2024-03-05: GRR Weekly Meeting, Minutes

[John Pierce]

Victoria Golden Rods and Reels Fishing and Social Club
held at Esquimalt Anglers 1101 Munro St
in Person and Zoom Meeting Minutes,
Dated March 5 2024

Place: Esquimalt Anglers and Zoom 10:00am

Chaired By: Bill Thomas

Secretary: Bob Comerford

Called to Order: 10:00 AM

Attendees:
1) In Person: Bob Comerford, Mike Galbraith, Norman Kent, Barry Freeman, Dale Scheel, Pierre Malo , Ian Cameron, Kobus Erasmus, Winston Jackson, Bill Thomas, Jochen Moehr, Colin Chadwick, John Francis, Tim Witoski, Tony Otten, Gary Florentine, Dave Robinson, Ryan Arsenich Ted leaker, Gunnar Berg, Jim Scott, Andre Pantelyev, Gerry Walsh, Peter Laughren, Sandy Raven, Mick Collins Rob Butler.
2) By Zoom: Sandy McElroy, Mohamed Docrat, Michael Cory, Dennis Gedney, Ken Evans, Dave Cooke.

Motion to accept the minutes last meeting: moved by Barry and Ian

Items Arising from the Minutes: Montana fishing trip in April. Apprx Cost $2500, Car pooling, See Bill Thomas for information.

Treasurer Sandy: Report posted on chat line. Use your fairway card promotion we get 5% of what you spend.

Sunshine Wendy Gedney: No report.

Social Bob, Mike:
1) St Patrick's Day Pot lLuck celebration on Saturday March 16. $5.00 per person donation. 18 people have said they will attend. Please wear something green. Next Tuesday after meeting help is required to help put up decorations, for decorating.
2) Outdoor show more info to come.

Membership Gerry: 50 full memberships, 6 associate.

Fresh Water:
1) Dale fished Sunday at Prospect, landed six. Monday landed 12, rough weather. He used chironomids, Blood worm, size 14 hook copperhead colour works best. He told the club about the big one that got away.
2) Dale Tip of the week: Dale uses downriggers on the local lake to take the guess work out of finding the right depth for fishing.
3) Andre: Fished the Cowichan River, the water condition good. Fish from Schutz Falls to the trestle, used nymph sand streamers. Fished for five hours with no luck. The road conditions were bad on the Malahat. Check B.C Cam. for driving conditions. 
4) Sandy to fish the Vedder River next week and will give a report.

Salt Water:
1) Peter's boat is still dry docked. Sooke, Pedder Bay and Whirl Bay the fishing is fair. Catch Limit is 2 hatchery per day. People are using Anchovy in teaser head.
2) Victoria waterfront is picking up. Constance bank 10 lb. plus. Esq. Anglers have FaceBook website for info on fishing.
3) Bill Thomas encourages everyone to put the heads of hatchery fish in containers if provided at marinas. All kinds of info to be had from the salmon heads.
4) Halibut fishing slow. Most fish caught in the 15 to 20 lb range.

FishOuts: March 20 Prospect Lake.

Fly Tying Dave:
1) Carey Special and Doc Spratley all round best fly in multiple colours. Slow paddle sinking line. This Saturday Dave will demonstrate a Shrimp Fly.
2) Dave Robinson will host fly casting seminar at Elk lake in late March.

Voluntereing:
1) Hatchery: Feeding fish. Ponding fish is delayed because of cold water. Possibly end of March. Pit tag on 14th March 10,000 fish. Gun device use a hypodermic needle to insert into abdomen of fish. Last year only a few fatalities
2) PSS: Auction coming up
3) BCWF: Trying to unite various groups. Regional AGM in April. Dave Cooke suggested a member of the club should attend. Provincial AGM in the Okanogan.
4) Kids summer Camp 10 to 13 years. Must be related to BCWF member. No cost.
5) ACS: Minutes to be sent out.
6) WFA: 

Library:

Legacy Fund: 

Gillie Club Dennis:
1) Story on fishing in hail storm. Dennis has some donated fishing gear. Chest waders size 9. Rain coat.
2) He talked about using Doc Spratley fly on Elk Lake. 8 hook. 15 to 18 ft. on downrigger.
3) Lake Cowichan 60 feet down using kokanee spoon, troll fast.

Speakers Program: Jochem Moehr to speak next week on fishing for Sea Run Cutthroat in Sooke that are after chum fry.

Fund Raising:

Environment:
1) Friends of Millstream are working Riparian zones at Mary Lake. Hatchery has put 20,000 smolts at Mary Lake. Beaver dam removed. Habitat acquisition trust gets 30% money from fishing licenses. Contact with BC conservation officer to give talk to club. Habitat conservation trust.

Mick Collin's report:
1/ Mick met with Doug Bancroft, Region 1 President, BCWF and discussed opportunities for future cooperation with BCWF and other fishing clubs.
2/ the Beaver Elk Environmental Stewards AGM was on Sunday and successful. They reported on several projects including monitoring assistance to the CRD in algae and weed concerns. They have a little boat and would welcome donation or purchase if anyone has a trailer. Katrina Adams, PSS, presented the results of her analysis with Dave Clough, of Colquitz River aquatic health.
3/ the BEES , Mick and Rebecca , CCS-WFT, met online with CRD staff to discuss Elk /Beaver Lake water monitoring and will continue to meet every 2 months. The CRD monitoring program is in good shape and the oxygenation levels are good right now.
4/ Ally Badger BCCF, will visit local watersheds Monday April 15 to look at potential sites for increased waterflow monitoring equipment installation.
5/ Mick will report next week on meetings with CRD and stewards on Colquitz /Craigflower data project and CRD presentation on Beaver management in CRD Parks.
6/ Mick reported on the CRD Board's direction to staff to increase information availability to the public on several aspects of biosolids. Please visit CRD website under Biosolids for more information.
Mick: phone 250-598-3294 landline

Website:

New Business:
1) Regatta at Elk lake. Next one is on May 25 and 26th. No Parking available.
2) Dave Cooke came up some fund raising suggestions. Fly casting golf suggestion from Dennis in the summer.

Meeting Adjourned: Colin and Barry