Spitfire Fishing Products came about in 2016 as the merger of two ideas: Quality, unique fishing products can be designed and made right here in Canada, and honoring those who exemplified our culture and heritage.
This is expressed by a family owned, family run business based out of the Gulf Islands, British Columbia. Richard and Heather Wilby, with the moral support of their daughter Alba, handmake each spoon, spinner, jig and lure. Each color combination and design has been made through close partnerships with Retailers, Field Team members and local anglers to ensure we make the product we can.
Lewis Ellis, Richard’s grandfather, was known all his life as a man who could make anything with his hands and as an amazing craftsman. During WW2 he worked in the Aircraft Manufacturing plants, supplying the war effort with Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes. His plan to be a pilot for the war was cut short due to asthma, so he turned his attention to building the planes he would never fly in. Lewis Ellis was the inspiration to have Spitfire Fishing Products made local, as a was to honor his amazing achievements.
Spitfire began in 2016 with the first line that is one of our flagship products: the Supermarine MK1 spinner. Early success came from Richard being in close touch with retailers to produce the best color combinations and best materials for the local BC fisheries. From there, many other products lines quickly formed as the call for BC made tackle grew.
Today, Spitfire is growing rapidly as new product lines, each with their specific names honoring RCAF aircraft or people, emerge and fit the need to have lures suited for our local fisheries. As Spitfire continues to grow, you’ll see more and more produced as new ideas are never in short supply.
Spitfire Fishing Products came about in 2016 as the merger of two ideas: Quality, unique fishing products can be designed and made right here in Canada, and honoring those who exemplified our culture and heritage.
This is expressed by a family owned, family run business based out of the Gulf Islands, British Columbia. Richard and Heather Wilby, with the moral support of their daughter Alba, handmake each spoon, spinner, jig and lure. Each color combination and design has been made through close partnerships with Retailers, Field Team members and local anglers to ensure we make the product we can.
Lewis Ellis, Richard’s grandfather, was known all his life as a man who could make anything with his hands and as an amazing craftsman. During WW2 he worked in the Aircraft Manufacturing plants, supplying the war effort with Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes. His plan to be a pilot for the war was cut short due to asthma, so he turned his attention to building the planes he would never fly in. Lewis Ellis was the inspiration to have Spitfire Fishing Products made local, as a was to honor his amazing achievements.
Spitfire began in 2016 with the first line that is one of our flagship products: the Supermarine MK1 spinner. Early success came from Richard being in close touch with retailers to produce the best color combinations and best materials for the local BC fisheries. From there, many other products lines quickly formed as the call for BC made tackle grew.
Today, Spitfire is growing rapidly as new product lines, each with their specific names honoring RCAF aircraft or people, emerge and fit the need to have lures suited for our local fisheries. As Spitfire continues to grow, you’ll see more and more produced as new ideas are never in short supply.
Our Inspiration
To this day I have yet to meet an artist as talented as my grandfather, Lewis Ellis.
I could go on forever about all of his numerous creations and masterpieces, but my favorite has to be one he will always be remembered for being instrumental in: The RCAF Supermarine Spitfire.
Early in WW2 the Spitfire was having issues with it’s machine gun. It was considered inaccurate and unreliable for such an iconic warplane until Lewis, an aircraftman from Winnipeg stepped in. Working tirelessly, he proved his genius by taking over and perfecting the machine gun, helping the Spitfire there on out reign the skies for the Allies.
Handmade in British Columbia
All of our lures are handmade on Cortes Island, British Columbia using quality materials sourced from around Canada.
Est in 2016
We started in Kelowna, British Columbia with the idea of creating unique, quality lures to compliment our fisheries.
master craftsmen
Lewis was a master with his hands, able to make art out of anything, no matter the medium. He built his own house in North Vancouver (which still stands 80 years later, as strong as the day it was built) and became a jewelry maker of his own design, and his pieces are till sought after today.
His descendants all claim their artistic ability came from him, and if I can claim even a shred of his ability, I will consider anything I make blessed. As his grandson, I hope that I can carry on his legacy through the fishing products I make.
I’m reminded often of the walks on the pier on Ambleside Beach that we took, and how we watched the fisherman jealously. I’d like to think that if given the chance, we could fish together there, and that he would be proud to use a lure I made in his honor.
