STORIES

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Where’s the Fish?

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By James Craig

Community: Vancouver Island

The kids and I went for a long walk to look for salmon in the Englishman River just before the big November flood. It was a weekend and we had lots of time to explore.  Starting at the end of Englishman River Road, we hiked downstream using the trail network on the north side of the river.  I was quizzing the kids on tree species, something we often do during forest walks. First point of interest was the single log bridge over Morison Creek, a casual structure that’s been recently added to by locals (boards and a rope hand rail). The kids had a great time doing their “balancing act” while trying to ignore the rushing creek 8 feet below. We searched for fish at that stream crossing - only managed one sighting of a chum carcass, though visibility was poor with recent rains.

Continuing downstream, the trail got close to the river’s edge, and the girls went out to look for fish. Leading the way, the youngest spotted something right away taking shelter in the quiet water, but it saw her too and vanished into the stronger, darker currents before her sister and I could spot it. The youngest was adamant she’d seen something, as I’d promised a treat for the first one to spot a live fish.

We continued, making a leap over a small tributary only flowing because of recent rains. Further on, in the regional park, we came to the side-channel where we really expected to see lots of action. The kids had been there in past years and witnessed pinks and the odd chinook digging in gravel tailouts throughout the side-channel, and dead fish strewn about from bear and otter having lunch.  This time was different.  We walked the entire length of trail along the channel, seeing no live fish, no dead fish, not even a redd. It was spooky.  I suggested that maybe beavers had dammed the lower channel, preventing fish from entering.  But there was no dam in the portion we walked along, no reason why there were no fish.

From where the side-channel rejoins the mainstem, we walked the river proper back upstream. The Englishman was flowing pretty nicely, and visibility was only about 3 or 4 feet, but we managed to see only one more fish during the entire walk back to the car.  Remember the fleeting glace the youngest got near the beginning of the hike?  When we passed that spot on the way back, the three of us very quietly approached the stream bank, and sure enough, the fish was back (much to the delight of my youngest).  A tired female chum salmon was suspended in the back eddy, probably taking a break from spawning just upstream in the tailout of the Morison Creek confluence pool. By moving slowly, we were able to get very close indeed, and the fish allowed us an intimate moment, all but submerged in its world.

We certainly did not see as many fish as expected, but the walk was most enjoyable and there can be no better way to connect the future generation to this amazing resource.  Take a visit, share the wonder, think salmon.