July, 2013

Summertime, and the livin' is easy... July means the start of summer break, sedge hatches, and road trips. Since we are fortunate to have a truck and camper once again, Wendy and I did a couple of trips in July including:

• a trip to Roche Lake to see our pals Fran and Gerry (and do some fishing, of course!)
• an adjoining trip up to Sheridan and Bridge Lake to visit with my pal Peter and his family, and Kenzie and Kyt (sadly, it would be the last time we saw Peter)
• a trip to Big OK Lake

I also started my somewhat annual trip to Terrace with Hu and Jack to fish the mighty Skeena River for salmon and steelhead.

Tunkwa had the best July fishing we've seen for several years, too!

A good way to start the summer.

Another good way.

We had the whole place to ourselves. Sweet!

Gotta love good weather, and empty campground, a glass of wine by the fire and a wife who likes camping!

Wendy networking.

Have I mentioned that I love sedge hatches?

The good ol' Michulak Sedge does the trick again.

Fran in warm Roche Lake evening light.

Kenzie hoping Peter's motor will start.

Wendy, Kenzie and Kyt on our tour around Bridge Lake.

Bridge Lake sedge.

They sure are green. Too bad the trout weren't keying on them at Bridge.

Trying to go unnoticed.

Tunkwa double-header.

Tunkwa bombers.

'Nice to get some good chironomid action on Tunkwa in July!

Longhorn Beetle. Aptly named!

The might Skeena!

June, 2013

Long days, lots of green, and summer's almost here. Gotta love June! Wendy and I took our new (to us) camper on its maiden voyage to Sheridan Lake for the FlyBC Spring Fish-In. It was the first time we'd been to Sheridan Lake and we discovered... we need a bigger boat! That is a big lake. Fishing was slow for us, and almost everyone else, but we saw one fellow in particular landing some very large rainbows by fishing a chironomid near the bottom at 70+ feet deep. He definitely knows what he's doing on that lake. We found out a month later during a subsequent trip that he has a trailer parked at Sheridan Lake Resort and he fishes the deepwater chironomid hatch every summer.

I also got some of my flyfishing club kids back to Hall Road Pond where everyone caught fish on flies, and we all enjoyed pizza afterwards.

The new rig on its maiden voyage at Sheridan Park Resort.

See all those dots in the distance? That's the flotilla trying to get in on the deep water chironomid action.

Sharpy and Lisa braving the weather awaiting a grab.

Mayflies were hatching. Note the glove - it was chilly!

Piper helping with the eviction of spawners from the seasonal spawning channel.

Swampy and Marnie hanging out while the spawners were evicted.

Sharpy attempting rabbit ears on Shaggy

That lake looks big, doesn't it?

Wendy collecting our first pize.

Take that, Ken Baker! :-)

The gang at Hall Road Pond for our last fish-out of the spring.

Melissa ever-patiently waiting for a fish.

Melissa's little sister got one!

Even and his dad.

Evan sports a new vest, thanks to one of our generous donors.

Don tight to a nice fish at a Tunkwa-area lake.

I even managed one!

Interesting-coloured bear we spied on our way home.

The pram fits nicely in the back of the truck - great for the mountain lakes.

Another beautiful Tunkwa sunset.

Yup, another tattoo by Alison!

May, 2013

Ahhh... Spring! One on my favourite times of the year. Highlights: I met my wife, Wendy, in May, and our son Barry was born in May. The days get longer and warmer, and stillwater fishing really gets going! Gotta love it!

Where went the last 25 years? Happy Birthday, Barry!

Gadget, the furry grandchild.

Alison's tattoos are getting good!

Woo hoo! The ice is off at Zipperlip Lake.

And the fish were willing.

Kye with a nice rainbow on our first outing of the season.

Chironomids were active, too!

This loon harasses us constantly. Oh well, I guess it needs nourishment to produce those eggs. Check out the gouge in the top of its bill. Caused by a fish hook?

This expert angler at Hall Road Pond in Kelowna, where I take my flytying club kids, nailed a trout just as we arrived for an afternoon of fishing.

Melissa hoping for a take.

Fish on!

Way to go, Evan!