There were over 25 events happening in B.C. for the Family Fishing weekend June 13 to 15. It was a chance to get the family out fishing with no license required. Few months ago John Bruce President of the Gold River Rod and Gun Club had contacted me to set up a fly tying display and have some fun at Star Lake.
I get a chance to drive to Gold River at least once a year, and this would be a good chance to visit the community and see how people enjoy the outdoors in that area. Camping and fishing is high on the list along with kayaking, canoeing, hiking and swimming. John met me at the Baymont by Wyndham hotel in the morning on the Sunday and it would be a short drive to get a few items at the Rod and Gun Club then make the short drive on the dusty road to Star Lake. There is a limited parking area to unload then walk to the day use area on the lake. The Rod and Gun Club works with the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. who provided various prizes for the kids who would try to catch the biggest fish. Families started to arrive about 9am and the hot dogs chips and pop would be ready for noon, then prizes would be handed out.
Watching the kids get out their tackle and fishing rods was interesting, they had worms spinners and a few fly patterns were included and at the end of the fishing day a number of sculpins were caught along with a few trout, all fish were measured and released. The dock was used all day and the shoreline is easy to get out a fly rod and swing some flies into the area where fish might bite. From my fly tying sessions in Campbell River, Doug Lorenzen made a number of fly patterns and those were packaged up and given out to the kids to see what they would hook. I had a number of fishing books donated and those were given out as additional prizes.
The drive to Gold River from Campbell River is about one hour and there are various lakes to see along the way once you hit Strathcona Park. On highway 28 at various creeks, a number of people will stop and fish the Elk River.
Local lakes have good fishing opportunities for fishing and with the good weather the trout are moving about and conditions are favourable to get out the small boat or belly boat and hit the water.
The Campbell River water-flow should be getting better. During the summer, when the pinks are in, you will see anglers all over the place. At the moment, good catch and release trout fishing is available and undercover rocks feel like bowling balls hidden in the water and wading is difficult at the best of times.
In a few weeks, I will have a date and time for a free fly tying session here in Campbell River.
