2024-11-12: 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 November 12 2024

Place: Esquimalt Anglers and Zoom

Chaired By: Mike Galbraith

Secretary: Bob Comerford

Called to Order: 10:00 AM

Attendees: Mike Galbraith, Rick Cohen, Ken Evans, Barry Freeman, Lyle Freeman, Lee Takayanagi, Richard Greenham. Norm Kent, Colin Chadwick, Tim Witoski, Gerry Walsh, Florin Sabec, Mohamed Docrat, Dave Robinson, Winston Jackson, Ryan Arsenych, Andre Panteleyev Peter Laughren, Barry Gorden, Tony Otten, Bob Comerford.
Members Attending by Zoom: Dave Cooke, Sandy McElroy. Dennis Gedney. Michael Cory, Wendy Gedney

Motion to accept the minutes last meeting: Moved by Rick and Rick.

Items Arising from the Minutes:
1) The fish fence at Goldstream has been removed and a thank you to all members who helped out.
1) The Craigflower Fence has been removed.
3) 6 people wish to see fish ladder on Millstream. A date will be decided on.

Treasurer: Fairway cards are available. We get 5% of your purchase back to the club.

Membership: Membership dues are due. Sandy posted the cost of dues. $75.00 for single, $100 for Family and $35.00 for Associated. Also listed is what your responsibilities and benefits are of belonging to the GRR.

Sunshine Wendy Gedney:
1) Sandy McElroy's corneal operation did not succeed. Please keep him in mind if you are in the Sidney area and can visit him. He cannot drive.
2) A Card was off to Mrs Thomas.
3) Jim McDonald was contacted. He is well and will join us on Zoom.   

Social Bob, Mike: November 21 Soup social at Goldstream Park. This is a great opportunity to see salmon spawning and share some good food and friendship with fellow club members. We have enough soup volunteers but the number of people who have committed to going is low so let  Mike know as soon as possible if you are coming and what food item you intend on bringing.

Membership: no report

Fresh Water:
1) Dale: All quiet.
2) Robinsons Sporting Store. Sandy Mcelroy broke his rod and will receive a new rod for $75.00. He was very pleased with the service.
3) The fly fishing film at Robinson's was good and well attended. Talk about broken rods, some have no fault policy. Sage and Reddington have a good repair policy.
4) There was talk about last minutes report on using barbed hooks where hatchery fish are and it was concluded to be false. No barbed hooks in any lakes

Salt Water:
1) Pete and Bob had luck at Sooke. Winter spring fishing at Constance bank is apparently excellent. Some say it is because of all the freighters at anchor because of the strike. The speculation is that anchors stir up the bottom and which brings feeder fish for the salmon  Fish close to the bottom.

FishOuts: Fish out later this month.

Fly Tying: Fly tying this Saturday by Florin. 

Hatchery:

PSS: 1500 releases in millstream.

BCWF: 24th of November. Dave Cooke will be attending Saltair. Agenda is out. Dave asked for $100.00 for gas money to attend. On a motion it was accepted

ACS: Minutes were sent out by Bill Thomas 

WFA: 

Library:

Legacy Fund: 

Gillie Club: Dennis will be talking about B.C. Wild life insurance   
   
Speakers Program: Winston presentation on high arctic trip. 76degrees north.

Environment:
1) Assessment work on Craigflower Creek.  612 coho above average return. Three members from GRR were helping Bruce Bevan. Rick, Ian and Lyle helped keep the fish fence clean from leaves.
2) Lyall gave an impassioned talk about all the work that Bruce Bevan has been doing over the last 50 years on the Craigflower Creek. He is asking the club to consider taking a more active role next year working to keep the creek healthy 
3) Bob took part in a water sampling of Gabo Creek for tire residue toxins.

Website:

New Business:
1) AGM Agenda November 26th following meeting.
2) We need a secretary for next year, possible media contact person, and a person to run the Guest Speaker Program. We need three people to help canvass for these positions.
3) Mohamed has volunteered to be the president of the World Fisheries Trust. He joined recently and saw a need to improve what the WFT does. One thing they do is provide aquariums in schools and provide salmon fry to mature and then released in local streams.
4) Dave Cooke: Dave talked about fishing on the Cambell and Quinsam rivers Fishing was also good from shore.

Meeting Terminated: 11:00 am by Norm. Seconded by Colin