Victoria Golden Rods and Reels Fishing and Social Club
held at Esquimalt Anglers 1101 Munro St
in Person and Zoom Meeting Minutes,
Dated December 17 2024
Place: Esquimalt Anglers and Zoom
Chaired By: Bill Thomas
Secretary: Bob Comerford
Called to Order: 10:00 AM
Attendees: Mike Galbraith, Rich Greenhow, Ken Evans, Barry Feeman, Lyle Freeman, Christopher, Wade, Rick Greenhorn,, Norman Kent, Kobus Erasmus, Lee Takayanagi, Dennis Gedney, Bill Thomas, Ian Cameron, Gerry Walsh, Jens Kristensen, Winston Jackson, Tony Otten, Jim Scott, Mick Collins, Ted Leaker, Tim Witoski, Danny Larvin, Peter Laughren, Barton Bourassa, Norm Jackson, Bob Comerford.
Members Attending by Zoom: Brian Canfield, Wendy Gedney, Sandy Mcelroy, Michael Cory, Mohamed Docrat, Wynn Brown, Ron Estey, Richard Best,
Motion to accept the minutes last meeting: Moved by Barry and Hornet.
Items Arising from the Minutes: Elk lake fish out January 16th.
Christmas potluck this Thursday at club house. Meet 5:00- 5:30 pm dinner at 6:00pm. No charge .10 gift packs.
Treasurer: No Report
Sunshine Wendy Gedney: Andre Panteleyev has lost 12lbs, tires easily. He is in good spirits. Poinsettias will be delivered.
Social Bob, Mike: Christmas dinner this Thursday.
Membership: One new member.
Fresh Water: Tim Witoski has a copies of Dave Larson's favourite fishing spots on the Cowichan River.
Salt Water: No report.
FishOuts: January 16th. Elk Lake. Hot dogs will be served at Hammersly Beach by at 12:00 noon
Fly Tying: no fly tying this Saturday
Hatchery: 200,00 chum and coho eggs this year. Last year they had 3,000.
DFO for the large number of coho retuning this year in all of the streams In all the streams.
PSS : no report
BCWF : no report
ACS : minutes were sent out.
WFA :
Library:
Legacy Fund:
Gillie Club: Elk lake fishing tips. Fish slow with full sink line or downrigger to 18ft. Use a small spinner to attract the dish.
Speakers Program: Lyle is putting together a talk on working on history of herring and wale fishery on the west coast. Three or four more speakers are in the works
John Pierce gave an excellent talk on the oil industry
Environment: DFO lacking public confidence. Bill Thomas attends many environmental groups and no group thinks DFO is doing a good job.
PSS: Working on fish counts for the Colquitz creek. Mick will be in touch with Katrina, local streams 3 groups of stream walkers. One of which is from the hatchery on the Goldstream.
Mick's Report
1/ Mick met with CRD staff and the BEES last Friday regarding monitoring of oxygenation by CRD and consultants. The monitoring and oxygenation are on budget and a report will be presented to the CRD Environmental Services Committee in March 2025.
2/Mick is meeting this Friday online for a CRD update on Thetis Lake water storage and environmental flows.
3/He attended the UBC presentation last night online, on salmon dialogues . The research team is concluding that high level , top down management has failed and more emphasis should be placed in the future on bottom up projects by NGOs and First Nations supported by senior governments.
4/Raincoast Conservation Foundation Tod Creek water quality monitoring preliminary report was distributed to members . The outlook for resident Orcas is not promising as they face numerous challenges including pollution.
Mick referenced a recent UVic Environmental Law Centre report on Fraser River water quality( link sent out this morning Tuesday).
5/ Coho returns on both Craigflower and Colquitz are positive and Mick will get Colquitz estimates from Peninsula Streams as soon as they are available. He would like to see a half or full day workshop on Craigflower research next Sept or October in order to encourage increased stream keeping stewardship.
Mick Phone landline 250-598-3294
Website: Pictures to be put on website forum. No phone # or addresses will be posted.
New Business:
1) $100.00 to a local charity.
2) Fin clipping in January. 12 people needed. 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Jan. 9th.
3) Concern expressed over membership card. Looking into maybe a digital card.
4) Lots of mugs in storage room.
5) Mike posted picture plywood box for fly tying. $50.00 offered. Mike to accept offer.
Meeting Terminated 11.00am Ian and Lyall.