B4.-The Terrace ‘Standard, Wednesday, December 8.2004: fo MARGARET SPEIRS Seen ANGLER, ROB BROWN. ugh and Vic had ‘the: Hai ‘Creek. Run: - book ended. Hugh was working the top aff. the tail. “Hey Robbie!” shouted Hugh 2 as: r vwaided. out into the river, : “Watch out for. that. hole, eh,” " fe. added asl: stepped into it and’sank in the river up to my chest. “How i is it?"1 asked trying | to maintain my equi- librium. “t's still a little. 160° high, " “said Hughie. as ‘he reached into his pack; anid. pulled out acircular flask, “Take the-edge off?".' ~ Happy hour was.a Tong’ way: off, but: | took a pull. anyway and: enjoyed the illusory warmth ‘spreading through my chests". - “It’s ablend of scotch and: Nigueuit” he ‘said... ~ By ‘that -time. Vic: had. joined: the . ‘conference “at midstream,” He tucked. his. Tod, “under. his arm, “reached into his: vest and pulled ‘Out: a small thermos, © , "unscrewed that ‘cap ‘that doubled as.a. cup, pressed - -a red bution on-the top of the thermos and filled: the, - cup cap with coffee. °° 2, - Obviously. liking ‘the idea; Hugh reached into his chest pack and pulled a win ta: Mic” 8. silvery. ther=* : _ mos and did the same. . ~ {rail and crossed” the rivers oe: me -Lsat“on the’ behches.at Finlay’ Ss ‘memorial and] watched : the “two: ‘Kitimat. rod slingers"as3 =tunich.” ae mod ] fees “As J munched, it occurréd to me thai some of the: tricks that these'two anglers have devised to ‘make. fall..and ‘winter fishing : ‘a pleasurable experience - would make good ¢ Christmas. gifis for outdoors men” ~ in general, and fishermenin particular. ao ; ‘Breathable waders are all the rage now. This i is: _ understandable. given. their mary. advantages, . in- ‘cluding their light weight. and. ease of repair, but" for fishing in Skeena in late fall: ‘and winter (which - is the. coldest river: fishing. you I find. anywhere) they’ re ‘insufficient. Neoprene: waders with. ‘stocking feet: are: ‘nade . equate too for. the simple. season that ‘wading boots © inhibit circulation. - “Vie and Hugh wear boot foot neoprenes nade. by ‘Bare; on their recommendation T bought a pair’ recently and after a few ivarm outings; e added. “my, endorsement. to theiis,. <3." - Cold hands are’ another: perennial paln Hagh- “and Vic use tag. “wool fingerless ‘gloves;: I prefer ihe glove/ mitt combination models; both lypes are eas- ily found. Nothing beats wool for the cold and-wet.. And what about'those thermosis?. Smaller: than’ "most, ‘theits could be’ slipped: Snugly“into-a vest’ pocket ¢ and. appeared to hold about two CUpS.\ worth: ‘of whatever hot ligui a uy ‘decided. to. fill: them” with, vi - Hugh’ told “me he Bot his at Starbucks, but: you - “can find them af a local shop; I'm sure: ’ : . fair with a'front panel that'can be: ‘pulled down like’ ~ an ironing, board, has the fine feature of making the... frustrating. pockel search: with: frozen fingers : un". " necessary: since everything: ‘that’ gets: lols: of use.in, _aday can be. placed out front for effortless access: 3 I've seen these chest packs priced around $801 in a. number of fackle stores. 0" -A good windproof butane. lighter and. ‘one of, those red, felt-covered-hand warmers that ‘are fu--’ eled by charcoal sticks,-are {wo'excellent gifts-for. - "fishers, ‘shooters and the ‘indefatigable: ‘hikers: like © the ones.[_meet hiking: ‘Over the- T errace Mointain. Trail in: ‘icy winter months. ° - And, while we're “on: the subject’ of hikes," I. ~ found some dandy telescopirig hiking staffs in-Ter-. rice’s foremost: lure house, Misty River. So taken , Awas.1 with. the constriction: ‘of these ‘poles: and the ; fact that they weren't built-in China, that I bought. ~ one for. my dad for his: 86th birthday a and asked him « to lest, drive At first: he y was. ‘ellctamt to: lisé.it- but shorily « thereaftér, he- fell ‘and chipped his shoulder, He's “| ‘been leaning on. the: pole ever since e and reports, it holds him up well.“ - Yak Trax; ai élaitic wuibber snow. ‘and ice ‘shoe - wound ith’ tungsten: coils, is ‘another ‘Wonderful: gift for. hikers who: slride through’ ihe icy ‘sedsons — and fishermen too, for:that matter. Yak ‘Trax. are. easily pulled ‘over. wading. boots or hiking ‘shves.» “fened into place. with the. Velcro strap. : _ > You can get Yak Trax at Red-Wing shoes: where - Pat MacDonald: also has a few: brands of outdoor. socks, all of them: good and worth: their ‘weal ir in Canadiari. coins, Finally, every. tackle stop in ‘the land seems to’ _ have a 40 per. cent-off sale on Sage ‘rods, making “thera affordable: Vie and. Hugh both fish.one.- Show your neighbours you're thinking of them: _Giftmas 2004 = slot. Vic: was” ‘working his, sway up from. | After the coffee break, ‘eked éaston the. bear o " Hugh’s chest pack, ‘a kind of back and front af: : i ~ “WILD ANIMALS ran loose at: Copperside : ° shooting ‘by, Terrace Whiskey J Jack. archers, ~ “went téColin’ Bonnett ft rom Prince Rupert. t, . “end and Matt Ridler came third. with 499, ' thia Ridler's:429 shoot: 267 and Gail. Bennett: ‘from Prince: Rupert. in seconds and (if you. buy: the deluxe: version). fas- a pe “en” s bare: ‘bow with a415 and Tiffany Hutch Loar t mag TERRACE STANDARD poumemy mae “By MARGARET SPEIRS ae ~ NOVEMBER was'a busy month for the Terrace : Bluebacks who made their’ compelitive debut in: ~ Alaska, swam’ in- Smithers and raced: ‘in Prince . _ George. . Regional: Bluebicks took the feny. to Ketchi- kan, AK;; for their’ first U.S.meet Ketchikan offered thé Bluebacks an oppor os “nity. 10 shine; coach. Mike Carlylesaid.” i: “Their performance was" excellent. They. came’ . Wogether very ‘well.as a team;.’ Carlyle: said, add-.” . “ling ihe swimmers ; Supported. each: ‘other. “The: Alaskan: teams. provided good. compet “ton for the. Bluebacks, ‘who ‘bushed. themselves 8 fo peiform. welll, :Biandon Williains'v won nall but two of his. races | “and swain faster: times inall of his races...” - The-AlasKan: swimmers enjoyed having, thes -Bluebiacks visit, — > SILWwas exciting for’ them: 0 have a ‘Canadian - team there,” Carlyle said, adding the. Bluebacks* ctrip tor Ketchikan vas -the- first: time a: Canadian: ~teamhad ‘competed there in five years,” » The: Alaskan: ‘teams, including Suneau, Sitka®: Arch 1ers shoot wild animals D2 “Byy MARGARET SPEIRS “Stables lastmonth but thanks to some sieady,” ~ othe city remained safe.- ’ Participants:from: Kitimat,. Smithers and ~ Prince Rupert took ‘tums shooting at‘the 30. ~ fan animals during the Terrace. Whiskey” Jack: ‘Archery Clib's 3-D- indoor compet ‘tion over the Nov.-27 weekend. :° » At-the end of three rounds, first place'i in” “to “the mén’s traditional; or long baw, category” “who: shot 580. : fs ' Terrace’s John ‘Sandhals shot 5 17 forsee- * Women’s:traditional was’ "won b Cyn “Second vent to Lorna: ands with’ fer: fame third-with 164: » Judy Mauter of ‘Smithers won hie wort: “Ings of: Rupert | took secorid place. with.185, ‘Men's’. recurve: -went.lo- the’ lone New. : _ Ayan entry, Alan: Correia, : fot his 691,. president, Jaco Fourie who shot 770, with: 592.-and. Ludwig. de Jager Finished a -close third: swith 579, : : “men' 's unlimited division with 727. stations in.cach-rolind ovér the ‘weekend, - ona platform. : oe Fourie said, adding the difference i in angles N “makes: ‘shooting more difficult, « a ; bunny, which: was: the closest larget: at four. -} yatds,an elk.at the far end of the: shooting range -and -a- ‘mountain tion laying. “On ‘the. ‘ground about tiidway. said of the bunny. - sights can't adjust for: the" animal’ ‘s close- “ ness,-Fourie’said.: TERRACE BLUEBACKS mug for the camera during the swim meet at the Mike Smithers Pool in Ketchikan, Alaska: on Nov, 12, The. team. “swam in a shorter r pool and made new friends: with Vihar American competitors. at. the international ‘event. - te . and others, from the. southeastern region, of the - “state, weré very., -compelitive, had “a. different tance Would be 200 yards, for: the. ‘first: time, found’ the 200. yards easier 10 ‘swim, Carlyle:said,, : ‘ticipate in a meet here. -. “They! ‘dlike to come down to he Nonthves rc he-said, - cone . Daring. ‘their: off time: t - Bowhunter “sighted: was. won. by club . Gertie: Maurer -of Smithers took second “Max: ‘Ursi¢ ‘of “Smithers. completed ihe: ; ‘Everyone's ‘shol three largels. at’ cach of 10. For. variety, one Slation’ required archers | sit tna chair-and: another let. them stand ; “Changing the angle makes: it different,” -“A large part of archery’is consistency.” : From the platform, archers. had to-hit ‘a ““EL'S' surprising how "many miss it” he It’s: challenging be nrehers ath : warmup procedure : and swam shorter distances. votes “Ketchikan’s: ‘Mike. Smithers. Poot stretched 25: “yards long, or 22.5:m, about:10 per cent shorter “tors Brandy Bailey, Marlee: Benzer, Luke Derow: _ than: the 25: metre: ‘Pool a at’ the Terrace Aguatic: . and: Della Orrey. ‘the ‘second time this season. |: we 2: The ieams were ranked. aceoiding’ 1d most.per-. © sonal: bess. and ‘Terrace . sivam ‘to: second place: * Swinimers. travelled the samé ‘pumber of laps. ~but ‘rather than 200 metres, for example; the dis- « Hayley: Schmiedel, competing ia the biter _The:team platis t to travel ‘10 Ketchikan agaiti: next year: and ‘hopes: the Alaskan teams will pare 1 epi ae “ng provincial meets and: 1 focused: on. turns: and: /, Stroke counts... O “, Knoedler, who’ ‘swims. Jin an noldeira ‘age category “this year,-is. ranked fifth ‘going into her next pro-. “Wiriclal-nieet Victoria’ Ss. ‘Christinas Cracker, this Weekend, 7 the Bluebacks saw the’ 7 ‘sights of America’s ‘largest state,’ experienced the! hospilality of. heir. bilteting. families, and: sme “new Friends. . Smithers’ ‘welcomed Kitimat, Prince Rupert Prifce Rupert fora midwinter invitational meet. _ PHOTO CONTRIBUTED : 2sbt and the Bluebacks to its Fall Meet ‘on Nov. 2 and ye ‘Almost every, Blueback scored personal bests. : in all their events, not bad for first-time: ‘competi Danica: Devost’ swam. personal best times: -for “ Prov incial “switrmets. ‘Caitl * Meaivhile, the e regional Blucbacks travel to: yin Copperside Stables arena in Scales. and: Kalli son I Knoedler: took: part in Princé George's: Invitational Meet- es al this time of year and shop locally. Morey Yule, = eo, . ‘ ew ‘followed .closely by brother: Richard Con -teig with $78 and: Chris. Barton's 401 Was. "enough for thifd. Travis: ‘Hutchings ‘of: upert finished the” © jnior bowhunter - “sighted ” category with. aad. :.* The: moose, ‘which « was: “the farthest: tage . the arena, ° ae "iment. shoots over. ‘Mother! s. Day's we end in May. » gel, forced archers: Jo shoot 38, yards across “The Whiskey jack aichers next touirié: : , WHISKEY JACK archers ohn Sandhals, lett, club .. - president Jaco Fourie and Ludwig de Jager remove . ‘thelr arrows from one of 30 targets shot during the ~ ‘club's 3-D indaor competition : at Copperside Stables on Nov..27 and 28, Fourie won his ‘category. Sandhals. : and de Jager placed second In thelr divisions.