A Note from A Haig-Brown

Dear Mark and Nick,

Thanks you for the nice piece with splendid pictures about the HB exhibit. I had a little bit to do with it myself and am very pleased with the results. There is some hope that it could travel to other places after Campbell River.

All the best,

Valerie Haig-Brown
Waterton Park, Alberta

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Fly Fishing Lessons?

Do you have any courses planned for this winter or next spring?
please let me know.
thank you,
bruce carr
bbcarr@shaw.ca

Hi Bruce:
We don't have any fly fishing courses planned at the moment, but may do one in the spring if there is enough interest. We'll let you know if we do.
-Cheers,
Mark Hume

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A Jet Boater Speaks

Enjoyed the article on jetboats. As you know, having rode in
mine in the Kitlope, I own one, and have for 12 years. And you're right
about their place, especially on small rivers. The government has almost
completely ignored dealing with the question. For me, I stick to rivers
where these conflicts are not existent, or minimal -- it's a personal
choice. My jetboat is a tool, and I use it because I have to -- they are
intrusive and loud. However more and more of our rivers are becoming almost
unusable by people without jetboats, because of jetboats. And sadly, if
government chooses to deal with this growing problem, the debate will be
ugly and rancorous. It will make the great bait debate seem like some kind
of new age consensus process.

Few will pay attention to the need to examine the issue from a science base
-- ie the impacts to the river ecosystem from noise, wakes, etc. And when
it gets to the aesthetic issues, expect to be accused of being elitist, if
not worse. And there will be those who flatly state no jet boats anywhere,
anytime -- which will further complicate matters, and enrage guides and
outfitters who legitimately rely on jet boats to make their living. It
isn't going to be a lighthearted debate.

Jetboats are wondeful tools used in the right place, in the right way. They
have place. But not on rivers easily accesible by other means, and not on
rivers where there use drastically impacts a broader public interest. One
idiot in a jet boat can ruin a lot of peoples day on the river --
unfortunately it's difficult for a angler on foot to return the favour.

And they do have astounding impacts on some rivers -- I remember one remote
river I had to run several times in one day supporting some scientists -- I
literally blew it out with my jetboat, reducing the visibility from over 4
feet to less than one. It was small, and had fragile clay banks in some
spots, so it is an extreme example, but if one boat can do that, what do
dozens do.

And there seems to be a steady decline in courtesy, not particularily from
old time BC jet boaters, but certainly from new users, or those from places
where big engines and showing off is the rule. Some of our visitors from the
south seem to think roaring around boat ramps at 50 knots is a manly thing
to do. Personally I think they have small privates and are trying to make
up for it. Although I'm not a fan of more and more regulation, I'd love to
see speed limits on heavily used rivers, so that jerks who show off can be
removed from the river.

As someone who owns a jetboat I would welcome these small, accessible rivers
being put off limits to motors, and a rational structure for examing other
rivers and jet boat use. However, having been involved in similar debates in
the past, the cynic in me thinks self-interest will out. Unfortunately we no
longer have a viable organization province wide that represents the
interests of conservation minded anglers, and that is discouraging. We,
anglers, are proving to be just as self-centered and selfish as any other
sector. My hope is that conservation oriented anglers, those who understand
that protecting the interests of fish ultimately protects their interests,
will find a way to organize themselves, so that issues like jetboats on the
Pitt can be examined rationally. Until then we have to rely on government
for leadership on issues like this, and that is a sad joke right now.

Bruce Hill
Terrace, British Columbia

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Fighting Against Jet Boats

To A River Never Sleeps:

Thanks for the article on jet boats on "our" waterways and their potential to do harm. I would like to start writing my representatives about this issue and could use any web links and/or addresses for information to include which details the harm, etc. being done, in particular the Woods Hole Institute data/report. My home water is the Skagit River in Washington state, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River which has more than its share of jet boats.

Thanks, again,
Steven Russell
Marblemount, Washington, USA

Thanks for your note, Steven. Every voice will help in the fight to keep jet boats off small rivers. To get further information on the damage done to the environment by small boat motors, you might start by having a look at:

http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/0309084385?OpenDocument

You will find there a National Acadamies news release about a recently completed report, Oil In The Sea, which details just how damaging small engines are to the marine environment. If small boats are polluting the ocean to such a degree, we can only imagine what they are doing to our little trout lakes and to small rivers like the Upper Pitt.

http://www.fishingnj.org/artobm2.htm

Contains a more detailed report on the Woods Hole workshop I referred to in my commentary.

-cheers,
Mark Hume

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A Brother Remembered

I have just read your article about fishing with my brother,
Bruce Gerhart. Your writing was stunning, and has captured his essence. I
am still sitting here with tears in my eyes as I read this. He is still
missed so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely, Audrey Raines
Parksville, B.C. Canada

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A Jet Boat Solution

To: letters@ariverneversleeps.com
Re: nuking nature:it's time the government stepped in

Being a user of jet boats I was truly amazed in your eds. note on exactly how many jet boats roared up the Pitt in one day as compared to the same day last year. Clearly a ban on jet boats in the Upper Pitt in the only option, and this problem will only get worse. Human encroachment is inevitable on the Upper Pitt and in general, most of the lower mainland. It's about time fishers who utilize jet boats as a means of transportation, leave the boats at the mouth of the river. I believe it is all about compromise, users must hike or ride to their favourite fishing destinations along the Upper Pitt. A mountain bike or small motorcycle would be a good compromise. Human encroachment is inevitable and the noise pollution of the odd small motorcycle, pick up truck, bus or helicopter (the latter three means of transportation being offered by Pitt River lodge) is quite negligable as compared to a jet boat. This may be a hard pill to swallow to most owners of jet boats, but we must implement a ban before the last truly wild river in the lower mainland becomes destroyed by the detrimental impact that jet boats cause. Jet boat owners must limit their use to bodies of water that can withstand the negative environmental impact of jet boats (lower Pitt River, Fraser River ect.)

-Darren Smith
Maple Ridge


Hi Darren:
Thanks for your thoughtful response. Some people have taken the commentary to be an out-and-out attack on all jet boats, everywhere, which it clearly wasn't. Jet boats are a wonderful method of getting access to remote places.....as are helicopters, ATVs and, for that matter, my beloved 4x4. But I wouldn't think of driving my truck along the Skagit River trail, not because I couldn't, but because I know it would damage the environment and disturb people seeking tranquility. Parking jet boats at the lower logging road bridge, and switching to the logging road, either in an ATV, or some other method, would allow anglers to travel up the river without blowing fishermen out of the water. We hate to advocate government intervention in anything - but it seems like, in this case, jet boat operators just won't back off on the Upper Pitt until they are made to.
We support your view on a solution. But would add this proviso: helicopters should be banned from the Upper Pitt too, if they become any more than a rarity, and dirt bikes should be confined to the logging road.
-Mark Hume

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Jet Boat Query

Hello there,

I just read your article "Nuking Nature: It&Mac226;s Time The Government Stepped In". An interesting piece of writing, but it would be benificial to have cited references to back up the claims made. In my opinion, without referenced sources, articles of this nature can border on retoric rather than fact. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute sponsered a workshop, but this is not a proper reference. I am not directly disputing the claims made in the article, but I would like to make an educated and informed decision based on documented scientific evidence (i.e. journal reference). I would greatly appreciate the references used in the article in question.

Yours sincerely,

Brian R. Leaf, R.P. Bio.
FishBC website
Kamloops, BC, Canada

Hi Brian:
Thanks for your note. The article to which you refer was an editorial comment, and was clearly marked as such. It was not a scientific paper, but rather set forward my opinion, based on some extensive reading. For that reason it did not have "proper references" nor did it cite scientific sources, as it would had I been presenting a position paper to a scientific journal.
You will have to do your own research, and reach your own conclusions.
I note that you are a professional biologist. If you are a fisheries biologist, you should certainly be reading up on the issue of small boat engines. I think it is going to be an issue of growing importance.

-cheers,
Mark Hume

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A New Tie For Kelsey’s Hope

My version of Kelsey's Hope is a streamer hook with about 10-12 strands of unstacked white bucktail under the hook, 3-4 strands of nuetral crystal flash over the top of the hook . Then I take 3-4 strands of dark blue and 3-4 strands of dark green and twist them together to mix them and put that on top of the flash.Then I take 4-5 black strands of bucktail to put on top . I use black thread,no body,, no weight ,no eyes,and I have excellent luck with it for sea-runs and silvers in the shallow saltwater bays and flats .It's a candlefish pattern that works better then
the candlefish itself! Try it ,you will love it!

George Binney
Port Townsend,Washington

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An Open Letter

The Honourable Stan Hagen
Minister of Sustainable Development
Parliament Buildings, Victoria BC

Dear Stan Hagen,

I am writing this letter to let you know about the frightening concern that
our government is creating among the hundreds of thousands of British
Columbians who use our great outdoors. There is a growing sense of panic
about what is happening. In no particular order here are some serious
reasons for the growing panic:

1. The living gene bank for Puntledge River steelhead is being phased out
despite looming extinction for our fish.

2. The riverbed of the Big Qualicum River being privatized despite the case
still being before the courts.

3. Privatization of all provincial hatcheries.

4. Drastic reduction of the Fish and Wildlife Field offices and personal.

5. Growing numbers of rumours about the privatization of access to our
crown lands and wilderness.

6. The phasing out of the Provincial Parks system.

7. The closure of most of British Columbia's back-country roads and trails.

All of the above and much more, which is happening or rumoured to be in the
works. We can only wonder if some kind of Mad-Cow Disease has inflicted the
Liberal Government in its rush to radically alter what was a world-class
system of managing the fish, wildlife, and recreational resources of this
vast province where we still own 93 per cent of it.

Just to remind you of the great value and positive wealth returned to the
province from the freshwater fishing resource, here are two quotes from the
2002/2003 Freshwater Angling Regulations Synopsis:

"British Columbia offers its residents and guests alike an exceptional
wealth and diversity of freshwater fishing opportunities on thousands of
lakes, rivers, and streams. We offer 24 species of freshwater sports fish
for you to enjoy year round. Whether you prefer fishing for wild steelhead
in swift remote wilderness rivers or for world class rainbow trout in one
of our thousands of small lakes there are great fishing experiences just
waiting for you in British Columbia.

"Freshwater recreational fishing generates a wealth of social, cultural,
and economic benefits for the province. In the 2000/2001 season, 355,000
licenses were sold and an estimated 150,000 juvenile anglers also
participated in the fishery. Freshwater angler expenditures totalled $494
million, with a $118 million contributed to the provincial GDP and
supported about 3,300 jobs in the province."

Don Peterson, Director
Fish and Wildlife Recreation and Allocation Branch
Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Synopsis - 2002/2003

Unfortunately, the current hunting regulations do not give the number of
participants in hunting or the monies involved. However, according to the
last figures I saw, over 128,000 hunters generated at least $200 million in
pursuit of their recreation.

Add to the above numbers, based on license counts, the hundreds of
thousands of people who use our open commons (wilderness) for hiking,
biking, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowmobiling, ATV travelling,
horseback riding, camping, berry-picking, bird-watching, mushroom picking etc.

British Columbians annually donate millions of dollars and equally
important millions of hours of volunteer labour for the betterment and
sustainability of our fish and wildlife resources, and wilderness
resources. Are you planning to phase out these efforts as well?

When a government sets out to change the basic cultural patterns of its
people, it borders on the mass cultural manipulation and societal
subjectivity we associate with extremes from either sector of the political
spectrum. The responsible freedom of the commons has its origin in the
Magna Carta, and is fundamental to the freedom of the people of this
province. To change this basic principal on which our culture is founded is
going way beyond what the people of this province asked for when they
recently gave you a strong mandate to change the way the Government of
British Columbia is handling our affairs.

I urge you to use your influence as a member of the Cabinet and Minister of
Sustainable Resources to alter the current trend of our government to
radically change the cultural patterns of the people of B.C. in accessing
the outdoors, and get back to the basics of sustaining our precious
wildlife and wilderness resources.

Respectfully,

Ralph Shaw CM
Outdoor Columnist
Comox Valley Record

CC to Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister Water, Land and Air Protection.

PS: As a concerned British Columbian, you might also express your thoughts
to our government.

Editor's Note:
Due to an editing error, in an earlier posting of A River Never Sleeps, the above letter was cut off after Don Peterson was quoted, making it appear that Mr. Peterson had written the letter. In fact, the letter was written by Mr. Shaw and Mr. Peterson was merely quoted in it. A River Never Sleeps apologizes to both Mr. Peterson and Mr. Shaw for the error.

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Oh, Get Stuffed...

Dear editor,
in regards to your comments following the letter about jet boats and small waterways, can one not attribute the increase in boat traffic on the pit river to your sites constant references to the pit's beauty and proximity to Vancouver??? it is no great mystery that once people know about a beautiful place near their home they will want to visit there. I only see more boat traffic in store for the poor old pit.

The same type of thing has happened to my favorite river in the world, the Heber , a tributary to the Gold, on Van Isl. since steelhead stocks on the island were so poor in the late 90's, and BC Outdoors magazine and Craig whitman at the Ministry had to find a bright spot to write about and began telling everyone how good the fishing is there. Try to assume more responsibility for your writing, as it is not only good intentioned, pure fishermen that enjoy fishing and your site, but also the uneducated weekend warriors with fancy toys.

Yours truly,
Mike Pearson
Ft. St. James B.C.
mpearson@mail.canfor.ca

Dear Mike;
Thanks for the lecture. As well intended as it is, it misses the mark by a long shot. We are well aware that by writing about the Pitt River we have drawn a huge amount of attention to it. That was the whole point. When we first began to focus on this great river it was being destroyed by logging, by industrial oil seepage and threatened by a gravel mine. We helped lead the public outcry against all those industrial threats, and we won. We have now identified another threat - the damaging use of this small river by jet boats. We are fighting that battle now - and intend to keep at it until those machines have been banned from the river. After that we will go on....we will draw attention to the damage done by bait fishers, and we will ask the government to justify issuing so many guide licences on this river. We won't stop and we won't shut up.

One of the big problems with this province is that too many people sit on their hands and keep quiet....perhaps hoping they will have a river to themselves. Well, get this straight....a river without friends in this world is doomed.
We offer no apologies.
-Mark Hume

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More On Fish Farms...

The Editor:
As frustrations spill on to the steps of the legislature in Victoria, both DFO and the Province of BC continue to act as advocates of the fish farm industry on the coast of BC. At the same time, funding resources directed toward habitat restoration and stock-rebuilding programs that assist our wild salmon stocks have all but disappeared. Projects, involving more than twenty-five years of largely volunteer efforts, are at serious risk. How can we not fund these most important efforts?

I have personally witnessed the unprecedented sea lice explosion in the Broughton Archipelago during the spring of 2001. I have also witnessed huge escapes of adult Atlantic salmon in close proximity to pristine central coast watersheds. Goverment and industry representatives have discounted both of these events, as well as many others, related to fish farm production. A serious viral disease that is currently at epidemic state at a disturbing number of farm sites on the coast is also unprecedented. Do we need these huge viral reservoirs of a pathogen that poses serious risk to our extremely valuable Sockeye salmon stocks, located on their migration routes?

The feed lot industrialization methods that the fish farm industry is forced to use to reach profitable production, have proved to be detrimental to coastal environments worldwide. When will the people of British Columbia pull their heads from the sand and demand that our politicians fulfill their obligations to protect our fragile coastal environments?

Greg Rebar
grebar@telus.net

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An Open Letter To The Canadian Minister of Fisheries...

The Honorable Robert G. Thibault
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
259 West Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Thibault:

Along with many Canadians who enjoy the tourism and recreational opportunities offered by the saltwater sport fishery off the British Columbia coast, I view with shock and dismay the recent announcement of further cuts and cutbacks of federal support for various levels of this vital industry.

I fail to understand the low priority your government places on outdoor recreation and tourism in general, and recreational fishing in particular. Along with many friends and acquaintances, I also watch with mounting concern the emphasis being directed at expanding commercial salmon farming on the West Coast, especially at a time when elsewhere throughout the world such operations have created environmental havoc and destruction of wild stocks. I believe, sir, that your mandate is to protect wild fish, not to promote commercial fishery operations.

We have also watched with dismay, the continued emasculation of what was once an effective, efficient and respected fisheries enforcement branch. Enforcement cannot be conducted by bureaucrats in Ottawa or Vancouver, sir, it requires well-equipped and funded field staff. The impression, whether intended or not, is that whatever your government is not prepared to give to big business on the proverbial silver platter, they will now gladly hand over to law-breaking poachers.

Does no one within your government or bureaucracy recognize the social benefits that the popular pastime of recreational fishing provides to Canadian residents? The economic benefits to the industry that supports it? Its overall impact on tourism?

Each year, tens of thousands of Canadian residents spend hundreds of thousands of hours pursuing opportunities to fish as a form of rest and recreation, and to a lesser degree for food. In addition, thousands of anglers from outside of Canada pay vast amounts of money for the chance to try catching a chinook or coho salmon and, likely as not, releasing it. These are prime examples of non-consumptive and low consumption activities providing dollars to our economy, much of it from foreign sources.

In addition, recreational fishing provides jobs for many British Columbians, directly and indirectly. Fishing lodges ranging from small Mom-and-Pop operations to multi-million-dollar resorts, some so remote that they require the use of floatplanes and helicopters to access; fishing tackle manufacturing; boat building; boat rentals; marinas providing fuel, servicing, repairs and docking; hotel and motel management and staff; campgrounds; restaurants; self-employed fishing guides; charter boat operators. In other words, Mr. Thibault, thousands of people throughout British Columbia are involved in some way with supporting or servicing the West Coast saltwater recreational fishery.

If you consider the cash flow generated, it towers as an important industry. Money is spent on tackle, clothing, boats, motors, licenses, transportation, fishing guides, fuel, accommodation and food. Even more money changes hands for books, magazines, home videos, seminars, outdoor shows and community college courses -- all to do with recreational fishing. It would be interesting to know how much GST alone is generated annually by this industry, and the income taxes paid by those employed within it.

Mr. Thibault, the recreational fishery on the West Coast produces a high dollar yield to our economy, and does so with minimal impact on the resource. This renewable natural resource should be nurtured, properly managed and, in the case of salmon stocks, assisted where necessary by the continued operation of federal and volunteer hatcheries until such time that the multitude of problems created by previous mismanagement practices have been resolved. In addition, it must be monitored and policed by a suitable enforcement agency, not the pared-down, underfunded force with which we are now left. This present situation is an embarrassment to all Canadians.

Sincerely,
Robert H. Jones
Courtenay, British Columbia
bobjones@mars.ark.com

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A Helpful Hint:

When using a nail knot to attach your leader to the fly line, substitute a sewing needle for the nail. After you are finished your wraps, simply thread the end of the leader through the eye of the needle and pull the needle and line through. Easy, tight, neat coils with no fumbling.

Gerry
Stony Plain, Alberta
SurvivalAB@aol.com

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A Rock Solid Way To Protest Jet Boats?

I am not against jet-boating, infact I believe the phrase A river never sleeps means in one respect that a river is always changing,whether from spring runoff effects, or from jet-boat wash, and many otherfactors. Even the tails of thousands of spawning fish, or the boots offly-fishers walking in the river will cause change to the river system.
However, your environmental protection concerns may wish to examine theeffects of fishing weight lead on river systems. I think this is a far more severe concern. In Terrace while bar-fishing for chinook it would not be uncommon for each fisher to lose between five and ten 8oz+ lead weights into the river due to hangups or those that just break off when a fish is caught.
If there are 100 boats on the skeena with 4 people in each, plus another 50-100 people fishing from various vehicle access points, this is a lot of lead entering the river each day, day after day, year after year. I would like to see an alternative to lead based weights for use in freshwater fishing applications. Perhaps an 8oz rock with a fastening system attachedcould be devised?

sir_BC@hotmail.com