Fishing Forever/Family Fishing Weekend June 17-18, 2017

Fishing Forever/Family Fishing Weekend June 17-18, 2017

Again this Fathers’ Day Weekend the Nelson District Rod & Gun Club hosted successful and rewarding twin events at the Regional District of Central Kootenay’s Cottonwood Lake Park.  The weather was reasonably cooperative, with only a few raindrops on Saturday.  The sun occasionally broke through to make the days comfortable.

Saturday for Fishing Forever a busload came from Nelson Jubilee Manor (thanks Rose and staff) and another from Mountain Lake Seniors Community (thanks Sandra and staff) to join a van load from Kootenay Society for Community Living in Castlegar (thanks Ursula and staff) with a number of family members as well as various local individuals.   We did get 82 registered for the day with some of them getting out on the lake (including a lady 99 years old) and others simply enjoying the campfire, the beautiful setting, and lunch.  Our ‘clients’ received commemorative T shirts.   An osprey entertained while demonstrating its unique fishing technique.   Fifteen terrific volunteers made it all possible; Holly came from Surrey for the occasion and spent two days working in the kitchen!  Other helpers included Frances, Glen, Lorne, Brad, Darcy, Calvin, Teresa, Marvin, Alan, Ann, John, Wally, Derek, Gary, Heather, Bev, and Steve.

Sunday Family Fishing saw 217 registered, with only fair success with the fishing.  However, the flow was steady and there were only a few delays in getting on the water.  The occasion was augmented by an educational booth with Natasha Olsoff from Central Kootenay Invasive Species.  Several additional volunteers helped out on this day.  Approximately 160 people were treated to a boat ride and/or fishing during about 50 forays.   Hard working boat captains!   The kitchen was exceedingly busy providing lunch to all who registered.   Kids who caught a fish were given a rod & reel set as in past years.

Heartfelt thanks to those who volunteered to assist and to those who brought boats for our use.  Many hours were spent receiving registrations, taking out boatloads, rigging tackle, operating the kitchen, and setting up/cleaning up.  Numerous folks made a point of offering their thanks for the club’s efforts in making this a highlight day in our community.

Donations are gratefully acknowledged from Family Fishing Society (cash and fishing gear), Andex (washing station), Conservation Officers Ben Beetlestone (bait) and Jason Hawkes (sundry handouts), Gerry Vliet (door prizes for youngsters), BC Wildlife Federation (T shirts), Penticton Signs (red volunteer T shirts), Glen McKen (firewood), Western Auto (spare batteries), as well as the province (which allows fishing without a licence on this weekend) and Freshwater Fisheries Society for stocking the lake as directed by senior biologist Jeff Burrows.  In particular I wish to acknowledge and thank A & W Restaurants (Nelson) for providing the burgers and buns to feed over 300 people!

I hope to share my favourite event with you next Fathers’ Day Weekend at Cottonwood Lake!  Mark your calendars now!

Richard Green

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                              Fishing Forever and Family Fishing Weekend

Again this year on Fathers’ Day weekend we will host a popular event at Cottonwood Lake which is at a beautiful Central Kootenay Regional District park.

On Saturday, June 17, 2017 from 10 am to 4 pm we will conduct Fishing Forever – a BCWF program designed to cater to those of any age who are handicapped in some way.  It could be as simple as impaired mobility.  Their caregivers are required to be present.

Two busloads are expected from Nelson and another busload from Castlegar.

We offer to these folks a sunny day on the beach in a beautiful setting with a nearby campfire.  We serve them a light lunch, typically burgers and a drink.  We offer a boat ride and fishing with all gear supplied on a lake recently stocked with panfry-sized rainbow trout (thanks to the Freshwater Fishing Society of BC).  Each participant gets a commemorative T-shirt and a cap as supplies last.

The emphasis shifts on Sunday, June 18 (same times) to the kids and their parents.  Again we supply PFDs, fishing gear, and boats; a light lunch; and to those kids who catch a fish, we have a fishing rod & reel set prize.

We expect 300+ bodies to appear that weekend.  Club members, and friends, can do their part by bringing a car top size boat with oars or electric motor (no gasoline outboards) and, to really enjoy the day, stay to captain the boat with our clients.

There is no charge to our participants or volunteers.  No fishing licence is required on this weekend (thanks to BC government).

For information or to offer assistance contact Richard Green at 352-5609 or scaler1@shaw.ca


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Fishing Forever / Family Fishing Weekend 2016 Thank You

Again this Fathers’ Day Weekend we had a successful and rewarding event at Cottonwood Lake. The weather was cooler than desired, and there was heavy rain and wind Saturday night, but during the daytime precipitation held off while we were on the lake.

Saturday for Fishing Forever a busload came from Mountain Lake Seniors Community (thanks Sandra and staff) to join a couple of van loads from Kootenay Society for Community Living (Castlegar – thanks Nova and staff) and various local individuals. Unfortunately Nelson Jubilee Manor was unable to send the usual busload this year. We did get 74 registered for the day. An osprey demonstrated its unique fishing technique.

Sunday Family Fishing saw 231 registered, with only fair success with the fishing. However, the flow was steady and there were only a few delays in getting on the water. The occasion was augmented by the presence of Bubbles the clown and an educational booth with Erin Bates from Central Kootenay Invasive Species.

Heartfelt thanks to those who volunteered to assist and to those who brought boats for our use. Many hours were spent taking out boatloads, operating the kitchen, and setting up/cleaning up. We had one volunteer from Ontario, and another from Surrey! A number of folks made a point of offering their thanks for the club’s efforts in making this a highlight day in the community.

Donations are gratefully acknowledged from Family Fishing Society (cash and fishing gear), Andex (washing station), Ben Beetlestone (bait), Jason Hawkes (sundry handouts), Gerry Vliet (door prizes), Glen McKen (firewood), as well as the province and Freshwater Fisheries Society for stocking the lake. In particular I wish to acknowledge and thank A & W Restaurant (Nelson) for providing the burgers and buns to feed over 300 people!

I hope to share my favourite event with you next Fathers’ Day Weekend at Cottonwood Lake!

Richard Green

Fishing Forever

Fishing Forever – Saturday, June 14, 2014 at Cottonwood Lake. This event is designed to accommodate folks with disabilities who would otherwise never get to enjoy the beautiful lake and possibly fish on it in a boat. Nelson Jubilee Manor and Mountain Lake Seniors Community each sent a busload of their residents with caregivers and some family members. Although the sun only shone briefly it did not rain! A very happy event for all. One elderly gent named Peter fished for a couple of hours in his wheelchair on the new dock (see below). After lunch the residents left with new Fishing Forever T-shirts and caps.

Attendance 94 guests and 16 volunteers……………total 112

Family Fishing – Sunday, June 15, 2014 at Cottonwood Lake. This event caters to kids with their parents. The kitchen was very busy providing lunch and for most of the day there were 10 or so boats on the water. Many kids went home with their first fish and fishing rod & reel sets. It must be said that many also went home wet due to the frequent showers!

Attendance 172 guests and 18 volunteers………….total 190

Grand total for the weekend 302 with no mishaps and generally poor weather.

Notes:

There were 2000 Fraser system rainbows stocked on Monday, June 9th, mostly around 10 or 11 inches long. Thanks go to the province of BC (Jeff Burrows) and Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC. Part of our angling licences provides the funding for the Freshwater Fisheries Society; it operates the fish hatcheries in BC.

The new dock was installed on Tuesday, June 10th, organized by Family Fishing Society and sponsored by HCTF (Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation). The funding for the dock came from anglers and hunters of BC as it is the conservation surcharge on their angling and hunting licences and tags that provides the funding for the HCTF.

Sponsors for this BC Wildlife Federation program include Family Fishing Society of BC, the province of BC, Habitat Conservation Trust foundation, A & W Nelson, Andex Rentals, and the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

Sincere thanks also to the volunteers who have made these events possible for eleven years!

 

 

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