2023-09-26: 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 Sept. 26 2023

Place: Esquimalt Anglers and Zoom 9:30 Am

Chaired By: Bill Thomas

Secretary: Bob Comerford

Called to Order: 9:30 AM

Attendees: Bob Comerford, Barry , Colin Chadwick, Dennis Gidney ,Dale, Andre, Gunnar, Barry, Norman K. Danny Larvin, Winston , Ken Evans, Colin Chadwick, Mike Galbraith, Dave Cooke, Lee, Rob Butler, Ian Cameron, Nick Collins, Danielle Spence {speaker} Gerry Walsh, Jens Kristenson, Art Raven, Sandy Raven, Bill Thomas

Members Attending by Zoom: Dave, Mike, Jim. Wendy

Motion to accept the minutes last meeting: moved by: Barry, seconded by Dale

Items Arising from the Minutes:
1) One more soup volunteer needed for November social at Goldstream.
2) We still need flies for new members. More fly boxes on order.
3) Club members were at the hatchery. 3,079 clipped. More clipping in late October.

Treasurer Sandy Raven: No report

Sunshine Wendy Gedney: Card was delivered to Ron Duncan. 

Social Bob, Mike: Soup tasting at Goldstream park. Pinks spotted in Goldstream.

Membership: No new members

Fresh Water: Dale and wife were on Elk lake and caught 14 carp. Barry and Dale went out following day and caught carp. Water temp. cold enough for trout. Dale is moving on to fish the Sooke River. If anyone is interested  in Carp fishing ask Dale. Dennis Gidney is the go to guy or Sooke river fishing and what to use
Winston: 10 days at Nimpo lake, west of Williams lake . Rented a cabin. Equipment challenges.  Got a few hits, Moved to Anaheim lake . Rented boat, couldn't keep fish off. Used sinking line and floating line . Fly resembled do Spratley. Saw a Cougar.  Three fish landed all rainbows . Fished Kestrel lake near Prince George Intense fire smoke.
Dave Cooke: Great Summer fishing. Pinks were late at the Campbell River, they were large size. Dave caught 20 fish in morning and same in the evening. Great fishing for Chinooks in Little Qualicum River. 23lb- 28 lb. #6 hook, large hooks will snag fish. Dennis Gidney saw a large herd of Elk at Cowichan Lake. One bull and nine females

Salt Water: Bob - Coho fishing good off Sooke. 30% clipped 80% wild. They are biting on Kenny G Spoons orange and white and anchovies, 70 ft down in 300 ft of water. Bob and Peter landed 4 hatchery lb. the 5lb range.
Tony Otten had similar results. Oct 1st you can keep one wild.


Fly Tying: Florin tied a pike fly leach fly. Four members in attendance. No fly tying this Sat. Next fly tying in two weeks.

Hatchery: Clipping daily. Fence going in 26th Sept. if interested in seeing egg removal you are welcome to come to the hatchery.

PSS: Board meeting. In person. Green crab capture will stop.  will be starting in next June.   If you get green crab while crabbing contact D.F.O.
Forage fish survey . Bill Thomas  is looking for help to do the survey.

BCWF: Any club members with issues to report. Let Dave Cook know and he will forward them to BCWF. Bill asked members if they had  confidence in DFO. The BCWF works on our behalf. If you have important issues you want to see brought forward give them to Dave Cooke or Bill Thomas and they will forward them to the BCWF.

ACS:

WFA: 

Library:

Legacy Fund: 

Gillie Club: Denis brought in flies for Sooke river. He has map of Elk lake .
   
Speakers Program: This is Dave Cooke's last meeting in person. He will continue on zoom. Dave is moving to Campbell River and will report on the rivers on the mid island. We are looking for new person to run the speaker program. This is an important position to fill. The club always gets a good turn out when we have a speaker. Between UVic's speaker program and club members suggestions there are no lack of good subjects to get speakers to address the club. We would like to hear from any members who have hobbies or other interest that might be informative  to do a presentation to the club.

Fund Raising: Use your Fairway Card.

Environment: Mick provided updates on Elk / Beaver lake monitoring and the excellent BC Lake Stewardship Society BCLSS conference at Power to Be at Prospect Lake. The oxygenation system will be activated when BC Hydro provides the electrical power to the new building . Recordings of conference sessions will be provided when available. Mick , along with about a dozen others,  was invited to give input to the biodiversity strategy being prepared by Diamond Head Consulting for District of Saanich. He sent in a couple of pages of notes which were well received. 
Gorge Waterway Initiative and Esquimalt Lagoon CRD groups volunteer appreciation event at Beaver Lake was enjoyable and Mick received a birthday cake and well wishes and made a little inspired by Bob Dylan.

Website:

New Business: Mike Galbraith bought new boat and has room for two passengers. Pinks spotted in Goldstream. First nations encouraged to take all pinks. This is first year they have been spotted in the Goldstream and they might threaten existing stocks. Questions were asked as to  where they came from and if DNA could be taken for analysis. No action to be taken.

Executive Meeting: Oct 3.

Meeting Adjourned: Moved by Rob seconded by Dale