SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN TERRACE STANDARD. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 21, 2001 - BS 638-7283 SKEENA ANGLER” ROB BROWN Katum winter woes hanks to the housing developments on the north side of Deep Creek, access to the runs below the Kalum Canyon is easier now than it was even ten years ago. In those days I’d drive a few yards off the toad, park the car, stuff a Trapper Nelson with waders and my lunch, lash my rod to the woo- den frame, then, depending on the condition of the snow, slip on skis or snowshoes, shoulder , my pack, and make my way over the snow cov- | ered field toward the river, banishing thoughts of how hard, and achingly uncomfortable, the re- turn trip was sure to be after a day of wading, casting, and hopefully playing fish. The tracks of wolves and moose would cover the paths alongside the river, documenting the ongaing hunt that becomes earnest and more Savage when prey is more vulnerable against . the Spartan landscape. I’d choose to be alone on these trips most of the time Usually 1 wouldn't meet anyone. Some- times, but seldom, there would be tracks show-- ing that someone had been there. And, year, after year there'd be a footprint trail tracing a route that led fram the West Kalum Road to the old logging road. After following that right of way fora while, the trail would cross the top of the beaver dam that still spans the slough, then wend its way through the brush al Beaver Flats, before emerging at Diggers, where its termina- tion was marked by a fire pit filled with charred embers and a forked stick stuck between the grapefruit sized rocks on the beach. The fishing was good then. I'd feel that td earned it.The trip to the lower river-from’ the west side vis still demanding, . especially. when the snow is deep. and soft, but!suburbanization on the-east side of the Kalum has opened up the lower river to anglers and boaters. When I was there a few weeks ago there was deep path worn all the way from the river side of the field (which, I'm sad to say, has now been trans- formed into a road running between lots) right ta the river bank. On ihe trail to Deep Creek I met two young men packing drift rods. One was carrying a plas- tic bucket half filled with roe dyed a pinkish | grape colour. “Man,” the taller and leaner of the ‘ two complained in response to my question about the fishing, “there are boats and guys everywhere. We didn’t get a thing.” “You're really sporting,” said the other, point- ing at my six weight trout rod. I continued on, a little less confident that my experience and ability would compensate for my self-imposed tackle handicap. The report proved accurate. That afterncon, 1 . spotted bank fishermen soaking roe, saw fisher- men drifting fram run to run in rafts, saw others jetting over the riffles, and watched others back trolling from MacKenzie River-style drift boats. Though it sometimes felt like it in the past, the Kalum isn’t my private game preserve. Still, I’d have preferred to see fewer anglers working the river that day. But, J wouldn’t have minded sharing ihe runs and riffles with all those fishers, except that most of them were using bait or boats, or both, to gain an advantage over the fish. While the regulatory regimes on other rivers in this area have evolved to the point where they come close to meeting the conservation require- ments demanded by their fish, the Kalum has remained in the Dark Ages. Bait is still allowed | on the river despite the well documented fact that its use is particulariy destructive to char ‘and trout, the least resilient and most vulnerable species in our northern rivers. Fishing with bait may be fine in stocked lakes - and the sea, and for kids’ fisheries, but it’s use. for winter steelhead, crammed into the narrow ‘confines of shrunken rivers is unsporting in the same way that chumming for them would be. Similarly, trolling on lakes and in the ocean is defensible, but trolling on rivers when the water, is low is just plain unsporting, and, since it cav- ers sO much water, and causes such a ruckus, it's downright greedy. Finally, killing a steelhead is still legal on the lower Kalum in the winter. Given the mild win- ters we continue to have, the improved access, and the fact that, in the grand scheme of salmon fisheries, abundance is an adjective that can't accurately be used to modify steelhead, a kill fishery on the Kitsumkalum is just that — killing the fishery. As it tumed out I hooked two steelhead with my trout rod that day. Both were old and slug- gish and were quickly landed; ii wasn’t my in- tention to hook them, and I felt a guilty doing’ so. After releasing them, 1 changed to a slower sinking line and caught some dolly varden, all: of which proves that good fishing (and more of it for more people) is possible without the use of fish parts, worms, or. boats. 4 _ Po, el Wildcats go to Prince Rupert THE SKEENA Wildcats boys basketball team will be going to Prince Rupert this weekend for the zone championships, The boys have had a very impressive record this year. They are currently standing at 17 wins and only two losses in junior play. Coach Terry Monture is optimistic that the team will fare well at the zones but says that anything can happen. Monture has worked with the team to focus on their endurance training and it is paying off well for the team. The Wildcats were in- vited to the D.P. Todd Tro- jan Wars tournament in for zone finals With 16 teams taking pari it gave the Wildcats a . good indication of the kind of competition northern - B.C. has to offer, They swept all of their games which put them in ° the final against College Heights from Prince George. The two teams were very evenly matched and it came right down to the wire, but the Wildcats were denied first place honours with a 65-61 de- feat. Last year the Wildcats placed fourth at the annual tournament. The Wildcats will build on their experience from the D.P. Todd tournament . to prepare for the zone ‘Prince George Feb. 2-4. Ski team brings home medals SHAMES mountain’s ski team infiltrated Quesnel’s Troll Mountain Feb. 10-11. - The local skiers were taking part in the Merrill Lynch giant slalom races. Mathieu Leclerc and Aaron Gingles both competed in the 15-18 age category. Leclerc brought home three sil- vers while Gingles earned a bronze medal. Ben Peters and Leah Leclerc raced in the 13-15 age gtoup and they both skied their way toa bronze and sil- .. ver medal each. w , In the i 13 category Julia Peters won two silver and ‘The ‘team competes’ next™ ‘at Shames ‘for the zone al-" pine races Feb. 23-24. ~ champicnships. a a m@ Climbing LOCAL ICE climber Jessica Lord takes advantage of tha cold weather by getting out to some frozen waterfalls on the raad to Shames mountain last week. The unusually warm weather so far this winter has made for poor ice climbing conditions around Terrace. But if this coid snap holds climbers will have ample opportunity to hit the ice. That's Lane Frederick (lower left) giving Jessica a belay. Local climber Philippe Grant (not , Shown) has’ been taking these and other budding ice climbers out.this winter demonstrating proper rope use, climbing and safety techniques. BETTY BARTON PHOTO in the cold MEMBERS of the Blueback swim club crowd around Dr. Peter Usher as he: discusses goal setting. Usher also helps the kids develop their mental race plans. Local swimmers get help with mental game plan By SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN SPORTS organizations in cities as te- mote as Terrace usually do not have the luxury of employing a sports psychologist for local athletes. But the Blueback swim club has managed to do just that. Dr. Peter Usher is a Prince George based sports psychologist who has worked as a mental skills coach with elite ath- letes around the world for 20 years. Usher makes monthly trips to Terrace to work with the Blueback swim club to help swimmers prepare mentally for races. He helps the athletes prepare race plans and set goals for the future. “I get ihem to set challenging goals so when they achieve them there is a great sense of accomplishment,” he said. Fast times aren’t the only important thing, but numbers are tangible so Usher gets the swimmers to set goals for times they want to achieve. “If they say they are 70 per cent sure that they can achieve that time that means they are 30 per cent uncertain,” says Usher. _ Usher says that’ out of the uncertainty . athletes can identify specific things they need to work on. One swimmer may need to work. on his turns while another swim- mer might need to work on her stroke. - “The whole putpose of what I. do is ta help athletes enhance their performance,” said Usher. A big part of that invoives dealing with emotions prior to a race. Younger athletes in particular feel nervous before a race. He works with the swimmers to identi- fy what is contributing to those feelings. He teaches them ‘Show to turn nervous feelings into ‘winning feelings’. The swimmers also tearn how to block out distracting things in their environment that contribute to feelings of nervousness. Intimidating competitors, a packed au- - dience or even loud music and bright lights might make a swimmer nervous. Coach Mike Carlysle says having the . internationally respected doctor spend time with the team has been integral to members setting more personal best times and consistently breaking club records, So why does a man who works with elite athletes remain in northern B.C.? “Ever since I lived in Prince George, my experience has been that the north gets the short end of the stick,” he said. “I leamed very quickly that things are not fair and equal. And people in the . soulh don’t care if it's fair and equal,” said Usher. He says mental tralning for all sports - involves the same basic principles so if. he o cari 1 help swimmers # here — why not? . . . ° Sports Scope Ski marathon turns 20 FOR TWENTY years cross country skiers have taken part in the annval Alcan Cross Country Ski Marathon. The 20th anniversary race was held at the Onion Lake ski trails Feb. 10 and was a great success. The recently groomed course proved to be a good challenge for skiers and it was a perfect day to enjoy a tour on the course. “tt was a beautiful, bright, sunny day,” said event coordinator Bernadette Saxon. Seventy-seven skiers took part in various race dis- tances, The skiers raised just over $1,000 which goes to the the B.C, Heart and Stroke foundation. Gymnasts give peak performances LOCAL gymnasts Siobhan Sloan McMullen and Marla Schulmeister represented the Terrace Peaks gymnastics club in Richmnd Feb, 10-11. Schulmeister, who competes in the level four Tyro division came home with three bronze medals and a fourth place overall ranking in the annual Dogwood meet, Schulmeister took home the broze medal in the floor excercise, vault and the balance beam. Sloan McMullen, competing in the level three Argo division, placed second in the vault event earn- ing herself a silver medal, She also won a broze medal for her oor excercise. Valentine spiel a success THE TERRACE curling club was hopping with ac- tion Feb, 9-11 as they hosted the annual Ladies Va- lentine Bonspicl. Thirty-two teams including eight out of town rinks took part in the event. Terrace teams managed to come out on top taking top honours in three of the faur events, The A went to the Helen Joseph rink of Terrace. Sandra Horbachewsky's rink won the B event, Kiti- mat’s Sheila Reeves rink clinched First in the C event. And the Alana Cameron rink took the D event. A splashin’ good time IT’S BEEN four months since the Terrace swim- ming pool has offered the Friday night Moonlight aan to Terrace’s youth and it has become hugely popular. Between 65 and 83 teens converge on the pool be- tween 9 p.m. and 11 p.m, every Friday night. They get the run of the leisure pool, the main pool and the hot tub — without any adults around to get in the way. The weekly event began to offer people aged 11-16 in Terrace a fun, free activity.