Fishing
An Outsider's View
If it were not for the wonderful
fishing on Vancouver Island, I probably would not be living here today.
It is not that I go fishing myself. For years though, I was in demand as
a companion for these trips because it was my job to make impressed noises
and to photograph the catch. I have done this willingly on
the express understanding that this is in lieu of the cleaning and cooking
part of it. Not a bad trade off I figure.
It was while we were in search
of the illusive tyee, we saw and learned to love the wilderness areas of
the Island. Campbell River, Port Hardy and Port Alberni all
claim to be the salmon capitals of the world. We do not discriminate between
them. Wejust listen for the latest tales of victory or defeat and
try to determine whether the "hot spot" is to the west or north. Many are
the anxious debates about which direction to go.
I have never quite understood
the mentality of those hardy souls who will crawl out of their warm sleeping
bags at 5:00 A.M. to go sit in the drizzle in a boat and drown herring
strips. Still I applaud their spirit. This is a photo I took
of Dan and my brother-in-law, Wayne. I think it illustrates
some of the optimism of the breed. It is taken out in front of our house.
I was working in the garden and thought they had gone fishing. This was
the scene I was confronted with when I headed down to our compost heap
which is near the waterfront.
Waiting For the Tides
I will be in big trouble after
writing that if I do not properly display some of those moments of triumph
as well. This is a picture of our son, Grant (right) and his cousin, Dennis
with a 26 pound spring that they caught off the warf on Mayne Island. (They
were 14 and 15 at the time.) They had a huge struggle getting it back to
the cabin on their bikes and I had an equally huge problem getting it back
home properly iced but without cutting it up or removing head or tail....The
dads were not with us that weekend and it was necessary to preserve it
intact so that it could be properly admired.
Another triumph ...a 36 pound
spring being proudly displayed by Dan and Wayne. (I actually prefer cod
but they do not photograph as well!
Since I have now done my duty
as a wife and mother and also told you all I know about fishing I think
it is time I referred you out to some pages that are actually about fishing.
The Grand-Daddy of Fishing
Pages!
For
a North Island Fishing Report!
© 1998 vanisle@oocities.com
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