Today was the Day I was to a ride along with Phil from the BC Fisheries Survival Coalition to see first hand what is going on with the FN driftnet situation. It has been reported that some Fn fishers are fishing outside their opening times of, 5 am to 11pm and 5pm to11pm.
Also a reporter from the Sun or Province paper were going to come along for a story. That fell through so Phil tried to line up BCTV for the trip.
As he was busy trying to line BCTV up he sent Bob from the coalition along instead. Frank from the SDA was also aboard.
As Phil could not line up a BCTV crew he asked me to film it for them.
We left Hope Airport at 11:30 and travel up to a point 5 miles above Yale, Sawmill Creek and saw lots of set net activity, one wonders how a fish gets through this barrier.
Lots of chatter crackles in our head phones as the pilot points out mile posts on the river. I point out Hills Bar just below Yale where BC got its start in 1858 when large gold nuggets were found there.
We head back down towards Mission and see more nets and of course lots of anglers, a few wave at us and I wave back thinking some must be from this board. We count 137 set nets from the Hope Bridge to Sawmill
No sign of drift nets yet and as it was in the closed time between 11PM and 5Pm so they should not be out anyway, maybe obeying the law.
We set down on a bar just below the bridge and I interview a guide and his clients for there though about the situation. Able to film a sockeye being landed.
Frank gives me the story that I related in the Troubled Waters thread and his remarks are filmed for the record.
We take off again and head to Mission, more waving anglers, were you one of them?
We are travelling at 120mph in the 30 degree heat but all the concentration keeps my mind off the temprature.
We go down to the mouth of the Sumas and then turn around and head back, were is the drift nets we heard about?
Just before the Agassiz Bridge there it is, a long one with the boat holding 2 occupants.
As they see us they start to bring in the drifting net plucking sockeye from the nets web death grip, a far number. We set down on the bar for better footage and then once again lift off scattering a large flock of geese that did not like the whirling blades. Just above the bridge, a short one that the occupents let go of when they see us, and head downstream, the nets sinks, full of fish who knows.
We arrive back at the airport mission accomplished, I interview Bob for his take on the 2 hour flight and he gives a good interview for the lens. We have counted 319 nets plus 2 drift nets, lots of camps of FN and 100's of rec anglers.
What a boost for the local economy, as the guide Len told me in the interview, one million a day, no small change and of course this gives the most money per fish caught than a commercial or FN angler to the local shopes..
The journey just flew by and I then copy the tape and send with Bob to give to Phil to deliver to BCTV. It may or may not appear on tonights late news.
The day ends a interesting day to say the least but trying one for me and Yours Truly trying to build a story for TV.
Hope it makes the news but if not, information, big time was gathered for
Operation Barbaque.Very tired, time for a nap so sorry for the spelling and gramer errors, will attempt to correct later.
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Topic: Fishing From A Helicopter On The Fraser For OB (Read 9284 times)