B4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 24, 2001, SARAH ZIMMERMAN \SKEENA ANGLER — ROB BROWN Angler management ecause of its setting and the ferocity » of its fish, the Dean River is the pre- mier steelhead river in BC. For arena sports crowds are desirable, for fine angling they are anathema. Worried by crowding, the Fish and Wildlife Branch un- dertook a study of the angling use on the Dean ten years ago. The study revealed that anglers from outside Canada were growing faster than other groups of Dean River anglers. To stem this growth the Branch established a lottery system, and devised a policy that gave guides rod day allocations. This brought form, substance, and contro! to the guiding industry. The program worked. Dean River Guides are fully subscribed, and crowding has not been a problem uatit recently. In Skeena a lucrative guiding business developed on classified rivers as a result of the same initiative. The demand for good steelheading has conti- nued to grow ta the point where the original classified waters regime is no longer adequate to preserve fine angling. The government as- sembled an interagency review team and charged to deal with the problem. In their earn- est desire to be hip and current, the leaders of the review team hired a facilitator, then invited all sorts of hoary heads toa series of touchy- feely sessions intended to Map out a Strategy to deal with crowd control. The result of these deliberations is purported- ly captured in a work entitled a Discussion Paper re: Angling Guide Management System and Classified Waters (AGMS &CW) Review. Be- Cause it is written in‘the language of process- processed language, replete’ with “stakeholders, concensus-based, transparent processes,” “inputs” and twisted Syitax-reading the docu- meni is like solving a cryptogram. The first two thirds of this paper says almost nothing and can be ignored. When its authors finally decide to get down to business they are disingenuous. Three options are put forward, The first, to aban- don all regulation, is not an option at all. The second option is to build upon and modify the existing system, but later in the paper it be- comes clear thar its authors favour a third op- fon, which that rod day allocations to guides should be phased out, and that residents should be allotted 2 fixed amount of fishing time. The former suggestion has provoked an aggressive reaction from guides. “A. guide has tenured rights to special water, just like a logger hes tenured rights to timber,” Says Terrace guide, Noel Gyger. “The logger is assured timber which allows him to plan for the | futere, and enables him to invest thousands of dollars in infrastructure. Guides are granted time on special water so they can hire assistants, rum their lodges, and run their equipment. Now the government is backing an option that would take that tenure away.” “Deregalating the guiding industry,” says Dean River Guide, Rob Stewart, “would result im a proliferation of guides on blue ribbon wa- ters. Most of those guides would be part timers who would be writing off their expensive equip- ment against 2 small seasonal income. They would be paying virtually uo taxes compared to ihe present assistant angling guides who have a fairly high, stable income with almost no tax write-offs.” | ‘Reaction from che B.C. Drift Fishers, the B.C. Fe- deration of Fly Fishers, znd the B.C. Wildlife Federa- sals for public perusal in mach the same way the Ministry of Forests docs with theiz public plagning Process. After soliciting the public's comments, the team could then make the modifications they deemed appropriate and forward their recommenda- tions fo government. Had the problem been dealt with that way, 1 have BO doubt rod day allocations would have been main- tained in the form of daily quotes for special rivers. Electronic licensing would have been Per. [ Mitting systems, like the Dean River Lottery would | does not already exist. And pilot. programs to test: ‘Ff end a lot of money conld hive been saved and a bot. of angst avoided. oe o Wildcats THE SKEENA boys bas- ketball team has gone through some serious changes this year. With only four boys re- tuming from Jast year’s roster, the team has had to work hard to come toge- ther as a unit. But the players have been working dilligently under the guidance of new coach, Terry Monture, Monture has coached body builders and individ- ual athletes for 16 years, and he is excited about taking on the job of eoach- ing a team sport. “Vm a real fan of con- ditioning,” says Monture- And it shows in how the boys play. Their 10 wins and 0 loss record against other junior secondary teams has ranked this team at 15th in the province as of Decem- ber 22. The secret, says coach —r Terry Monture Monture is all in physical fitness. “T have a Jot of different ideas about training,” he- says. “We don't realise how hard they can work.” And work hard they cer- tainly do. A typical prac- tice mot only includes drills and scrimmages, it includes a lot of cardio vascular training — some- thiag that is proving to give these boys an edge. “In the second half we can pick up the pace or at ment Jan. Gilfan mi Not on my court! CALEDONIA Kermodes captain Kelly Haug- land keeps a Smithers Gryphon at bay in game ane of the Kermodes Extreme touma- 19-21. The Kermodes wan 55-38. Gook ied the scoring with 17 poms. 1992 avalanche tra least stay the same while the other team might be slowing down,” said Mon- ture. The boys’ conditioning also helps them play more of a running game which helps comensate for the lack of height .on their team. : The tallest player Stands an even six feet with all the others standing between 5’7” and 5°11”. The Wildcats will be Playing at a 16 team tour- nament: hosted. by D.P. Todd in Prince George in early February. Tf the team does well they will have an even better idea of where they stand provincially. “Our goal is to go down there and win that touma- ment. ’m a firm believer that you have to set your goals so they're attainable but you can still set them high,” said Monture. nUnory JAMES VICKERS and assistant Derrick Matthews pass the ball to one another during a drill at ont of the Wildcats’ practices. Bluebacks host invitational meet KYLE NARTZ won’: be competing at the Blueback Invitational swim meet bere this weekend. The 17-year-old has de- cided to put swimming on hold to focus. on his studies, said Blucback (im coach Mike @im Carlysle. Nartz was one of the club’s stron- gest swimmers but he is tak- ing some time out io prepare for universiry in the fail. However, the rest of the Bluebacks will be uking to the pool to in 2 tegional meet Jen, 26.23. Teams from Kitima, Smithers, Prace Roper “The level of kids in’ the senior giris” aee group is quite strong coming: from Kitimat and Rupert,” says Cartyste. CO That means that 15. year-old Jenine Barton will have some good competi- Gon on ber hands. Stephanie Nichols from - Prince Rupert, Jen Hor-. wood and Megan Allen both from Kitimat, will ail be solid competition for ber. Kyle Nartz Q Another Blueback to watch is long distance swimmer Chris Morris. Morris needed to take 7 seconds off his time in the 1500 metre freestyle in trough with Tying colours easily qualify- isg with 35 G seconds under the 19 minute m <0 second cut- me off Gime. Both Morris have qualified Another highlight of the meet will be the use of the mew score board at the aqualic centre. Spectators will be able Distance events will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. Saterday the younger _ swimmers will compete in the morning with the se- nior girls and boys swim- ming in the afternoon, Events run 9 a.m.-5 p.m. _Various events will be “held Sunday from 8:30 “am. and ends with awards Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. edy marked by snowmobilers By SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN “An avalanche awareness pro- trouble.” and Barton. IT’S BEEN nine years since two local snowmobilers were killed in an -avalaache on Thornhill mountain. The avalanche claimed the lives of Perric Tumer, 33, and Peter Do- bler, 25 on Jan. 3, 1992. The anniversary is marked by the Skeena Valley Snowmobilers’ Asso- ciation. with a memorial. ride every: | January, said current club president Adolf Lubke-. This year's ride drew 90 participants. , “It’s a fon ride but you remember them too,” said Lubke, who was part of the rescue icam who searched for the two men nine years ago. - As a result of the tragic accident. the association also holds an ava- lanche awareness course every year. _ "We try to put as much informa- tion’ in the day as possible,” said *ignides would bave be tried on éelected rivers. In the’ | The avalanche. awareness’ course’ | Was. attended by. 18 snowmobilers, - learning about many of whoo were lea "avalanche safety for the first time,” gram for anyone spending time in the backcountry is a day well spent,” szid Lubke. Fifteen people have died in ava- lanches in Notth America so far this winter. Eight of those people were snowmobiling. . Fhose numbers are higher than “average, says Rod Gee, avalanche "But they hit home in the wake of three. deaths involving snowmobilers near Prince George in the -tast -Two Albertan snowmobilers died near Powder King Dec. 29 and an- other man. was killed in an ava- lanche in the McGregor Range Jan. 6 Gee was brought in to teach the. “avalanche ‘awareness ‘course to the You need to educate - yourself about -how avalanches work,” -said. Gee. ‘It’s your own actions and knowledge that keep you out ‘of: Anyone travelling in the back- country should carry and know how to operate the appropriate rescue equipment as well, said Gee. A beacon, the essentials. tm Bade .W See the swimmers’ split. - times as well as their final . probe and shovel are - However, he cautioned that just” because you have the proper equip-- ment doesn’t mean you are guaran- teed to escape an avalanche should One occur. : 7 “In the avalanche Jan. 6, the vic- tim was located within 15 minutes using his beacon but rescuers could | not revive him, said Gee. Though beacons can indeed save . a life it is no guarantee, he said. Another misconception some _Snowmobilets may have is that they CaM outrun an avalanche. However, . Some might first think: - People sometimes think they - can outrun an avalanche on a snow-_ “ piobile, but: there is no way you can outrun them,” said Gee avalanches can travel faster. than | Sports Menu To get your game, event or meeting added ta the Terrace Standard Sports Menu or Sports Scope, fax us at 638-9492, or you can e-mail us at| ° standard@kermode.net 7. eet chore ce (ooee Jan. 24 mMen's Day at Shamas., Every Wednes- day is men’s day, bring a friend and they get thair litt ticket for half price. Jan. 25 MLadies’ Day at Shames. Lessons, /ift tickets, lunch and vino with. your skit pro. Call 635-3773 for details, Jan, 26-28 @ Terrace Legion Open Bonspiel takes place at the Terrace Curling Rink. Jan, 26-27 @ Caledonia Kermodes host Prince Rupert for a double header, Games 6:15 p.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 MTerrace Bluebacks host a regional invita- tlanal swim mee? at the Terrace Aquatic Centre. Jan. 28 m Snow Valley: Nordic Ski Club hosts Man's Day, A full. day of skill building, food and fun with the guys at Onion Lakes. Women's Day has been rescheduled for today. Register at} Source for Sports, Feb, 2-3 W@ Caledonia Kermodes boys basketball team host White Christian, Games Fri. 7:30 pm and noon Sat; | Feb. 3-4 @ Terrace Curling Club hosts the Juvenile zone playdown. Winners go to provincial playdowns, Feb. 4 @ Application deadline for coaches, assistant coaches and managers for Terrace Youth Soo- cer Association. Call}. George at 635-9719 for details, | Rock] |