Afterschool Lake trip

Matt, Tom and Dorian at the tiller

Dorian Boswell, Science teacher, hunting and fishing guide, shooting instructor, boatman, all round Canadian outdoor guide [and family man] had offered an afternoon excursion onto Arrow Lake and across it to some semi secret salmon spawning shallows in the shadow of enchanted water falls. Alright maybe they were not enchanted but everything else was true.

Arrow Lake Ripples

Needless to say I, on behalf of my sons and myself, jumped at the offer.

As luck had it the day we chose was beautiful; sunny although a little cool, particularly out on the calm waters of Arrow Lake.

We drove a way north before putting Dorian’s boat in the water under the casual observation of the ubiquitous Canada Geese. And soon we were zipping across the water with a cool breeze in our hair or across our head as the case may be.

The wind whipping through their hair.........

Lake side Cliffs

Arrow Lakes looking north

Lakeside reflections on te hwest side of Arrow Lakes

We made our way to a small bay where we beached the boat and made our way along a well worn track to the falls. It was beautiful and a small school of Kokanee Salmon, say some two hundred or so, had found the pool at the foot of the Fostil Falls. The falls had stopped any further progress and the Salmon were there to spawn. The fish had become bright red as they do in the final stages of their life when all else – feeding mostly – had stopped and their full efforts turned to breeding.

Spawning Salmon Site - c. 200 seen at this site

The Kokanee Salmon are a smaller salmon that had lost their size when they lost their way to the sea. The Arrow Lakes were once the Columbia River that flowed to the Pacific. Now that route is firmly closed and the remaining salmon must pretend that the lake is the sea and the lake’s tributaries are rivers where breeding can occur. 

The surrounding moss covered forest was a decent scene itself and I could have stayed there a while. However Dorian’s mind had turned to fish and he suggested visiting another spot, close by, where often a Dolly Varden could be found and hooked. From Wikipedia; ‘The Dolly Varden trout, Salvelinus malma malma, is a subspecies of anadromous fish in the salmon family, and is technically a char. Although many populations are anadromous [migratory – particularly to breed], the fish also exists in landlocked waters.’

Mushroom type?

Secluded water fall

Ancient Tree - probably haunted

Another view of the spawning salmon pond and background falls

Kokaanee Salmon - land locked in Arrow Lakes

We motored to the spot, past several Red-necked Grebes, and immediately it looked pretty bad. There were fishermen there already. In our spot. With rods. They could have been there all day, catching fish after fish after fish.

Another 'secret' waterfall fishing zone

Fishing for a Dolly

WE tried for a while, casting our lines with lures but no fish were seen, heard or smelled [?]. Soon we gave up and decided it was time to head for home. The highlight of the trip back, for me, was an excellent sighting of an otter family swimming through the water. The highlight, for the boys, was the chance to steer the boat! 

Tom, cunningly disguised as Dorian