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.)
　

The Agony

Agony and Ecstasy Part 1

Heartbreak

Michael struggled down the road dragging an eight-pound sledgehammer. At sixteen months the handle was taller than he was. His older sister Annemarie and brother John toted the picks and shovels. It was 1976 and we were working on the road into Nickel Plate Lake in preparation for our holiday. We had plans to take the tent trailer in for a week of relaxation and fishing.

I fondly remembered the Lake and the several potholes that held some good fish during the time the Nickel Plate Mining camp was in operation. Lost and Hidden Lakes at that time held fish up to 16 and 17 inches. While I had no actual fishing experience at the potholes between the new Apex Ski Hill on Beaconsfield Mountain (This always seems strange to those of us raised at Nickel Plate), I remembered well seeing the fish rising as we passed on some of our trips as youngsters. Now I was anxious to introduce the kids to my old stomping grounds.

The three August days were hot and we rationed out water as we toiled away. The Provincial Government had completely forgotten this park and had turned down my offer to develop it several years earlier. As well built as those old roads were, twenty years of neglect had left some portions very rough indeed. Thirty more years have passed and the roads continue to slowly deteriorate.

Sweat seemed to attract mosquitoes and deer flies, which delighted in making themselves a nuisance. Savouring the tiny huckleberries was something we looked forward to daily in spite of these pests.
We pried some large protruding rocks from the road and filled the resulting holes. Other rocks were too large to move and these I attacked with the sledgehammer with varying degrees of success. With luck I would find a fault line and the top would come off cleanly. Often, though, the hard granite would just slowly chip away and we would have to resort to adding earth to the tracks on either side of the stubborn boulder.
Upon reaching the upper campsite we met an older gentleman in his seventies dragging his boat up the steep hill from the lake. We decided we would settle for this site and do some work on the really rough section to the lower campground while we were camped here. This part was extremely rough as it is now and some one had purposely rolled large rocks onto the road. Removing these was easy, but the deep holes that required filling would take considerable time.

The next morning we hitched up the tent trailer and with eager anticipation set off for the lake. All went well until we tried to get up the hill form the circle of some of the original cabins at Apex. (The current road was not then built) The slope did not seem very steep, but the loose rock would not allow enough traction to make it up in spite of several attempts.

Dejected we headed back down to Penticton. The children sobbed in the back seat and Tricia and I were also in tears. Heavy hearted, we decided to try for Conkle Lake, a new lake we had heard about. The next morning we were off again, not knowing what to expect, but hoping for the best.

Perhaps this experience was the initial catalyst in my desire for reasonable access to wilderness areas and mountain lakes. Today, as public land is fast disappearing and private lands that once allowed easy access are closed to the general public, it becomes increasingly important that we maintain old roads and trails for future generations to enjoy.

Big Meadow Lake

Big Meadow Lake

When exploring, even with maps and a GPS, two things become apparent: there are more roads than shown on the maps and there is never a straight line to a destination.

Ok, make that three things: road changes, fires and logging totally change the landscape so the old routes need to be replaced.

Today I was aiming to get into Nuttall and Big Meadow Lakes. I first went up to Chute Lake before taking off on the logging roads. Zeroing the odometer, I went across the Trans Canada Trail, past the private cabin and Chute Lake Recreation area then took the logging road off to the left and up the hill.

A small road took off to the left at 0.9 kilometres and at 1.8 kilometres a road to the right, which I was sure led to Elinor Lake and another old road heading up this way. I ignored a road at about 5.5 kilometres, keeping to the one that looked better traveled.

Reaching 7.6 kilometres, I took the right hand fork, turned right again in another tenth of a kilometre and soon ended up on an old log landing. Turning on the find function of the GPS, it was obvious that I had taken a wrong turn further down. However, I was only about 1.7 kilometres from the lake and set off in the general direction through the clearing. Reaching the other side I found the windfalls were more than I wanted to tackle so backtracked to the jeep. I did find a nice hunting blind on a knoll in the clearing, which I noted for possible future use.

I headed back down to the branch that I had ignored earlier and headed up the road until windfalls stopped me. At 8.4 kilometres, I had noticed a very rough cut road off to the right and soon after spotted Big Meadow lake, so I went back down parked, and began to walk.

This road very rough but with care could be driven. Soon I came across another road (this one up from Elinor Lake) and turned to the left towards the lake. It was a total of about 800 metres to the dam and the other side of the lake. The roads to this end were likely from the logging roads up behind Naramata and from Greyback and Corporation Lakes.

I began to check one of these out, thinking of reaching Corporation Lake, but took the wrong one. Sadly, I found the bloated carcass of a cow, which I managed to report to the owner later in the evening.

Back at Big Meadow Lake I watched an osprey soaring, so I figured there should be some fish. I poked my way around the shoreline, which was tough going, but didn’t have any luck though I thought I saw one rise.
Talking to several people on trail bikes and ATV’s I found out that the lake is very low later in the fall, and they did not know if there were fish there. The owner of the cow, however, seemed to recall it was stocked years back, so it is very possible there would be fish. At this time of the year, it would be a pleasant way to spend the day out on a canoe. Remember, though, it is a source of water for Naramata so treat it with respect.

Later on in the season when the lake is drawn down, the fish may be more concentrated, but the muddy shorelines would detract from the enjoyment. Makes one wish the cities and towns could draw water from the Okanagan and Skaha Lakes and leave these mountain ones at their most enjoyable levels.

One reader contacted me to let me know he has caught some nice rainbows at the South Ellis reservoir and his is concerned about the draining of this and other lakes.

Horne Lake

Horne Lake

     Horne Lake is very close to Twin Lakes. Instead of turning right onto the Eastview Road, just keep straight ahead for 1.2 km. Here you will reach a landing with an old cattle chute. There is a road that goes down to the  lake, but it is private. I just portaged the canoe down the bank and through the bush to the lake, not all that easy, but do able. Coming back up was a little slower with a few rest breaks.

     I was going by my old records which showed an annual stocking of 300 rainbow trout per year. Thinking with a low stocking rate, there might be some fair sized fish here as this is similar to several other lakes that produce well. For over two hours I tried my favorite flies and a white and red lure with the possibility of one strike, but it might have been a snag on a weed. Not one fish was observed rising.

     Once back home I check the latest stocking records and found out that this lake has not been stocked in recent years. Possibly now all gone due to winter kill. There is a species of rainbow trout that does spawn along the shore instead of a creek. Perhaps, it would be interesting to try such a strain in the many small lake in the Southern Interiour that are virtually land locked.

     If anyone has had luck here in the last few years, I would appreciate you letting me know.