Victoria Golden Rods and Reels Fishing and Social Club
held at Esquimalt Anglers 1101 Munro St
in Person and Zoom Meeting Minutes,
Dated December 19 2023
Place: Esquimalt Anglers and Zoom 10:00am
Chaired By: Bill Thomas
Secretary: Bob Comerford
Called to Order: 10:00 AM
Attendees: Mike Galbraith, Jochen Moehr, Barry Freeman, Lyle Freeman, Gord Keast, Tim Witoski, Jens Kristensen, Sandy Mcelroy, Kobus Erasmus, Tony Otten, Ted Leaker, Jim Scott, Wayne Lee, Andre Panteleyev, Bob Comerford, Norman Kent, Gerry Walsh, John Pierce, Dave Robinson, Bill Thomas, Gunner Berg, Ryan Arsenych, Winston Jackson, Dale Scheel, Dave Cooke, Colin Chadwick.
Members Attending by Zoom: Dennis Gedney, Ken Evans, Mick Collins
Motion to accept the minutes last meeting moved by: Mike and Tim
Items Arising from the Minutes:
1) Christmas dinner, fly swap, assistance with prospect boat launch.
2) Ryan needs a ride to dinner tonight. Andre volunteered.
3) There will an opportunity for club members to buy donated fishing gear on Tuesday January 16. Please start collecting all the extra stuff you don't need to support this fund raiser. Sale will happen after meeting.
4) January 20th 9:00 am till noon we will be offering unsold items to the to general public. All profits will go to club. Ron's stuff will be 50-50. To his family and the club. Red tag.
Treasurer: No Report
Sunshine Wendy Gedney: Card to be sent to Mohamed.
Social Bob, Mike: 35 people coming. 5:00 social. Label bowls. Please wear name tags. And name tags for spouses are available as you come in. Sandy Raven made centre pieces.
Membership: Get your membership fee into Sandy Raven.
Fresh Water:
1) Kemp Lake: No power boat, no electric motor. 61 acre lake, small mouth bass Rainbow and Cutthroat trout. 53 feet deep. Boat launch. 54-minute drive from club house. Jochem uses electric motor, fishing good. There does not seem to be any enforcement on the electric motor.
2) Dale: Was fishing Saturday on Prospect Lake at the south end, caught one fish using a Booby Eyed Creamsicle fly. He noticed fish on his fish finder 40 ft down. He recommends Chironomid fly 40 ft. using fast sinking line just off the bottom.
3) Dale's Tip of the week: The books tell you to study the lake before you start fishing. Dale says get the boat in the water start catching fish while you observe the lake for rising fish
4) Tim: Fished Matheson Lake 11:00am on the lake. Had luck with Tom Thumb and Bunny Leaches. Caught a 14" Rainbow.
Salt water: Slow fishing. Some fish reported caught off Constance Bank.
FishOuts: Jan 17 at Kemp Lake.
Fly Tying: Next session Jan 6th at John Pierce's.
First Fly Swap. Jan 23, DaveR will send info out.
Hatchery: Last tour was on Friday. Salmon in the schools program starts in January, once the eggs have eyes they will be put in schools. 85 large coho seen on camera in Millstream. None seen above the fishway at the culvert. 20,000 smolts were put into the Millstream.
PSS: Auction in April. We will Donate 3 fly boxes to the auction. Membership is $10.00. Every member counts so if they are looking for grants it helps to have paid members. Go to the website.
BCWF: They have set up a committee to study the Cowichan River salmon die off.
ACS:
WFA:
Library:
Legacy Fund:
Gillie Club: Jan. 16 booking reservation date for Cluxuwe. See Dennis Gedney for details.
Passage View Motel in Campbell River: GRR rate $99.00. Great fishing in Campbell River. Dave Cooke will show you how to do it.
Speakers Program Lyle:
1) January John Pierce will give a presentation of his recent trip.
2) Jan 23 DC Reid on his recent book.
3) Lye will be bringing in speakers on Bivalve, Habitat protection, Conservation officer.
Give Lyle any speaker suggestions.
Fund Raising: Fishing gear sale Jan 16.
Environment Mick:
1/ email sent to Stuart Walsh , Durrance Lake park manager, regarding repairs needed to Durrance Lake boat launch. Reply will be circulated when received.
2/ Steve Hamilton , BCWF, complimented our club on 2023 achievements and offered future assistance if needed. Please see one page sent recently to members.
3/ BC Regional Hydrologist Dan Ciobotaru provided a one page summary of notes about Craigflower Creek flow monitoring and updating the Elk/ Beaver Lake water balance model. Notes and related reports will be distributed .
4/ Mick is preparing a support letter to World Fisheries Trust in its application to Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC to continue funding from its coastal cutthroat trout fund. He is reviewing the application and budget later this week. The annual highlights newsletter of FFSBC was distributed to members.
5/ Overall 2023 was a good year of continuing progress in its conservation work and the support of the growing number of members and work of the Executive makes it all possible. Particular thanks to John Pierce whose IT work greatly facilitates internal and external communication.
Phone landline 250-598-3294
Website:
New Business: Jan 9th next meeting. Executive meeting to follow.
Executive meeting: Jan 9th.
Meeting Adjourned @ 11:15 am. Merry Christmas everyone.