This one’s a keeper

Gill & Gift is a fishing tackle and souvenir store in Balfour, B.C.

by
Smiling Randy Zelonka beside a display of small fishing tackle items

Randy Zelonka and his wife, Truus, have been selling fishing tackle and souvenirs at Gill & Gift in Balfour, B.C., since 2005. — Photo courtesy Randy Zelonka

For eight years, Truus and Randy Zelonka have owned and operated Gill & Gift, a fishing tackle and souvenir store situated at the Kootenay Lake ferry landing in Balfour, B.C. Randy is also the current president of the Balfour & District Business & Historic Association, which keeps the community’s fine website updated.

Randy arrives at work at 7:30 in the morning, puts on the coffee, turns on the gas pumps and opens for business. He said that most of the anglers who patronize his shop are fishing for the large Gerrard rainbow trout found in Kootenay Lake.

“These are quite experienced anglers who use pretty sophisticated equipment—sonar and GPS and such,” Randy said. “When we get novices who might want to fish from shore, though, we’ll direct them to the good areas.”

Balfour is situated on the west shore of Kootenay Lake, 30 kilometres north of Nelson.

Marie Milner

Marie Milner is a writer and photographer for Kootenay Business magazine and several other publications. She appreciates the inspiration that she gets during her interviews and hopes to share that inspiration with you. View all of Marie Milner’s articles

Related articles

East Kootenay, Creston, Cuisine, Environment, Retail, Small Business What is all the buzz about Honey Bee Zen Apiaries?

A story of transformation and conservation in Creston, B.C.

by Danielle Brost
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Agriculture, Environment, Retail, Small Business Cultivating sustainable gardens in Castlegar

The owners of Dig Garden Centre are all about community, sustainability and growth

by Danielle Brost
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Entertainment and Hospitality, Health & Wellness, Real Estate, Retail, Small Business Top unique businesses for sale in British Columbia’s Kootenay and Columbia Valley regions

Check out this list of businesses for sale across the Columbia Valley and Kootenay regions.

by Julie Matchett and Danielle Brost
View all Retail articles

Comments