This weekend my friend, musician Rob Butterfield, and I went fishing at Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Provincial Park just outside of Maple Ridge. As we pulled into the main parking lot we couldn't help but notice these two ladies unloading a couple dozen fishing rods out of a pickup truck.
We soon found out that they work for the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC doing a program called LEARN TO FISH. They were taking these fishing rods down to the lake to go and meet a group of Girl Guides and teach them all about fishing, for FREE. A small portion of the money that Rob and I (and everyone who fishes lakes in BC) pay for our fishing licenses every year goes towards programs like this, as well as making sure there are fish in our lakes, of course. To date they've taught 55,000 youth and their families how to fish across BC, and if you're interested I would suggest that you get yourself and your kids involved. All of the details can be found HERE.
In the workshop they do they teach:
- Fish identification and biology
- Habitat and conservation
- Rods, reels, lines and tackle
- Knot tying
- Proper fish handling and ethics
- Safety and fishing regulations
- Casting and retrieving
- Where, when and how to catch fish
- Hands on fishing (all tackle and equipment provided)
Very cool! And in the years to come, you and your kids will be set out to go fishing on your own, in picturesque settings like this one, which is not far from where the Girl Guides were being taught how to fish. I always say that one of the most Awesome things about Vancouver is the fact that we're so close to nature - in fact I said it in a talk I did with the Minister of Environment, Terry Lake, at this very lake RIGHT HERE - and Golden Ears Park/Alouette Lake is one of the quick day trips from the city that I really enjoy.
