since he was 9 years old. At the age of 11 he began fly fishing at the competitive level. He has been coached by some of the world's and Canada best competition anglers over the years. Alex has competed in over 5 international championships including 2 world youth flyfishing championships. He is only 23 years of age giving him many more years to chase his dream of becoming a world champion one day. In the meantime he is frequenting some of Canada's top trout waters as a guide in Coleman, Alberta.
Sébastien Nadeau, Smart Angling Ambassador, Quebec
Natif de Saint-Pierre-Baptiste au Québec, Sébastien Nadeau a été initié à la pêche par son père dès son jeune âge. Après avoir pêcher le saumon d'atlantique en 2013, il décide de se consacrer à perfectionner l'art de la pêche à la mouche. Il se fait ensuite former par des pêcheurs de calibre mondial tels George Daniel des États-Unis et l'équipe de David Arcay d'Espagne. En 2018, il débute sur la scène compétitive canadienne. Il remporte une médaille d'argent au championnat provincial du Québec et participe à son premier championnat National. Habité par la passion, il s'implique activement sur la rivière Nicolet près de Victoriaville comme administrateur pour promouvoir la pêche à la mouche.
Born in St-Pierre-Baptiste, Québec, Sébastien Nadeau was introduced to fishing by his father at an early age. After angling for Atlantic salmon in 2013, he decided to focus on perfecting the art of fly fishing. He got instruction by world-class fishermen such as George Daniel of the United States. In 2018 he entered the Canadian competitive scene. He won a silver medal at the Quebec Provincial Championships and participated in his first National Championships. Driven by his passion for the sport, he is actively involved in promoting fly fishing at the Nicolet River near Victoriaville, Quebec.
Callum Learmonth, Smart Angling Ambassador, British Columbia
At the age of 16 Callum Learmonth has already been fly fishing for ten years and competing for four. He lives on the West Coast of Canada in Surrey BC with his parents, younger brother and two dogs. Callum is currently on the Kingfisher Fly Fishing Team and he has competed with them in a few larger competitions such as the BC River Provincials, and the North American Loch Style tournament. In April 2019 Callum took part in the first Canadian Youth National Championship. His team took home a first place finish and he won the individual gold. Besides fishing he enjoys robotics in his school club. His robotics team has earned a spot to go to the world championships in Houston, Texas 3 years in a row through competing in various regional competitions.
Marty Tannahill, Smart Angling Ambassador, Ontario
Born and raised on Georgian Bay (Lake Huron), Marty started fishing when he was 9 years old. By 16, he was the proud owner of his first fly rod.
A firm believer that you never stop learning, Marty routinely practices his own casting and when the opportunity presents, seeks out instruction to fine tune or learn new skills. Over the years, he has achieved the FFI: CCI, MCI and THCI certifications and grown to be a teacher himself. He has taught and provided casting workshops for clubs and organizations.
Seasonally, you can find Marty somewhere on the “Notty” trying to encourage the silver beauties to grab on to one of his various creations. He has fished all over Canada, including the arctic and some of the northern US states. Marty is convinced that all fish have angling value but with a fly rod, it is special.
Mathieu Desbiens, Smart Angling Ambassador, Quebec
Mathieu started fly fishing about 6 years ago and decided to jump into euro nymphing techniques right away! Participating in few competitions, he made it to the 2nd step of the podium at the biggest winter competition hosted in Quebec last year, proving the efficiency of modern nymphing! With time, he is becoming a local reference on social media about modern nymphing and fly tying.
Fil Jindrak, Smart Angling Ambassador, Alberta
Born in Pisek, Czech Republic, Fil started out gear fishing and later lost interest and transitioned to fly fishing full time in 2010. To this day his interest and focus for this sport continues to grow. In 2017 he became interested in the competitive side of fly fishing and European techniques. Living in Alberta, he now spends most of his time training and fishing the many rivers and lakes the province has to offer, and has secured his first win at the 2022 Provincial River Championship.