I got back from holidays to read, with interest, about our city council giving its approval for the Fish and Wildlife branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to stock sterile rainbow trout in McGuire Lake as part of a program to encourage and promote youth and family fishing.
I also read a letter to the editor regarding the plight of painted turtles in the lake. While I do not wish to wade into these particular waters, I do feel that level heads should be able to work things out so that kids can fish and turtles will be able to exist, unharmed by curious young anglers.
McGuire Lake is a nice place for families to spend time together. Whether fishing or simply observing nature, it can, and should, be shared by all.
This morning I also received an email from Owen Bird of the Family Fishing Society of B.C. reminding me that this year’s Family Fishing Weekend – June 15 to 17 is less than two months away. The email went on to say that some 50 communities, Salmon Arm included, will be hosting a Family Fishing Weekend event.
Although the Family Fishing Weekend program was originally devised to help rebuild angler demographics following a significant decline in both tidal and freshwater sport fishing licence sales, it would be an understatement to say the program has been a success.
“The Family Fishing Weekend is an especially popular annual program designed to develop new anglers. Our goal is to encourage British Columbians, especially young people, to go fishing and have fun with family and friends,” says Bird.
Incorporated as a non-profit society in 2002, the Family Fishing Society of B.C. is mandated to encourage and develop new anglers, as well as promote and coordinate the BC Family Fishing Weekend.
The society’s primary objective is to encourage British Columbians to take up recreational angling as a pastime, and to enjoy B.C.’s many world-class sport fishing opportunities.
This year an estimated 25,000 people will make use of the province’s three-day free freshwater fishing licence to try their hand at angling.
“Once you’ve tried angling in B.C.’s supernatural outdoors, we think you’ll be hooked,” says Bird. “Each year the Family Fishing Society of BC helps coordinate dozens of special community fishing events that attract over 10,000 B.C. residents.”
The annual Salmon Arm Kids Fishing Derby, which, alone, locally attracts an estimated 600 to 800 people down to the wharf at Marine Park on Father’s Day, is one such event.
This year’s derby will be the sixteenth year that the derby has taken place. As in previous years, the derby is open to all children 12 years and under and there is no cost to enter the derby. The only restrictions are that participants must wear a lifejacket or PFD, be accompanied by an adult and be willing to have fun.
Todd Hooper and Nathan Meakes are two local ardent anglers who have taken it upon themselves to put on a series of introductory fishing workshops for kids and parents at McGuire Lake beginning in May. I commend them for their efforts. I understand that part of their approach to angling is to teach young anglers respect for the environment. This is good.
McGuire Lake is home to a thriving population of painted turtles. If anglers are to gain the respect of non-anglers they must demonstrate respect for the turtles and the park as a whole. Then, and only then, will level heads be able to work out a mutually satisfactory arrangement when it comes to family fishing and turtles at McGuire Lake.