James Murray

Passing the time in search of colour

Time passes slowly in some ways when you are sitting on the banks of a stream panning for gold

Choices matter when crossing streams

There is more to crossing a stream than merely getting to the other side.

Railway relic stirs train of thought

Recalling when a time when trains carried both freight and passengers across the country.

Mighty fine way to dine outdoors

There is certainly something to be said for just spending summer days, whenever possible, in the great outdoors

Volunteers keep derby swimming along

It’s a lot of work to put on such an event. A lot of people are involved, especially behind the scene.

Carp in water a good sign for derby

The water level in Shuswap Lake is on the rise and I’ve seen some big carp swimming around the dock with my own eyes

No debate on necessity of life-jackets

I was all of about 14 years old the first time I was allowed to take our 12-foot row boat out by myself.

Always exciting to land a really big one

It’s hard to believe it was just a few days ago that I was on the Fraser River, rod and reel in hand, holding on for dear life

Finding a fly rod that’s just right for you

It has been quite some time since I have purchased a new fly rod.

Shrimp prized by fish and fishermen

As I went through my fly boxes the other day, pondering the fishing season ahead, I realized just how many fish I’ve caught

Shrimp prized by fish and fishermen

As I went through my fly boxes the other day, pondering the fishing season ahead, I realized just how many fish I’ve caught

Playing your line with the chironomids

It won’t be long before the chironomid hatches will be coming off.

Day of fishing lost in a gentle breeze

It’s still pretty early in the season, but there have been a few really nice, warm days and the chironomids are coming off

Responding to feedback from readers

It would seem that writing a column for a newspaper is not at all unlike living in a glass house.

Finally ready to return to Dee Lake

Maybe it was something in the spring air, that old urge to go fishing, or maybe because it simply was time

Locating gold with a metal detector

We’ve all seen them, walking the beach in sandals and baggy shorts, with their Tilley hats

Giving in to the charm of a hokey boat

Over the years I have owned a fair number of boats. Nothing really fancy – mostly just plain little utilitarian fishing boats

Catch-and-release important to stocks

When we were kids, my father told us if we were not willing to clean the fish we caught ourselves, we had to put them back in the water

Useful tools for the novice prospector

It would seem that I am not the only one who has contracted gold fever.

Picking up the basics of gold panning

So there I was, sitting on a rock beside a fast-flowing mountain stream, crystal clear waters tumbling over the moss-covered rocks…