By Rodney Hsu

"Oooh, you got a bite!"
"Pull it! Pull it!"
"Awe it got away…."
Those were just some of the exciting words that you would have heard on father's day at the beautiful Rice Lake in the Seymour Demonstration Forest, North Vancouver, where one of the many events that took place on the annual BC family fishing weekend.

The fishing event at Rice Lake was organized by several fishing related groups in North Vancouver. These include the Seymour Salmon Hatchery and North Shore Fish and Games Club. Scouts Canada was the official food vendor that provided hot dogs and tube steaks for the fishing enthusiasts. Department of Fisheries and Oceans were also on site to answer questions and give away T-shirts and posters. New comers were able to borrow rods, reels, and bait that were supplied by Dave Steele from Highwater Tackle. Anglers had a choice of dew worms and assorted Powerbait to lure those hungry trout in the water.

The fishing day officially started at 10:00am, but some just couldn't wait and showed up much earlier. To spike up the fishing day for the kids, the lake was stocked with over 1000 rainbow trout prior to the event. That seemed like a lot of fish, but it was still a great challenge for the young anglers. Most of the participants had never fished before. Accompanied by their parents, they were introduced to the art of casting and the excitement of seeing that bobber sank as the fish grabbed those juicy worms.

The weather was sunny and warm, perfect for all the families to enjoy a great day of fishing. However, It might have been a bit too bright and warm for the rainbows. By noon, only a couple of fish were hooked and landed. Most young fishers did not have any actions with their floats. Most of the bites were quick and small, making it extremely difficult to strike at the right time. It seemed that the trout were hesitating to take the bait with the huge crowd watching on the dock.

Being one of the volunteer anglers, I managed to hook a few rainbows to show the kids that there were actually fish in the lake. Most of the anglers had a chance to see what kinds of fish were being caught and learn the effective ways to catch them. By mid afternoon, a few more fish had been caught and it appeared everyone was having a blast!

To make the day even better, James Weger and Scott Kirkpatrick from the Seymour Hatchery decided to put on a flyfishing demonstration for those curious minds who were eager to learn this difficult fishing technique.

The event at Rice Lake was a first of many great years to come. Organizer Brian Smith was extremely pleased with the number of turn outs and supports. All volunteer fishers agreed that there were enough people to keep the fishing excited and the pier was still not overcrowded. Many thanks to all the people who were involved, you have brought so much joy of fishing into many families. Because of your help, many kids had the chance to learn the art of fishing and importance of conservation. We look forward to see you all again next year! For more information about the BC family fishing weekend, please visit their official website!

Note: To access Rice Lake, you have to walk from the parking lot of Seymour Demonstration Forest near the gate for about ten minutes. Be aware the closing time of gate in the evening, it is usually around 9:00pm. The directions are simplistic, they are posted on all the trails. The lake is relatively small and shallow, and can be fished from shore or the floating dock. Try spinners, jigs or float rigs, they are all quite effective. Always watch out for rises on the surface, and fish near the shades on a sunny day. Fish will bite throughout the day, you just have to try out different techinques until you find what suits you the best. Caution: Single barbless hook only. There are many small trout in the system, so be sure to release those since this lake is more specifically managed for the little anglers. Always watch your surroundings before that cast, the lake is heavily used by bikers, hikers and other anglers.