Website:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/all-about-fishing/index.htmlFacebook event page for RSVP:
https://www.facebook.com/events/507664666535258/This will be the fourth year I'm hosting this event. The usual main features are the learn to fish section, fly casting and tying workshops, used fishing tackle sale/swap meet, arts & crafts and games for kids, a live presentation stage.
Chilliwack Salmon Hatchery, Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery (FFSBC/Go Fish BC), DFO officers, conservation officers, Hope Search and Rescue will have a section where you can get information on hatchery productions, safety when accessing the Chilliwack/Vedder watershed, fishery violations and compliance, etc. There'll be a few aquariums with steelhead, juvenile salmon, trout and char, possibly some other native minnow and sculpin species. I believe DFO officers are bringing their boat this year too.
Region 2 biologists will have a section set up where you'll have an opportunity to provide feedbacks and getting information on some of the proposals like seasonal white sturgeon fishing closures, hatchery steelhead program in the Fraser Valley.
New this year, I've been trying to create a platform where there'd be more transparency between the academic research groups and recreational fishing sectors. I've invited students from Scott Hinch's lab at UBC, Steven Cooke's lab at Carleton University to be at the event so they can present some of the current ongoing studies. There are several interesting ones which are very relevant to what's going on right now. One is the catch and release survival of saltwater recreationally caught chinook and coho salmon. Another one is the re-establishment of habitats in the Lower Fraser estuary for juvenile salmon that are not ready to go into the ocean. My colleague Dennis Zimmerman from the Cooke's lab has a new initiative called "Respect for Fish" which talks about mandatory and voluntary catch and release practices, and how they may conflict with First Nations' values. I've also invited Marvin Rosenau and Mark Angelo from BCIT to talk about "Heart of the Fraser", which will most likely be shown on the big screen during the show.
There will be a watershed stewardship section at the show. Groups attending include Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition, Watershed Watch Coalition, Chilliwack Vedder River Cleanup Society, Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, Fraser Basin Council, Critter Care Wildlife Society, Fraser Riverkeepers, Steelhead Society of BC. If you belong to a group and would like to participate, let me know please.
BC Federation of Drift Fishers, BC Wildlife federation, Chilliwack Fish and Games Club will be hosting a series of learn to fish workshops, from trout fishing in lakes to river fishing for salmon and steelhead.
The fly fishing section will be hosted by BC Federation of Fly Fishers (Loons and Ospreys). Willie Holmes from Loop Tackle and Peter Caverhill will be demonstrating fly casting. Both clubs, as well as BC Women's Fly Fishing Group which Gill from Highwater and Kat from M&Y formed, will be offering fly tying workshops.
The used fishing tackle sale and swap meet is being run by the Fraser Valley Salmon Society. Sellers, if you'd like to reserve a table, please email me at
info@fishingwithrod.com. This was a very popular section last year and we are expecting more vendors this year.
This is a FREE event. Everyone who comes to the event will be entered into a draw for some great draw prizes. If anyone who wishes to volunteer, please email me at
info@fishingwithrod.com or reply to this thread. I'm looking for individuals to help out on and off throughout the event, but I'm also looking for people with fresh new ideas who would like to set up a booth to teach a particular fishing technique.
I hope many of you will be able to come out and bring your family and friends. While this event will be fun and entertaining for a lot of new anglers, it is a great (probably the only) opportunity you will be able to engage in face-to-face conversations with those who work in fisheries, researchers, advocates, fishing buddies under one roof. I do believe this process is how shared values are recognized, understood and appreciated so people can collectively tackle the fishery challenges we are seeing in the Lower Fraser right now.
This event is sponsored by Tourism Chilliwack, Fred's Custom Tackle, FFSBC, Gibbs Delta Tackle, Fishing with Rod.
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Topic: Chilliwack's All About Fishing, Saturday March 14th 2020 (Read 4637 times)