We’re barely into the first week of December and we’ve been hit with a good accumulation of snow here in Campbell River and across the island.
Last week, I delayed getting into Sayward, but I finally got there. The highway was in good condition and it gets icy around Roberts Lake, but no problem, just adjust your speed and watch for black ice.
Any lakes around will be hard to get to because the side roads are snow covered and not plowed regularly. During deer hunting season, hunters are equipped with tires and snow chains and all the gear that goes with it, to get out of a situation if they get stuck, like having a buddy. Snowshoes are a must for better footing and keeping things quiet. All-terrain vehicles are used in some cases.
A few years ago I was at a higher elevation lake and the locals came up in ATVs and had said they were ice fishing during a cold spell. Snow covered lakes at this time are not safe to walk on because the thickness of the ice is not known and in many cases an underground spring can make the ice not very thick and not safe to walk on.
Ice fishing is quite popular inland and ice thickness should be more than five inches to be truly safe and thicker ice is recommended for ice fishing activity around Kamloops, Kelowna and many other cities in British Columbia. Here in Campbell River, Echo will freeze in shallow water, but no attempt to get out in deeper water is advised. In years past, local fishing guides would cut chunks of ice and bring them to Painters Lodge, but those days are long gone.
Some locals head east to visit friends and family in Manitoba and will ice fish for perch, walleye and pike. You can play with bait or try a Panther Martin spinner that really works when fishing the province’s trout lakes.
My first beginner fly tying session will be held this Friday at the Senior Center in Ironwood Mall starting at 1pm and continuing until 3pm. Attendance is free for beginners. Bring a bag as we have supplies to give away and you can take them home and continue with supplies to have fun and build a fly and go fishing. Many people have signed up and we can start teaching people who are new to a fun hobby to go fishing.
I will also be doing a book raffle and shortly before 3 o’clock there will be a raffle among the people attending. I’ve put together a series of fly tying walruses with the whole team to get out and learn fly tying at your own pace and have fun at the same time.