Fishing Gods Land by Rivermen Adam Lane
We took the back route to hope on highway 7, and when you get past Mission the valley becomes very pleasing to the eye as the rat race of the lower mainland gets left behind. So with bellies laden with beef jerky we are approaching the lake up a very nice back road an then the tarmac ends and we are on a very well kept logging road made up of gravel with the Silver Creek on our right side. We stopped to have a look at a few pools, we spotted fish in these pools but decided not to fish them as you all know we may have never made the lake.
We entered the Silver Lake Park and it all hit me at once 99 acres of crystal clear waters and a mountain back drop and setting to put a tear in the eye of the most hardened Victorian gentleman. I have only lived in British Columbia with my good lady wife and 3 children for 11 months, but we are so glad we made that move from the UK last September.
If you are contemplating a trip to Canada then stop contemplating and book that flight right now, just the way we did 4 years ago. Remember BC is the world capitol for all out door sports bar none, and if you hunt, shoot and fish then look no further .
So we set up the pontoon boats in proper military style (umbrella man has a certain style about him) and in no time we were ready for the water, well Les was, I can’t row to save my life!, I am so glad the lake was almost deserted as I was so embarrassing, you have to remember the fishing in the UK is a little different, we have little streams and well manicured put and take lakes where its designed not to get a toe wet!.
As the afternoon went on I became bloody fantastic at rowing, even the 2 families of otters came out to cheer me on, one came within spitting distance of me and was squeaking at me, I think in otter language it was “hello mate, nice bit of rowing for a limey, got any spare fish for me”!!!!!.
So I dropped anchor in around 18 feet of water amongst some dead heads (old trees) and began targeting the “bows” with as near as damn it dry fly, bang first cast a little cracker of around 12 inches. I had scores of fish all around me hitting the surface blasting at the hatch coming off. I was using an Amundson 8 feet 5wt rod (my Skagit Valley rod) matched to a 5wt pale green floating line, 10 feet of 3.2lbs mono tippet and an English tied emerging brown gnat. The action was fast and furious with strike after strike at my little barbless gnat pattern (very strict rule in BC, barbless hooks only) the rangers who are armed and do patrol even the most remote waterways were present and were checking all fisherman, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!.
Well I ended up with a good haul of “bows” and all put back unharmed as Silver Lake and the creek is catch and release only, how very nice and English, it doesn’t have to be a “meat fest” all the time!.
Well I was wondering where the hell Umbrella Man was, had he sunk?, had he gone to the pub?, had he been abducted by banjo playing, moonshine drinking hillbillies?, no he was now rowing with great style and speed towards me. Have I got a story to tell you said the huffing and puffing Hemi driver, I’ve been doing battle with a “hog” of a fish 28 to 30 inches long!.
Well Les actually had the fish in his hand, but in 20 feet of water and a girls hand bag of a net to land a fish of that size he had slim chance. You may have guest it, my fishing buddy had hooked a lunker truot, but not his first, Les had hooked and fought battle with 2 other leviathans of the deep the week before, and in the same spot. I can’t believe the silly sod was not geared and ready for a “hog”, perhaps next time will be better luck.
Well we had a fabulous time in “GODS LAND” and I can’t wait to return to paradise in the very near future. I would like to thank my buddy Les for chauffeuring me to and from the venue at the speed of light, and I will return the favour in my not so fast pick up.
I would like to say that all the staff at RIVERSIDE FLY & TACKLE are a great bunch indeed and its been a pleasure to have been invited out with Gary Elgear (owner and expert guide) and Christian Somogyi (store manager and expert guide). The staff and regular customer base are very kind and knowledgeable and all are willing to give advise, so if you want to go out on a guided trip, then you should be in very safe hands with this bunch of avid fishers. Kind regards to all of you fellow people, and tight lines.
Adam J Lane.
We entered the Silver Lake Park and it all hit me at once 99 acres of crystal clear waters and a mountain back drop and setting to put a tear in the eye of the most hardened Victorian gentleman. I have only lived in British Columbia with my good lady wife and 3 children for 11 months, but we are so glad we made that move from the UK last September.
If you are contemplating a trip to Canada then stop contemplating and book that flight right now, just the way we did 4 years ago. Remember BC is the world capitol for all out door sports bar none, and if you hunt, shoot and fish then look no further .
So we set up the pontoon boats in proper military style (umbrella man has a certain style about him) and in no time we were ready for the water, well Les was, I can’t row to save my life!, I am so glad the lake was almost deserted as I was so embarrassing, you have to remember the fishing in the UK is a little different, we have little streams and well manicured put and take lakes where its designed not to get a toe wet!.
As the afternoon went on I became bloody fantastic at rowing, even the 2 families of otters came out to cheer me on, one came within spitting distance of me and was squeaking at me, I think in otter language it was “hello mate, nice bit of rowing for a limey, got any spare fish for me”!!!!!.
So I dropped anchor in around 18 feet of water amongst some dead heads (old trees) and began targeting the “bows” with as near as damn it dry fly, bang first cast a little cracker of around 12 inches. I had scores of fish all around me hitting the surface blasting at the hatch coming off. I was using an Amundson 8 feet 5wt rod (my Skagit Valley rod) matched to a 5wt pale green floating line, 10 feet of 3.2lbs mono tippet and an English tied emerging brown gnat. The action was fast and furious with strike after strike at my little barbless gnat pattern (very strict rule in BC, barbless hooks only) the rangers who are armed and do patrol even the most remote waterways were present and were checking all fisherman, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!.
Well I ended up with a good haul of “bows” and all put back unharmed as Silver Lake and the creek is catch and release only, how very nice and English, it doesn’t have to be a “meat fest” all the time!.
Well I was wondering where the hell Umbrella Man was, had he sunk?, had he gone to the pub?, had he been abducted by banjo playing, moonshine drinking hillbillies?, no he was now rowing with great style and speed towards me. Have I got a story to tell you said the huffing and puffing Hemi driver, I’ve been doing battle with a “hog” of a fish 28 to 30 inches long!.
Well Les actually had the fish in his hand, but in 20 feet of water and a girls hand bag of a net to land a fish of that size he had slim chance. You may have guest it, my fishing buddy had hooked a lunker truot, but not his first, Les had hooked and fought battle with 2 other leviathans of the deep the week before, and in the same spot. I can’t believe the silly sod was not geared and ready for a “hog”, perhaps next time will be better luck.
Well we had a fabulous time in “GODS LAND” and I can’t wait to return to paradise in the very near future. I would like to thank my buddy Les for chauffeuring me to and from the venue at the speed of light, and I will return the favour in my not so fast pick up.
I would like to say that all the staff at RIVERSIDE FLY & TACKLE are a great bunch indeed and its been a pleasure to have been invited out with Gary Elgear (owner and expert guide) and Christian Somogyi (store manager and expert guide). The staff and regular customer base are very kind and knowledgeable and all are willing to give advise, so if you want to go out on a guided trip, then you should be in very safe hands with this bunch of avid fishers. Kind regards to all of you fellow people, and tight lines.
Adam J Lane.
