McLean Clan Lake

Mclean Clan Lake

A chance conversation with a couple I met while waiting for my jeep to cool down as it had overheated while pulling the tent trailer up the 201 from Okanagan Falls, had me headed to Mclean Clan Lake.

Apparently you cold now drive to it from the Derenzy Forest Service Road. It was a little later than I would have liked, but I was headed down the 201 to reacquaint myself with this lake. It had been 20 years since I had hiked in with my young family.

As usual I was rewarded with several mule deer and whitetail deer crossing the road. Passing the 28 kilometre sign I sooon took a left hand turn onto the Derenzy Forest Service Road. Not knowing what to expect, I zeroed my odometer trip meter as I began my search. Keeping to the main road I bypassed several roads and then came to the Culper Lake Forest Service Road.

My maps and GPS indicated Culper Lake lay between Mclean Clan and Derenzy Lake so I took this road and noted my odometer showed 4.9 km. Ignoring the Culper Lake Raods 100 thru 300 I kept on going to the end of the road. This did not look promising, but a short distance back at a fairly sharp corner there were several vehicles parked. I headed back there and investigated.

There was a fairly rough bush road heading in the right direction. Parking I gathered my gear and began walking. This road was just a little over half a kilometre in length and sure enough I ended up and McLean Clan Lake. Here I met Fred Morris and a grup on a weekend Stag party. Hats off to this group they left the site in beautiful condition. There is also a great frame here to drape a tarp over for shelter. Thanks guys.

After a brief talk I followed an ATV trail to a point down the lake and began to fish from shore.Soon it became apparent I should have gone back for the canoe. Activity near the shore was very spotty while out in the centre of the lake there was a fairly consistent rise of failry decent fish. I would not at all be surprised to land a trout up to a kilogram out of this small lake. The largest fish I’ve landed was about 35 centimetres or 14 inches in length.

One side of the earthen dam was washed out, but is does not seem to have affected the fish habitat too much. There are still portions of the shoreline that have a lot of trees left in the water, but also some areas where one can cast from the shore.

My recommendation, if at all possible, is to take in a canoe or a car top boat. Be aware, though, that the last little bit an be very rough on a vehicle. Experience on rough raods and knowledge of your vehicle will allow you to get into some very interesting spots, but always carry emergency gear with you.

The afternoon trip back home was very interesting as I saw tow four point mule deer bucks and a two point mule deer and a while tail buck of undetermined point count. Makes one think of the coming hunting season. However, as there is a restriction on using a vehicle for hunting or to carry game out this would ve a very long drag or carry to get a deer out from here. Still, I expect that September and early October will see me carrying my canoe in here for a decent crack at this lake.

Save a fish - Shower with a friend

Save a fish

Sorry no picutre this time.

Help save a fish, shower with a friend. Sound ridiculous? Not entirely.

Every year at this time as I fish the higher elevation lakes in the local watersheds, slipping and sinking in the muddy shore lines, I give extra thoughts to water conservation. Gone are the lush foreshores of early spring and summer to be replaced by muddy banks as the reservoirs are drawn to their lowest levels.

Each year the demand for domestic water and irrigation water for agriculture increases by leaps and bounds. The solution always seems to be to build more reservoirs, more pumping stations and more treatment facilities. However, there are many small measures we can take to reduce our water usage from the mountain reservoirs, which when added up can make quite a difference.

We are all aware of the importance of certain principles for irrigating: water only the required areas (not roads and sidewalks). Set your sprinklers or drip irrigation system to come on in the evening and morning hours.

Urbanization demands more water and also unfortunately helps to destroy the natural water conserving qualities of the land. Swamps are drained or filled to make way for developments and of course with new subdivisions and higher population density there is always a greater demand for paved roads. Paved or concrete roads are relatively impervious to water and rather than naturally seeping into the water table the rain rushes into the water-courses. Now, if someone could develop a road surface that is both environmentally- and vehicle-friendly that would be great.

Perhaps though some of the biggest advances can come with regard to domestic use. Many changes can be made to house design to reduce ineffectual water usage. In most homes there is quite a distance between hot water tanks and sinks or showers. Running the water until it gets warm is a waste of many litres of water. New construction or renovations with hot water tanks installed near any outlet requiring hot water, sinks, tubs and washing machines would be more environmentally friendly.

Food for thought, if every toilet in the Okanagan were a low flush toilet using on 6 litres of water per flush, our daily consumption would be over 5,000,000 litres daily, just for this necessity alone. There are still a lot of older high volume toilets still out there at the present. The old adage “If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down,“ sounds a little gross, but it is one means of conserving water. Anyone interested in investigating the waterless toilet system that has as its’ by-product a humus which can be used for fertilizer? Water is a precious resource and one of the reasons most of us have moved to this area, yet as our population explodes the amount available is slowly diminishing. Perhaps it is time to incorporate some water saving solutions into our building codes.

Think about saving fish while you are doing little things like brushing your teeth. Leaving the tap running easily uses 80% more water in this simple task. Sure it’s nice to stand under the running shower while washing your hair or soaping, but it sure uses a lot more water. I’ve checked it out and I when I shower that way I use as much water as if I were having a bath.

Now I some times love to soak in a bath after a long sweaty day at work or other physical exercise. It stands to reason that two bodies in the tub use far less water. Hmmm. I think I’ll save a fish and either shower or bathe with a friend.

Do your bit to save a fish, shower with a fiend too.

Stinky Lake Trail

Stinky Lake East trail head

Stinky Lake

Stinky Lake West Trail Head

Stinky Lake Trail

The Stinky Lake Trail is quite different than the river channel trail. It is a hike that gives you a good workout. Take lots of water, as there is no drinkable water source here. The Oliver trailhead at the Western end of 107^th Street leads through a fence to a steep ascent on loose gravel. There are many side trails just begging to be explored, but I first wanted to hike right through to the Fairview - White Lake Road.

This uphill section has great views of Oliver and the valley as it passes through the rough desert country with some sage, bunch grass and a fair number of Ponderosa Pines and the odd Douglas Fir. Early in April the buttercups, yellow bell bulbs were already starting to bloom; spring beauties (fairy potatoes) would soon follow, as I understand will the wild onions.

There were lots of deer tracks in the dust (even a few snake tracks) and I was lucky enough to spot twenty mule deer, likely does. There is also lots of sign of ATV traffic and trail bike traffic, particularly at the western end near the Fairview - White Lake Road. I am not against their use, but it does bother me to see the hillsides torn up unnecessarily. Used with proper respect they do not need to create this damage.

I kept to the main trail up to the top and bypassed the one over to the water tower, making a note of the one leading off to the communication tower and helipad to check out on the way back. This was at the 1.27 km. mark. The top was about 1.4 km and then the decent began to Stinky Lake and the Fairview - White Lake Road. I likely could have taken a right at the fence just near the top, which would have been a bit longer, but easier walking.

As it was I had some fairly steep descents, as I took the right hand track at the first intersection on the way down. Reaching the bottom of the second steep incline I went left down a step section, crossed a track and climbed up hill before dropping down to Stinky Lake.

From Stinky Lake there was just one more little hill and incline before the trail levelled out and headed for the trailhead on the Fairview White Lake Road. Here there is actually more room for easy parking and the trip in is not quite so strenuous. Total distance on this route was just less than 3.5 km.

Heading back, I took a little road that branched off to the right at Stinky Lake. This wound around and crossed the original track I had taken before circling back and splitting. Keeping to the right I was soon back to the track I had taken in so I retraced my steps back to the helipad trail. I reckon if I had taken the left hand track it would have been easier walking up to the top near the fence line.

The trail to the helipad is just under .4 km and here you again get great views of the valley. Apparently this pad is used for training purposes by the flight school. From this point you could head back to the main trail or head down a steep trail for just over .4 km to meet up with the main trail. This was the route I chose and yes, found quite a few bottles where the ATVs had not been. Please remember to carry in and carry out.

Good news! Just this spring charges were laid against a person mud bogging through this sensitive area. Keep up the good work.
　

Vaseaux Lake

Vaxeaux Lake looking South

Vaseaux Lake looking North

Vaseaux Lake - young fisherman

I had to stop to take this picture at Vaseaux Lake, for this is what it is all about, sharing the quiet beauty of nature with loved ones. It did not matter to this little girl that the fishing was still slow since waters were still a little cool for good fish activity. These moments will stay with her and she will be richer for each experience like this.

While I mainly fish the high country lakes it was only a matter of time until I felt the need to sample the pleasures of the lower lakes in the region. While ice will cover some of the higher lakes into May -- sometime even June if the winter is cold enough -- the lakes of the valley bottom open up much sooner and I have seen people out as early as February. Most often, though, it is in March before the numbers begin to pick up and by April fishing is in full swing.

Keep in mind that the 2009-2011 regulations show that the river and lagoons at the south end of Vaseaux Lake are included in the spring closure April 1^st to June 30^th.

The northern third of Vaseaux Lake is quite shallow with a maximum depth of perhaps 3 metres, while the middle portion drops to about 24 metres with another reasonably deep spot west of Hatfield Island. Both the east side by the highway and the west side near the old railway tracks on the southern half of the lake drop off reasonably fast. This allows easy access to better conditions for the fish.

What a selection of fish in both Vaseaux and Osoyoos Lakes! Of course we are familiar with the bass and rainbow trout, and have heard of yellow perch and whitefish. Lesser known are carp, black catfish, peamouth chub and pumpkinseed, to mention a few species. I was particularly impressed with the spunky pumpkinseed -- what a beautiful little fish it is! I can imagine a few of these filleted and in the frying pan.
A quick check of protected species shows none in this lake, but be as knowledgeable as possible and err one the safe side. The pumpkinseed is a small fish with an oval type and compressed body, which reaches up to 20 centimetres in length. The back is greenish and it has a fair amount of orange on its cheeks and sides. A couple of sharp spines made handling a bit tricky.

Yellow perch are a bit larger, reaching 30 centimetres in length. These fish are yellowish with dark bars across the back half way down the sides. Voracious feeders, they take small fish along with a diet of insects and crustaceans. Because of their prolific nature and appetite for small fish they can soon decimate an otherwise vibrant sport fishery if introduced into a new lake.

Remember that whichever fish you catch, you are required to release them unharmed unless you are going to utilize them. I know we all have our prejudices when it comes to our favourite fish. My personal favourites rainbow trout and kokanee, and I have trouble even thinking of a northern pike minnow sizzling in my pan. Yet, I know of a young lad thrilled with the taste although he thought they were trout



The Ecstasy

Agony and Ecstasy (Part 2)

Pleasant Surprise

The day after our disappointment at not negotiating the road into Nickel Plate Lake, we set out to find Conkle Lake hoping to salvage what was left of our holiday. Driving south to Osoyoos, we then went up the Anachist and past Bridesville, turning off at Johnson Creek. The road was a little rough but not too bad, and we finally we pulled in to Conkle Lake Park and set up in a site overlooking the lake. (Note: this is also known as Hackmatack or Fish Lake.) At 1167 metres elevation it is a mid-level lake, so I expected fishing to be reasonably good even during the summer. Conkle has a generous stocking program of about 8,000 fry a year. So there is a healthy population of Rainbow trout.

This is quite a deep lake with an average depth just over 22 metres, but it also has some good shallow feeding areas. Usually there are several loons on the lake, taking advantage of the stocking program I guess.
The weather remained beautiful and we spent the next three days exploring the trails that were under construction. The beach was a little rocky, but we enjoyed some refreshing swims and a little fishing. It is possible to drive to the shore to launch a small boat or canoe.

The mallard ducks were not too nervous and were often swimming near the public swimming area. Much to our surprise and to that of the ducks, a man swam under water, grabbed one by the feet and lifted it out of the water. Such quacking and flapping of Wings!

While Tricia and the kids puttered at the swimming area, I tried my luck on the weedy shallows on either side and had some reasonable strikes. It was kind of nice being able to fish and keep an eye on the children at the same time.

Later we took a walk on the trail under construction down one side of the lake and also checked out a few old roads. One of the highlights of our hiking, though, was the trail up to the falls. They were not huge, but still really enjoyable even at this time. In the spring and early summer however, these are quite a sight with lots of water.

Since that time, many people have discovered Conkle Lake, so be prepared for alternate plans if the campground and overflow are full, a good plan wherever you go and whenever you go, as it is surprising how often campers all have the same ideas at once.

Since that first trip we have been back many times and have explored a few different routes coming back. The second trip we went down to Carmi and Beaverdale for a visit. It was rather hair-raising as the tent trailer kept pushing the Chevelle Malibu towards the steep bank when I braked. Taking my foot off the brake I would steer towards the inner bank and repeat the procedure. Reason enough to change vehicle and trailer combination!

I had also heard that it was possible to get out to the Weyerhaeuser 201 road. Without a map and going by gut instinct we finally made our way over to Venner Meadows and the Weyerhaeuser road. It was a rather nerve racking trip too. Road signs were lacking and we soon were very worried about having enough fuel to make it out. It was one of those trips where you did not meet any other traffic. (Note to self, always fill the tank before heading to the hills to explore.)