2024-05-28: 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 May 28 2024

Place: Esquimalt Anglers and Zoom

Chaired By: Bill Thomas

Secretary: Bob Comerford

Called to Order: 10:00 AM

Attendees: New member John and Margaret at home show. Local lakes. Mike Galbraith, Richard Greenhorn, Barry Freeman, Lyle Freeman, Winston Jackson, Ira Pratt, Lee Takayanagi, Norman Scott, Dale Scheel, Kobus Erasmus, Ken Evans, Bill Thomas, Tim Witoski, Ian Cameron, Pierre Malo. David Jack, Jim Scott, Dennis Gedney, Mohamed Docrat, Peter Psaila, Bob Comerford, Ryan Arsenych, Tony Otten, Gerry Walsh, Margaret Smith, Don Mayer, Dave Robinson Gunnar Berg, Mick Collins.

Members Attending by Zoom: Dave Cooke, Wendy Gedney, Michael Corry 

Motion to accept the minutes last meeting: Moved by Ian and Tim

Items Arising from the Minutes: Bill attended the hatchery webinar. The talk was on the hatchery at Prince Rupert. This is a recovery hatchery. Different rivers have different brood stock. They take the eggs at riverside then try to mimic the river conditions in tanks Their tanks are at different temperatures. Water sources come from wells and river water. They have a volunteer base of 200.

Treasurer: 

Sunshine Wendy Gedney: All healthy. Let Wendy know if anyone needs card.

Social Bob, Mike:
1) Chill cookout 18 people in attendance. 4 Chilis. Good weather lots of fun
2) Corn roast in late August.

Membership: Membership badges late in coming. We have 80 members in club

Fresh Water:
1) Dale maybe looking for new fishing partner. He landed 20 at Prospect, Barry caught a tiny bass. All fish caught on a tiger barred leach.
2) On Langford Lake early morning between the two islands. Two cutthroat 12 to 14 ". One 20.25 inch  3 and half pounds. One on booby eyed. Chartreuse with white worked best on Langford.
3) Tip. Non slip loop knot. Best knot.
4) Winston. Prospect nothing landed. He needs to sharpen his hooks. He asked about DFO survey for freshwater lakes.

Salt Water: Whale flags for boats available. Flown from boat indicating whales in area

FishOuts:
1) Prospect Lake 16 people came, most people caught fish. Mike got skunked.
2) Victoria water board tour of Sooke lake water shed. Contact Ken Evans. June 7th
3) Next FishOut on Langford Lake, June 27th.

Fly Tying:
1) Next fly tying Zoom session will be in September. Keep your eye out for emerging may flies. They should be out soon.
2) Early September Dave will host another fly casting clinic.

Hatchery: Feeding fry. Because of die off they have 65 thousand Coho. General cleaning. Next Clipping date to be announced.

PSS: Green crab capture training. Five teeth on either side of eyes. Do not throw back.  Put in freezer to kill. They destroy eel grass. Eat smaller crabs. Came from bilge water from San Francisco 40 years ago.

BCWF: Kid in July camp 16 kids registered, looking for volunteers. Regional meeting in July. 

ACS: Meeting next Wednesday. Amalgamated Conservation society. It was reported that a good guide fishing for 6 months could potentially catch 30,000 lbs of salmon.

WFA:

Library:

Legacy Fund: 

Gillie Club: Dennis read out report of bear incident. Bear bangers not allowed in summer. Dog spray can be carried on key chain with bear screamer. If using bear spray make sure you have training.

Future speaker possibility. Whistle is best choice and avoidance.   
   
Speakers Program:  Lyle mentioned that we made a good impression on DFO and he will arrange for another DFO speaker in September.

Environment Mick:
Anyone interested in attending the following meetings can contact Mick
– Tuesday June 4 at 1:30pm --tour of proposed ' beaver pond ' area restoration near Craigflower creek HandyDART site                                                                                                            - Thursday June 6  at 2pm – Elk Beaver Lake  recreation advisory group at CRD Parks headquarters                                                                                                           - Monday June 10 at Noon – Watershed security fund coalition online meeting
- Monday June 17 at 10am -toxic tire compound presentation at CRD headquarters downtown
Mick gave a summary of progress particularly on Colquitz and Craigflower. He noted smolt count this year was much higher on Colquitz than Craigflower. Craigflower count last year was much higher than this year, which may reflect last year's drought conditions. He continues to work on improving hydrological data for both these watersheds. Mick can be contacted at mickpcollins@outlook.com Phone landline 250-598-3294.

Website:

New Business:
1) Craigflower Monday 3 smolts counted. Week before nothing. Trap maybe pulled soon. 4,000 smolts counted so far in Colquitz. Some were from 2022. Coho live 52 weeks in fresh water. Chinook two years in freshwater.
2) Rowing events on Elk Lake July 2-8, 12-14. August 3rd and 4th.
3) AED is located in kitchen, no training needed, if interested CPR course could be made available.
4) Pinks in August at Campbell River. Dave Cooke will tell us when they arrive.
5) Chum in Sooke River in October.
6) Gear fishing rep needed for fall.
7) Next meeting 10th September.
 
Meeting Terminated: 11.00am Mohamed and Dale.