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[RA40]

This Saturday Aug 25, 6 PM the Fraser Valley Angling Guide Association is organizing an information meeting with regards to the Fraser River Sport fishery. It's time for anglers of ALL methodoligies to get together and discuss the future of OUR fishery and the direction we are headed.

All anglers are welcome to attend, need a boat ride to Queens Bar? be at the west end of Island 22 boat launch at 5:45pm

Vic Carrao
Vice-president FVAGA

[DragonSpeed]

This Saturday Aug 25, 6 PM the Fraser Valley Angling Guide Association is organizing an information meeting with regards to the Fraser River Sport fishery. It's time for anglers of ALL methodoligies to get together and discuss the future of OUR fishery and the direction we are headed.

All anglers are welcome to attend, need a boat ride to Queens Bar? be at the west end of Island 22 boat launch at 5:45pm

Vic Carrao
Vice-president FVAGA

It's implied, but not stated (so I figured I'd ask to make sure it was EXPLICIT).  Will this meeting be held AL FRESCO - ON QUEEN'S BAR at 1800 on August 25th?

[RA40]

Sorry, no comprede?

[longstone]

He's asking if the meeting is at 1800 on Queen's Bar.  It's not totally clear from your original post, although it is implied.

[RA40]

yes

[nosey]

So how did it go?

[RA40]

 appologize for taking so long to reply to your requests on what happened at the meeting. I just havn't had the time.

The meeting was held at Island 22 instead of Queens, it was easier for media to gain access. There was about 120 people, guides, tackle stores owners and general public. I opened the meeting by thanking everyone for coming and explained the need for the angling community to come together. Over the past years the angling community has become even more divided based on gear choice. It's time to put the gear aside and try to regain access to fisheries.

Frank Kwak president of the FVSS updated us with regards to his meetings with DFO. The Cheam band has claimed their people are starving yet they are throwing Pink Salmon on the banks dead. He also touched on the real reason for the closure, political pressure by first nations, BB was used as an excuse not the real reason. Compliance was high but media bought into DFO claim that sporties were killing all the fish. Frank covered some of the options available and what was being done by FVSS and SFAC.

Fred Helmer of Fred Tackle, spoke on behalf of all anglers and angling guides. He made it clear that anglers must stop the infighting and come up with solutions to issues surrounding BB. First Nations, mainly Cheam Band want sportfiishing on the Fraser to end until they have their TAC ( total aloowable catch) Sport anglers will probably have to go to court to win this battle, if we don't, sportfishing on the Fraser will be a thing of the past.

The SDA has been asked to take up the cause and look at all legal avenues. The industry, angling guides, tackle store owners have formed a group to deal with many of the issues above and feel that even when this river is re-opened we will have to continue to ensure this doesn't happend again. Closing the river due to first nations pressures is unexceptable to all anglers.

The comments above are just some quick notes off the top of my head, it may not be exactly what each person said. I ended the meeting thanking everyone for showing up.

[tnt]

Sounds Like a good meeting, unfortunatley I was on the Island and Missed it, I think a very important part to this is, if it goes to court the FVSS will need a lot of financial backing from all sportfisherman to help with this cause... these  people cannot go to court out of their own pocket, although they most likely would, because they care so much... if we could arrange where people can donate to the cause I think any support is appreciated... Maybe My shop or some of the local tackle stores can step up to the plate...