PFF May June 2009

PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

JOURNAL

May / June 2009

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PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

Vol. 06

Number 03, 2009

May / June 2009, Edition

Penticton Flyfishers Box 354, 113-437 Martin St., Penticton, B.C., V2A 5L1 Editor Bruce Turnbull Home Ph:250-493-7386 Work Ph:250-487-2000 Fax 250-487-2049 Email: bturnbul@telus.net (or) bruce.turnbull@raymondjames.ca

President Angus Cameron 250-762-4719 haggisscot@shaw.ca Vice President Phil Rogers 250-493-8832 pjrogers@shaw.ca Treasurer Ken Baker kbbaker@telus.net Secretary Dennis Currie 496-5499 Membership Director Tom Knight twknight@telus.net

Contents

Page 3— Presidents Report Page 4 & 5— Equipment Review—Wading Boots Page 6 & 7— Headwater Lake Page 8 & 9— Annual Club Awards Page 10— Ripley and Madden Lakes Info Page 11, 12 & 13— Kettle River Water Diversion Page 14 – Fish Out dates Page 15– Chinook Salmon Page 16— Picture Gallery Page 17— Classifieds and Calendar of Events Page 18— Tying and Fishing Techniques

Herb Murray (Shit Disturber) at Stoney Lake—by Bruce Turnbull

The Penticton Flyfishers are members of BC Federation of Fly Fishers (BCFFF) BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) Federation of Fly Fishers (International FFF) Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance (OSCA)

Penticton Flyfishers New Website is

www.pentictonflyfishers.ca

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PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

Presidents Report

by Angus Cameron 2009 appears to be rehearsing a follow-up play of mother nature's act of 2008. By this I mean that we all know what happened to the start of the 2008 fishing season. In a nutshell the 2008 year start was extremely "late" in opening the bountiful reservoirs of rivers and lakes we enjoy in this province. Most lakes and rivers did not shed their ice fields until sometime in early May making for a vast group of fisherman to stand pat and try to be patient with the "weathergods"in their review of the time frames suited to getting the fishing season underway.

As I sit here trying to assess the situation we presently see unfolding before our eyes - a repeat of the enactment of 2008.Yes, there are a couple of lower level lakes that are open, Shannon Lake being one of them and perhaps the old reliable one such as RoseValley Dam lake. This day I took a trip into the Rose Valley to assess the "ice situation" and from my observation I

Treasurer Ken Baker

concluded that it could be fished in the next few days.

But beyond these two above named lakes are all that are available at this juncture.

It should be further noted that from my observations Rose Valley is at the present time lacking in water (run-offs have not began as yet). Shannon Lake is another story, it is from my own experience to regretfully point out that there is very few fish left as a direct result of the mass rape by ice fisherman during the recent months of January, February and March.

While this in itself is truly a sad situation it is best left for another day. This is one situation that will not be repeated in 2009-the onetime discovery of a great fishery in 2008 on this lake is no more.

On a more positive note the Club has

Vice Pres Phil Rogers

President Angus Cameron

Your 2009 Executive

started 2009 in fine fashion what with the great Dinner/Auction event in early March and the follow-up program of bringing Phil Rowly into the valley in late March. It can be concluded that both events went over well and thus hopefully boding well that the remainder of 2009 can bring us all more optimism for the remainder of the year. Being a realist, let's look forward and let the remaining tracks fade into the past.

Again, with thanks,

ANGUS

Secretary Dennis Currie

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PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

Equipment Review- Wading Boots by

Bruce Turnbull

( Rubber Soles )

Yes, Simms has done it again! The new

with less exposed stitching and

Simms StreamTread™ Wading Boot

fewer ridges and pockets that could

Sole is the biggest advance in wading

potentially hide stowaways. For

boot traction in nearly a decade, with

2009, Simms is again the industry’s

greater durability, easier cleaning, and

environmental leader by announc-

greatly improved performance over other

ing that they will phase out the use

aquatic rubber compounds so that you

of felt, with only StreamTread

can wade with confidence.

Traction soled boots to be available in 2010. Simms President K.C.

For over a hundred years, fly fisher-

Walsh says, "We know felt is not

men have relied on felt soles, both natu-

the only material that has spread

ral and more recently, synthetic, as the

invasive species and disease, but felt is

2009/2010 season. Many other countries,

traditional wading boot sole material.

surely part of the problem. At Simms,

and states, are currently considering bans

Felt’s fibrous, soft composition effec-

we've decided to be part of the solu-

on felt soles, as well.

tively conforms to and grips slippery

tion." The use of felt soles is already

streambed rocks, even those coated with

discouraged in New Zealand and will

“The Solution” for fly fishermen is the

slimy algae. However, a recent and seri-

be banned there starting with the

remarkable StreamTread Traction Sole.

ous problem related to felt soles is the

Simms has teamed up with Vibram, the

growing spread of aquatic nuisance spe-

unquestionable world leader in outdoor

cies (ANS), such as Didymo algae and

sole design and manufacturing, to bring

New Zealand Mud Snails, and other fish

you a radical new compound that grips

-killers like Whirling Disease. The slow

better than anything before it. Vibram

drying and porous nature of felt can pro-

IdroGrip Technology uses a proprietary

vide refuge for these micro-organisms

rubber formulation in combination with

and allow them to be unknowingly trans-

innovative and patented 360° lugs, spe-

ported by the boot owner from one river

cifically designed for use in wet, mossy

system to another. Simms has been an

wading environments. This multi-level

industry leader with their

sole pattern grips in all directions and,

"CleanStream” design initiative, aimed

essentially, sheds dirt and sand as you

at stopping the spread of these invasive

wade. These lugs are able to penetrate

species by building their wading boots

aquatic vegetation in a manner similar to

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PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

felt, and much more effectively than

The Bottom Line? The new Simms

other “sticky” rubber sole pat-

StreamTread Traction Sole is easy to

terns currently available. These soles

dry and clean. It's design directly and

have undergone years of scientific devel-

responsibly addresses the growing

opment and extensive testing by hun-

threat of Invasive Species in our

dreds of outdoor professionals and the

aquatic environments, something we

results are impressive. Testers claim that

fly fishermen simply can’t afford to

the Simms StreamTread sole is, at

ignore. At the same time, this new sole

minimum, 15 to 20% “grippier” than

material improves wading performance

other rubber compounds, with some test-

over other rubber soles and can equal

ers feeling that is was twice as effective,

that of felt in many fishing situations.

approaching or exceeding that of felt

The StreamTread lug pattern also of-

soles. The IdroGrip compound works

fers greater stability and durability

well in a wide range of tempera-

over felt when trail hiking in your wad-

ture conditions and, additionally,

ers. And, when you torque a set of

has very good traction on dry rock. An-

HardBites into the StreamTread sole,

other significant advantage of the

you’ve got yourself the longest lasting,

StreamTread outsole is the molded built-

highest performance wading boot bot-

in receptacles that accept the optional

toms known to man. What could be

Simms HardBite Studs. This takes the

better? At a cost of about $30 extra

guesswork out of the exact location to

over comparable felt models, it’s a

place the studs and provides a firmer

wise investment by my reckoning. The

foundation at the stud base. These steel

new StreamTread Traction outsole, for

screw studs have a welded surface of

2009, will be available on six of the

super-hard tungsten carbide beads that

eight Simms Wading Boot models,

are incredibly durable; they literally dig

including the G4, Guide, Rivershed,

in to all but the hardest rock to provide

Headwaters, Women’s Headwaters,

ultimate control. Since they’re so hard,

and the entry level Freestone.

LL Bean

ORVIS

they also reduce sole wear, potentially doubling the life of your wading shoes.

To learn more about how you can

If you wade mainly in fast slippery cur-

take responsibility for preserving our

rents like I do, I’d strongly recommend

precious fisheries, take a moment to

adding these studs to your wading shoes.

visit the Center for Aquatic Nuisance

You can replace the studs when they

Species on the web and take the

wear out, or temporarily remove them

“Clean Angling Pledge”. You’ll find

for, say, waltzing around on the floor of

out how to thoroughly clean your gear,

your friend’s wooden drift boat.

so that you don’t become part of the problem. Then, get out there and wade!

PATAGONIA Source: Internet Trout Unlimited USA

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HEADWATER LAKE Fishing Report: Headwater 1 is one lake in a chain of 4 lakes. They are called Headwater 1, 2, 3 and 4. Headwater 1 is the largest lake in the chain and supports a fine Eastern Brook trout fishery, caught either by fly fishing or trolling, often reaching 3 lbs. or better. Rainbow trout are also found in the chain and stocking is used to maintain a quality fishery with good numbers of trout.

Less than 30 minutes above Peachland, the very affordable rustic outdoor experience of Headwaters - with its peaceful mountain lakes and cabins - awaits you and your family.

Nestled in the wilderness, are ten pioneer style cabins - sleeping up to six.

These charming lakefront log cabins are cozy, clean, well kept and welcoming.

For those wanting a more rustic 'mother nature experience', we also provide designated, spacious and wooded campsites.

From fishing, boating, canoeing, swimming, hiking, playground and paddleboats for the kids in the summer - to snowshoeing, cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter - to a quiet weekend getaway - all at easy affordable rates - we invite you to leave the pace of a busy life and come re-engage your spirit with mother nature Please note: Headwaters offers a rustic experience - just like the old days.

All cabins are very clean and cozy, however, clean bathroom facilities with hot showers are outdoors and there is no electricity. (Grampa T says...no need for hair dryers up here).

Call us on the mountain radio phone 1-250-470-9612

Checkin:2:00p.m.

Check-out: 12:00 noon

5 Large Cabins (sleeps up to 6) $70.00 for four people 5 Small Cabins (sleeps up to 4) $55.00 for two people Additional Charges (cabins)$5.00 each additional person $2.50 each additional child 14 Campsites (2 people) $20.00 daily For each additional adult/child: $2.00/$1.00 daily Equipment Rentals: Per Hour Rowboat/Canoe $12.00 Motor Boats $20.00 Boat Launch (Guests only)

Daily $27.00 $55.00

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PENTICTON

2008

FLYFISHERS

AWARDS LIFE TIME MEMBER AWARD TO TOM DELLAMATER FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CLUB AS A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE, PAST NEWSLETTER EDITOR, LEADERSHIP AND OVERALL CONTRIBUTOR TO MANY CLUB PROJECTS

MOST ACTIVE NEW MEMBER AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO NICK PACE. NICK HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF NEW IDEAS TO THE CLUB AS WELL AS A LOT OF NEW MEMBERS. WE LOOK FORWARDS TO NICK’S PARTICIPATION IN THE FUTURE.

THE HARRY FEHILING VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD WAS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY TO LONG TIME MEMBER JOHN WATTS FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CLUBS MANY PROJECTS AND FUNCTIONS OVER THE YEARS. BARB WATTS RECEIVED ON BEHALF OF JOHN

MOST IMPROVED FLY TYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WENT TO PHIL ROGERS FOR HIS SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN FLY TYING AND HIS ASSISTANCE AT HELPING FELLOW MEMBERS LEARN THE SKILLS PHIL IS STARTING TO MASTER

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PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

The Gordon Marchant Memorial Award was not presented this past year. The Award is presented to a member who over the past year best exemplified the purposes and the goals of the club with consideration to conservation work under the guidance of the membership.

The President’s Award this year went to non member Howard Grantham who for many years has helped our club and the Penticton Shooting Sports Club, with our work on Penticton Creek.

Howard has been a staunch supporter of these efforts for a number of years and we thank him.

This Years Golden Throne Award goes to Doug Collins, the club bar keep, who for some unknown reason brought only a 6 pack of beer to a club meeting thinking it would sufficient. Of course the 6 pack lasted just two minutes leaving the balance of members thirsty.

The Big Blooper Award this year went to Angus Cameron our Pres., for his error in buying a fishing license this year and paying full fair when as a Senior he was entitled to a much lower fee. The award proved to be a huge benefit to Angus as it got him out of a speeding ticket on the way home. Its now resides on his mantle.

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PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

Ripley Lake : There are Forestry

Rec Sites at the east and West ends of the lake. Shoal all around the lake with marl bottom. Early season fishing best with chironomids or trolling leech patterns.

Trout have been getting bigger over the past few years as stalking program improves. Expect trout up to 16 inches.

Target some of the deadfall in the lake as well work a nymph around the few small points jutting out into the lake. Road Access from Oliver/Cawston back road.

Madden Lake: There is one good

Forestry Rec site and as the lake is situated in a bit of a bowl access is limited.

Early season fishing using mostly leech patterns while trolling but some chironomid fishing can be successful along the drop off running down the east side of the lake and at the south end.

Road Access from Oliver/Cawston back road and can be a bit rough but campers, trailers, and fifth wheels get in providing you are willing to take your time.

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PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

BIG WHITE— KETTLE RIVER WATER DIVERSION

Review of Big White’s Current Applications and Plans: March 4 2009

By Al Grant.. Boundary Environmental Alliance Big White’s original application Nov 2007 was for total 398 million gallons; of which 87% is for residential use, 13% for snowmaking. Despite the above, Big White’s Micheal J. Ballingall is subsequently on record as saying “We don’t need that water right now. In order to make snow in future years, 20 to 30 years down the line.....with global warming...we have visions of doubling in size in next 30 years” As is evident in figures below, Big White could grow 258% without needing additional water. Having the new application as a reserve supply to “protect against global warming” goes against the MOE established practice which requires that licence holders make “beneficial use” of water licences and it also is poor optics if some users are granted permits for possible future use when other users are given no similar offer.

In order to have it appear that the new licence is in fact related to development needs, Big White, (although it has years left in its existing Master Plan which is good to 2039) has recently submitted a new Draft Master Plan to Ministry of Tourism Culture and Arts, (MTCA, formerly Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Arts, MTSA) in an attempt to justify the current application. It is likely that BW were encouraged to submit this new Draft Master Plan in an attempt to justify the application.

We are now being told by WaterStewardship Branch and by Waste Management that we need to bring our con-

cerns to MTCA who are now handling the new Master Plan. The process by MTCA does not include any Public Meetings other than a requirement that Big White, (sometime after the plan is published) will hold an “open house” re the plan. No Gov’t reps normally/ expectedly are in attendance at any “open house.”

We are therefore being told to take our concerns to MTCA, the Ministry responsible for shovelling public assets into private hands, the Ministry that invited Big White and other resorts to “apply for all the water available,” the Ministry that appoints Big White’s consultant to be their agent in dealings with RDKB and a Ministry in which staff are acting like agents of private interests.

We were advised a new Draft Master Plan submitted to MTCA is as follows: Plan proposes building from 13,800 bed/units to 47,000 bed/units with the latter figure awaiting further input from Big White before it can be confirmed, but preliminary figure discussed is 47,000.

Changes to Big White Ecological Reserve (that was tried previously & rejected but MTCA who may well support it this time ).

Two Golf courses. No Environmental Assessment will necessarily be triggered.

There would be a 456% increase in bed/units over the existing, 10,289 figure on RDKB docs.

As BW is rewarded with favourable

purchase price on land it will resell for development based on increasing services. BW is effectively rewarded for massively expanding its ski hill footprint. (Pay 10% of appraised value ?) and note in current application at RDKB, that some surrounding lands don’t have to be purchased, this saves BW further cost, and yet these public lands will be effectively controlled by BW. RDKB has advised that an accepted new Master Plan will not necessarily trigger a new or revised Official Community Plan (OCP) by RDKB unless the plan calls for development outside of the development areas outlined in the existing OCP. The existing OCP certainly needs revisiting as existing OCP guidelines have no conservation requirements & OCP says “RDKB will encourage BW or other private... to create a golf course.”

Re existing bed/units Regional District as of Sept 2008 had on agenda an application under Big White’s existing Master Plan for an additional 1038 bed/units to existing total of 10,289 for a build out total of 11,327 A Report from BW consultants indicates that (prior to 2005 water licence) existing water licence capacity will serve 14,000 bed/units + fire etc.

The 2005 licence is either a 90% or 112% increase over existing licences, depending on whether the reservoir is 21% bigger than licensed. On basis of smaller figure, extrapolating the math used by BW’s consultant, it would enable build out to reach 26,600 bed/units,

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PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

(A 258% increase over the actual of 10,289 and considerably more than the “doubling” of the resort that Ballingall has publicly proposed). No wonder that Ballingall has said publicly “they don’t need the new water” (for development servicing) Application includes support letter from MTCA who advise the District that “BW’s consultant, BHA, acting as an agent for Big White, is authorized by MTCA to also act as agent for MTCA.” Such an arrangement is incestuous and when considered along with the MTCA invitation to resorts to “apply for all the water available in the watershed” it is apparent that MTCA is effectively acting as an agent of Big White and other resorts.

data collected for about 12 years, 27 years ago, what relevance? Above all, there is a lack of hydrology information or study in the area that would indicate the effect of these withdrawals on groundwater recharge and the relationship of that recharge to the dependence of the Kettle on groundwater flows for summer and later flows.

That lack of information should prompt MOE to decline this application until such time as the necessary studies are done and a Watershed Management Plan is in place. Big White obviously has no immediate or even medium term needs for additional water and likely wouldn’t have made this application if MTCA had not invited them to do so.

What significance in the proposed withdrawals?

MOE Water Stewardship Branch, and the Minister of the Environment have dismissed concerns over the proposed withdrawals, maintaining that the proposed withdrawals are “not significant.”

Regional Hydrologist, MOE Phil Epp has stated that: stored water is largely used for residential purposes, small losses from reservoirs to evaporation, maybe transpiration if there is a golfcourse. The proposed diversion would be small relative to downstream flows. This I do not share as I have (expressed ) concerns based on information I have received. Unfortunately Mr Epp buys into the notion that this application is largely for development purposes (not for the future use described by Ballingall). He downplays reservoir evaporation losses as small, and apparently doesn’t know that two golf courses are proposed in the Draft Master Plan. Golf courses are water hogs due to major evaporation and transpiration losses. Further evaporation losses from snowmaking, which can be 10 to 20% as well as evaporation from sewage lagoons.

Figures subsequently given of 9% of freshet of the 3 streams is based on what data? Given the lack of flow data for the three streams. If based on any recent measures they wouldn’t include the 2005 licence and its effect, which is not yet in effect. The data we were shown from a station higher up on Trapping Creek was

Public Consultation ?

MOE has avoided requests to hold or participate in a public hearing and now suggests we should direct our attention to the “public consultation” that will occur as part of the MTCA process of review of Big White’s new proposed Master Plan. The only “public hearing” that is proposed in that process is an “open house” that Big White will be required to hold. An open house at which no government representatives are normally in attendance. The public consultation process therefore has been reduced to concerns being directed to MTCA, the agency working to advance Big White’s interests.

It must be time to direct our concerns to the Premier himself and find out if there was anything meaningful in his claims that “the application would receive full community consultation, environmental review, community use review and complete community and scientific studies.”

See raw footage of interview Nov 19 2008 at: http://www.youtube.com/ user/SavetheKettle Or see transcript and our earlier comments re Premier Campbell’s assurances at: http:// www.boundaryalliance.org/ cambell_sassurances.pdf

1.) Conversation with Steve Rowe indicates that (as per act) Comptroller or Regional Water Mgr authorize water licences but additionally, which may not show in the Act, the Assistant Regional Water Manager would actually sign off on the licences, in this case Conrad Pryce. Pryce recently described himself as: Allocation Section Head, Okanagan Region, MOE. 2.)A theoretical figure for possible buildout of bed/units within the existing Master Plan.

The actual existing bed/unit total is 10,289. (see detail on following page) 3.)Ballingall has variously stated that BW is presently at 16,000 bed units or 17,000 bed units and has talked publicly of doubling in size over next 30 years 4.) Ballingall has publicly stated that the reservoir hold 60 million gallons, which would make its capacity 21% greater than that licenced.

Send your emails to the following, Ministry of the Environment Minister Barry Penner Email to: Barry.Penner@gov.bc.ca Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Minister Ron Cantelon Email to: Larry.Pedersen@gov.bc.ca Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Bill Bennett Email to: TSA.Minister@gov.bc.ca Premier Campbell Email to: Premier@gov.bc.ca

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Letter to Editor Kettle River Echo

PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

March 30, 2009 Re: Big White’s colors— they aren’t snow white!

Big White plans to have it’s way with the upper Kettle River drainage. Their recently approved expansion gives them a capacity of 11,400 bed-units! They have huge expansion plans that will increase this capacity to nearly 47,000 bed units. The entire ROB (Rest of the Boundary) has a total population of ~ 10,000 people.

To enable this expansion Big White has stated unequivocally that they want more water from the upper Kettle River and will do whatever it takes to get it. In spite of many protests from local ROB residents the MOE has indicated that they will give Big White the requested water on the basis that it will be an insignificant amount.

Mr. Ballingall believes that legitimate practices like forestry that pay very decent wages and which have been the historical mainstay of the majority of the ROB residents nearly ‘forever’ no longer have legitimacy, only Big White’s plans do. In a recent interview, while looking out his office window at some ‘clearcuts’ , the harvesting of which provided solid jobs to ROB residents and which had almost certainly been reforested and are now growing a new forest, Michael Ballingall stated that such activities…. “ scar the land---in a tourism area that already has enough scars.”

This statement is incredibly revealing & arrogantly hypocritical. The biggest and ugliest “scars” in the “tourism area” were made by Big White with more “huge growth” and accompanying scars in the making. These scars are located at one of the most sensitive and fragile environments in the entire Boundary---the top of Big White Mountain.

According to Ballingall however, they are OK; Big White made them and, instead of denigrating them as “scars”, they are legitimized by being referred to as: condominium development sites, ski runs, skating ponds, water & powerline R/Ws, sewage ponds, water storage areas, roads & even golf courses; as such, they are legitimate and really don’t qualify as “scars”! If they enable Big White to make more money then they must be legitimate, good and perhaps---even holy.

All developments made at the top of a 7,500+ foot mountain are, by their very nature, ecologically devastating. Huge investments are necessary to develop, maintain and service the site, involve lost environmental values, increased energy consumption with attendant increases in pollution and permanent loss of forests and their associated environmental services.

Big White is proud of their developments and future mega-growth plans, and oblivious to the concerns of the ROB residents. Yet their actions are largely responsible for the Kettle River moving from # 8 on BC’s Endangered Rivers list to # 2, a most undesirable ranking!

Big White’s colors are definitely not green and clean.

Yours truly, Fred Marshall Fred Marshall Boundary Resident

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PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

2009 FISHOUTS

Link Lake May 22,23 & 24

Darke Lake May 30

Headwater Lake Early May date to be arranged

Salmon Lake Sept 11 to 14

Kettle River July every weekend

Idelback Lake June 27 & 28

Ripley and Madden Lakes early May- Date to be arranged

Leighton Lake and Tunkwa Lake Aug 8,9 & 10

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PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

Chinook SALMON The Chinook salmon is blue-green on the back and top of the head with silvery sides and white ventral surfaces.

It has black spots on its tail and the upper half of its body; its mouth is dark gray. Adult fish range in size from 33 to 36 inches (840 to 910 mm), but may be up to 58 inches (1.47 meters) in length; they average 10 to 50 pounds (4.54 to 22.7 kg), but may reach 130 pounds (59 kg).

The current sport caught World Record is 97 pounds 4 ounces (44.1 kg) and was caught in May 1985 by Les Anderson in the Kenai River (Kenai, Alaska). The commercial catch world record is 126 pounds (57 kg) caught near Petersburg, Alaska in a fish trap in 1949.

Chinook salmon may spend between one to five years in the ocean before returning to their home rivers to spawn, though the average is three to four years. Chinook prefer larger and deeper water to spawn in than other species of salmon and can be found on the spawning redds (nests) from September through to December. After laying eggs in a redd, adult female Chinook will guard the redd from 4 to 25 days before dying, while males look for additional mates.

Chinook salmon eggs will hatch, depending upon water temperatures, 90 to 150 days

after deposition. Eggs are deposited at a time to ensure that young salmon fry emerge during appropriate time for juvenile survival and growth. Fry and parr (young fish) usually stay in freshwater from twelve to eighteen months before travelling downstream to estuaries, where they remain as smolts for several months. They also turn a bright red before spawning. They spawn in main channels in order to hide from predators.

The typical lifespan of an Chinook salmon is 4-5 years, although some Chinooks return to the fresh water one or two years earlier than their counterparts, and are referred to as "Jack" salmon. "Jack" salmon can be half the size of an adult Chinook salmon, and are usually thrown

back by sportsmen but kept by commercial fishermen.

Chinook salmon range from San Francisco Bay in California to north of the Bering Strait in Alaska, and the arctic waters of Canada and Russia (the Chukchi Sea ), including the entire Pacific coast in between. Populations occur in Asia as far south as the islands of Japan. In Russia, they are found in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands.

Chinooks are more territorial while moving and are easier to get at when they are moving in water of moderate depth. Fast sinking lines are still most useful. The angler should be prepared to fish at depths between four and twelve feet. The fly should fish much slower than the current.

Jim Teeny T-300, T-400 and T-500 lines are most useful. Be prepared to loose some gear. Chinooks like big bottom structure.

These fish are much larger on average ten to twelve weight are most useful. Rods from ten to twelve weight are most useful. Eight weight rods are too light. A beefy nine weight is minimum. Spey rods capable of throwing fast sinking tips are handy on some water.

Source: the Internet

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Picture Gallery

PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

Sawmill Lake

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PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

CLASSIFIEDS For Sale—15 ft Sage graphite Spey rod, line weight 10, 8 3/4 oz, 4 piece, used only ten times. New condition. Price $375 O.B.O. Call Ken Cochrane 250-860-9128 or email at kencochrane@shaw.ca Wanted—Pictures, locations and descriptions of damage to the wilderness caused by off road vehicles. See Bruce.

Lost—A good fishing story went missing and we would like the members to search long and hard to see if they have one in themselves that they would like to share. Send your story and pics if you have them to the Editor. He would appreciate the help with upcoming newsletters.

CALENDAR of EVENTS May 7—General meeting. Time 7 pm.

May 14—Last fly tying night of the season. Fly tying will start back up in October. Time 7 pm.

May 20—Executive Meeting at Phil Rogers house. Time 7 pm.

June 04—Last General meeting before the summer break.

Come out and find out about summer fish outs and what else is going on. Time 7 pm.

June 17—Executive meeting at Phil Rogers house. Time 7 pm. Location of summer Exec meetings to be discussed and arranged.

Sept 3—First General Meeting of the fall. Come out and see and hear what has been going on with members over the summer months and also see what the club has planned for the fall session. Time 7 pm.

www.pentictonflyfishers.ca

Sept 16—Executive meeting at Phil Rogers house. Time 7 pm.

Oct 01—General Meeting Time 7 pm.

www.bcfff.bc.ca

Oct 8—First fly tying session of the fall. Time 7 pm.

Oct 14—Executive Meeting at Phil Rogers house. Time 7 pm.

www.bcwf.bc.ca

www.troutwaters.ca

Tying and Fishing Techniques

HUMPY Hook: Standard dry fly, sizes 18 to 10 (the hook shown is a Tiemco 101).

Thread: Single-strand floss and 8/0, 6/0 or 3/0 thread (both floss and thread should be the same colour; colours include yellow, red, black, orange, green, and fluorescent versions of these colours).

Tail: Moose-body hairs.

Hump, and Wings: Natural elk hair.

Hackle: One grizzly and one brown.

The Humpy seems to have established itself as the number-one rough-water dry fly. Its hair hump adds buoyancy, and the tips of the fibers that form this hump make the wings. Clever. I will show you a few unconventional techniques for ty-

ing this fly that make it quick to tie and durable.

Here are a few pointers for tying the Humpy that I have discovered on my own: Elk hair is the best for the humpy's hump and wings - elk hair is generally much tougher than deer, and the hump is secured at both ends which makes it vulnerable between. Determine the thickness of the hump-wing hair bunch to suit the wings; don't worry about the hump. Again, careful measuring of the tail and wing-hump hair is critical . . .but even when measuring is done carefully, variations in hook design will vary the length of the wings somewhat, though not to any real consequence.

Single-strand floss used as thread for the first few steps will make the Humpy go quickly - the floss covers the hair much faster than would any

thread, and the floss's strength allows you to really secure the hair. When drawing the hump-wing hair up and forward, stroke lightly as you grasp up the hairs to even out tension among them.

One of my favourite flies on streams or lakes.

Bruce Turnbull Bruce Turnbull

The Penticton Flyfishers meet the first Thursday of every month except July and August when we meet at nearby fishouts. Club meetings begin at 7 pm at the “OLD CPR� Train Station on Hastings St., and everyone is welcome. Membership costs $40 per year (Junior membership is free) and includes membership in the B.C. Federation of Fly Fishers, the B.C. Wildlife Federation, The Federation of Fly Fishers (International), and the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance (OSCA).

The club is registered as a society and its function is to promote the sport of fly fishing, to educate, and to conserve and protect the environment.

The club is actively involved in conservation projects throughout the Okanagan and surrounding areas. If you would like more information about the club, its membership, projects and programs, please call any member of the Executive (see inside front cover).