Welcome to Week CXCVII of ‘Fishing Parkland Shorelines’. Like most of us I am a novice fisherman, loving to fish, but far from an expert. In the following weeks I’ll attempt to give those anglers who love to fish but just don’t have access to a boat, a look at some of the options in the Yorkton area where you can fish from shore, and hopefully catch some fish.
If you have ever had to write a weekly column on anything, you will know there are days, actually weeks, where you sit around with nothing to write about floating through your head.
Now I know a few of you out there who know me will be laughing, and likely commenting aloud I never have much floating around in my head, and at least in terms of this week’s column I would have to agree.
As I finally sit to write this I look out the window and it is a beautiful sunny day, cold, but beautiful just the same for the end of February.
It is the next few weeks which start to really get the fishing blood flowing for many.
Statistically most fisherman in Saskatchewan prefer open water to being hunched over a hole in the ice, and I count myself in the majority on this one.
That said, for those who are avid ice fishermen this has been, at least weather wise, near ideal.
And as I take a peek at the forecast the next couple of weeks are expected to be above normal. Add some sun to warm temps and the longer sunlight afforded by March, and we all start to think spring.
At age 55 though I take a couple of nice weeks in early March as a gift, but far from an assurance of an early spring. The storms of March are legend in Saskatchewan, and having a birthday in mid-April I recall keenly years with heavy snow as the gift most remembered.
And of course the snow could be gone early, and fishing season still opens on a set day.
All that said though and we start to dream of that opening day on a sunny day in February.
It will soon be time to spend a Sunday afternoon greasing the gears in the reels, and changing line, readying everything for that opening day trip.
But not quite yet.
So as a writer with space to fill I am back to coming up with something to write about.
Thankfully there is a thing called the Internet these days.
I say thankfully because it is a lifeline for a writer needing ideas, although I am also keenly aware the ‘Net is a place we can get trapped wasting away hour upon hour on things most inane.
It is that aspect of the ‘Net which makes me appreciate days fishing, or hours out disc golfing all the more. It is a way to disconnect from the electronic teether we seem all too tied to these days. I am fortunate that I have yet resisted the lure of a cellphone, that tool of playing Clash of Clans, taking a thousand silly selfies, or reading the latest meme shared by a friend. With no cellphone in the tackle box or disc bag I am truly free and able to enjoy the outdoors without the bother of a buzzing cellphone.
But alas this week the Internet has been a saviour.
I popped onto Facebook, typing in fishing, and went exploring.
The first stop intrigued, as the idea of competitive fishing has always been one of those things I only partially get the interest in. Catching big is almost always a goal, but competition holds another level.
Welcome to www.flyfishingcanada.net
“Fly Fishing Canada is a not-for-profit organization aimed at promoting fly fishing and, in particular, using national and international fly fishing championships to promote issues concerning fly fishing and conservation.
“Although some anglers still balk at the concept of competitive fly fishing, these strictly catch-and-release events provide a focal point that brings fly fishers together from throughout Canada and the world, not only to exchange technical information about their sport, but also to address problems concerning conservation, water quality, habitat loss, and other environmental problems. Through these exchanges, many of the problems that plague freshwater fisheries in several countries may someday be beaten, or at least controlled in a meaningful manner,” notes the site.
And that took me to the 2016 Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship and Conservation Symposium.
“In partnership with Fly Fishing Canada, we are pleased to announce that the 14th annual Canadian National Fly Fishing Championships will be held in the Merritt and Princeton regions of British Columbia from October 4 - 7, 2016. Fly fishers from all across Canada are encouraged to register and participate at this year’s championship, which should prove to be a true test of their skills,” detailed the site.
“This event will provide a focal point that brings fly fishers together from throughout Canada and the world, not only to exchange technical information about their sport, but also to address problems concerning conservation, water quality, habitat loss, and other environmental problems. Through these exchanges, many of the problems that plague freshwater fisheries in several countries may someday be beaten, or at least controlled in a meaningful manner.
“There will be three lake venues and two river venues used for the 2016 NFFC. All fishing will be performed on a strict, catch & release basis, with artificial flies that are tied on single, barbless hooks.
“This is a Level 1 Competition under Fly Fishing Canada’s national points ranking system (NPR). Points earned at this National Championship will be applied to the individual competitors’ ranking points that are recorded on the NPR, which Fly Fishing Canada uses to track and rank competitors across Canada. The NRP are used for selecting applicants for our Canadian National Fly Fishing Teams that represent our nation at the Commonwealth and World Championships.”
In a similar vein I found a page dedicated to the Saskatchewan Walleye Trail, which lead me to www.saskwalleyetrail.ca
The site is a bit scant on details, but the list of 2016 events should be of interest;
• Elbow - May 28-29
• Regina Beach - June 4-5
• Sask Landing - July 16-17
• Last Mountain - Sept. 9-10 (tentative)
The Trail events are one I know I will have to keep a closer eye on this summer.
And the two events show what a little time surfing Facebook, or doing some Google searching can accomplish in terms of fishing.
