Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: GoFishBC on July 18, 2012, 10:00:13 PM
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Hey guys... many of you might know me as Every Day. I got a job with the society at the beginning of the summer as a visitor centre coordinator teaching learn to fish programs at the Fraser Valley Trout hatchery in Abbotsford, and various lakes around the lower mainland and up into the interior.
This is really a great program. Parks programs are free and we teach the kids a little bit about what we do at the hatchery, how to ID a few different species of fish (cutties, bows, sturgeon, bass, sockeye), and how to properly handle a fish when they catch it. We also teach them basic tackle, and how to rig their rods (show them clinch knots, etc). Parks programs are 2 hrs long, with an hour of instruction and an hour of fishing. We supply the rods if you need them! I believe this program is a great way to introduce your kids to fishing, or even people who are new to the sport! This program is trying to target kids under the age of 16, however if you have a license feel free to come and join in.
The one held at the hatchery is a little more in depth, and runs 4 hours long (3 hrs instruction/lunch/etc, and 1 hr fishing). It goes through a slightly longer intro, into fish ID (covers more species of fish), and then a hatchery tour where the kids will get to see a number of live fish (which we will feed) including the sturgeon we have! After that we go into the tackle and rod rigging, proper fish handling, practice casting, and then head down to the ponds. This is probably a better place to bring kids or people new to fishing to keep them interested, as there are 3500 fish in our ponds with a high likely hood of catching something. Once you've done the learn to fish program, you can stop in for open fishing, which allows you to fish at our ponds for 2 hours. Both the learn to fish program and the open fishing at the hatchery are $10 per child, adults are free. There are also self guided hatchery tours that cost nothing if you want to come in and see the sturgeon and all the other fish as well. The visitor center is open from 9 am until 3 pm, 7 days a week throughout the summer if this is your preference.
I will be updating this thread every week with upcoming programs for that week.
If you would like to contact the hatchery to book a Learn to Fish Program, Open fishing, or a Birthday Party you can contact us at:
Visit.FraserValley@GoFishBC.com
(604) 504-4716
Any other questions you have can be answered there, as well as on this thread. Also don't forget to check out our website for stocking info and a bunch of other cool stuff!
http://gofishbc.com/home.aspx
Cheers,
Dan
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My wife and I would be interested in taking a program like this. I also know a few other adults friends that could benefit from such a program. I understand the program is geared mostly towards kids, but if a group of adults wanted to take such a course would that be possible? Do you have to book an appointment to take the course or is it just a drop-in style program that runs at a certain time?
Thanks
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Hey Ziggy.
This program is geared towards children, but can definitely be modified for adults. Last night actually I did a learn to fish tour at our hatchery for adults. The tour would have to be at the hatchery (no licence required to fish at our ponds - private property) and would be the normal cost of $10/person.
As far as booking, you would need to phone or email the hatchery to book a day that works with you. The schedule is made up until the 28th of July so any bookings within that period are hard to do, but the week of the July 29th to August 4th, and even the following week looks very open for any day except the 2 Monday's if any one is interested.
Cheers,
Dan
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Thanks for the info Dan. I'll call in for more info and see what days work for us.
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Hey guys!
These are all our upcoming programs from now until next Sunday.
LML START TIME
July 29 - Rice Lake 10 am
July 31 - Rolley Lake (Ruskin) 10 am
August 1 - Alouette Lake (Golden Ears Prov. Park) 10 am
August 1 - Green Timbers Lake 6 pm
August 2 - Como Lake 6 pm
August 2 - Manning Park (Lightening Lake Camp ground) 11 am
August 3 - Cultus Lake (Maple Bay) 10 am
August 4 - Hicks Lake (Camp ground) 10 am
August 4 - Manning Park (Lightening Lake Camp ground) 12 pm
August 5 - Rice Lake 10 am
Van Isle
August 3 - Cowichan Lake (Gordon Lake Prov. Park) 11 am
Okanagan
August 2 - Haynes Point Prov. Park 6:30 pm
August 3 - Haynes Point Prov. Park 10 am
August 3 - Haynes Point Prov. Park 6:30 pm
Make sure you check out our website for more information! (some may require registration) http://gofishbc.com/home.aspx
Also remember we do these Learn to fish programs at our hatchery which include a tour of feeding sturgeon, rainbows and brook trout and also gives your kids a very good chance at catching a fish at our ponds!
Once you have done a "Learn to Fish" you can do open fishing at our ponds. Cost is $10 per person fishing for 2 hrs and you can bring fly, gear or we can supply rods. If you ask for myself or possibly Scott we could help you with some fly casting out there as well. Very hard not to catch a BUNCH of fish during an open fishing when you have one of us for a small group!
Look forward to seeing some of you!
And don't forget to say you heard of us from this website!
Cheers,
Dan