Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Psaromania on November 11, 2021, 06:27:04 PM
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Couldn’t believe my eyes and ears when three jet boats ripped through the drift today.
I thought I was on the Fraser for a minute :D
In my 25 years fishing this river, never seen that before. Wow!
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In my 25 years fishing this river, never seen that before. Wow!
Really? Very common in the summer and will probably continue to be until outlawed.
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I would expect it in summer but not November…
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January 2020 had two pass me above the crossing.
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I hate those jerks ripping through. Seen it several times, as have others on this forum:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=38168
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=32705
https://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=33876
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=3414.0
https://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=40937
Myself and other posters here have wished for years for a ban on jet boats in the river but it hasn't happened yet. Even if the ban were for certain months to protect the salmon, it would be an improvement. I'm surprised that a swimmer or tuber hasn't been hurt by a boat yet during the summer months when the river is much smaller and more densely populated.
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I did a news search to see if there had been any accidents and found a couple of recent articles on the topic of jet boats on the CV:
Near-miss: https://www.abbynews.com/news/senior-swimming-in-vedder-river-almost-struck-by-oblivious-boater-in-chilliwack/
Rodney's on the case! https://www.theprogress.com/news/city-of-chilliwack-looking-to-slow-down-boats-on-vedder-canal/
Maybe there is hope after all! Thanks Rod, you're always there working in the background when others just complain online ::)
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putting a ban on power boats requires changing regulations of the Federal Navigation Protection Act. For specific waters this usually requires a request from the Local and Regional government. You can imagine power boaters will oppose this and let the 2 local bodies know. It's a lengthy process. I'd like to see a no power boar reg above the Hwy 1 bridge. rec boaters and anglers do sometimes take all sorts of craft up the kW and beyond.
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I did a news search to see if there had been any accidents and found a couple of recent articles on the topic of jet boats on the CV:
Near-miss: https://www.abbynews.com/news/senior-swimming-in-vedder-river-almost-struck-by-oblivious-boater-in-chilliwack/
Rodney's on the case! https://www.theprogress.com/news/city-of-chilliwack-looking-to-slow-down-boats-on-vedder-canal/
Maybe there is hope after all! Thanks Rod, you're always there working in the background when others just complain online ::)
"Fishing guide"?? ;D I actually haven't seen that article...
The jetboat topic has been brought up at multiple meetings this past year, and I know various groups have started communicating with Transport Canada etc. I know the First Nation bands are unhappy with some of the activities.
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"Fishing guide"?? ;D I actually haven't seen that article...
ah the press. it's a 'fact' now...next comes the investigation.
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I know the First Nation bands are unhappy with some of the activities.
of course if it gets band they will be exempt
I think it’s funny we have one thread complaint about boats and another complaing about loss of land acess
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Having seen a jet boat go ripping upstream on a Saturday in July when the river is covered in an inflatable hatch, I'm surprised there haven't been more close calls or injuries.
I'd been in favour of jet boat use on the river with speed restrictions and boundaries that reflect water height, fisheries/environmental impact and safety considerations. For example, running at high speed in June when the water is high, there are no spawning salmon and potential for conflict with other users is low may be OK. Doing the same thing in mid summer or in October is not.
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Having seen a jet boat go ripping upstream on a Saturday in July when the river is covered in an inflatable hatch, I'm surprised there haven't been more close calls or injuries.
I'd been in favour of jet boat use on the river with speed restrictions and boundaries that reflect water height, fisheries/environmental impact and safety considerations. For example, running at high speed in June when the water is high, there are no spawning salmon and potential for conflict with other users is low may be OK. Doing the same thing in mid summer or in October is not.
I don't think they do seasonal regulations or those related to water height. Given the high degree of use by anglers, tubers & bathers, a speed restriction is certainly justified as would a power boat ban. That's not a boat ban as rowed or drifting craft would still be ok. Power boat use above KW is very limited and very few people would be inconvenienced.
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That's not a boat ban as rowed or drifting craft would still be ok.
Unless the rower is really strong 8)
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What about stand-up paddle boarders? ;D Some were attempting that a couple summers ago.
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I also was near-swamped this past Sept fishing/wading below the highway bridge.....when probably the very same jet roared up the west channel, in skinny water, at full throttle not more than 30m from me, causing huge waves/wake to crash into me and the bank. It was all I could do to keep my balance....I was pissed especially after they did the same coming down with absolutely zero regard for theirs or anyone else's safety. I actually wished they would have run aground or something. 8)
That lady was lucky....I've seen/talked to her often over the years during her daily wades around Hopedale below Browne Rd run.....could have been tragic for sure.
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I also was near-swamped this past Sept fishing/wading below the highway bridge.....when probably the very same jet roared up the west channel, in skinny water, at full throttle not more than 30m from me, causing huge waves/wake to crash into me and the bank. It was all I could do to keep my balance....I was pissed especially after they did the same coming down with absolutely zero regard for theirs or anyone else's safety. I actually wished they would have run aground or something. 8)
That lady was lucky....I've seen/talked to her often over the years during her daily wades around Hopedale below Browne Rd run.....could have been tragic for sure.
It's just a matter of when a serious accident or fatality happens with these boats. I summer at the Vedder River campground and spend considerable time at the river. The amount of inconsiderate jet boat drivers is hard to believe; often 5 or 6 a day (or night). Like you LL, I keep hoping for the explosion or sound of serious running aground.
Imo, the speed restriction is an easy fix for what is becoming a real problem.
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with a how popular the vedder/chilliwack has become for all recreational users i can see the need to close it for recreational boating. i think a hwy 1 closure would be appropriate as raplh stated earlier. i do not take boating closures lightly because its paves way for other waters to have similar restrictions. they have been lobbying to have similar restrictions on the upper pitt which i do not support.
i had a 20 foot custom weld which i sold a few months back and i never felt the need to go pass hwy 1. the shore access for the vedder is excellent. i also understand people enjoy jet boating but i think their are better waters with less population to avoid such outcomes.
also would like to add for people that dont know, the faster a boat travels in the water the less wake it will make because less of the boat is actually in the water. the wake my custom weld made was larger at 5mph than is was at 35mph. also when operating a jet boat, one can not slow down while travelling in shallow water. once you come off throttle the boat will come off step and be stranded so to me a speed restriction is not the right course of action.
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I don’t haven’t problem with it. But only when the waters up and they stay out of the shallows and backchannels. The Spawning salmon and the eggs that aren’t washed away by the morphology of the high winter waters Are my only concern. They can’t really make it past Osborne road. The fact that there hasn’t been A ton of issues Other than winey anglers shows that they are probably being pretty respectful, at least for the most part . I think the summer tubers and drunken idiots in the high waters are far more at risk of drowning or getting into Serious trouble in unfamiliar waters than most boaters. Not to mention the garbage left behind after they leave. Maybe a high water or seasonal regulation would be best 🤷♂️ . keep them off the river from aug- nov/dec above the hiway bridge. Maybe a 2.2 /2.4 crossing Graph minimum water Level for boating .
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also when operating a jet boat, one can not slow down while travelling in shallow water. once you come off throttle the boat will come off step and be stranded so to me a speed restriction is not the right course of action.
Exactly why a speed restriction would work. Jet boats can't operate as they were meant to operate at low speed.
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recreational jet boaters dont care about water levels nor about run timing for spawning salmon. for them, the skinner the better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JffYimeb8y8
speed restriction is just a fancy way of saying no powerboats.
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speed restrictions are commonly ignored. I anyone thinks the RCMP will quickly respond to a speeding jet boat there are mistaken. The culprit will be up and down the river and gone before they have a boat on the river.
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I'm all for a boat ban above the hwy bridge. However, I'd like to see a Fishing From Shore ban bellow the hwy bridge as well. This year was the worst for bank fishermen Drifting roe bellow the bridge. One day there were gues lined up from the bridge all the way down to the Sumas canal. Tangled lines everywhere. It was a total mess. There were 6 boats all launched at 5am just ti get a spot. We anchored in the middle casting towards the bank. One hour later and the bank people showed up and you had folks Drifting roe on one side and 30 feet across was boat guys casting lures. Total gong show. F bombs flying, one jet boat pulled anchor and swamped two guys in the bankwith his pump.
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All that for a coho. Krazy.
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Sounds like a typical lovely morning in Chilliwack. 😆
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I'm all for a boat ban above the hwy bridge. However, I'd like to see a Fishing From Shore ban bellow the hwy bridge as well.
Absolutely Brilliant... Also ban purple and black jigs, hooks with a sharp point and fishing rods no longer then 6 feet
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Never in my lifetime I thought I would ever see this. Prayers to all those in Sumas prairie affected
(https://i.imgur.com/CoO5HUh.jpg)
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OMG! Tell me this is somehow faked and isn't true! I can't understand this sort of brazen behavior in the midst of tragedy.
Where were they even able to launch those boats? You'd think any sensible person would stay away from a disaster zone unless the search and rescue people had asked for assistance.
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OMG! Tell me this is somehow faked and isn't true! I can't understand this sort of brazen behavior in the midst of tragedy.
Where were they even able to launch those boats? You'd think any sensible person would stay away from a disaster zone unless the search and rescue people had asked for assistance.
Have you ever been to the "valley". Reason #1 I could never live there. Sense is in a deficit.
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I don't believe they are out for a joy ride, but, to help rescue those that are stranded in homes and vehicles. I hope this is the case.
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I don't believe they are out for a joy ride, but, to help rescue those that are stranded in homes and vehicles. I hope this is the case.
Certainly I hope so as well. However the photo looks to be taken by a drone and links back to what is apparently a personal account on Imgur.com.
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Certainly I hope so as well. However the photo looks to be taken by a drone and links back to what is apparently a personal account on Imgur.com.
Got the pic from this site
https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/351727/Residents-still-in-Sumas-Prairie-told-to-leave-immediately-as-pump-station-failure-poses-significant-risk-to-life-City-of-Abbotsford-says
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thank you for providing some context. From the article:
Karter Thandi, who evacuated his Sumas River home with his aging mother and brother on Tuesday afternoon, told Glacier Media they only had 20 minutes to leave after the water began surging around the house.
“It came so fast. It was in the field, and then it started bashing in the door,” he said.
“We never knew if the house was going to come off the foundation.”
Thandi took his mother and waved down a passing boat to get to safety — one of many jet boats that ferried down Highway 1 on Tuesday to rescue stranded people.
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Global News rides with Jetboat enthusiasts as they patrol Sumas flood zone;
<iframe src="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/8382733/" width="670" height="372" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe>
https://globalnews.ca/news/8383157/abbotsford-flooding-sumas-prairie-update/?fbclid=IwAR06yl7UdJyRcZB_yVaHOniZ1TNTcpraYSHDIOD1zNnUOc7d9AMHmYgNXfI
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A good friend of mine who out of town for work when all the chaos began was reunited with his wife and two small children thanks to a local guide and his jet boat. Nice work fellas 👍
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Heads up. Email from Transport Canada this morning.
Transport Canada intends to restrict, by way of Interim Order, all non-essential boating from flooded and evacuated areas. The Interim Order is intended to keep boaters out of danger and areas clear for emergency services to perform response operations. Exemptions to these restrictions will only be allowed for essential activities, such as persons involved in emergency response and recovery activities (municipal, Indigenous, provincial and federal government employees), and those whose only access to their property is by boat.
The measures will be in place as long as necessary to protect navigation safety in these unprecedented conditions. The Interim Order will apply to the following geographic areas, maps of which are attached:
City of Merritt: Coldwater River and waters over the floodplains within the limits of the City of Merritt
City of Merritt: Coldwater River, South of the City of Merritt, and waters over the foodplains in the vicinity of Coldwater Road near its intersection with Kane Valley Road
City of Princeton: Similkameen River within the limits of the city of Princeton and waters over the floodplains to the East of the city
Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen: Similkameen River and waters over the floodplains along Crowsnest Highway, from South of Hedley to the U.S. border
City of Abbotsford/ City of Chilliwack: Sumas River and the waters over the floodplains on the Sumas Prairies, between McCallum Road, the U.S. border and Vedder River
City of Abbotsford/ City of Chilliwack / District of Hope: Fraser River and its tributaries, including the waters over the neighboring floodplains, from town of Yale to city of Mission
District of Hope: Coquihalla River and the waters over the floodplains in the vicinity of Othello
Village of Lytton: Fraser River and its tributaries, including waters over the neighboring floodplains, from South of the community of Lillooet to South of the village Lytton
Village of Tulameen: Tulameen River and the waters over the floodplains in the vicinity of the village of Tulameen
Nicola River: Nicola River and the waters over the floodplains from the community of Spences Bridge to Spius Creek, West of the City of Merritt
The Interim Order establishes those who can enforce it, including RCMP, local and Indigenous enforcement partners, DFO officers, and others.
These measures were developed to quickly respond to the deteriorating conditions and to protect public safety. We expect it to be published by the weekend.
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Heads up. Email from Transport Canada this morning.
Transport Canada intends to restrict, by way of Interim Order, all non-essential boating from flooded and evacuated areas. The Interim Order is intended to keep boaters out of danger and areas clear for emergency services to perform response operations. Exemptions to these restrictions will only be allowed for essential activities, such as persons involved in emergency response and recovery activities (municipal, Indigenous, provincial and federal government employees), and those whose only access to their property is by boat.
The measures will be in place as long as necessary to protect navigation safety in these unprecedented conditions. The Interim Order will apply to the following geographic areas, maps of which are attached:
City of Merritt: Coldwater River and waters over the floodplains within the limits of the City of Merritt
City of Merritt: Coldwater River, South of the City of Merritt, and waters over the foodplains in the vicinity of Coldwater Road near its intersection with Kane Valley Road
City of Princeton: Similkameen River within the limits of the city of Princeton and waters over the floodplains to the East of the city
Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen: Similkameen River and waters over the floodplains along Crowsnest Highway, from South of Hedley to the U.S. border
City of Abbotsford/ City of Chilliwack: Sumas River and the waters over the floodplains on the Sumas Prairies, between McCallum Road, the U.S. border and Vedder River
City of Abbotsford/ City of Chilliwack / District of Hope: Fraser River and its tributaries, including the waters over the neighboring floodplains, from town of Yale to city of Mission
District of Hope: Coquihalla River and the waters over the floodplains in the vicinity of Othello
Village of Lytton: Fraser River and its tributaries, including waters over the neighboring floodplains, from South of the community of Lillooet to South of the village Lytton
Village of Tulameen: Tulameen River and the waters over the floodplains in the vicinity of the village of Tulameen
Nicola River: Nicola River and the waters over the floodplains from the community of Spences Bridge to Spius Creek, West of the City of Merritt
The Interim Order establishes those who can enforce it, including RCMP, local and Indigenous enforcement partners, DFO officers, and others.
These measures were developed to quickly respond to the deteriorating conditions and to protect public safety. We expect it to be published by the weekend.
I understand the order but that must feel like a kick in the nuts to those who have put countless hours in helping the efforts up and down the river/sumas flats. I sure hope those same people get designation or authorization to continue to assist.
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generally all critical incident responses involve measures to keep members of the general public away from the incident site. For one thing not everyone seeks to go into such areas with the best of intentions or act as good Samaritans.