DAVE TAYLOR KEENA ANGLER ROB BROWN = a a Kispiox Quality ccording to conservative estimates the Skeena steelhead fishery generated approximately $3.7 million in angler expendi- tures, $3.5 million in income, $2.4 million in wages and salaries which in turn genera- ted 85 person-years of employment in - 1990, If we assume the fishery has grown at 4 compounded rate of about 2 per cent per year, like the other fresh water fisheries in this province have since the time this data was gathered, it’s clear we live next to a resource too valuable to squander. What draws anglers to this region is the quality of our steelhead fishing. Quality an- gling, as wise heads in the MOELP realized prior to cobbling together what became the Guide Management Policy, does not reside ° in catching a lot of steelhead, but in having the reasonable expectation of catching a steelhead or two in pleasant uncrowded sur- roundings. For the resource managers the problem is one of preserving angling quality for a rapidly growing clientele, You can get a feel for the dimensions of this conundrum when you consider that the population of planet has more than doubled since inven- tion of monofilament fishing line. During the same time wild steelhead populations have mare than halved, On the Dean river, the, Euphrates of the Guide* ‘Management™ Polidy,” ‘the fish men and women of MOELP restrained runaway growth largely attributable anglers from the States by bringing in a permit system for these so-called non-resident aliens which requires them to apply for blocks of days through the season. So far this limited entry has worked quite well. On the Kispiox we are selling a first- class steelheading experience for the price of a box of beer per day and jeop- ardizing a quality angling experience in the process. Wilderness and isolation were deemed a vital component of rivers offering an an- gling experience of the highest quality. The Dean and Babine met this requirement, but because it is roaded on each side for most of its length, the Kispiox did not. To those of us who have come to know and ap- preciate the Kispiox the designation was flawed, for besides fine fishing and radiant landscapes the smal! river with the world’s largest steclhead offers a room and a meal instead of a sandy tent floor at the end of a day fishing. It’s good to hear that the fish and wildlife divisian of MOELP is reconsidering the status of the Kispiox, but the problem of maintaining quality angling on the Kispiox is acute. Last year local anglers made up only 11 per cent of its fishery. The three guides and their assistants did not use up their allocation of days. The lion’s share of the angling pressure on the Kispiox — over 60 per cent this year — came from non- resident, non-guided anglers, many of whom camped upon the river. Adding to the problem is the fact that the best fishing to be had on the Kispiox is found on the lower seventcen miles of the river during a two month window. On the Kispiox we are selling a first-class steclheading experience for the price of a box of beer per day and jeopardizing a quality angling experience in the process. Limiting non-residents wilh a Dean River style lottery will solve this problem for the time being but will this kind of mechanism suffice two decades from now? Since the weather caps the number cf days an individual guide can work the Kispiox the only viable long term solution may be to increase the number of guides by, say, two and require all non-residents to hire a guide. If you or J want to fish salmon in the New Brunswick’s Miramachi this is what we have to do. Is it unreasonable to expect foreigners to do the same on the , Kispiox or Bulkley? The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 18, 1996 - B7 638-7283 Finals elude Cal squad HOOPS WERE ablaze in Terrace last weekend as Caledonia hosied its annual Kermodei Classic basketball tournament. Teams from seven BC schools, along with a squad from Ketchikan, Alaska converged for two days of intense com- pelition. The action started noon Friday, with Cal taking on D.P. Todd of Prince George. PG had two tough teams at Ihe tourney, and Todd looked strong against the Kermodeis. Cal was not a favourite to go the distance at the Classic, but they played very well and never gave up against a very solid teain. In the end, Cal was out-gunned, going down toa ‘Todd 79-63, That loss took Cal out of contention for the Championships. However, the team rebounded from the disappointing defeat for a great match in the first game of the consolation round. They were up against Rupert’s Charles Hays, and they hit the visiting team hard. Hays had carlier gone dowa to PG’s Duchess Park 53-71 and the loss scemed to take the wind out of their sails. Cal looked strong, playing excellent defense with a solid, workmanlike offense that got the job done, Fraser dcWalle and Neil Hailey both had great games that helped Cal cruise Io a 89-68 victory, “They did quite well, considering who they were up against. I think they'll come together.’’ -coach Cam Mackay- Also on Friday, a strong South Peace team went ‘up against Kitimat’s Mt, Elizabeth. The Peace Penguins had the advantage in both height and experience, which helped them hop to a big 97-73 victory, The only other Friday night game was a blow out. A very , Strong Ketchikan squad thoroughly trounced Hazelton 104-53. Ketchikan was the favourite going into the tourna- ment. The team had both experience and an amazing defence that could quickly shut down opposing teams. The next day Ketchikan continued their winning ways, walking all over South Peace to a 89-36 victory. That game was actually close at the half. However, a very tight Alaskan defence eventually wore the small Peace team down to the point that they simply couldn’! hit the broad side of a barn. Also on Saturday, D.P. Todd cruised past Duchess Park 66-53, sending them into the fi nals against Ketchikan. CARTER whee 5 FAN SUPPORT certainly wasn't lacking at Friday | night's game against Charles Hays. NEIL HAILEY outruns a Hurricane during Friday night's game. Although Caledonia had to settle for the consolation round, coach Cam Mackay says he’s pleased with his leam’s performance considering what they were up “Ketchikan presses against. . “Same of the teams, like Ketchikan are well into their and presses. Their defense ts simply un- season,’ he says. ‘“They’ve got way mare gaines under . their belis.”’ believable,.”’ And Mackay says Cal still has a good season ahead of -Cam Mackay- them. : “Our kids are picking it up now,’’ he says, ‘And we have plenty to choose from.” . FAASER DEWALLE makes a jump shot over a reaching Hurricane, Wrestlers grip new season TERRACE Wrestlers got off to a flying start two weekends ago with a huge toumament in Hazelton. Both male and female grapplers fared extremely well against some tough competition to finish third the — provincial University wrestler Ngoc Huyn was also there, as was Canadian National Cadet Champion Sara Warburton, nol to mention al least four of the top six wrestlers from high says. Our Terrace boys also did very well against older, more experi- enced and more established teams fram Hazelton, Vanderhoof and Prince George. Stephanie Laplante and Roseanne Blackburn snagged silvers and Michelle Fawdrey and Brenna Smith had bronze. Grace Wittkowski alsa fared school welll, wilh a strong fourth-place [in- overall, More than 170 wrestlers from 12 schools around the northwest al- tended the gripping event, which saw Terrace come home with a number of medals. Sixty of those competitors were girls. That’s three times more than atiended just four years ago, and girls’ wrestling coach Dave O'Brien says the competition was stiff. “It was extremely strong,” O'Brien says. He points out that al- tending wrestlers included Hazelton's Shelley Wright, a Junior and Senior National Champion and the first girl to wrestle in the north- west, nae championships. Going up against that group would chill even the most expcri- enced of wrestlers. So it must have been especially daunting for the . girls on O’Brien’s young team, 11 of whom were rookics gelling their first taste of competition. +” ‘They were all very nervous and intimidated,” he says. © "They should be heartened by their strang performances .”” The girls, ali from Skeena Junior Secondary — with the exception of Roseanne Blackburn — managed a a. nuniber of medals. Teri Plumb and Pam Haugland both grabbed gold medals in their — ~ in-the north for. years to come,”? he weight classes... Laura’ Carpino, ish. O’Bricn says he was especially impressed with Wittkowski, who is a,rookie, and fellow newcomer Teri /Plumb.* “They stood out with very strong and al times - courageous — per- farmances,’’ he says. © **And Michelle Fawdrey wrestled like an-. _ experienced veteran,” O'Brien says the girls now know they can be competitive in the tlorthwest, so he wouldn't be sur- -- prised if they dedicate themselves to increasing the’ intensity of their practices. - : -*This group is developing into a powerful team ‘that will be a force Two Skeena sludents fared espe- cially well. Brent Trembley took a gold in the 4£ kilogram category and Brad Gunnlaugson gamered silver in the 45 kilogram weight class. Fellow students Ajit Jaswal and Jon Peltier also did very well, both coming home with bronze in their 57 and 41 kg calegorics respective- ly. And heavyweight James Bohn Just missed the medals with a fourth place finish In’ the 90 kg class, O’Brien says ‘the boys team is _. still, young, but looked good -and will continue to develop over the years, =: