Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

Yes.

No.

Maybe.

[Rodney]

Is there an interest on a group trip to St Mary's Lake on Salt Spring Island during the weekend of May 2nd - 4th for early spring smallmouth bass and cutthroat trout fishing? It's just an idea for now.

The cost would be ferry and accommodation at Lakeside Gardens (we get 10% off from the rates below).

Cottages (sleeps 4) - $125/night
Cabanas (sleeps 2 to 3) - $65.00/night
camping/RV sites - $25.00/night

Depending on the weather, the smallmouth bass fishing would be done on the surface and in the shallows, by either topwater lures, soft plastics and flies. Cutthroat trout fishing can be done by trolling metals or flyfishing. You would need your own boat/pontoon boat/float tube (very limited number of boats available for rent at resort)

Post a reply if interested so I have a list of interested participants who I can contact in a few weeks from now.

Confirmed participants

Rodney
Fishersak
Steelhead King
Gman + Gwoman
Roe Kid
MichaelT

Maybe's

Derp
Keith
Coreyandtrevor

[keithr]

I'm interested.  Bass are still catch and release only in May, right?

[THE_ROE_SLINGER]

Sounds good..I will be most likely in!

[Derp]

me too!

[Rodney]

Hi Keith, yes it will be catch and release for bass during that time. I've actually been re-reading your May reports from a few years ago to get an idea on how the fishing might be. It looks like a good period where some good trout fishing can be had too. Last year Mark at Lakeside Gardens said the cutthroat trout fishing in May was the best he has ever seen, so perhaps there will be a repeat this year.

If we get enough confirmed interests, I will contact Mark around mid March and let him know so people can phone in to book their accommodation for the weekend. Anyone else?

[coryandtrevor]

I am possibly down.  I have to weasel around a bit as the wife will be due in a month from that date. I asked her to come along as well . I have been wanting to go to St.Marys for a while now so better then , cuz I see a decline in days fished after that time ! 

[Rodney]

This could be your last fishing trip for the next 18 years CAT.

Anyway, here are some photos to give people an idea how the fishing is.



They come in all sizes.



Bigger fish seem to come from the floating dock at the resort all the time.





Cutthroat trout, between 1 and 4lb.





Don't forget about yellow perch too.

[gman]

I was there last year on that exact weekend. Gwoman and I had great luck fishing for cutthroat and the odd bigger rainbow. The cutties were amazingly aggressive, just nailing any fly we used. Not much luck on bass, but it may have been our inexperience.

There's a good chance we will go this year again. We'll have to see if we can get a small boart to bring if we go to Lakeside. If not we may go to another nearby resort and just stop by and say hello to the FWR gang.

I'll let you  know what we figure out.

[Rodney]

Last time while I was Lakeside Gardens (July 2007), there were two 12' aluminum boats with electric motors for rent, plus a few row boats. They should all still be there.

[GoldHammeredCroc]

The perch are newer additions to the lake and will probably cause problems in the future with both the bass and trout fisheries.  Bass were introduced at the turn of the 20th century and are self-propogating.  The trout get stocked each year but do well in the lake.  There are some wild fish in the lake and word has it that there even may be some landlocked coho that residualize in the lake.

[Rodney]

The perch are newer additions to the lake and will probably cause problems in the future with both the bass and trout fisheries.  Bass were introduced at the turn of the 20th century and are self-propogating.  The trout get stocked each year but do well in the lake.  There are some wild fish in the lake and word has it that there even may be some landlocked coho that residualize in the lake.

Maybe your work can fund our entire trip to do a yellow perch kill. Coming?

[keithr]

Two years ago in May the bass fishing was amazingly good.  I caught a few trout in St Mary Lake, but did better in other nearby lakes.  Last winter Mark had, I believe, two canoes, three row boats, and two plastic rafts you paddle with your feet.  Very pleasant place with a congenial host and usually really good fishing, even along the shore and off the dock.

[BladeKid]

Very interested, I'd love to catch some bass for the first time

[bbronswyk2000]

If it wasnt in May I would have been all over this. I have Kamloops stillwater trips planned all May already. You guys should have fun.

[Rodney]

If it wasnt in May I would have been all over this. I have Kamloops stillwater trips planned all May already. You guys should have fun.

Once you move to Parksville, you will get many opportunities to go there, just a short ferry ride. Late June/early july fishes well, and again in early fall. Some of the VI lakes also have larger smallmouths as well.

If anyone else is interested, please post a reply so I have an idea on the numberof interests. Thanks.

Also, the lake is electric motor only.