Victoria Golden Rods and Reels
Weekly Meeting – September 15, 2020
CHAIRED BY: DavidC.
LOCATION: Zoom Videoconference.
ATTENDANCE: 20 Members, no Guests.
CONVENED: 9:32 am.
LEGACY COMMITTEE: Held Zoom meeting and reviewed four donation proposals -
1) $500 to Alexandra Morton for Sea Lice Research Project - Committee recommended take to Members for vote.
2) $500 to BCWF for Salmon River Property Acquisition - Committee recommended no as 1) small amount vs project size, 2) our members don't fish there, and iii) funds used better to home.
3) $1000 for Peninsula Streams Society & $1000 for World Fisheries Trust for their joint submission to Govt for Expression of Interest to
BC Salmon Restoration & Innovation Fund for Craigflower Creek, Colquitz River & Portage Inlet Salmonid Restoration. - Recommendation that support.
4) $500 for South Van Island Coop for Sooke Basin Net Pen Project - Recommendation that approve and if not 2) Land Acquisition then should increase donation to $1000 as local project.
LEGACY FUNDING:
Have quorum as over 15 Member attendees.
Vote 1) Approved.
Vote 2) Approved to support recommendation.
Vote 3) Approved.
Vote 4) Approved at $1000.
CONSERVATION REPORT (MickC):
1) MickC: CRD Board Meeting, full house. Passed park staff's recommendation to go for Federal funding for Elk Lake Oxygenation.
2) MickC: Elk Lake Fishing Dock Replacement - Thrifty's Smile Progam to fund.
3) MickC: Will attend upcoming Gorge Waterway Initiative meeting on lighting at planned Ralmax Concrete Plant's new silo.
4) JimM: Past have provided significant time and funding for projects but minimal recognition. Need to include as recognition and educate public.
5) MikeC: Available is a booklet on Lost Rivers of Victoria.
MINUTES: Adopted from Sep 8, 2020 as distributed.
ITEMS ARISING FROM MINUTES: None.
TREASURER'S REPORT (JohnF): No update.
SUNSHINE REPORT (Vacant): Discussion.
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS (RonD):
1) WinstonJ: Was going to fish at Saratoga Beach and Oyster River where water level too low, see TidesForFishing.com.
2) DennisG: Buttle Lake, beautiful weather, but fishing bad, fish at river mouth but surface was 72F, have long new boat launch at Chris Creek. Lake was 500 steps from campsite, all marsh and gravelly, so treacherous to walk to boat. Ralph River low water. Fire wood very expensive.
3) DaveC: Campbell River, good but poorer than month ago, Chinook running but release only. Still some fresh Pinks. Discovery Wharf very busy with 20, catching 1 large Chinook in evening. Campbell River campground and Miracle Beach Campsites has room. Checked freshwater rivers on way to Victoria but no-one fishing. Englishman River well fed with water, no fishers.
4) BillT: Sooke River last week, nothing. Heard that top at Sooke River Fence there is a couple 6# Chums and that huge schools of salmon in harbour. Fisherman off end of Billings Spit, didn't see any catch.
5) SandyM: Heard that Salmon in interior are soft and lice, in Newfoundland normally a sign that fish in mud in lake trying to get cool.
6) RonE: Fishing trip at Fortress Lake Lodge in Rockies via Calgary, expensive but fantastic, some days excess of 40 Eastern Brooke Trout, average 3 # mostly with sunken lines, 4 on dry Mouse fly. Will write report. Need headlamp with red light for dusk hook removal.
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS:
1) No reports.
AMALGAMATED CONSERVATION SOCIETY (BrianP): Meeting two weeks ago, DFO funded $1000 for Colquitz River Fence. Nitinat Hatchery supplying 1 mil fry to Sooke Pen. Would like to stand back from position, BillT to takeover.
VOLUNTEERING:
1) Colquitz River fence (BillT): Agreed take Thursday Morning volunteer support, will send out email requesting volunteers.
2) Goldstream Hatchery (BillT): Feeding fish, preparing fence and tank for Sep 22 install. Yesterday had large die-off of ~4000 fish and again today, investigation ongoing.
LIBRARY REPORT (ColinC): Absent, no report.
FLY TYING MEETING (DaveR): DaveR small Midge Pattern including how to bottom fish, Florin to demo laser wrap fly on Saturday Sep 19, 2020.
GILLIE REPORT (DennisG): Tried new anchoring system at Buttle Lake as heavy boat called Anchor Buddy using bungy cord to pull boat back into deep water, worked really well.
SPEAKER PROGRAM (BobC): Have new UVic Speakers List, agreed that Zoom vs outside meeting schedule is flexible. Will send out list for input on what like to hear. RonD says Chris Boss OK to speak in person.
SOCIAL (SandyR): Goldstream Park open air event being planned.
WEBSITE (JohnP): Created Treasurer@GoldenRodsandReels.com email address for JohnF.
MEMBERSHIP (JohnF): Annual Membership Fees due in November, will set up Interac eTransfer for easier payments. Approved Fees same as last year.
NEW BUSINESS:
1) BobC: Lake Cowichan property owners received letter that weir to be raised for more stable summer river flow, engineering starting.
2) RonD: Canoma & Nitinat Rivers are normally full of Chinook Salmon, Nitinat Hatchery still open (now paid staff, no volunteers), Chinook Coho Chum coming in.
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday September 22 meeting may be outdoors depending on smoke. JimM proposes Mt Douglas Park. BillT: Three other groups at Windsor Park last week. Need central location.
ADJOURNED: 11:07 am.