Anticipating the Next Cast

The Kennebecasis River is a scenic river and participants enjoyed casting throughout the evening.

The air was un-seasonally cool and a steady breeze was blowing.  A swishing sound could be constantly heard as I stood along the banks of the Kennebecasis River as my eyes watched flies skit over the water and a number of birds flit through the willows.  It was an idyllic scene as participants in the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee's "Beginner Fly Fishing Workshop" practiced fly casting.

Along the parking area behind the Church center participants were able to practice their casting without getting a line caught.

I was very fortunate to aid in putting this great event together and couldn't help but smile as twenty participants lined the banks of the Kennebecasis River to try their hand at catching speckled brook trout using fly.  Most participants had never cast a fly until the night before when we all met to go over some basics at the St. John's United Church Center.  The purpose of the event was to give anyone who wished to try fly fishing an affordable and enjoyable means to do so. 

Some people learn quickly while others a bit less so but one of the best things about fly fishing is that if the fly is on the water you have a shot at catching fish.  Another enjoyable fact about fishing is that it is great just being on the water.  Many of the participants were smiling even as they untangled their lines for the umpteenth time. 

There is something simple yet difficult about fly fishing and it reminded me somewhat of golf.  I can play a whole round of golf and curse the whole way around the course but if, suddenly I make a great shot, I fall in love with the game all over.  Similarly with fly fishing, just as you are tiring of it, you'll suddenly make a great cast or see a trout turn on the bottom and you make that next cast and then another and another.

Fly fishing is healthy for you and for the fish, especially if the angler uses conservation based angling methods such as barbless hooks, catch and release, and active retrieve.  These methods also make it more sporting as it makes it harder to catch the fish.  Let's face it, in today's society if angling was about truly catching dinner, it would be easier and cheaper to go to the nearest grocery store and buy fish.  Fly fishing also forces you to observe what is going on around you.  What are the trout eating?  Where is the best trout habitat? And what kind of nymph are under that rock you just accidentally kicked?

The twenty participants at this event signed up with no illusions of being able to take a trout home.   They all wanted to come and learn the artistic skill of feeding brightly colored, floating line, with a small hook dressed to look like a fly, through tiny eyelets spaced along a thin, light rod.  When done right, there is a tight loop of line and a rhythmic swishing that result in a feeling of anticipation every time the fly hits the water.  I think many of those who were on the river tonight were not only anticipating the bite of a trout but also the next time they could try fly fishing.

 

Near Perfect Sunday II

A perfect spot for a Sunday lunch.  I don't know if it can get better than this.

"Note: This is a version of a column that I had published in the July 5th edition of the Kings County Record.  It is part 2 of 2 part series on a hike my brother and I completed across the Parlee Brook and Upper Trout Creek watershed.  It was a great day and I hope you enjoy the read.

You'll have to wait for my next column to hear about it though."  That is the way I ended my last column where my brother and I were hiking across the Parlee Brook watershed.  We had walked from Friar's Nose across a open rock ridge and just explored a great waterfall on an unnamed tributary to Parlee Brook.  We took some photos and video of this waterfall and now I can tell you about the rest of our near perfect Sunday.

There are 5 sets of falls through this short reach of Parlee Brook, each with a deep cold pool

We continued down the tributary until we met Parlee Brook and headed upstream to have lunch at the large waterfalls I knew were there.  The cold, deep pools, at the bottom of the falls were crystal clear and looked like an impressionist's painting.  We enjoyed our lunch and thought briefly about taking a swim but knew the water was much to cold and the air not near warm enough.

One of about 20 grave markers in the old cemetary, this grave held a two year old girl who died in 1883..

After our lunch we made our way down Parlee Brook to the Donaldson Road crossing.  We struggled up a small tributary with some interesting geology that if it was a larger stream would lend itself to a great water slide.  We came out to the Walker Settlement Road and paid our respects at the old cemetery there.  It was humbling to read the grave markers and see how young some of those who died were and how long ago it was.  We wondered what the area would have looked like back in the late 1800s. 

These falls are scenic no matter the time of year you venture in to see them.

We were now heading into the Upper Trout Creek watershed and were going to follow yet another tributary down to the Creek.  I have walked this tributary twice before in the winter and I was looking forward to seeing it under spring conditions.  A short distance down the stream we encounter another waterfall that cascades down more than 25ft in two stages.  The topography and geology are rugged and steep on both sides and we are continually drawn down stream to see what is around the next turn.

Sometimes when you venture down an unknown stream, you have no choice but to get your feet wet.

Suddenly the already steep terrain narrowed in and the only way to continue down the stream was to get your feet wet.  We pushed a bit further until suddenly we looked over yet another waterfall.  We had to back track to a point we could scramble up and around the steep valley and then we could resist sliding back into the ravine to view the falls from the bottom.  The narrow ravine held a deep pool that is well hidden like natural jewel and I was again feeling blessed on this nearly perfect Sunday.

This narrow ravine held a cascading ribbon of white water that likely has been cutting away at the conglomerate rock for centuries.

So why was the day only nearly perfect and not perfect?  Well, once we finished up the hike just before sun down we drove into where my brother and parked his truck only to realize, for some reason his electronic lock wasn't working and we had to break into the truck.  This was just the right amount of humor and humility we needed after such a great day.

The last stretch to home was through some scenic farm fields that overlooked the Chamber Settlement area in the upper Trout Creek watershed.

Are you looking for a near perfect way to spend a couple of evenings?  There is a Beginner's Fly Fishing workshop being hosted by the Kennebecasis Watershed on July 13^th and 14^th.  For more information, check out the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee on Facebook, or call 433-4394.

A cool link to find new trails

I feel like I have been trying to provide this service for years but now someone else found a way to get paid to do it.  This is an awesome resource for those looking to get out and explore some of our great trails and amazing places.  Remember when you're out there though to respect it and trash it in trash it out.

The Bay of Fundy has been getting lots of accolades lately with the "New Seven Wonders" and the UNESCO designation on the New Brunswick side.  Hopefully this will lead to more people wanting to conserve its biodiversity and wild places.

Check out the link here.

Not Just Another Day

I feel blessed to be Canadian and to live my life, but even more so on Canada Day 

Canada Day is not just another day.  It has become a day that I anticipate every year.  It is a day that always turns out to be enjoyable and eventful, no matter the weather, or circumstances.  For the last number of years I have spent it with virtually the same people.  A combination of family and friends come together to catch up, swim, and eat their fill at the Reicker residence.  This year was no different for my family, but that doesn't mean it was just another day.  Canada Day has become THE day for summer fun.  We cram an enormous amount into one day.  A good breakfast, a parade, bouncy castles, water balloons, music, swimming, swings, food, and last but not least fireworks,  Yep no doubt about it, Canada Day is just another day, but just a bit more active than normal.

I hope you had a great Canada Day. 

We had a full Canada Day and all of us from the smallest up felt incredibly fullfilled but tired in the end.

A Near Perfect Sunday Part I

NOTE:  This is a column I wrote for the Kings County Record which appeared in the June 21st edition.  My brother and I had an amazing afternoon hike across some well forested, deeply carved hills.  It was a very rewarding day that left us in awe of the great  Trout Creek valley in which we get to live.  Every time I explore a new wilderness in this area I find something beautiful and scenic and if you live in this area, I strongly encourage you to get out there and explore, no matter how old or young you are.
 
Sometimes all the planning in the world just doesn't prepare you for your day.  You can pull all your maps together and plan a great route.  You can pack all the gear you need and the food to see you through.  You get the right team together and organize drives and meeting times but still it all falls apart.  Every now and then though it exceeds all your expectations and a near perfect day results. 

The view from Friar's Nose looking across the Parlee Brook Valley.

  Two Sundays ago my brother and I had planned a day hike across the Parlee Brook watershed, a distance of 11.6km.  We planned to bush whack along ridges and down small streams from Friar's Nose to Hawkes' Bridge on the Trout Creek.  It had been sometime since my brother and I had been out together on a hike and neither of us had followed the route we laid out before so we were both excited and edgy about what the day would hold.

Even small wonders were amplified on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

It was sunny with a light breeze as we reached Friar's Nose and we took a moment to enjoy this familiar, yet inspiring location.  The Nose is one of those places you have to see to fully appreciate.  From the open rock face we started a steep descent over the south east face of the Nose.  We followed a dry stream bed until suddenly it was a babbling stream.  Shortly it entered into Purtill Spring Brook which we only descended for a short distance before climbing a steep ridge.  Using my GPS we navigated towards what we hoped would be another rock face.

At the top of this unnamed ridge there were 5 raptors floating on thermals.

The climb up this ridge was steep and required some scrambling on all fours just to stay upright.  The hard work paid off as we managed to find our way to a high rock ledge which looked southward over a forested valley as a number of raptors flew below us.  We sat for a time and took in this new vista, scanned the area with our binoculars and snapped a few pictures.  We would have stayed longer but the black flies were pushing us off the ledge.

A small shelf acted like a walkway that led directly behind the falls.

The next leg of the hike took us from the Purtill Brook drainage and into the main stem Parlee Brook drainage area.  We planned on accessing Parlee Brook via a small tributary that flowed off the east side of the Donaldson Road.  On the map there appeared to be nothing special about the stream but we were in for a great surprise.  As we worked our way down the stream the valley became steeply incised and we scrambled over some small chutes.  Suddenly we looked down over a 20-30' drop off and we had to work our way out of the ravine and around the drop off.  As we did this we noticed that a rock shelf led back towards the bottom of the drop and we were able to walk directly behind the waterfall.  It was a great discovery for the both of us and a spot we will be sure to bring others who will appreciate it in the future. 

I had to get my brother to snap this shot of me beside the small falls

We lingered at the newly found waterfall for a while and quietly enjoyed each others company and the natural beauty God put in front of us.  Maybe the best part of the moment was that the day was only half over and we couldn't wait to see what else He had in store for us on this near perfect Sunday.  You'll have to wait for my next column to hear about it though.

Father's Day Fish

It was a wild day weather wise today.  One minute it would rain, the next it was sunny.  If you looked out the front window you wondered if you should build an ark but look out the back and you needed sun glasses.  I wanted to get out fishing and I ended up waiting until this evening to do so.  I was confident that with the rain and slightly elevated water levels the fishing would be hot.

I pulled my car over near an access point, tucked my pant legs into my socks, kicked off my sneakers, and donned my chest waders.  I grabbed my rod and gear out of the trunk and hit the water.  I put my fingers in to test the temperature.  The rains must have been warm because I was surprised at how warm the water was.  It was shortly after 7:00pm and I planned on fishing until about 15minutes before sundown, which I guessed would be a bit after 9:00pm.

I waded up to a small bedrock shelf with a gravel pool along the right bank and cast my line out.  I left the first cast short and blamed the reel.  The next cast was on target and I floated it down past my stance in the middle of the channel.  Nothing.  The next cast I put upstream a bit farther and as it entered the pool, a small brook trout tugged and I set the hook.  From that point on I had non-stop action all evening.  The majority of the fish were 7-8" variety but I was able to land 3 that measured out over 10.5" and I kept two of these for tomorrows supper.  By the end of the night I had landed 11 fish on my barbless hook and had a number of other fish on but couldn't land them.

Maybe the best thing about the night was that with all the rain today, I never got wet, nor did I get eaten alive by the flies.  As I cleaned the fish on a gravel bar the sun was starting to set down the river and the sky was a stark contrast of darkened blues and vibrant reds and purples.  It was a moment for sure and I tilted my head to the sky and thanked God for such a gift.

The Recreation and Environment Link

Note: This is a version of a column I had appear in the Kings County Record recently.  I associate very closely with this one and feel incredibly blessed to live where I do, in a place where recreational opportunities can be found around every corner.  The upper Kennebecasis Watershed is a beautiful blend of thriving rural communities, bustling small town centers, and wide open spaces.  It maybe that this rural flavor has allowed the area to thrive during a time when other parts of the country are claiming hard times.  I have to ask myself "Do we need to boost our economy and compete on a global market?  Are we broken? Do we need to exploit our natural resources to survive?"  My answer usually comes to me as I wander down one of the beautiful rivers here in a resounding "No!"  With a healthy environment and recreational opportunities comes a happy and healthy community...what more do we need?  As you read this consider that the small piece of litter someone throws could represent any industry or individual causing environmental harm, we are all in this together, so lets all step up.

Wow…what do I write about this week?  Unlike the spring weather which has gotten off to a slow start, my spring has been anything but.  This is due in big part to my kids.  Thanks guys.  We have tented out for a night, been fishing on the Trout Creek, hit just about every playground in the Sussex area, played baseball and soccer, went geo-caching, roasted some marshmallows, and the first big family camping trip is just around the corner. 

All this activity got me thinking, why is the Sussex area so blessed with great recreation outlets?  As I continued to think about it I realized that it is likely due in good part to the healthy state of the local environment.  Without fish in the streams it is safe to say no one would enjoy fishing.  With poor air quality playing baseball or soccer would be less enjoyable and less healthy.  If our forests were disconnected or were a continuous monoculture hiking would be less entertaining and not nearly as enjoyable.  If our parks were poorly planned and our sports facilities were improperly maintained it is likely that they would not generate the needed revenue to be sustainable.

We are blessed to live in such a prosperous part of the world.  It would be a shame to see our recreation opportunities diminish simply because we did not show enough thought to our environment.  Many organizations are now striving to increase the publicly perceived value of the environment through recreational outings that also provide an education and outreach opportunity.  Fundy National Park for instance recently hosted their "Wings Over Fundy" bird watching event and also have incorporated ecosystem education in a geo-caching series they introduced about three years ago.

The idea of education through recreation provides the public with an enjoyable afternoon where they learn about the environment without even realizing that they are learning.  With a relaxed mind set they no doubt take in much more than if they were sitting in a class room.  Granted some people learn better when focused on specific topics so for those people there is the movement towards "citizen science."  This is where organizations organize volunteers to observe conditions, gather data, identify characteristics, or even take samples.  While the data may not be considered scientifically valid, it still provides excellent background data for planning and prioritization exercises by the various organizations using it, and the events are excellent outreach and educational tools.

Environmental conservation is everyone's responsibility and if we take a negative action towards the environment it potentially impacts everyone.  Take for example someone using the walking trail in Sussex.  If he throws litter into a nearby ditch it eventually ends up in the Trout Creek and then the Kennebecasis River and eventually into the Bay of Fundy.  The Bay could be considered the driving engine to New Brunswick.  It is the backbone of our tourism industry, it contributes largely to the fisheries, and affects the local weather that highly influences the climate that grows our trees for forestry.  If we continue to litter in it we lose the Bay, our economy, our Province, and maybe most importantly our recreation opportunities.

If you want to contribute to conserving our local recreation why not meet an eager group of volunteers on June 12^th from 2:00-4:30 at the corner of Route 111 (Newline Road) and Church Avenue.  You can help plant some trees that will restore the stream banks along Ward's Creek.  Dress for the weather and wear something you don't mind getting dirty.

Yard Work as Sport

This is a version of the column I had published a few weeks ago in the Kings County Record.  I have been working hard lately trying to get my yard looking good.  Its almost complete and hopefully I'll have some pictures to post.  Enjoy.

 

It was with mixed emotions that I watched the sun come out this afternoon.  After a long rainy spell I was spiritually lifted to see the sun.  I then looked out at my lawn and realized that with the sun came the need to mow the grass 2 times a week.  In no time though I was whistling a tune as I pulled the mower out and made the first fresh cuts across the lawn.  I was dreaming of long hikes, campouts, casting a fly line, ball games, and lots more.

After the lawn I had to weed the flower beds out front.  I thought "I'll never get fishing at this rate."  As I weeded my mind started wandering and I was comparing gardening and yard work to other sports that I participated in.  Fishing is considered a sport but really I find gardening much more physical than fishing, and I find it harder to grow a good lawn than to catch a brook trout.  I don't dispute that stock car racing is a sport with it's continual left hand turn but I can easily compare that to mowing the lawn.

My mind stopped wandering and I came back to reality as I finished weeding the flower bed.  I went to the shed thinking once again of my fishing rod but instead grabbed the chainsaw so I could limb the apple tree and cut up a fallen limb from the ash tree in the backyard.  Timber sports are under appreciated, especially if your saw isn't working right.  I pulled on that starter for 28minutes before I finally got it to turn over for the first time this season.  I'm afraid I wouldn't make much of a lumberjack.  I used a step ladder to get up the apple tree just to prove the point further.

"Now" I thought, "I can finally go fishing."  I looked up though and realized the sun was setting so the fish would have to wait another day.  I headed back to the front of the house and worked until dark doing some more weeding.  When I finally called it quits and headed inside I was tired and sore.  That likely has to do more with my poor physical conditioning lately than yard work being physically strenuous.  Either way yard work is a great way to get outside and burn off some calories and we could all stand to do that regularly and why not get some work done while we do it.  Next time I'll try to enjoy the yard work a little more.

Coming up on June 4 is National Trails Day.  I encourage you to get out and hike, bike, or paddle your favorite trail.  While you're there why not do some yard work and leave the trail better than you found it.  If you wish to do more good for the environment, keep an eye out for the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee's "Water and Willows Day" coming up the following weekend.  This is a great chance to field work, which is the Olympics of yard work.

Making memories

There are not enough moments in our life where we make memories.  Last night at Sully's Ice Cream in Sussex however, our family added a moment to the memory banks.

It started off rather below normal as my wife calls me just before I'm leaving work to ask if I want to go for ice cream later that night with the kids.  I'm a big ice cream lover, especially "Death by Chocloate", so it was a no brainer.  I made the drive home and we had supper and then cleaned the kids up a bit before taking off for town to meet my sister and her kids for the anticipated treat.  I was told on the drive down that my brother and his family would be there as well, so I thought "Man this is shaping up to be quite a party."

As the eleven of us sat there, my Mom and Dad drove by and stopped in as well.  It was a great moment where we shared light converation and the kids ran around with one another.  To top that moment, a train came by and the kids all watched it, enthralled with its size and loud clickety clacking.  I could see the family moment building there in that moment as I held my daughter and watched her reaction to the train and as I looked over at the wide eyed, big grinning expression on my son's face.

As we got ready to leave I braced myself for an anticipated fight with the kids but it never came.  We peacefully loaded them into the car for the drive home.  Usually this might be where the memory would end...but on this night it is where it would be cemented into not just a memorable moment but a great moment.  There was a funky song on the radio and my son started dancing foolishly in his booster seat and the rest of us joined in.  Laughing the whole way home, we even sat in the car for sometime in the driveway still dancing away foolishly.  For those who may have drove past us last night who were worried we might run into you, I apologize.

God thank you for family, and thanks so much for a great memory.

Fishing for Food or Fun??

This is a condensed version of a my column that appeared in the Kings County Record back on May 10th, 2011.  This is a topic that I feel is important and I hope that our provincial government doesn't make a knee jerk decision simply to please a few boisterous and ill informed voters.  I hope that science and resource conservation win out on this one because if not, I'm afraid we won't have the trout around for much longer.

Now, I know what you're thinking "Oh no, here he goes again talking about a great day casting a line on the water."  While I will touch on that, this column is a bit different.  I have read in the local papers recently that people are asking the provincial government to increase the bag limit on brook trout and I have to take the bait (pun intended.)  I have to ask WHY?  Fishing is not about killing a fish for food anymore.  I can only think of one type of individual that might actually be fishing simply to feed his family.  Most of us now fish for the pure enjoyment of it.

If you want fish to eat, you can more readily and economically purchase it from your local grocery store.  You would save the cost of your fishing license, the gas to get to the river, the cost of a pole and tackle, and as noted by one individual your ATV fuel, registration and insurance, your trailer inspection and insurance, and your boat license, registration and insurance.  When I go fishing with my son the rule is if you kill it you eat it.  Why do we need to kill a fish we aren't going to eat?  Why not let it go so when we need it there to feed us it will be there.

Fishing, or more appropriately here angling, is about the sport and challenge of catching a big brook trout in less than optimum circumstances.  Anglers will cast a single hooked line numerous times across a pool trying to entice a brookie to take the bait.  An angler will use a light test weight line and a barbless hook just to make the challenge all the more enjoyable. 

I will take and eat a trout from time to time but I can't see a need to increase the bag limit.  If our trout populations were high enough to sustain an increase in the bag limit then maybe I could agree.  There is no evidence stating that our trout can accommodate this.  This is especially true if you consider the ever increasing stress that we continue to place upon them with development and natural resource harvesting as well as the unforeseen impacts of changing climates.