. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 22, 1996 - B7 —

TERRACE, STANDARD

SPORTS _...

DAVE TAYLOR

ROB BROWN

N HiS LATEST book, Steelhead

Country, Steve Raymond has this

to say: “Of all the things deserving

appreciation and respect, the stcel-
head ranks foremost. Each retuming fish is a
small miracle, a survivor against the longest
odds, an embodiment of courage and endurance
almost beyond human understanding, a price-
less gift ftom nature,’’

“‘Such a prize deserves betier treatment than it
often receives. A steclhead is far too valuable to
be caught only once. A sieelhead that is caught
and killed becomes not a trophy but a lump of
cold Qesh, and in death all its noble qualities are
forever extinguished from the future of the runs,
A fish that has survived all that a steelhead must
survive deserves nothing more than to live and
perpetuate the qualities that enabled it to sur-
vive. No angler should ever feel deprived for
returning a fish to the river, for the memory of a
good steclhead taken on the fly is just as vivid
and precious if the fish is released as it would if
the fish were killed — in fact, the memory of a
fish returened alive and well is somehow more
satisfying, more complete, than if the fish’s life
had been abruptly terminated in the angler’s
hands.”

A person with little or no angling expericnce
may afgue that Raymond’s stance is elitist,

I don’t think so, for it can be applied to ail
Sport fish where they are as rare, and in such
rapid decline as steelhead are; I believe it
should and I think Raymond would concur.

I quote these two paragrphs because they ex-
press what J feel better than I can, and because
they reveal much of what shapes the ethos that
leads anglers to adopt the much misunderstood
ethic ofcatchandrelease. .- bal ta

In these words and throughout steelhead coun-
ty, a veteran steclheader gives his readers a real
Sense that the magic of steelheading lies in
being a participant in natural processes,

Being a fine writer, Raymond is perforce a
keen observer: he observes, he reflects, he dis-
covers,

All anglers do this; the best do it better than
their peers,

Observation is a large part of the participatory
process I alluded to earlier.

Hooking a fish and bringing it to the beach is
very much a part of the process of observation,

A lucky angler can observe steelhead spawn-
ing, but lo observe a wild fish only recently ar-
rived from the sea, except in exceptional cases,
he must hook it and bring it to shore.

When he does this, the fisherman discovers
fish frequent a particular section of river at a
certain time, or happily confirm his experience.

Moreover, an angler lucky enough to hook a
Steelhead gets the added bonus of seeing and
feeling the power of a wild fish.

Is this cruel? Yes of course. The fish fights
because it is in pain.

Fishing is a blood sport. Catch and release an-
gling is an almost refined, almost bloodless ver-
sion. But it is still a blood sport. Anyone who
argues otherwise is fooling himself,

Tf the angler is to enjoy all the intensely

‘rewarding aspects of the sport, be must recon-

cile himself to the fact that inflicting pain is an
unavoidable part of this. It is a part of it that
should be minimized though.

This is the reason responsible anglers use
robust tackle. The beauty of graphite rods is the
incredible strength stored in their thin walls, It
doesn’t take long to subdue a large steelhead,

Steclheading does nol require wispy leaders
and gossamer tippets. The size of your leader
should be governed by the size of the eye of the
hook you are using. This usually means some-
thing from 15 to 20 pound test nylon, which as
in any experienced angler knows, is tough stuff
capable of quickly taking fish much heavier
than twenty pounds.

I watched a fisherman from Kitimat play a
steelhead before Herman Creek for 20 minutes,
(I timed him.) I hope this fellow is new to the
sport and will soon learn that playing the fish
this Jong is not necessary and is poor form. I
also hope that he feams that fishing for spawn-
ing fish like the one he impaled is not done by
the conscientious sportsman.

I'm sure this practice started because fishers
found that ripe fish made for poor table fare, but
it is also that fish close to spawning must ex-
pose themselves to danger when they seek the
gravel that so often lics in shallow water.

In this vulnerable state good sports Icave them
unmolested. A growing number of peaple detest
blood sports generally and find catch-and-
release offensive, even though it reduces
mortality toa minimum,

It may be impossible to move these people
from their position since their sensibilities pre-
vent them from being persuaded by experience.

For this reason il is vital that anglers continue
to limit ourselves, that we tread lightly and act
with circumspection and restraint.

War in the wood

YOU'RE RUNNING
through the woods as fast as
you possibly can, heart
lacing, adrenaline pumping
-—- all your — senses
heightened. Suddenly three
shots ring out and you feel a
slight sting in your chest.
You’re dead,

Dam, and you sever even
fired a shot. But it doesn't
matter, you can slart over
again. It’s only a game.

That game is paintball and
it’s come back to Terrace.

With the final arrival of
warmer weather, paintball
has reared its camouflaged
head.

21-year-ald Francis
Guerin says thal the sport
suffers from some miscon-
ceptions, but its really a
healthy and fun activity for
everybody.

“People sometimes freak
out because guns are in-
volved,’’ says Guerin, “But
i's way less violent than
games like hockey. I’ve
been playing for years and
I've never seen anyone get
hurt.””

Guerin is the co-founder
of R&F Wargames, which
has been in operation for
just over a month. The 21-
year-old started the business
with his partner, Ron Ther-
rien, because he enjoyed the
game,

“I love the sport,’? he
says.‘‘Il’s a great stress
release because it forces you
to clear your mind, You
have lo think fast and
smart.’

Paintball has been in Ter-

racé Tore While? In fact; the
field where Guerin plays has

been used for 10 years. But
the sport has suffered from a
lack of organization,

“There are lots of older
players out there who are
ready to give up because
they don’t know when or if
there are games being
played,” says Guerin.

Guerin runs the business
out of his house. He has six
guns and face masks to rent,
and plans to buy several
more. Ideally, he would like
to have 20 sets of equipment
for rentat.

Paintball games are played
on Sundays near Deep
Creek starting at 11:30 am.
For more information call
Francis Guerin at 635-1623.

TERRACE YOUTH soccer is off to a flying start. This
Under 17 division. The Constrictors came aut on top 7-

game saw the Constrictors play Bavarian Inn of the
4, Far more soccer scores, see page B8,

FRANCIS GUERIN PEERS through his sights, looking for the enemy. Guerin is an avid paintball player
who says that the sport is a great way to get some exercise outdoors and helps to clear the mind. Paintball
games can be played In a variety of ways, including the classic — capture the flag.

Glory

days for
Terrace
runners

ATHLETES FROM Terrace
blasted through the 11th An-
nual Crest Glory Days 5
Kilometre road race under
sumy skics in Prince
Rupert, May 11th,

Sheric Hamer, 40, of Ter-
race was the fourth person
and the first woman to cross
the line in the 40-and-up
division. Hamer was the
second woman to finish

7 with a time of 21:51,

Seventeen-year-old Jordon
Foerster of Prince Rupert
finished first overall with a
time of 17:02, But local
marathon man Ed Ansems
Was just ten seconds back at
17:12, Ansems was first in
the 40 and up age group.

Carrie Rolfsen was the
eighth person and third
woman to finish in the 20-
39 age division. Tanis
Sutherland was 19th,

In the 10 kilometre event
Justin Keitch came in fourth
overall] and first in the 1%
and-under division with a
time of 39:12,

Alan Neufeld was fifth in
the 20-39 category and Dan
Eastman was. sixth in the
over 40 group,