tacit aaa bates ol The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 5, 1995 - C1 TERRACE STANDARD SECTION Cc INSIDE ; “MALCOLM BAXTER R 638-7283 ‘SPORTS MENU C2 _SKEENA ANGLER ROB BROWN And Jimmy sang the blues LOOKED DOWN on wave after wave of green to the pray snake Webb identified as the Jskut River. We climbed closer to the tree lines, rolled North accompanied by the Sons of the Pioneers — Webb’s tape. He likes their style. He also likes moose hunting and breakfasts of bacon and eggs before the sun bums the mist from the lake, As we headed toward the Grand Canyon of the Stikine, we talked of the chipless engines, recalled a time when most moms made lunch for their children and men in cabooses waved to the Huck Finns hunting fogs along the rail spurs. We pined for the abundant fisheries of yesteryear. Webb was sure this kind of trouting still ex- isted, hoped we were headed for it, People at Kineskan Lake scurried from RVs to washrooms and back, waving as if they’d lost control of their arms. “Bugs,” said Webb, Power boats were there, plenty of them. The whine of outboards was incompatible with retro fishing. Secking solitude, we drove back a few miles to where Webb had noticed a sign ad- vertising a smaller lake. We parked next to a new Houda, black, shiny, hewn from obsidian. The plates were American. A Nikon camera lay on the front stat, baking in-the sun. “This guy’s taking a chance,’’ I said, Webb brushed a cloud of black flies from his eyes then peercd into the cab of the Honda. “Probably okay,’’ he judged, ‘‘out here on the main highway and all,” I carried the rods, vests, and lunches, Webb the canoe. I followed him down the spongy cor- duroy trail to the lake. Bugs crawled in my nostrils, cars, up my shirt sleeves, I watched the two legged yellow canoc bounce alead of me and sympathized with my partner. The path opened to a shimmering body of waler surrounded by rolling hills and serrated ‘snow-capped mountains. The echo of a great fire, shaded the distant hills. This was no liquid haystack with needle trout — one of those inland seas where you must play the angles until your mind is numb and your Iegs twitch from frustration at day’s end. We slid the cance into the water, then glided out over shelves, shoals, weeds. We'd been colonized, Even out on the lake the bugs continued to tear-fMesh, I carved a strategy out of necessity, slathcring repellent on every exposed part of body save for the back of the efi hand, When the blood suckers landed to feast on uncontaminated flesh, I flattened them with my good hand. It took an hour to achieve insecticide, A few fish flipped, There was nothing ap- proaching a good rise. Yet we caught trout on our fake shrimp, good trout, muscular fish. The bugs were done, The sun shone, We switched from finding the right fy to finding the best fly to finding a fly that wouldn’t catch fish on every retrieve. We imagined we were our great grandfalhers. A i day’s end we threaded our way through the whirring hordes of bugs, climbed into the truck and made for our camping spot. Thoughts of all- beef wieners and beans chased with beer were salutary. “'Someone’s slolen my axe,”’ said Webb as I piled up wood for a smudge fire. “You forgot it.”’ “C always keep it here’? He rummaged around the wheel well. “We'll build a fire later,’’ I said. We climbed aboard the camper. Webb began preparing for dinner. One by one ilems ap- peared to have disappeared: Webb’s six-pack of generic beer; some tapes; a buck knife; my Hardy fishing bag with tapes, a journal and un- derwear. An inventory showed our losses to- taled some three hundred bucks. I'd been ripped off a few times in my life. I was angry. Webb had never been victimized. It was his home on wheels. He felt violated, We did battle with loons and bugs the next day and caught over a hundred trout, including some really large ones, But, the highwaymen had punctured the expe- rience with a sharp needle. On day three of the great retro fishing junket Webb asked if I want . to catch another hundred trout, U'said no. I can’t believe I said it, but I did and I meant it. We rolled home, through the great bum, through the verdant slopes. of the-Ningunsaw, past the deserlifled Bell-Irving. J Imumy Rodgers sang blue yodels, PORTS | OT marker brings bronze It took overtime to nail it down, but when the final buzzer sounded, Skeena Cel- lulose PeeWees had eamed' themselves a bronze at the ‘AA’ provincials. After opening its campaign with a 10-6 win over Powell River, the Terrace team got’ into early trouble against 100° Mile House to go 4-1 down alter the first 10 minutes. They fought back, however, to win 9-7 and keep their hopes alive. The streak was stopped in their next when SCI ran into Trail, Always a tough team, Trail cruised to an 11-4 win, Which left Terrace needing a victory in their last if they were to advance to the playoff round, They got it, but only just, edging Hastings 6-5 to clinch second place in their division. That set up the semi against the top team from the other division, South Okanagan, who had outscored their op- ponents 27-5 in posting an un- beaten record. And the Okanaganers proved too much for SCI as weil, tak- ing them out 11-3 to send them to the bronze medal decider against Fernie. . Fernie came from behind to : force overlime but that was as clase as Terrace would Jet them come, Dave Boomer’s ppt Ey hat pier, Above, Erb is seen headin THE EVENT is nearly two years away yet, bul you can’t slart too soon when it comes to organizing something as big as the Northem B.C, Winter Games. With that in mind, volunteers are already being sought for the ‘97 Games to be hosted by Terrace and expected to attract some 2,000 athletes. What’s needed first, says city recreation director Steve Scott is a ‘‘dedicated, enthusiastic and capable w Mark lowered PIZZA MUST agree with Terrace Blueback Audrey Erb. Racing in her home: pool | at the Pizza Hut invitational, she sped to a record in Saturday morning's 50m Breast. And in doing so, she lowered the mark she set at this same meet last year. marker five minutes into extra time clinching the medal. For the PeeWees the emo- tional high at the end of the tournament was in stark con- trast to the way their trip to Squamish had started out, The team had only got as far as Cedarvale when its bus broke down. Roadside repairs enabled them to limp into Kitwanga and from there a hired van and parents’ vehicles got them to Smithers —at 2 a.m. The medal winning team was made up of Tyre] Armstrong, . Darren Bentham, David Boomer, JJ, Boudreau, Stavros Davourdis, Gerrit Sdn. _ en eee Ce into the turn during her record breaking swim. See next week's Standard for full results of the meet. Games volunteers sought organizing committee.”’ The committee will be in charge of organizing all aspects of the Games incluing the opening ceremonies, trans- portation, security, billeting, social events, raising money and, of course, the -sports events themselves, Scott urged anyone inter- ested in being part of the Games organizing committee to send in a lelter to include the particular area there are in- terested in helping out. Although experience would . be an asset, he emphasized enthusiasm was the most im- portant thing, a Letters should be sent, by next Wednesday, April 15, to -the Northem B.C. Winter Games Committee, c/o Ter- race Parks and Recreation De- partment, 3215 Eby St, Ter- race, B.C, V8G 2X8. For any more information, Scott can be contacted during office hours, Mon-Fri at 638- 4750, Rod & Gun eyes changes THE TERRACE Rod and Gun Club are looking to make some changes this season. Changes it hopes will bring increased interest and continue the upward membership trend. The first of them takes effect at tonight’s regular monthly meeting, Previously those dealt solely with the business of the club, Now each will fea- ture a guest speaker. Tonight at 7:30 p.m. it’s Brian Patrick of Misty River Tackle Shop who'll be talking about stcelhead fishing. Next month’s speaker has yet to be finalized but June and July are already booked with Ray Zimmerman of Skeena Cellulose on. forestry and Pierre: LeRoss on black powder shooting respectively. And the Rod and Gun is al- ’ shoats’’. ways on the lookout for more speakers, said secretary Deb- bie Van’t Kruis. ‘If anyone has a topic they think would be of interest to our members, just contact us,”’ she added. The club is also planning to hold more trap ‘‘turkey These competitions feature handicap and novelty events -—- buddy shoots, eliminations and duck shoots where the ‘‘bird’’ comes over behind and the shooter's head. *'They’re fun to watch,’* said Van’t Kruis, ‘‘and they’re even more fun to shoat.’’ More sessions to introduce people to what sports shooting is all about and more In the way of youth programs are also onticagenda, Anyone interested in joing the club can: pick up a meni- bership form at Brass and Bul- lets or Misly River Tackle Shop, she said, or can show up at one of the regular monthly meetings. They’re held: the - first Wednesday of the month - at the clubhouse on Rifle ‘Range Rd. in Thornhill, begin- ning at 7:30 p.m. Van’t Kruis said the. latest membership figure is about 170, up 25 from last season. Bill Watson has taken over | as president this year, Fred Straw moving to the past pres- ident’s position. Don Hall is vice-president and . Vic Dean treasurer. Committee heads are Terry Dempster, Brett Downie, Kiyo ~ Godo, Jason Hamer, Craig Hansen, Brad L’Heureux, Far- _ rel Longridge, Kyle Mason, Scott Rigler, Chris Scar- borough and Corie Wood. _ Coaches were Gerry Dempster and Carl Boudreau. oa i i ole ie IN OTHER provincials action the Totem Ford Midgets fin- ished with a 1-2-1 record at the Osoyoos championships : while the injury wracked Ken- ‘worth Bantams went 0-4 in ’ Dawson Creek. However, the Marris (pistol), Brian McCoy - (membership), Bill Van’t Kruis (trap), Glen Pollock — (B.C. Wildlife Federation) and: “. Gil Payne (CORE program). ‘| Kriegl (635-5440). Bantams came away with the most sportsmanlike award, we e Sports Scope Easy start to hiking season THE TERRACE Hiking club takes to forested trails around Prince Rupert this Sunday for its season- opening outing. Club spokesman Linda Lee says it'll be a long one -~ all day — but an easy one. Bring along a lunch and, she cautions, water- proof fotwear is a-must.-: Anyone interested in com- ing out should be at the li- brary at 9 a.m, There will be car pooling but those taking advantage. of a ride are asked to contribute a $10 honorarium, The hike will be led by Jorma who is also the con- tact for those looking for more information (635- 0783). . See next week’s Standard ‘for a schedule for the re- mainder of April and May hikes. Time to dust off racquets THE TENNIS season offi- cially starts next Sunday, April 9, That’s when the Terrace club has its first club night at the Halliwell courts. The ‘club gets together three nights a week — the others are Tuesday and Thursday — from 5 p.m. until dusk. Although the courts are reserved for members on those occasions, they are open to the public for the rest of the week. However, users are asked to read and follow the rules posted al the courts, Anyone interested in join- ing the club, experienced or . beginners, can show up ona club night or phone Chuck _Cey (635-6166) or Richard | _ Skiers meet KITIMAT CROSS-Country Ski club has its annual gen- eral mecting this Saturday, April 8. Is a pot luck meeting so |. | those attending are asked to | bring along thelr favourite ‘food. And along ideas to help make the °95-'96 sea- son even more successful than this last one. “Upgrading Onion Lake and’a new membership fee structure will be on the agenda, There will also bea slide show on skiing and” ayaking.