Influencing the Flow

Influencing the Flow: The Story of Wilhelm Gruber

By: Jay Cashubec

Wilhelm Gruber swinging a wet fly on the Saugeen River. (Photo Credit: Andy Dietrich)

Puzzle Pieces

As an inner-city kid growing up with a single mom, I was quick to lose my way. Being impressionable and adventurous set the stage for bad decisions and experimentation. In the effort of preventing another sad story of a lost boy from writing itself, my mother sent me to work on my grandparents’ farm for the summers beginning when I was ten years old. My grandparents owned and worked a small hobby farm on the outskirts of Hanover, Ontario. Their property backed onto the Mighty Saugeen River, the ‘Geen’ which divides the rural agricultural lands of Grey County, and once operated as a highway for lumber. Following the boom of the lumber trade, many dams were built along the 160 kilometers of the river for mills and hydropower.  Most of those dams are now in disrepair. Some have been removed and fortunately, most farmers gave up trying to cultivate her banks long ago. The Saugeen’s banks are now lined primarily with sweet-smelling cedars and mixed hardwoods, the occasional swamp and limestone outcropping, and is home to wild Brown, Rainbow and Brook Trout. It was here that I met Wilhelm Gruber.

A Young Man’s Nature

Wilhelm Gruber’s story began halfway across the world in East Germany. He was born in the town of Grafenthal during World War II on October 31, 1940. Following the war, Grafenthal came under communist rule by the Soviets. The government-controlled everything from media and commerce, to private and public lands and their uses. Even fish and game animals were owned by the government. This meant that hunting and fishing were restricted to the privileged few; a completely different world from what we know here in the west.

Healthy Brown trout caught from the Saugeen River.

These types of impositions were unfathomable to those of us who enjoy the free world; they did not sit well with the wild heart of a young Wilhelm Gruber. From an early age, he had a love for the outdoors and its quarry. During this time of uncertainty, Wilhelm was unable to provide game for his family’s table or even to wet a line in local waters without the fear of being prosecuted. It was this oppressive environment that set the stage for what would become Wilhelm’s illegal emancipation.

Young Wilhelm, unable to resist the call of the wild, would often steal away to the woods in search of quarry despite the risks. On one occasion, he was returning home on his moped after ‘tickling a trout’ from under the banks with his bare hands. The pond was owned by a local fish organization. The trout fell out of his pocket onto the road in plain sight of the grocery truck driver who had been following behind. As president of the fishing organization, this driver reported Wilhelm to the police. Wilhelm paid the fine to avoid jail time and was warned of harsher treatment if ever caught again.

Wilhelm was 19 years old when his appendix was removed, though the surgery didn’t remove his spirit. With staples just removed, he took to the woods with his .22 calibre rifle in search of small game.

His efforts were again thwarted, this time by the caretaker of a nearby youth hostel.  Knowing the possible consequences, Wilhelm fled and hid the gun behind a woodpile at a nearby porcelain factory. Shortly after returning to the forest with his binoculars hoping to retrieve his gun safely, to Wilhelm’s astonishment a truckload of armed border guards was observed at the factory. He feared that they had come for him, after being reported. Wilhelm fled. He ran deeper into the forest towards West Germany, wading through creeks to deter his scent from the dogs. He jumped from stone to stone to hide his tracks. Finally, he reached the 10 meter-wide open-cut strip of land that divided East and West Germany. Here he waited for it to be safe before making a run for freedom.

In West Germany, a friend of his father took him in and asked his employer at the AEG Company (similar to a Bosch or Siemens) if they could hire the young man. This wasn’t without risk but Wilhelm was hired to work “off the books.” It is incredible to think that Wilhelm illegally fled a country past armed patrol on Saturday, found a safe landing, and was working at a new job by Wednesday! The lady who did the books for the company (coincidentally the wife of a policeman), knew how much trouble they could all be in for hiring an illegal such as Wilhelm, so she manipulated the books to hide his pay. It came to light later and she eventually spent a year in jail for her doings.

A Man’s Two Loves

Even though Wilhelm had found employment, a place to stay, and started to make friends, he knew that he could not remain. On August 13th, 1961 Wilhelm legally immigrated to Canada through Munich, the same day that The Wall went up in Berlin. Wilhelm came to live with his brother who had been brought to Canada by his uncle some years earlier and lived in downtown Toronto. Shortly after his arrival to Canada, Wilhelm replied to a newspaper ad and found employment as a tool and die maker at the German-owned Experimental Tool, and there he remained for the next 43 years. He retired in 2004.

It was through a friend at work that Wilhelm met Anna Jane Elizabeth Altrogge. She captured his eye and stole his heart and, in his words, “You don’t find them like her.” After first noticing her at a dance, they were later acquainted at a birthday party and have remained by each other’s side since. They wed on May 15th, 1963, moved to the suburb of Rexdale, Ontario, and had three children: Susan, Heidi, and Bill.

It was also through a friend at work, Richard Hewitt that Wilhelm met his second love: fly fishing. Wilhelm would show Richard how to ‘tickle trout’, and Richard introduced Wilhelm to the bounty of Canada’s wilderness. Neither of them knew how to fly fish but talked of it and read fly fishing magazines.

It was on a hunting trip to Smithers, B.C. that Wilhelm and Richard met a fly fisherman from Milwaukee who fished with his 90-year-old mother. The pair caught rising Cutthroats seemingly at will. Wilhelm and Richard tried to mimic the fly fisherman’s success with spinning tackle but could only manage one fish between the two of them. It turns out though that they were the ones who were truly caught. Upon returning home, Wilhelm bought his first Shakespeare fly rod, and both he and Richard joined the Toronto Fly Tiers.

Saugeen River Brown trout fooled by the ‘Mockingbird’.

Wilhelm, perhaps partial to his heritage, always favoured the native Brown Trout of his homeland and held them in higher regard than other species. I, for one, never disagreed. He was an active member of the Isaak Walton Fly Fishing Club for many years and frequented their yearly show as a guest fly tier where he would demonstrate his beautiful use of feathers and thread. He was an advocate for conservation practices before they were of common concern or of popular opinion. An ambassador in his own right, Wilhelm professed concern over the state of our watersheds and afforded time to amend them.

Wilhelm devoted many hours to fly fishing and the craft of fly tying, particularly Atlantic Salmon fly tying, winning the 1992 Hair Wing category Quebec Federation of Quebec Salmon Association (FQSA) with his ‘Icelandic Lightning’ fly. Wilhelm’s creations were also featured in many other forums, and the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) awarded him with the “Master Fly Tier” designation after his work made numerous appearances in their publication. The ‘Unification Fly’ that he tied in honour of the falling of the Berlin Wall and his home country’s liberation, was also celebrated in the November 1992 volume of NASF. In 1998, Wilhelm won the NASF’s fly tying competition.

Wilhelm had also traveled to many distant destinations in search of Trout and Atlantic Salmon, places of wilderness and adventure, including British Columbia, Iceland, Gaspésie, and New Brunswick. Places that appealed to my sense of wonder – places that I aspired to go in search of fish and adventure.

Without the kindness and sacrifice of many people – some as extreme as the jail term that the bookkeeper experienced for hiding employment records of illegal East German immigrants – Wilhelm’s life would certainly be very different. These twists of fate led Wilhelm to Canada. And it was my twists of fate that led me to him.

Following Breadcrumbs

I was not foreign to fishing. In my early years, I was fortunate to have been introduced to fishing through my father. We’d fish for Pike and Bass on small lakes and explored rivers and streams for trout with traditional spinning tackle. My mother recalls that water was the only thing that would stop me in my tracks long enough to make a footprint. To this day every time I cross a bridge over a river, my mind drifts off while I ponder what resides within it. The intrigue was set early, but I was missing the integral piece of guidance needed to nurture my interest and fire my passion.

Wilhelm and his wife Anne owned the property along the Saugeen River directly downstream and adjacent to my grandparent’s property. In true fashion, Wilhelm found the property while on the walk back following the landing of the largest Brown Trout of his life, contacted the number on the ‘For Sale’ sign, and purchased the property. To access the property, you drive down a long gravel right-of-way that divides two hay fields, an orchard, and the meadows of my grandparents’ farm, cross over the old railroad tracks and pass the cedar rail fences.  It is here you are greeted by the thick overhanging cedars which serve as an invitation to leave your troubles behind.

Beyond the gateway lay a Dutch-inspired brick bungalow, built in the 1970s. Quaint and humble, similar to Wilhelm, this place was the perfect setting for a precarious boy to be reinvented. By day it is the quintessential cabin in the woods. By night the house can be seen with back-lit windows that contrast warmly with the dark but starry sky. A myriad of trails intersects the property and pass along the cedar-lined banks of the Saugeen River. Their property also comprises two groundwater-fed ponds that lodge stocked Brown and Rainbow Trout. With no other residence for almost a kilometer, you are left with the river and woods all to yourself. Originally purchased as a cottage retreat, Wilhelm and Anne transitioned it into their retirement residence. Changes were made but the charm and character remain.

Author, Jay Cashubec alongside local legend and mentor, Wilhelm Gruber 30 years after first being introduced.

My grandparents introduced me to Wilhelm during one of the many visits that they shared. Wilhelm and my grandfather would delight in wee drams while trying to talk over the sound of the crickets. Anne and my grandmother would do what it is that women do. To this day I don’t pretend to know what that is. With a passion for fishing as well-rooted as Wilhelm’s, the topic tends to find its way into many conversations. Wilhelm’s stories easily kept this antsy youth riveted in place.

I don’t quite recall how the idea came up but for whatever miraculous reason, perhaps needing more excuses to get out on the water himself, or as a favour to my grandparents, Wilhelm offered to take me fly fishing. An unlikely match, the pieces of the puzzle were in place, and the then fifty-year-old German immigrant took a long-haired, troubled youth from a different world, put a bamboo rod in his hand, and changed his life forever. That moment set a new path and ignited a passion that continues to burn to this day.

The ‘Geen’

The Saugeen River, within the Hanover area, is a moderate-sized, 3rd order stream that flows through a mixture of agricultural, rural, and forested landscapes. Gravels and sands dominate the riverbed and some sections of exposed limestone add to its complexity. It is rich in aggregate and groundwater and receives relatively little angling pressure. The predominant cedar trees line the bank and offer many undercuts and sweepers. Along with a fair gradient change and a typical riffle-pool sequence, it is a place that could be explored by fish and men alike, for a lifetime without becoming tedious.

Downstream view of ‘Wilhelm’s Run’ on the Saugeen River.

Most of the time we would fish the ‘famed’ runs and pools on the Saugeen that Wilhelm had named: ‘Wally’s run’, the ‘Camp Pool’, ‘Armstrong Alley’, the ‘Home Pool’, etc. Each pool had stories to go along with them, detailing the accounts of those who he had fished with and their successes or failed attempts. Sometimes we would drive to local tributaries, like Camp Creek or the Rocky Saugeen, attempting to catch fish that we had not yet had the misfortune to have met us.

As a traditional Atlantic Salmon Fisherman, Wilhelm taught me how to swing flies by quartering them across and downstream. I learned the traditional patterns like Hares ears, Caddis’, Cahills, and Adams and advanced to add a few more elaborate streamer patterns – most of which had history and stories to go with them. On occasion, when fish were seen rising, we would tie on a dry fly and pick off a few unlucky adversaries, and when nothing seemed to would work – out came ‘The Usual’.

Wilhelm and the Saugeen River fortified the allure of fly fishing for me and when not within striking distance of the Geen I sought out similar sentiments from other watersheds, locally and beyond. Unable to break the spell that had been cast, I immersed myself in all things fly fishing. Eventually, I chose – or it chose me – to pursue a career in a related field and graduated College in an Environmental discipline.

After the Farm

Wilhelm Gruber doing what he does best, swinging a wet in search of Saugeen River trout.

As life unfolds an increasing number of things lobby for your time and pull you in conflicting directions. To quote Bob Seger, decisions must be made for “what to leave in and what to leave out.” I only worked on my grandparents’ farm for a few summers. The days spent on the farm and with Wilhelm on the riverbanks etched themselves deeply within me. To this day they call to me, bringing me back to the simple truths that lie within the river.

I, too, have now realized that it is not merely the fish that I was in pursuit of.

My life has changed substantially, as it does, from those early days and I am now happily married with two wonderful children.

But as time passes, I still manage to visit Wilhelm a few times a year. Wilhelm, now in his early 80s, always greets me with excitement and a walk around the property, highlighting the seasonal displays. Wilhelm, of course, always makes time to fish when I visit. After my grandparents sold the farm, most of my visits have turned into overnight campouts and weekend excursions. Sometimes I would bring Fly Fishing friends who could also appreciate the mystique of Wilhelm and his haven. Wilhelm very much appreciated those who came to visit. To those who were well regarded and afforded success on the river, they would be invited to sign and give an offering to his Book of Registry that compiled many memories of cherished days gone by.

Wilhelm Gruber and friend, Andy Dietrich with a nice Brown taken on a skated Stonefly.

Beyond the Banks

Wilhelm is a very humble gentleman and no ordinary angler. His passion for fish and fishing did not stop at banks of the river. He could often be spotted wandering above the watermark to search for hints and signs of relevance, of connectivity. He would come upon wild orchids in bloom, groundwater springs, partridge nests, or deer trails, taking a moment to appreciate each in turn. In the water, he would be always checking for signs of life like newly hatched fry or benthic invertebrates about to hatch. Wilhelm would also always be cleaning up the river. It was seemingly expected that one would follow suit. And when he’d come upon discarded beer cans or other trash, he would always pick them up. He instilled this habit in me and picking up the most cans sometimes becomes the only competition when he and I fish together.

When you’re a kid there seems to be a mystique about older people, especially those who are not immediate family and that you did not grow up knowing. Their differing backgrounds and inherent knowledge can astound a young person and is a refreshing change from the world you knew. Greater attention is afforded to such people and their teachings are soaked up at every turn. There was no shortage of wisdom when it comes to Wilhelm.

To this day Wilhelm continues to intrigue me and capture my attention by revealing things like long-hidden fish-egg rearing boxes that he built along groundwater seeps. There is a never-ending stream of knowledge when it comes to Wilhelm that goes beyond aquatic secrets straight through to his acts of stewardship in his surroundings. He is an unofficial River Keeper and graciously assumes the duties that come with the title. It is this conservation mind-set that Wilhelm embodies and has bestowed unto me which continues to guide my interests.

Wilhelm Gruber playing ghillie again while author, Jay Cashubec works down through a run. (Photo Credit: Andy Dietrich)

Nothing is free and devotion must be shown for that which you love and cherish. Wilhelm also demonstrated to me one of the most valuable lessons that any angler and husband could learn: to not neglect your duties at home either. On multiple occasions, on the last day of my visit, Wilhelm would leave the river early and allow me to fish it myself. Arriving back at the house I would be greeted with a bouquet of wildflowers in a makeshift vase to present to my wife. He showed me just how important it is to appreciate your wife and the things that bless your life. I continue this gesture on occasion and can tell you that it is well received.

It is easy to become self-absorbed while experiencing the things that you are passionate about, especially in the hectic lives that we live in. Acts of thoughtfulness and appreciation for those that you love goes a long way, and it doesn’t hurt when trying to provide a little insurance for future outings!

For the Love of Nature

Wilhelm was also an avid hunter, appreciating his quarry in every manner. I have never known a man to be so in tune with the natural world around him. Even outside his garden, he knew of local fruits and flowers in bloom and calls of local songbirds. Although Wilhelm would sometimes stumble with his German to English translations, it didn’t matter; regardless of what you call something the merit of its existence remains. I still smile at the thought of Wilhelm whistling the ‘Rain Bird’s’ tune as a wake-up call on the mornings following overnight stays.

Author, Jay Cashubec fighting a fish from one of the Saugeen’s many alluring runs. (Photo Credit: Andy Dietrich)

Even into his late seventies, Wilhelm could meander along the river and through the bush better than most teenagers. His passion seems to continue moving him. I particularly recall one trip where a friend and I fished with Wilhelm for two and a half days. Exhausted, sunburnt, and slightly dehydrated, we were packing up to leave when we greeted by one of his friends who had come over to fish with Wilhelm for the night hatch. At forty years my senior I couldn’t believe that he was going out again, following the hard days that we had just endured! To say the least, Wilhelm is dedicated with a passion for fish, fishing, and the world around him.

In addition to his crafts at the vise, he is also known for showcasing some of his creations in beautifully handcrafted clocks. The clocks are made from various woods sourced from his walks and back-laden with local birch bark. Handmade flies mark the hours, silhouettes of fish mark the minute and hour hands, and a custom fly rod for the second hand. Over the years Wilhelm has put some of these up for auction to raise funds for community fishing clubs and conservation efforts. Owners of these clocks have included the likes of Jack Nicklaus, who purchased 26 and gave them as gifts in addition to keeping one for himself. Not to overshadow the aforementioned celebrity but I am also the proud owner of multiple clocks.

Wilhelm is a kind and generous man and I became the fortunate recipient of many gifts over the years, including an Atlantic Salmon fly boutonniere for my wedding jacket lapel, my first bamboo fly rod, handcrafted fly boxes filled with Atlantic Salmon flies (for my first Salmon trip), and some fish-themed framed works which now adorn my fly tying desk. Wilhelm would also ship flies to friends around the world whom he had met along his travels. Regularly they would find themselves with postage marked for places clinging on to the last strongholds of Atlantic Salmon runs. Wilhelm would do what more of us should: connect with nature, be present and grateful for the time at hand and the time with each other.

A few of the many handcrafted gifts bestowed to the author including the hand-tied fly boutonniere from the generous Wilhelm Gruber.

A Man’s Legacy

Wilhelm has always been keen to share his love of the outdoors, and even fishing spots, with those who express interest.  He understands the importance of sharing the connection to the river and all the benefits that go along with it.

“A river without friends is doomed to oblivion.” Lee Wulff

Above all else, Wilhelm has taught me to appreciate nature for the intricacies within the relationships of an ecosystem; all relying on one another and creating beauty whilst doing it. To immerse yourself within an ecosystem is to become part of it and it is there where one becomes truly alive. As well, should one of those relationships be altered or hindered in any way, an effect is created that can pose a threat to all others. Similar to the fragile ecological relationships mentioned above, Wilhelm has undoubtedly had a positive impact on my life. He likely did not know at the time, but he provided me with a foundation that grounds me. Over time this brings more than just peace of mind. Without it, I am sure to have lived a very different life, likely without much purpose or passion, certainly not one so many great memories.

Fittingly and as a result of Wilhelm’s influence, I became an Aquatic Ecologist. Part of my job entails piecing together what species live where, why there are there, and what they rely on, and how we can help them thrive.  I utilize the care and knowledge that was imparted to me at an early age to provide input into stream restoration projects, land developments, and environmental assessments. Of course, this knowledge still assists me while I continue to chase trout among other fish. Without Wilhelm’s mentorship and the time he afforded to my introduction to a completely different world and to new horizons in life, I would never know this passion or realized the opportunities. In all honesty, it is scary to think where I might be if it weren’t for Wilhelm. There are few things in this life that are too profound for words. My gratitude to Wilhelm and Anne is one of those things.

Author, Jay Cashubec and Wilhelm Gruber walking down the many paths they shared.

It is in this spirit that I hope more of us appreciate the harmony in which nature lives and relies upon. I also hope that many others in addition to me are presented with and seize the opportunity to share with someone what it is that you love. You just never know what kind of effect it may have.

“Never underestimate the valuable and important difference you make in every life you touch. For the impact you make today has a powerful rippling effect on every tomorrow.” Anonymous

Jay Cashubec’s passion for fish and their habitats has driven his involvement in many environmental projects including stream restoration initiatives. As an Aquatic Ecologist, Jay is accredited as an Environmental Professional (EP) in Canada. Jay is also an executive board member of the Middle Grand River Chapter of Trout Unlimited.