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You may have a tough time convincing yourself of this as you stare
out your window, but it will be officially spring only a handful
of days from now,.
We have had a relatively easy and mild winter with little snow,
most of the white stuff falling in February and March. Even so,
as Northern British Columbians we love and look forward to the change
of the seasons. As the one season ends, our outdoor pursuits merge
into the next season. We want to enjoy the great late-season skiing
but we also yearn for the days of open water. Mornings may see us
in the alpine carving a few turns and the afternoon doing yard chores.
Soon the cleansing snows of winter will slowly yield to the warming
sun and the fresh green of spring.
New regulations
Spring brings change and you will certainly see that change when
you pick up the new fishing regulations for this year. Some of that
change is the kind that disappears out of your pocket. Fees as we
mentioned before have gone up. It has been quite awhile since the
last rate hike and we knew an increase was coming.
Fees
Resident fishing licences are now $36, Steelhead stamp $25 and
Salmon stamp $15, Classified waters $15 for a total increase of
$26. Senior licence remains at $5. Non-resident Canadian fee $55,
Steelhead $60, , and Salmon stamp $30. Non-resident non-Canadian
fishing licence $80, Steelhead $60, and Salmon stamp $30. Non-residents
Class11 water $20 per day and non-residents Class 1 water $40 per
day. More info http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca
and click on licences and fees.
Region 6
There are other changes our Region 6 to note. New regulations are
highlighted in green so you can spot them easily. Anglers wishing
to fish on Nisga'a Lands must purchase a Nisga'a Sport Fishing Licence
in addition to your Provincial Licence. Nisga'a licences are available
from Nisga'a Fisheries office at New Aiyansh, fee $25 per year for
BC residents, $35 per year for non-residents.
Barbless
Single barbless hooks must be used in all streams of Region 6 all
year. In Area 6-14, Chambers Creek is now Steelhead release only.
At the east end of popular Francois Lake, fishing is now closed
at the outlet from November 15-May 31. In a line from the old Government
Wharf to the north shore, all Rainbow Trout must be released, you
can keep two char, but only one can be over 50 cm. (20 inches) single
barbless hook only, and no bait allowed.
(All previous issues are stored in the ARCHIVE
for your convenience)
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That
hopefully will eliminate those anglers pushing the boundaries and
ethics by straying into the Stellako Rivers special regulation area.
Kalum, Tchesinkut
The Kalum River upstream of the signs at the lower canyon is Steelhead
release all year. At Tchesinkut Lake south of Burns Lake all Lake
Trout (char) must be released except in February and July. In an
effort to boost the char population you can only keep in those two
months. Tchesinkut is now single barbless hook only. Those anglers
regularly fishing Tchesinkut can replace those trebles with a very
sharp and excellent hook such as the Gamakatsu Siwash.
Ice fishing
Besides fishing videos, what can you do to satisfy that urge for
the first fish of the year? You can try some ice fishing and it
can be pretty productive this time of year. Just as we enjoy the
longer days, so do the fish. Fishing for both Brook and Rainbow
trout can really pick up in the latter part of the season. Steelhead
are fished for almost twelve months of the year in the lower Skeena
and you can try for steelies on the Kitimat River. Spring (Chinook)
start to show up in the Kalum River this month and you can also
fish for the cutthroat and rainbows in the Lakelse and Kitimat.
Feeder Springs are available in the ocean in some areas but weather
and water conditions can be brutal on the North Coast. Plan wisely
and take no chances.
Flies
Fly anglers wanting to get a jump on the season should be tying
up chironomids and reading up on techniques. Chironomids are the
big hatch in the spring, and if you want to be successful you need
to know more about these small midges. Chironomids look like mosquitoes
without the biting parts. Wings are shorter than the body and they
come in a variety of sizes and colors. In one square meter of a
lake bottom, under optimum conditions, there can be 20,000 chironomids
living in the mud water interface. Analyses of stomach contents
have shown as much as 2,000 chironomids consumed in a days feed!
That is good news for us because although the chironomid pupa is
small, the trout need a lot of mouthfuls to get full.
Want to know more about chironomids? Read Fly Patterns for Stillwaters
by Phil Rowley or Morris and Chan on Fly Fishing Trout Lakes by
Skip Morris and Brian Chan. Brian Chan also has two videos available
Fly Fishing Stillwaters Part 1 and 2.
(We changed to a new publish day - Monday of
each week)
Check for new photos on the Photo
page
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