From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:
Born in Orillia, Ontario, in 1902, Elmer was well known in Sault Ste. Marie by local fishermen and anglers, particularly in the 1940s.
Elmer wrote a weekly fishing column in the Sault Star on the topic of fishing called Angles on Angling. His Sault Star article ran for seven months out of the year over a span of six years. In a 1966 Sault Star article, it was stated that “very few anglers fished more lakes and streams.”
Hooey would become President of the Sault Tackle Club and was awarded the Ananias trophy in 1937.
At the beginning of the season in April, Hooey would tell you how to get your gear, and at the end, he would tell you how to store everything properly in his columns. He would highlight his fishing trips and travels along the various rivers, lakes, and streams, particularly along the Algoma Central Railway Lines, with one of his favourite spots being Root River.
In a Sault Star article in January 1979, it was stated that Root River held a fascination for Hooey, and after finishing work at the CNR Telegraph office, he’d travel 10 minutes to his favourite fishing spot.
Hooey was also known for injecting humour into all his columns.
In 1959, Hooey would suffer from a stroke, which paralyzed him on the right side of his body. The doctors stated to him that he would never walk again, to which he replied, “Not to bet on it.” However, by April 1966, when he sat down for an interview, he was getting around fine on his own.
Hooey always used a fly rod when fishing on a stream. He said in a 1966 Sault Star article, “I don’t believe fishing in a stream with anything but a fly. It just never seemed sporting to use anything else.”
Elmer Hooey would pass away in 1979 but left behind a lot of stories and knowledge about a sport he loved.
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