Reed Lake

Reed Lake

 

For years I kept seeing Reed Lake on the maps (GPS co-ordinates N49-35-184’  W119-22-536’) and have yet to hear any reports of the fishing there. Somehow, I never got around to investigating it until now. Reports in the Fish Wizard list the species present as brook trout and rainbow trout the final impetus to set me out on this search, a little bit of exploring early in hunting season with the bird and deer guns along just in case. Normally I don’t get serious about hunting until November when it is easier to care for the game.

 

Today I left the canoe at home as I expected a long hike in from the locked gate on the Ellis Creek Forest Service Road. It was Saturday October 13^th and already there was frost on the windshield as I left in the morning. The plan was simple; up the Carmi Road to the Beaverdell Road past the Ellis Reservoir to the Weyerhaeuser 201, a short distance north and then left on the Ellis Creek Forest Service Road. The landscape kept changing from second growth timber to clear cuts at different stages of new growth. There are lots of small side roads, but keep on the main road until just after the 64 km. sign. Turn right here and then to the left. I parked and then carried on the old road for 885 meters to Reed Creek and then headed up an old logging slash for 322 meters, where I found the lake.

 

It’s a bit rough, but if the gate remains open, I should be able to carry a canoe in next summer. I see no reason why the gate should not remain open. The recreational use poses much less risk to the watershed than logging operations.

 

Unfortunately there was a little ice all around the shore and I was unable to really check out the fishing. However I walked all around the shoreline and noticed several tiny streams feeding the lake, which had fine gravely bottoms. Perhaps these would be just enough for a natural spawn. The lake itself is a quiet little gem set in tall timber. The shore is gently sloping grass, so in the warmer weather using a belly boat or wading in with a fly rod could be interesting. If all goes well we will give you an update on fishing here next summer.

 

By eleven it was obvious that the ice would not be off the lake for the day, so I headed back downhill checking out hunting possibilities. This area is not my regular haunt and I wanted to figure out how best to hunt the thicker terrain. I met a fellow cutting wood who has accessed Reed Lake from Howard Lake, but this appears to be the route with the shortest walk.

 

I slowly made my way down to the Ellis Reservoir, tried fishing there for an hour and then headed out on the flats behind. Checking the stocking reports, Ellis Reservoir has been stocked with Pennask lake fry in September the last six years. It looks a lot more inviting for fishing when the dam is full. In the fall, however, there is a lot of muddy shoreline to contend with which does detract from the desire to fish here. Of course, with the lower water the fish just might be concentrated into smaller areas.

 

Not particularly excited by the fish action, I checked the maze of old roads south and west of the dam before heading home. I did see a few grouse and only a few bottles and cans. Yes, there are still a few people who do not respect this beautiful area where we live. There are a couple of places where it might pay to set up a tree stand for deer hunting as there is a good Population of mule and white tail deer in the area.

Note: This was in 2011 and somehow, I have not had the time to get back in to check this out. If anyone has any new information, give me a shout.

Survival Guns

With hunting season upon us, hunters begin to seriously talk about guns. What is the best gun to carry in the bush for survival purposes. We have all heard stories about the hunter who puts his rifle down to clan and elk, only to be surprised by a grizzly, or tales about people getting lost and perishing in the bush.

I must admit although I am comfortable sitting down and watching a bear at close range, I do get a little concerned when I have others along with me. Sitting and eating a sandwich a scant fifteen meters from a black bear while he gorges on raspberries is s pleasant experience when you have your big game rifle along. When a bear charges out of the bush towards you and your son as you hike into a like is a fit more unsettling. Having a good gun along is a handy in case the bear dos not turn aside.

In another instance, my younger brother and I got lost while hunting. Cold, wet and hungry we plodded through the heavy snow, large wet flakes reducing our vision to a few meters. After about an hour we came upon some tracks, which after a while we realized were our own, we had walked in a circle. Fortunately we had managed to get a grouse and stopped, built a fire and ate while collecting our thoughts and bearings.

What makes a good survival gun? You want some knock down power in case of those unexpected encounter with the unpredictable bruins. However being able to get some small game for a fire is also nice.

My first choice would be a pair of pistols, but unfortunately, they are not legal to take into the bush for the purpose of hunting in Canada. (In the several States in the United States hunting with a hand gun is legal) If I could I would carry both a .22 and a .45 calibre  pistol with twenty three centimetre barrels. Shorter barrels greatly decrease the accuracy and so are of little use. Both these guns with a little practice are accurate enough at close range. The lighter .22 calibre would be great for getting a supply of birds and other small animals. The .45 calibre has the close range knock down power for bears and other large dangerous animals.

Having to choose a rifle instead, I would love to have a .22/306 over and under rifle. Carrying it around would be easier than two rifles and it could be used for both small and large game. The largest draw back to this rifle is the high purchase price. One other thing that needs constant vigilance in suing an over and under rifle is ensuring the hammer is on the proper chamber. Using a .306 to bring down a bird would often result in a shower of feathers and no meat. Still I believe it is the easiest and most versatile gun to use in the bush.

Whether the Federal Government will scrap the gun registry remains to be seen. Rather than a gun registry, all that should be required is a permit to use a gun. The current registry does not identify which guns are used in a crime or even if they are registered or not. The only way to accomplish this would be for all registered guns to have ballistic samples takes at the time of registry. An unregistered person using a gun would have to be under the direct supervision of registered, fire arms user. Requireing all guns to have trigger locks on when in storage or during transport to the range or to the hunting area would also serve as a control over usage. A person registered to use firearms would be able to purchase new firearms or to dispose of his or her firearms to another registered gun user.

It is time for the law to protect the responsible firearms users and to get tough on those who use guns for illegal purposes.

 

Lower Clarke Lake and small waters

Lower Clarke Lake

In the old days, we used to hike into Mclean Clan Lake from Lower Clarke Lake. Lower Clarke Lake is one of those lakes which have a drastic draw-down in the fall. Take the first road to the left once you have passed where the Allendale Lake road crosses the Weyerhaeuser 201 road. It’s fairly easy to spot, just take it easy. You can drive right on to the dam or if you prefer, park well back and walk in so you know the condition of the road.

This lake is stocked quite regularly and when I checked it out, action was reasonably fast. The fish were between 5 and 9 inches, but when you land about 25 in an hour and a half on a light leader and tiny fly with a peacock feather body, as well as getting many more strikes, it is lots of fun . A blue heron gliding down to the shore was a real bonus.

In the fall the shoreline is a mixture of slippery mud, rocks and fallen trees. I used the canoe, but a person could just as well use a belly boat or fish from shore. Shore fishing does limit the coverage of the lake, but with a reasonably heavy float and a light line you should be able to get out where the fish are rising. More adventuresome fishermen might try edging out on some of the trees down at the shore, but be extra careful trying this.  I still have a four-inch scar on my thigh from when some bark peeled off under my foot and I fell, gashing myself on a sharp branch. So much for that fishing expedition.  I hobbled back to the car with my kids in tow while keeping direct pressure on with my free hand .

Little beaver dams can hold a surprising stock of fish both in number and size. Once behind Nickel Plate Lake my cousin and I pulled about 200 fish out of a hole about half the size of a bath tub. Even then the waters still boiled when we set our fly in and we hardly made a dent in the swarm of fish in that little hole. These fish were very thin-bodied and obviously starving. Not all beaver dams produce small fish, as I have landed trout up to about 14 inches in length.

We usually tend to fish near the tangle of trees or weeds along the shore and wish the fish we see rising there would come out in the open water. One way to fish these tangles of trees or weedy bays, is a method call dapping. Dapping is best done with a fairly long stiff rod and a reasonably heavy line. (Note, hard core dappers use poles from 12 to 15 feet in length with short lines attached.) This is because you need to quickly get a fish under control before they wrap around a weed or branch. Keep the line short and use a small weight so that the fly or plug hangs straight down from the tip. Dip the fly down dapping it just into the water and often just holding it above the water between the logs or lily pads.

You will undoubtedly lose a fair amount of tackle, but sitting there quietly and patiently just might land you some bragging size trout. Try dragging a small imitation frog from pad to pad, or try to match the insect life with your flies. Never be afraid to try something new or to try even the smallest bit of open water. I’ve seen trout near 50 centimetres in length in a tiny creek less than a half metre wide.

Taylor Lake

Taylor Lake

 

It’s been a little while since I had been into Taylor Lake. We used to hunt the Barslow Canyon area and hike over to this lake to have our lunches, and usually caught a mess of nice brook trout even though there were just a few spots to fish from shore.

It can be accessed from the Twin Lakes Golf Course off Highway 3A, from Oliver via Willowbrook or from Penticton in past the Saint Andrews Golf Course. This was the route I had chosen today and was rewarded with the sighting of a cinnamon coloured black bear. Just past White Lake Observatory I met two ladies looking for fossils and spent an enjoyable 20 minutes talking to them. The road then passed the Oliver-Willow Brook Road and traversed the open sage bush country until reaching the Twin Lakes Road.

I zeroed the odometer here and took the left turn for 0.4 kilometres before taking another left onto the Grand Oro Road. The pavement extends most of the through the subdivision before becoming a narrow dirt road. Past the private land and at 5.9 kilometres I took the left hand fork. At 6.4 kilometres a road splits off to the left up to the old Grand Oro Mine site: most of the buildings have been demolished, but there are a few cabins on the other side and the road drops down to Willowbrook. This is a very rough road, however, and should be carefully travelled.

The lower right hand road gets quite rough and the vegetation is much denser, not really great if you are worried about keeping the finish of your vehicle scratch free. There are several old side roads that could easily be missed. The one at 7.9 kilometres circles back and joins up with the Grand Oro Mine Road. At 8.3 kilometres there is one off to the right that takes you out to some good deer and grouse hunting, and if you are lucky you might find the old tree stand.

The next one of note is at 9.8 kilometres. This little road leads up to an old historic cabin: one can only hope that it is preserved. Keeping to the left at 10.7 kilometres will take us to Taylor Lake, while the way straight ahead leads to some open areas overlooking the Fairview Road. This is a good area for mule deer and blue grouse.

The boat launching area is at 11 kilometres, and at 11.1 kilometres there is a nice turn around spot with a fire pit and picnic table. Parking here I took the fishing gear and checked out the lake. I had smelled smoke earlier, and sure enough there was a smouldering fire by the boat launch. Please, take that extra minute and douse your fires. The gusting winds can fan the embers into flames or send sparks for some distance.

Gone were the huge log and rafts that offered a few good spots to fish from the shore. I did manage a few casts, but this is definitely a lake for a canoe or belly boat now. I did see a few nice fish jump and talked to some fishermen on the way out who had landed a few good sized trout.

According to the Fish Wizard web site, the species present are brook trout and rainbow trout. Last year and this year it has been stocked with 500 yearling triploid rainbow trout of the Pennask Lake strain of rainbow trout.

Taylor lake is one of many high mountain lakes that were dammed ages ago without clearing the bush around the shoreline. This has left many dead snags and a weedy shoreline that makes fishing from the shore very difficult, if not impossible. I would recommend a small canoe, boat or belly boat at this lake

 

Madden Lake

Madden Lake

         I had been asked to test some SHOOT N C Targets, and thought I might as well make a quick trip into Madden Lake as well to check things out, before sighting in my twenty -two rifle.

 While it is possible to get to Madden Lake by the Sawmill Lake road off the Fairview-White Lake Road, the easiest way is to continue from this junction 6.9 kilometres up the Fairview Road. Turn left at the sign-post for Ripley and Madden Lakes. At the 7.3 kilometre mark the Ripley Road takes off to the left, soon passing under the power line. At 7.8 kilometres, keep to the left then stay on the main road and ignore all the side roads.

 From here to Madden Lake the terrain is fairly open, largely due to the huge fire that swept through here in 1971. There is an abundance of balsam root and saskatoon bushes all along this route. The balsam root is a good wild edible and at times a favourite for the blue grouse as they go for the seeds in the fall. Bears perhaps covet the saskatoon berries even more than we do, for you often see plenty of evidence of this in bear scat.

 Arriving at the lake, the odometer showed just under 9.4 kilometres. I found the recreation site full to bursting even this early on a Friday afternoon, and new arrivals were turning away to search for other option. There seems to be eight official sites, but several more makeshift ones were also in use. Unfortunately I was told about one of the tables being destroyed and burned the previous week. Subtle use of a cell phone camera would be great if turned in to the police to capture such selfish culprits.

There is a trail around the lake that does access some spots to fish from shore, but a lot of the shoreline is full of bull rushes and  reeds. The most popular method of fishing is by boat and with a fly rod. Chromids appear to be working very well this May long weekend, and I had several reports of fish caught between one and two pounds. Several years ago, I passed this way during hunting season and saw a fellow with six nice fish that appeared to be about four pounds each.

 This whole area between Sawmill Lake and Ripley Lake is criss-crossed with roads and trails that are popular with ATV users and trail bikes. The dryness of the country leaves it very susceptible to damage and I would encourage users to remain on established trails. There seems to be some improvement in the amount of garbage left out in the country, but there is still some evidence of abuse. This is also rangeland, so remember to leave gates as you find them to keep the cattle where they belong.

 My prime purpose today was to test a special target and I did not want to disturb the campers and fishermen. Slipping further uphill I located a quiet spot with a good backstop where I could set the target up in the shade. One shot was all it took to impress me. A brilliant yellow circle appeared just off to the right and below the  florescent bulls eye. Upon impact, part of the black coating around the shot flakes off showing the yellow under undercoating on the target. Even though the target was placed in the shade, this shot showed up on the black three-inch circle very clearly. Three more shots and I already felt I was ready for bird season in the fall. Ask your local sporting goods dealer if they have the Shoot N C target. They are available from Birchwood Laboratories Inc.

Rubber Rafting

Rubber Rafting

Belly boating might be fine when I’m alone, but what if I hike into a lake with a buddy? Maybe a four man rubber raft would be the answer. Fortunately one was on sale, so off I headed to Ripley Lake for an afternoon trial run.

Set up went smoothly and in fifteen minutes the raft was inflated and on the water. I don’t know how big the four men were, but if they were all my size, we’d have to squeeze in and only take small breaths. Will definitely have to take the minimum tackle next time too, it was hard to swing around to search in my normal tackle box.

Rowing went OK with just me in the boat, slow, but OK. I spent the better part of two hours, slowly moving about the lake, trying to get the feel of fly fishing from sitting so low to the water. I wasn’t fabulous, but it would do if the fish were into feeding, which unfortunately they were not.

This did have some advantages over the belly boat, no chest waders required being the first one and I did not lose and fins or oars. The most advantage would be only carting one craft into one of the small lake on my to do list. Still, I do miss a canoe.

Belly Boating Disasters

Belly Boating Disaster

            What else can I say to describe my first two belly boating outings. Both were at Chute Lake north east of Naramata. My first trip out was a short one. Lesson number one: when trying on foot wear and the chest waders, use the same footwear you will be using while out on the water. My footwear would not go over the waders, so I’ve already a small hole in one of the soles.

            Well, into the water just the same. Only this time I get about 15 meters out and a fin flips off of one foot. Try as I might I could not locate the fin and my first outing was cut short.

            Now with a new pair of fins, I try everything on at home. Everything checks out, so off to Chute Lake I head again. This will surely be better than last week.

            Everything seems to be working fine, I’ve been out on the lake for a couple of hours, but the fishing is slow. Suddenly, I give another kick and groan as another fins slips off my foot and into the depths. Looking down the lake it is time to start limping back to the launching site. I am in no hurry, but after another half hour passes, the second fin comes off and sinks into the lake.

            Slowly now I scull towards the landing site using my hands stopping occasionally to cast. Score now two outings, two fish to the belly boat, one keeper not landed as I did not have a net, three fins at the bottom of the lake.

            Next time I am out belly boating I will have a cord attaching the fins to my ankle. I would also recommend a careful selection of your belly boat. On this particular belly boat one of the air chambers is very difficult to inflate and deflate. It is best if you can see a model displayed so you can check out rod holder and tackle compartments.

            Staggering out of the water with partially filled chest waders also brings home the importance of using a personal floatation device.

            I do miss my canoe