IWFF Blog
Second Lakes Cutthroat
By Bernie Heinrichs
For those who only want the bare facts about a fishing trip:
It was good.
For those who want a bit more:
Gerry Stevens and I decided to try out Second Lake – new water for both of us. We found a few “catchable” cutties and a lot of small ones next to and in the weed beds at the far West shore. Gerry used a sinking line, initially at the edge of a drop off, then in shallower water beside the weeds that reached the surface. At the outset I caught a few with that set up and location but then had the most fun using various dry flies when a hatch started.
For those who can read through a lot of BS to get more salient facts:
After trying to get into Panther Lake (blocked by a washed out culvert) and noticing that the wind was too brisk for First Lake, Gerry suggested trying out Second Lake. The water was calmer at the West end and Gerry had heard that the cutties liked the weeds in that part of the lake. We launched our punts from an approach fairly close to the main road after the last security gate.
Even after lamenting over his broken rod tip and untangling line from his propeller, he beat me to the weed bed and was already into fish – sub keepers so far. I changed over to a weighted, bead-head leach on a sinking line and watched wistfully as he hauled in a keeper. Even after various colors and patterns, I could not meet the cutties’ desires. Gerry got bored with so many small ones that he trolled for new schools. I decided that trolling would be a good way to pass some time while munching on a salmon salad sandwich. That is when my luck changed. Those fish kept me so busy that it was an hour later and my sandwich was still not finished.
A few rises to a surface hatch convinced me that a match to the hatch would probably be the way to go. Besides, they were trying to grab that weighted fly as soon as it hit the surface. Since we still have not had Bob Leverman’s “Match the Hatch” presentation (has it really been nearly two years since he offered to do it?), I decided to try his favourite – a Tom Thumb. That worked even better! Nearly every cast that was placed in the ring left by a rising fish produced a response. My catch included three classified as “Minimum Keepers”, a few more “Sub Minimum Keepers”, several “Tiddlers”, some “Little Tiddlers” and lots of “Sub Little Tiddlers”. The latter were too small to actually engage the hook of the fly. They would tenaciously hang on to a piece of hair then release it. Some would follow the fly in the clear water right up to the end of my rod.
The spell of the moment was broken by Gerry: “When are you heading out?”
“I was planning on two.” I replied while looking at my watch – it was 2:05. That bit of banter broke the spell and it was time for reality. The launch site is handy but it does take two to load the boats.
After only a moderately successful season of pink fishing, this experience was, truly, an ego builder.
Timberwest: Great Corporate Citizen ?
By Bernie Heinrichs.
The transformation of Timberwest’s attitude from “No one is allowed on our property at any time” to “Welcome” is remarkable. Island Waters Fly Fishers pretty much gave up on negotiating with them to gain access to Panther Lake (Healy Lake) located on their land. This is the best fly fishing lake in our area and we were still grieving it’s loss this summer. Upon hearing that the security gate was open on weekends, Gerry Stevens and I decided to test the story and to check to see if the access to Panther Lake is still impassable. It is. The two large culverts about a mile from the lake is still washed out and is only accessible by short wheeled, high clearance, SUV’s or ATV’s. We decided to try out Nanaimo Second Lakes but that is a different story. Upon returning home, I thought that I would stop and ask the young lady who was tending to the gate a few questions concerning roads, hours open, where the fish are biting etc. She was very helpful and friendly; gave me an updated colored map describing mostly where hunting is allowed. The gate is open from 6:00 am to at least 5:00 pm and did I mention that there is no charge? She did not even ask for our names! Only license numbers are noted in and out. The map states that ATV’s are not allowed – good luck with that one! I complimented her company on their great attitude and she stated that it looks like they are trying to improve their public image. It sure works for me. Hopefully this change in policy will result in more reported misbehaviors and that the incidents of vandalism, thefts etc. will decrease.
Evan's Annual Report
Interior Lake
Evan Harrison with chrome beauty
Interior Lake 2
Photo taken by Evan
Hi Mike, sorry for taking so long to get back. Yes I was at ****** Lake for about a week and a half. As usual it was very busy, at one point somebody counted about 50 boats on the lake. The fishing was actually quite slow the first few days I was there but seemed to pick up during the last week. The fish? huge as usual, no one even raises an eye at an 8 pounder, 10 pounds is a little more interesting, all on chironomids 23 feet down. I'll attach a picture of myself and one of somebody else who caught a hog.
Eve River Coho
Steve Wawrykow had a very good day on the Eve from the looks of that fish. As Steve put it "Largest Coho I have ever caught. Highlight of my fly fishing."
IWFF guest Dan Ragan with keeper.
Dan Ragan with 11 lb 14 oz trout from Watch Lake B.C. I usually don't post photos of trout this small but it's been a slow news day so what the hell ...
-- A RINGER RUNS THROUGH IT -- by Mike O.
I couldn't believe how many old people were on the road this morning. Didn't these drivers know that I had hired a guide for the first time in my life. I didn't want to waste a minute of the time we had arranged for as his prices were not cheap. I couldn't help wondering if a jury of fishermen would convict me if I ran a couple of these bastards off the road while I raced towards the river.
I had never fished this river before and I had heard that a huge fresh run of steelhead had just entered the system a couple of days before. As I rounded the last bend in the road I could see my guides vehicle already there and I stepped hard on the gas for the last quarter mile. He already had his rod strung and my hands were all thumbs as I rushed to get the line through the guides on my new spey rod. I asked him what fly he recommended and he simply turned and handed me a large fly that looked like rabbit. I almost jumped into my waders and we were off down the steep bank with my heart racing in anticipation.
As we came out into the clearing at the edge of the river I could see the dark shapes holding at the tail of the pool and I knew it was going to be a good day. I had never seen that many steelhead in one pool in my life. I could hardly grip the rod as I started to strip line off for my first cast. How could we miss with that many fish in sight? I somehow got enough line coiled at my feet and started to work my cast out. I had to make the first one count as I was sure I would spook the fish if I missed my mark. I had a perfect loop forming and suddenly I could hear a sound off in the distance. It persisted and seemed to get louder and louder .... Damn it to hell what was that ringing sound....?
I suddenly realized it was my alarm and I woke up .....
Another Auction Item
A group of salmon flys and their postal stamp mate tied by Ton Plijnaar. All the flys are mounted in a shadow box also made by Ton.
Xmas Dinner Auction Donation
This caught my eye ..... The salmon fly mounted in a shadow box donated/tied by Peter Huyghebaert is called a Jock Scott.
Nanaimo River Chums
Bob K. Looks like he actually found one that was alive. Still got enough smoker chips left?
Departure Bay Pinks
If your first comment on this photo is “That is not a Pink” you are an astute observer of piscatorial matters and are absolutely correct. It is not a pink. It is a cutty but it was caught in Departure Bay and, as you have already noted, it had taken a small pink fly. On August 26, 2008 an exploration trip to the beach was taken to determine if there was any truth to the latest rumour that the pinks have been in Departure Bay for about a week.
My first clue that the rumour was just that – a rumour was noted when there was a shortage of active seals. There was one who was drifting aimlessly in pursuit of the same prey that I was after and was having the same degree of success. The second clue was the lack of other fishers. You know you are in a hot fishing area when you are crowded out by them. There were none in sight.
After about an hour of strolling down the beach and aimlessly chucking a fly into the surf, I thought I glimpsed a swirl. My fly was immediately pulled out of its slow retrieve and tossed toward the source of that swirl. The slow sink tip was barely wet when it struck! At first I could not believe how a pink could have come up from nowhere and taken that fly. My doubt was proven to be correct when the fish was retrieved much too easily and even stayed on while a knot was untied from my line before it could be taken up on the reel.
By the time that photo was snapped, that fish was exhausted and swam very slowly away. Perhaps that seal also got his reward.
Article by Bernie H.
Timberlands lake
At the regular pub lunch today Bob Kissinger brought in these two photos of the lake. Bob's son Mark is proudly hoisting a couple of trout that were to be sacrificed for a 
meal. The significance of this date (18th of May 1981) was that on this trip Bob told us of the several (seven) explosions that they heard that sounded an awful lot like naval gunfire. Later he discovered that what they had heard was indeed the eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
