Using Stocking Records

Stocking Records

The next few months finds fishermen planning for next years fishing expeditions. Understanding the stocking records can give one an inkling of what to expect at a specific lake. 2N releases may reproduce however the 3N and AF3N releases are specially treated and are considered non productive. The 3N may contain both Male and Female, but the AF3N are all female fish.

The sterilization renders them unable to cross with any native stock in a specific body of water. These fish tend to grow faster as the energy that would be spent spawning goes into growth, although the males (trust them) still think they can and act accordingly.

The creation of the All-Female and sterile stock is an extremely expensive process and to a lay-man like me sounds very complicated. These fish mature slower and provide a longer growing season.

Another thing to consider is the size of the release both in quantity and size of the fish. Fry releases are from the current years hatch, generally under 4 grams and require more time to mature, while the fingerlings are generally about 3 to 4 inches long and up to about 40 grams. Then there is the catchable release of approximately 250 grams.

The strains of trout also differ in growth and inborn habits. The Pennask strain do well when not in competition with other species and although slow growing reaches a fairly decent size. It tends to be most active at dusk, is a good jumper, coming readily to flies as it is an insect eater.

The Blackwater river rainbow are carnivorous, eating other fish as well as insects, snail and molluscs. They are shoal feeders and fairly active in daytime. It is relatively fast growing and generally stocked where they cannot migrate.

Tzenzaicut Lake rainbow trout are another strain that is piscivorous (eating other small fish) as well as feeding on insects. Darker than the Pennask and Blackwater strains, it is an exceptional leaper and fighter that is most active as dusk and feeds better in colder water.

Ah! The Gerrard rainbows, these feed very heavily on small fish, particularly kokanee, and grow big. Fish have been caught over 16 kg. They like large, cool, deep lakes.

The Fraser Valley domesticated rainbow trout feed heavily on invertebrates and are quite fast growing, doing very well in productive lakes. Although not jumpers they are good fighters.

Eastern Brook Trout, while not native, have been quite prominent in some areas, but these are not being used as much anymore. The ones that were in Taylor Lake grew to a fairly decent size and put up a nice struggle on a fly rod. These are a very voracious fish easily caught on fly or lures.

Kokanee also do not seem to be stocked as much. This landlocked salmon is a fiesty fighter and very tasty. They take readily to flies or lures and have very soft mouths so require careful playing.

Of course, the important thing is the long-term survival rate for all the stocking that takes place. This depends on many things: winter kill due to early and long ice conditions depleting the oxygen supply to the preditors taking their toll. Careful handling of any fish released is also very important. My rule of thumb is that if there is any chance it will not survive, it goes into the creel limit.

Properly maintained stocked lakes are a great benefit to both the local anglers and could be increasingly important to the tourist industry. There are many small lakes out there capable of producing some great fishing given the right care. One in particular between Taylor Lake and Barslow Canyon was just loaded with shrimp when I checked it out.

Perhaps the strain that does not require a stream for spawning would be the answer in some of these waters. Something to think about. I understand there is a strain of trout in the Cathederal Park that spawn on the shoreline.

Yes, time to start checking the tackle and dreaming of the next seasons open water fishing. I'm going to try to hit the Eneas Lakes and Barton Lake.

Alpine Touring

Alpine touring on Skis

When one thinks of skiing, it is usually alpine and cross-country skiing that immediately come to mind. Alpine skiing on runs serviced by lifts and cross-country skiing on prepared tracks are the most common skiing activities. There are also ski touring and ski jumping to consider, but there are unfortunately there are not many hills with these facilities developed in this area.

Ski touring will fall into basically two types; Telmark and Alpine touring. Telmark equipment is very similar to cross-country and the downhill turns are managed with a loose heal.

Alpine touring uses a free lifting heel for traveling flats and for climbing, but also allows you to clamp your heel down for an alpine run. The boots are lighter and more flexible than normal for alpine skiing and the skies are sturdier with more surface area than for cross-country skiing. This large surface area gives better floatation in the deep powder of the back county. Steel edges allow you to turn when encountering the inevitable heavy spring crusts or descending a hard packed run if necessary.

Its not uncommon when alpine touring to spend a day trekking up a mountain in the back country for one glorious run down in the afternoon. Sounds like a lot of work but I have wonderful memories of many such trips. Even more memorable are the trips that we have spent either in an alpine cabin or an improvised shelter. Then you can enjoy some fabulous moonlight runs in the high alpine area. Unfortunately these mountain shelters are getting fewer and further between due to vandals and government policies.

Brent Mountain would be a good day trip, or, if you can take supplies to the lookout cabin, for the weekend. There are some upper slopes which could be subject to small avalanches so like any back-country travel in the winter use caution. Other dangers to look out for are trees and snags covered by snow and the depressions left around the trunks of larger trees. Going in a group or with at least two people is always wise. There are some die-hard types that will do this alone but it is definitely not recommended.

The lookout at Apex Mountain is gone now, but this mountain has some great terrain, even some extreme slopes on the back side. A quick way up would be to get a lift ticket for one run on the Apex ski lift and then ski the saddle between Beaconsfield and Apex. Yes, the Apex ski resort is actually on Beaconsfield Mountain. I believe the old cabin near the top of Beaconsfield Mountain is currently owned by the Boy Scouts.
The Fairview and Mount Kobau between Cawston, Oliver and Osoyoos is also a good area with a good mixture of wooded and meadow areas. There is still an old lookout building at the top of Kobau. Some of this area is private, notably the area above Richter Lake and near the top of Fairview road on the Eastern slope. Remember to leave only your track behind, take all of your garbage home.

Equipment has changed dramatically over the years and you may expect to pay from between $1000.00 and $2000.00 for a complete outfit. Local selection was very limited, but I checked out
www.mec.ca the website for Mountain Equipment Co-op. Products are harder to visualize on the web, but you can always request a catalogue or drop into their store when you are next at the coast. Mountain Magic Equipment is another good catalogue to check out at www.mountainmagic.com. . Old and simple cable bindings are a thing of the past, but I still believe the thrill of enjoying expanses of untracked snow is worth checking this sport out.

Dig out the snowshoes

DIG OUT THE SNOWSHOES

It’s that time of the year again, snow beginning to pile up in the hills, time to put away the summer hiking shoes. For those who cannot afford the costs of alpine skiing there are two low cost alternatives: winter boots and snowshoes. During the next few months when the low cloud sets in, take a short trip up the hills and you can spend a day in the lovely sunshine.

One can hike quite comfortably in snow up to knee depth with the snow pack style of boots. The felt liners keep the feet nice and warm while the high tops with the gaiter tops prevent wet feet from snow getting down into the boots. It is easy to work up a sweat ploughing through deep snow, so watch out for chills and hypothermia. These boots can range from $30.00 to around $140.00. Just remember to get a pair that is not too small since fit is really important - without adequate room the feet will be susceptible to the cold.

Snowshoes come in many styles and are priced from around a $100.00 to about $200.00. Take the time looking at them and match the harness and foot-ware you will be using. I’m a fan of the older styles, but they are a bit harder to find and I believe the new harnessing systems are easier to use. I’m also a firm believer in using adjustable hiking poles that allow you to attach ski pole baskets.

My first outing of last season was a 4.5 km snowshoe at the Carmi Ski Trails, six km up the Beaverdell Road off the Carmi Road. There was one vehicle in the ditch, a reminder to keep using winter tires in season and to drive with care
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The parking lot was fairly busy with vehicles of tobogganers, snowmobilers, snowshoers and cross-county skiers. (Unfortunately since then the party goers have really made a mess of the parking lot.) The outdoor toilets were not longer there and across the road the map of the trails had also disappeared. I was later to find out that the other signs at the intersections had likewise vanished, a real shame as encouraging the use of our outdoors can only benefit the local economy.

There were a few changes since my last trip to the area and I was disappointed in not making the long loop to check if the shelter is still there overlooking the valley and lake. (I checked it out this Fall and it is still there) Instead, I followed the ski tracks, which wandered further up hill and back towards the peat bog road. After a little over two kilometres I came across a few windfalls and with aching legs (Yes I’m a bit out of shape) I decided it would be wiser to retrace my steps back to the truck.

There are many old roads once you pass the cattle guard near the Lost Moose Lodge that form a whole network wending its way through the trees with interspersed meadows and clear-cuts. Higher up you run into more open areas. One in particular I like is south west of the Ellis Dam. Here you can enjoy lots of sunshine and the terrain is fairly level.

We also used to spend a few weekends in the area just south of White Lake behind the observatory. There were some nice toboggan slopes here as well.

If you would like to combine a little ice-fishing with your snowshoe trip Taylor Lake and Ripley Lake are two destinations you might like to try. I have to admit that Howard Lake also has an appeal to me. Several times in the fall I have tried to introduce some friends to this special lake only to see if freezing over before our eyes. It would be a long trek though so I had better work on my conditioning.

Allendale Lake

The first weekend of summer and yet there was a slight frost on the jeep and the picnic table as I stepped out of the tent trailer. Mist was rising off of Solco Lake, not too inviting right now after a night with a clod nose sticking out of a sleeping bag. Blue skies and fluffy white clouds promised that the day should soon warm up. Since the canoe was still on the jeep it seemed like a good day to check out Allendale Lake.

Once back to the Weyerhaeuser Road we turned north and then just before the eighteen kilometre mark took one of the roads heading off to the East. Luck was with us and we spotted a whitetail doe along with the usual gophers, chipmunks and squirrels. The five kilometres into the lake was in excellent condition and soon we were checking out the public recreational area near the dam. There were masses of wild strawberries in blossom. Depending on the weather in about three weeks a good feed of strawberries could be an enjoyable addition to the days fishing.

The camp sites were reasonably clean, which is nice to see as this an most forestry recreation sites are user maintained. The picnic tables were also in good shape as I assume the outdoor toilets were as well. Further up the lake we could see the private resort. Both facilities were quite busy. Once out on the lake we could see several newer cabins and a few motor homes or trailers at the resort.

It’s not a large lake, but has a good reputation for producing well. Early in the season water levels are reasonably high and it’s worth checking the areas with old trees from the flooding down along the shoreline. Great areas to fly fish, however with four people in the canoe we stuck with spinning outfits with floats and flies. First we checked out the area furthest from the dam. Usually these areas have more shallows and offer some good feeding grounds.

Fishing was not fast, but we caught and released a few small fish and one of my partners landed three between eleven and twelve inches long. Just enough to give us our first taste of trout for the season that evening. Several people were out in belly boats and a couple in light kayaks. It was nice and quite with no motors, very relaxing.

This is one of the many lakes that has a big draw down in the fall leaving a shore line that is a bit muddy and not quite so inviting. Incentive enough for fishermen to get proactive towards water conservation programs. Early season fishing offers the most scenic and aesthetically pleasing experience. Later in the season as these lake experience draw down the surface area are greatly reduced and the fish are more concentrated. As with most lakes of the higher elevations fishing should be good now right through to freeze up.

If you are tired of fishing there are also several old roads in the area that make for pleasant strolls. You might even consider packing a rod and seeing if you can locate the small dam located between Allendale and Solco Lakes. I have not heard any reports of fishing there, but it is on my list of destinations to check out.

Now that I have a GPS I’ll be able to locate some of these little gems off the beaten path. All I have to do is learn how to use it and find the time for exploring. Watch for reports on these in the future.

Tuzo Lake

Tuzo Lake

Tuzo Lake is not far from Solco Lake so I like to check it out every so often when I’m camped at Solco Lake. This is one lake that is easily missed as you can not see it until you are right at the shore. Once a one fish per day lake, the limit has been raised to six per day since the access road was blocked off. (note this has since been opened up..A move with which I agree. However not sure it if is legal or not.)

From Solco head back out to the Tuzo forestry road and turn right. Soon the main road forks take the left fork and ignore all the smaller side roads. Eventually this road loops back across Tuzo Creek before heading back east. At this point keep straight ahead for about half a kilometre where the road is blocked off with cement blocks and a deep ditch. Last fall the road was in excellent condition up to this point, still always be prepared for the unexpected when travelling the back country.

Find a good parking spot and start hiking. It’s a good kilometre so you can either carry in a belly boat or canoe, however this lake can be quite handily fished from shore. Keep to the left where the road splits and soon you come to an old log landing. Off to the right of the clearing there is a short tail into the lake, without really knowing where the lake was we were very lucky to spot it. The trees are fairly thick and you nearly have to be at the lake before you can see it. The last time in there was a light plastic boat left there, however, you should take a life jacket if you are planning on using it.

The lake itself is mainly fairly shallow with some good weed cover and not very much in the way of draw down over the summer. Early in the season when the lake is at its highest level there is a shallow bay at the far end. Several areas of the shoreline have good areas of water lilies. The bottom seems to be good for wading to get a little closer to the action and give you room to use a fly rod. Of course the spinning outfit with float and fly is always a good bet.

Good fly choices are, mosquitoes, shrimp and Tom thumbs, however it never hurts to experiment with different choices. I have used tiny clips for changing flies. They work not too badly and if you are having trouble with tying flies on you might want to give them a try. I’m digging mine out of my tackle box next time out.

This is good whitetail country so I usually do my fishing here late in the fall. One fall day I was casting from shore while ice crystals formed in the guides, while a fire crackled behind me for warming my hands. A cold proposition, but every few casts were rewarded with a nice sized trout. It was either catch fish or freeze on a stand waiting for white tail deer.

The entrance to the trail at the landing is an ideal spot for a tree stand overlooking some old logging cuts. The young growth of these logging cuts are quite thick and it is hard to see anything in the brush. A well place stand well up in the trees gives you a much more commanding view of the area. Hunting with a partner you could take turns on the stand and at the lake. This would allow for stretching and warming up of hands and toes.

Elenor and Naramata Lakes

Elenor Lake

Elenor Lake

Naramata Lake

Naramata Lake

Elinor and Naramata Lakes

I zeroed the odometer at the corner of the Chute Lake Road and Smetherst Road since I planned on a circular route as I investigated Eleanor and Naramata Lakes. The first part of the trip is really easy, 6.4 kilometres along the Chute Lake Road before reaching the first major fork where you keep to the right. Just past where the pavement ends at 9.2 kilometres the Glen Fir Road takes off to the left and soon we pass the switch back of the old Kettle Valley Railway.

At 16.7 kilometres the Chute Lake Road takes a sharp right hand turn and crosses the Kettle Valley Railway bed onto the Elinor Lake Forest Service Road. Just past the Chute Lake Recreation site this road splits: the left hand road heads towards Big Meadow Lake and the Nutall Lake trail, the right hand road continues to Eleanor Lake.

Soon I arrived at Elinor Lake at 19.2 kilometres, where the left hand road goes across the dam and heads in the direction of Big Meadow Lake. I parked, took a few pictures, broke out the fishing tackle and soon caught a few smaller rainbow trout. Near the east end of the dam a little stream cascaded over a small rock outcrop into the lake.

I then carried on the west side of the lake. At 19.5 kilometres a small road took off to the left to a small recreation site, followed at 19.8 kilometres by another road on the left leading to a fair sized recreation site. A little further along there is a sign that the road has been decommissioned, a practice with which I do not agree. At 20.4 kilometres, there was another road off to the left onto the dam at this side of the lake. Again I stopped and fished for a while, getting a few strikes.

Elinor Lake is quite narrow and most of the shoreline is hard to fish from the shore. I would recommend a canoe or a belly boat here and although most fish are small you can expect the odd one up to 13 or 14 inches.

Shortly after leaving this dam, Naramata Lake began appearing off to the east and at 21.4 kilometres the road split again, with the left hand branch heading onto the dam. This lake is much wider than Eleanor Lake and more of the shoreline is fishable, but getting through the bush can present a problem. I spent an hour or so here hooking up with many smaller fish and one decent keeper.

There was a belly boat further up the lake and I did manage to talk to a couple in an aluminum boat who, were having some success. They had already landed 10 fish and soon limited out at 12.

At 22 kilometres there is a small road off to the right. Keeping to the main right hand branch I soon ran into some fairly rough road. A person might consider going out the other way past Chute Lake. However I like to explore. At 25.3 kilometres I crossed the Kettle Valley Railway line. Turning right would take me to Chute Lake or left to the big tunnel on the railway line.

I crossed over though and kept heading down for about another 3 kilometres to the next level of the Kettle Valley Railway and the rock ovens park. I like this part in particular because of the large trees that have escaped the forest company saws. Reaching the next level, I did a small jog left before heading right off the tracks heading for Smetherst Road. I just got a little way down before I came upon a windfall blocking the road. As my back was already giving me pain, I turned around and went once more to the old railway bed and turned north to join the Chute Lake Road at Glen Fir.

It’s a good idea to know your own limits and that of you vehicle and to keep an alternate route in mind when travelling the back roads

Sighting In

SIGHTING IN

Each Fall as I head up into the hills, I’m amazed at the number of target I see set up in the branches of trees. Not even on the trunks, but in the branches of trees backed by some fine hunting grounds. Yes I’ve prowled the game trails behind many of these spots finding some nice rubs.

I would strongly encourage those sighting in rifles to find a better spot with a nice soft dirt bank behind the targets. I can understand wanting to be accurate, but not and the risk of injuring some innocent hunter or hiker in the area.

With ever increasing costs of everything including ammunition I’ve come up with my own method of sighting in which costs nothing but a few minutes. How effective is it? Well I like to say that my last six shots from my 30-06 have taken six deer. That is true as far as it goes, but unfortunately two of those were collisions with deer on my way to work in Oliver.

Bore sighting works very well with scoped rifles, there are even laser tipped shells that a person can use, centring the cross hairs on the red dot, usually about 25 metres. These will come with directions.
Personally I’ve had excellent results by removing the bolt and sighting down the bore holding the rifle solidly and then looking through the scope. I use a near target to set the horizontal cross hair and a distant target to set the vertical cross hair. This works well enough that I now use either a neck or head shot. This drops the animal immediately and insures a high recovery rate.

I was taught that shot placement should be just behind the front shoulder in the heart and lung area. Experience has show though that a fatal shot in this area can still allow the animal to travel hundreds of metres, which is rough thick country with lots of deer sign can result in one lost buck. Luck better than tracking skills has saved me several nice bucks.

Unfortunately the one that bothers me is the huge one up in Barslow Canyon. The well placed shot at about 20 metres was sure to bring the animal down. It took off though the thick bush and giving it about half and hour to seize up. (Again I was taught to wait a while because spooking it too soon after it lay down would cause it to go much further.) I picked up the trail of huge spots of blood in the snow.

With two hours of light left I was fairly confident, however the tracks continued down to below the snow level and then the blood trail petered out to one tiny drop every 15 metres or so. Hard to keep on the right track in the heavily populated area. Just before dark I did come across it, but it bolted away again. Very surprising as I pick up a piece of rib on the tail about the size of my finger.

The next morning I returned with to hunting partners and a dog. We did not have any luck in recovering the animal. This and two other time where I nearly lost an animal caused me to rethink my shot placement. I’m happy to say I’ve have great results since that time.

Good hunting and I wish you freezers full of venison.