Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: Rodney on July 16, 2007, 05:16:41 PM

Title: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on July 16, 2007, 05:16:41 PM

After a series of events (BC Family Fishing Weekend, Steveston Bullhead Derby, Fish for the Future), it was time to take a break and go for a fishing trip. I decided to use this past weekend to do the annual visit to St Mary's Lake on Salt Spring Island. With the Brandywine Flyer loaded, I was off to the ferry on Saturday morning. The ferry ride is probably the dullest part of the whole trip as usual, but the weather was nice at least. I was able to get on the ferry to Salt Spring Island right after my arrival in Victoria despite of the long line-up due to the Saturday farmers market.

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_14.jpg)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_13.jpg)

My accommodation for the weekend was once again a cabana at Lakeside Gardens Resort (http://www.lakesidegardensresort.com/). This was my sixth visit and it is still very enjoyable as Mark and Deb always have made new improvements to the resort everytime we come back. The very first year, the cabanas were simply bare little cabins with not many accessories. These days, the cabanas come with a rather complete outdoor kitchen, lights and a fan inside the cabin, so it is a rather luxurious way of "camping". ;)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_11.jpg)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_12.jpg)

By 1:30pm, the boat was on the lake and ready to tackle some smallmouth bass. ;) Due to our exceptionally productive trip around the exact same time last year (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=11075.0), I was expecting to have similar results. I first anchored at one of the spots where I have always done well, but was unable to trigger some bites. Puzzled, I moved to a second spot an hour later and started to hook a couple. The fishing appeared to be slower than last year, but it was still pretty good overall. After spending the first day scouting out all the spots that seemed to produce fish, I spent the second day focusing on those areas and managed to hook up consistently.

Instead of using one specific technique like we have been doing in the past, I wanted to see if I could hook into fish with as many techniques as possible. Luckily, every technique I tried worked out pretty well. ;) Flyfishing with surface poppers generally produced small fish as most bigger fish are deep down now. The tubebait rig produced the most and the biggest fish as usual when it is dragged along the 30 to 40' bottom. Just for fun, I threw out a 1/8oz spinner with a size 4 copper french blade at times, which produced fish all the time, but mostly small. There was one time when a large (18") bass grabbed the spinner as I was retrieving. The instant take and run almost pulled the rod out of my hand. Finally, slow stripping of a wooly bugger on a sink tip also produced quite a few fish. The highlight was a rather large (18 to 20", released without measuring, but on video) cutthroat trout swallowed the fly as I was stripping it in from 30' deep. It was exciting when it first showed itself on the surface. According to the locals, this spring has been one of the best cutthroat trout season they've seen in many years.

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_10.jpg)
Sunset at St Mary's Lake

Saturday I fished from 1:30pm to 9:30pm, Sunday I fished from 8:00am to 9:30pm (with a few breaks of course), Today I fished from 8:00am to 10:00am. In total, around 50 fish were landed, with just as many lost. Most fish were between 12 to 14 inches. About a dozen were between 16 and 18 inches. There was also one rather ambitious yellow perch that grabbed a rubber bait just as big as itself. Overall I would rate the fishing to be more on the slow side, especially if this warm weather continues. The lake is rather warm, great for swimming. The smaller bass will continue to bite, so this would be a good destination for young families in the next two months. For the more serious anglers, a trip there in September or early October would be wiser.

Now, some bass photos... :)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_01.jpg)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_02.jpg)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_03.jpg)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_04.jpg)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_05.jpg)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_06.jpg)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_07.jpg)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_08.jpg)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_09.jpg)

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: BladeKid on July 16, 2007, 05:54:31 PM

Thanks for the great report Rodney, awesome pics!

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: lucky on July 16, 2007, 06:11:02 PM

those are some nice looking bronzebacks! your last name isnt"Izumi"by any chance?

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on July 16, 2007, 06:23:32 PM

Quote from: lucky on July 16, 2007, 06:11:02 PM

your last name isnt"Izumi"by any chance?

Why? Is my face getting too round? :D ;D

Funny, I was actually thinking about some episodes of Izumi's show when the fishing was dead yesterday. ;D

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: itosh on July 16, 2007, 07:23:52 PM

Ummm... you are holding your bass wrong...

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: firstlight on July 16, 2007, 07:35:16 PM

Good report Rod.
Just might have to check that place out one day.
The little cabins look great.

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on July 16, 2007, 07:54:01 PM

Quote from: itosh on July 16, 2007, 07:23:52 PM

Ummm... you are holding your bass wrong...

How do you know? You've never caught a bass. ;D

I was giving them a bit of dignity that we always give to our trout. ;D Fine, here's one with a typical bass grab. :D

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_15.jpg)

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: THE_ROE_SLINGER on July 16, 2007, 09:18:23 PM

Thanks for the report rod! Im going to plan a trip up there for next year!

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on July 16, 2007, 11:26:45 PM

Here is the only by-catch of the trip. ;)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_16.jpg)

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rantalot on July 17, 2007, 09:19:27 AM

Hey Rod we are heading there tomorrow how were the mossies?

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 13th - 16th
Post by: dennisK on July 17, 2007, 10:15:44 AM

mosquitos?

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on July 17, 2007, 10:25:43 AM

The mosquitos were not that bad actually. The odd ones got inside the cabana during the evening when I had the windows opened to vent the heat. I don't think you'll be venting much heat when you get there, the weather seems to have cooled down... :o That bay in front of Lakeside Gardens is quite infested with weed now. I would fish around the island, the west bay towards Green Acres and in front of the pump house just south of the resort.

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rantalot on July 17, 2007, 10:41:18 AM

Thanks for the info ;D

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: fintail1 on July 17, 2007, 11:37:30 AM

hey rod is stowell lake on saltspring any good? just wanting to know cause i'm going to saltspring next weekend and i'm staying around fulford harbour

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on July 17, 2007, 11:44:23 AM

You'll find the information on Stowell in this report from last year:

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=9479.0

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Nicole on July 17, 2007, 03:01:38 PM

Nice bycatch there rod! beauty!

Cheers,
Nicole

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on July 17, 2007, 06:33:06 PM

Couple more photos.

This was puked up among with a few dozens of his buddies from a good sized bass.

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_18.jpg)

Finally, for the bass haters. ;)

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070716_17.jpg)

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: lucky on July 17, 2007, 06:39:49 PM

steamed with some ginger, green onions, and soya sauce? then seared with hot oil?

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on July 17, 2007, 06:41:23 PM

That would be the cantonese way. ;D I think tonight, I'll just have it seasoned and pan fried. There are a few more in the fridge to experiment with. ;D

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: speycaster on July 17, 2007, 07:36:56 PM

That last picture of a bass is a beauty Rod. ;D  Cannot remember when i've seen a prettier bass. ;D

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Fish Assassin on July 17, 2007, 08:03:58 PM

Quote from: Rodney on July 17, 2007, 06:41:23 PM

That would be the cantonese way. ;D I think tonight, I'll just have it seasoned and pan fried. There are a few more in the fridge to experiment with. ;D

When's dinner ?

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on July 17, 2007, 08:17:19 PM

30 minutes ago. ;D

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: fintail1 on July 18, 2007, 10:05:00 AM

has anyone else tried stowell recently?have you ever been there rod?

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: SnakeRoll on July 20, 2007, 09:42:26 AM

hey rod,

that pram in the pictures... what make is it? and do they have a website?

thanks

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on July 20, 2007, 11:26:24 AM

They are called Brandywine Flyers. The gentleman who makes these pram is Ray Ledward, who's a forum member too actually (canoeman). I'm not sure if he still builds them, as he is quite busy with his day job. You can always contact him at ledward@telus.net

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on August 03, 2007, 06:27:13 PM

Subscribers, there is now a 10 minute video diary made from this particular trip. Enjoy.

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/tour/image/20070801.jpg)	(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/tour/image/20070802.jpg)
Part One	Part Two
Time: 4 min. 53 sec.	Time: 5 min. 14 sec.
Size: 18.0mb	Size: 18.9mb
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/tour/image/watch2.gif) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/subscriber/20070801.html)	(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/tour/image/watch2.gif) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/subscriber/20070802.html)

Title: Re: St Mary's Lake July 14th - 16th, 2007
Post by: Rodney on August 22, 2007, 02:04:38 AM

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/video/0717.html