2024-12-10: 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 December 10 2024

Place: Esquimalt Anglers and Zoom

Chaired By: Bill Thomas

Secretary:  Bob Comerford

Called to Order: 10:00 AM

Attendees: Mike Galbraith, Ken Evans, Gary Florentine Dale Scheel, Barry Freeman, Lyle Freeman, Lee Takayanagi, Colin Chadwick, Peter Laughren, Gerry Walsh, Ian Cameron, Rick Cohen, Pierre Malo, Kobus Erasmus ,Bob Comerford, Danny Larvin, Mohamed Docrat, Jim Scott, Grant Mackenzie,
Bill Thomas, Ryan Arsenych, Tim Witoski, Tony Otten.
.
Members Attending by Zoom: John Francis, Dennis Gedney Mick Cillins, Dave Cooke.

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

Items Arising from the Minutes: Pierre caught a large fish on Langford lake at the last fish out that wasn't recorded in minutes.

Motion put forward to Tim and Bob to act as shared secretary for 2025.

Recognition of Lee for preparing coffee for well over six years. A job well done. Bravo!!!

Treasurer: No report

Sunshine: Wendy Gedney.   

Social Bob, Mike: 26 people attending Christmas dinner. Two people have volunteered to cook the turkeys. Please let Mike know what you are bringing. Date 19th of December. 5:30 meet and greet dinner at 6:00.

Membership: No report.

Fresh Water:
1) Dale: Ken and Dale fished Prospect on Wednesday. They trolled around the lake . There were a few risers. They anchored and Chironomid fished. They Landed 7 trout.  Ken went for dunking in lake. Cheloniid flies have white bead head and a copper head. Caught over 20 fish in six hours. Move around if you are chironomid fishing. Try different areas if fishing slow.
2) Dale went out Monday trolling bunny haired leach. Caught a 19 inch trout.
3) Dale's Tip: If You see someone catching fish and you aren't, don't just ask them what fly they are using but type of tippet, line weight etc.
4) Piere: Elk Lake Sunday. 9 -20 caught. On downrigger 20 feet down. By the rowing club. Used a Beaded black leach. 10 feet leader full sink line speed slow. Launching pad still down 3 feet. He uses Williams spoon. Brass colour on cloudy days, Sunny silver.

Salt Water:
1) Peter demonstrated fish release for rock fishing. You must have one of these if you are fishing for rock fish. You attach it to the rock fish fin with a clip and sink it to depth and fish is released. Rick Cohen talked about using a needle to puncture the bladder and claims it is more effective.
2) For rock fishing go to Pedder Bay. Right by drop off. Discovery Island. check DFO for excluded areas. Season is May 1st to 30th September. Red snapper and yellow eyed not catchable.
3) Salmon fishing spotty. Sooke doing okay around Secretary Island, Pedder B ay they are using spoons and anchovies. Constance bank. Bob and Peter caught a 4 lb. Chinook and lost a large one. It is Challenging to stay on the plateau with the strong current.
4) Rick talked about the importance of dog fish and Mackerel to the salmon. There are still some uneducated fisherman who hate dog fish and dispatch them if caught fishing.

FishOuts: Elk Lake for January fish out. Date to be announced.

Fly Tying: Secret flies. Florin tied 2 flies. Mike from Edmonton tied two. Good to see different fly tying techniques. Fly tying on Zoom starts at 9:00. for coffee and chat with fly tying 0 to 11. This Saturday.

Hatchery Grant: Winding down, egg takes and school tours. They have 29 trays of coho with 4,000 eggs per tray. April release for chum. Coho will be kept for a year and half. School tour of 1st nations were  super interested. The teacher was speaking to them in their native Wsanec language. They have different names for thr salmon. The eggs from female are put into a  bowl and sperm milt  from the male and are mixed by hand. When you add water the sperm are activated. Jack Salmon two year old fish. DFO rules science at hatchery are not getting big fish from hatchery. Russia, China, USA and Canada putting in Billions of hatchery fish into ocean, but food is not available. Some rivers are dry because of agriculture. Fungus in different steams. DFO does not want eggs to be transferred to different streams for fear of spreading fungus

PSS : $10.00 join membership. Get news letter.

BCWF : Dave Cooke.  Campbell river fishing is still good. Boats are decorated for christmas.

ACS :  minutes to  be forwarded

WFA : 

Library:

Legacy Fund: 

Gillie Club: Elk lake fishing tips for next week.   
   
Speakers Program: Lyal is preparing a talk on whale harvesting history for Sidney Anglers on whales. He will speak about this in January.

Imax. Special show on Blue Whales.

Environment: Peninsula year end report. Mick sent out on chat Todd creek water quality.

Website: 150 connections to our u tube on fly tying.

New Business:
1) We low on stickers. These come in 2 inch and 3 inch sizes. 250. 0f each $712.32. 500 $738.008. Thes are produced locally and helps to advertise the club.
2) BCWF Insurance: Only liability insurance, anyone wants comprehensive insurance see Mohamed for contact person, Directors are covered by insurance.
3) Dave. Fish out at Cowichan Lake in spring.  Dennis to get back with more info.   

Meeting  Terminated 11.30am lyal and Ian.