June is traditionally a good month to be on the water in both marine and freshwater environments. It is traditionally a transition month from cooler spring temperatures and high water levels to the warmer and drier summer weather. This year may not be normal in that we have had unusually low spring run-off and a prolonged warm spring.
In spite of the unusually successful early season fishing activities, this month will attract much attention at the Courtenay and District Fish and Game Protective Association (CDFGPA) clubhouse grounds where a variety of events will take up most of the month.
Next weekend (June 6-7) the CDFGPA will hold its annual Outdoor Recreation Show. This is a large event involving thousands of people taking place at appropriate locations on the club grounds and clubhouse. Admission is free; however you are encouraged to make food bank donations where possible.
In a society and culture that seems to be increasingly disconnected to the natural world, the direct connections with nature in the programs supported by the CDFGPA take on added significance. During the two days you can become directly involved with archery, children fishing, black powder shooting, shotguns, cowboy action, bake sale, spin-casting, birdhouse building, haywagon ride and fly tying demonstrations.
There are many displays of outdoor crafts and speciality trades as in knife making and metal crafts – plus a bountiful offering to outdoor foods and much more. It is a family oriented show well worth attending. Be sure to visit the CDFGPA club tent.
In two weeks following the outdoor show, the CDFGPA is sponsoring Fishing Forever Programs on the club ‘s fishing pond that will be stocked with catchable trout.
The Fishing Forever Program is a program developed by the BC Wildlife Federation to assist older people and handicapped to be able to continue to experience the joys and thrills of fishing for trout in a pond. It is a truly inspiring experience to help these people enjoy their life long passions of fishing. They are allowed to keep their catch and the institutions that they live in will cook their catches for them.
The CDFGPA sponsors a two-day Family Fishing-Father’s Day Weekend on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21 at the club pond. Families are invited to attend this community sharing event at the club pond. There are spare rods, bait and helpers to assist in fishing and cleaning the fish and your catch can be kept on ice until you go home. The catchable trout for the above events are supplied by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.
During this special weekend no licence is required by B.C. residents to fish in either fresh or saltwater locations anywhere in the province. Please check the rules on open seasons, limits, size of fish and so forth before you go fishing because you are expected to follow them.
These events cannot be carried out without the active volunteering of club members. The outdoor show needs many more volunteers as of this writing. We have thousands of members – please help if you can. To volunteer you must be a member of the CDFGPA for insurance purposes. If you are interested in the extended programs come to the regular meeting on evening June 1 and speak to the committee chairpersons.
Ralph Shaw is a master fly fisherman who was awarded the Order of Canada in 1984 for his conservation efforts. In 20 years of writing a column in the Comox Valley Record it has won several awards.
