Article published in February/April 2006 Issue of Canadian Fly Fisher Magazine 3rd Annual Canadian Fly Fishing Championships: Campbell River, B.C. By Nick Pujic The first ever Canadian National Championships were held 3 years ago in Manitoba followed by last year’s event in Quebec’s beautiful Montebello region. This year, Fly Fishing Canada—the non-profit organization behind our national fly fishing program, including many youth and conservation initiatives—pointed the national focus westward to the city of Campbell River on beautiful Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The City of Campbell River is located directly on the 50th parallel on the east coast of Vancouver Island, midway between Victoria and Cape Scott. In addition to its majestic views of the Coast Mountain Range skyscape, towering redwood forests, favorable year round climate and the subtle yet ever present hint of saltwater in the air, Campbell River’s reputation as the “Salmon Capital of the World” made it a perfect choice for this year’s competition and conservation symposium. Excited fly fishers, observers and volunteers from every corner of our country converged on this vibrant town of 30,000 people last September to partake in what was undoubtedly one of their most memorable fishing experiences. In Campbell River competitors were confronted with a uniquely diverse challenge of competing in a combination of still waters, large rivers, smaller tributaries and saltwater surf fishing; a true test of skill and flexibility for just about any fly fisher not used to one or more of these types of fishing. To overcome the challenge of holding a competition at a location where multiple and, for many, unfamiliar techniques would be required to achieve a high score, three full practice days were allotted for non-West Coast anglers to get acquainted with this unique fishery. This was a welcomed change over last year’s competition, where only one day was given for practice. Fifty enthusiastic competitors from all over the country took to the waters in ten teams of five. Each competitor got a chance to fish five separate beats over a period of three days, spending only three hours at each location during the competition. Points were awarded during every session and were based on the number and size of the fish caught during the three hour allotment. After each session, a rotation occurred allowing each participant to fish each location. This is the same system which has been in use since the inception of the national championships three years ago. The Competition Venues Echo Lake – Stillwater Loch Fly Fishing Only a short 20 minute drive from the heart of Campbell River was this year’s single stillwater venue; Echo Lake. This scenic, mid-sized lake perched on a hill above the city was the perfect location for the competitors to employ their loch style fishing expertise and to ply their skill for rainbow and cutthroat trout while sitting in a boat, as they did last year in Quebec (See The Canadian Fly Fisher, January/March, 2005). Campbell River – Big River Challenge This world-renowned river is home to just about every species of migratory salmon and trout found in British Columbia. It is also the location where Roderick Haig-Brown, from his estate on the banks of the Campbell, wrote the many words we’ve come to treasure today. With so much historical significance as well as fishing opportunities, the focus on the Campbell was highly appropriate. The Campbell is a relatively large, fast-moving river with an average depth of anywhere between 4 and 6 feet, depending on the outflows from the dam approximately 4km upstream of the mouth. Its abundance of pocket water, deep pools and extensive riffles are all fish holding area, although selecting which to fish first can be a challenge for all but the most seasoned locals who are well acquainted with the river. A sturdy wading staff and constant awareness of the water flow is a must on this river, as wading can be difficult and the water levels can change quite quickly. It was not surprising that many of the out-of-province competitors struggled to hook up with the fish. Quinsam River – Small, Intimate & Loaded With Fish The Quinsam River, the Campbell River’s major tributary, is a smaller, shallower version of the Campbell. Running through some of the most serene wilderness I’ve ever encountered, the Quinsam offered the competitors a chance to fish for migratory salmon such as pinks, coho, and the odd sockeye, as well as for a healthy population of resident cutthroat trout. This intimate river, which was chock full of salmon at all stages of spawning, was a favorite amongst many of the participants. It also provided an extra dimension of excitement, as each night competitors would return to the championship headquarters at the Anchor Inn with new and exciting stories about black bear sightings. In fact, many of the trails leading to the competition beats on the Quinsam were established black bear trails. However, although the bears are a common occurrence in and around the Campbell, they rarely have any interaction with humans. Rotary Beach – Coho Surf Fishing at its Finest Miles and miles of pebble stone beach exposed every day by the fluctuating tides presented the out-of-province competitors with an immense challenge. Here it was necessary to wade out as deep as possible into the surf in order to launch streamers even further out—sometimes more than 100 feet further—in the hope of reaching the schools of leaping coho which were staging off the beach prior to their migration upstream. This venue proved to be an even bigger challenge to competitors than the Campbell River, especially to those which, like me, had never before had the opportunity to fly fish surf for migratory salmon—or any other species, for that matter. Each day hundreds of fresh coho were bombarded with flies by the competitors, but only those capable of the longest reach followed by a double-handed strip were successful. However, it proved to be a valuable learning experience for the others, who discussed the potential applications of a modified version of this unique Vancouver Island technique on their home waters—yet another benefit of a national competition. Competition Results The Fly Fishing Canada 3rd National Fly Fishing Championships and Conservation Symposium held its closing ceremonies on Saturday September 24th, 2005 in the Campbell River Rotary Maritime Heritage Centre. After a true West Coast feast, a live auction, a silent auction and a slideshow paved the way for the medal ceremonies. All funds raised through both the live and silent auctions were earmarked to help Fly Fishing Canada as well as various conservation groups across the country to protect and restore fragile watersheds and increase youth involvement in the sport of fly fishing in the near future—a cause that is definitely worth while! TEAM Placings: Gold: Team Mustang Silver: Team Equipe Airflo Bronze: Team NWT INDIVIDUAL Placings: Gold: Todd “The Rock” Oishi, Team Mustang Silver: John Nishi, Team NWT Bronze: Trevor Welton, Team Mustang The Canadian Fly Fisher would like to congratulate all competitors for their participation in this year’s event! We hope to see them all again, as well as many new faces, in 2006 at the 4th. Canadian Fly Fishing Championships on Ontario’s legendary Grand River in Elora, Ontario. Conservation Symposium Without doubt one of the most significant events during every national championship is the annual Fly Fishing Canada Conservation Symposium. The conservation symposium is, in many ways, a Canadian international success story. For, along with mandatory catch-and-release instead of catch-and-kill, it was introduced as an essential component at the World Fly Fishing Championships by Fly Fishing Canada soon after we started competing at an international level in the 1980s. Quite a feat for Canada given our relative newcomer status on the world fly fishing stage. At the 4th. Nationals, five panel speakers, all deeply involved individuals with a passion for fly fishing, presented the competitors and others involved in the event with an informative collaboration of presentations. Four of these focused on the Pacific salmon and steelhead fishery in British Columbia: Stephen Watson of BC Hydro, Jitka Petruzelka from the Oyster River Enhancement Society, Chad Brealy of the Pacific Salmon Foundation, David Pehl form Fisheries Association of BC. Stillwater expert and Fly Fishing Canada member Bob Sheedy from Manitoba supplemented the presentations with an account of trout Stillwater conservation in his province. Ralph Shaw, a recipient of the Order of Canada, moderated the event. More than Just Competition! While many folks may still be uncertain about a national fly fishing competition (more than likely due to unfamiliarity with it), those who’ve shared in the experience over the last three years have quickly realized that the entire event is oriented more towards conservation and camaraderie than competition. A fun-filled gathering of fly fishers from all over Canada is a sure way to meet new friends, to exchange some of the most entertaining fishing stories out there, and to enrich fly fishing expertise through new experiences—all the while promoting conservation and the sport we all share a passion for. And even though this is a relatively new tradition in Canada, it will undoubtedly continue to grow. The 4th. Nationals in Ontario in 2006 promises to be even more successful.   The Canadian Fly Fisher Magazine, Canada's largest fly fishing publication, delivers the very best of how-to content to fly fishers in each and every issue. Written by some of Canada's most respected fly fishers and tyers, the magazine is filled with informative articles, insightful tips, great destinations and the hottest patterns! For more information about the Canadian Fly Fisher magazine, and for more exclusive online content, please visit http://www.canflyfish.com/ Hatches Magazine Subscription Price: $6.95 for each issue The Premiere issue is ready for shipping & the Fall 2008 issue will be available September 1st.