Tanya’s leap into the “enthusiastic
angler” category was inspired, in part, by Dave’s
success in winning an Outdoor Writers of Canada offer
of a fishing trip “for two,” courtesy of
Englefield Lodge.
Dave never had a chance of inviting a male buddy to
join him.
“It created one very rabid angler,” he
said of the opportunity that fell into his lap, courtesy
of West Coast Resorts.
“Avid,” she fired back without the customary
I-beg-your-pardon. “Very avid. When he goes fishing,
then I go fishing. . .”
The mother of a teenaged daughter Tanya and Dawson,
a son six years younger than his sister, has fished
“off and on, now and then” but her adrenalin
surge hit the high point in the Queen Charlottes.
I know the feeling. I pulled in a 51-pound Chinook
salmon a few decades ago, and it was like yesterday.
After “our incredible Englefield Bay experience,
” Tanya didn’t waste any time in talking
Dave into going back for another attack on Chinook,
the largest of the salmon species, and mighty halibut.
The OWC trip was made possible because of the generosity
of West Coast Resorts president Brian Clive, Englefield
Bay Lodge manager George Cuthbert and Delta Airport
Hotel sales manager Elizabeth Aragones. The West Coast
offer was a total package but Delta, “Grand Central
Station” for the great majority of fishermen heading
to the many northern BC resorts, put icing on the cake
with its offer of a “night coming and one going.”
The offer went out to OWC’s supporters and members
across Canada but it was Clark, a “backyard boy”
living in Victoria, who won the BC experience. Husband
and wife, however, shared in “total enjoyment”
of the trip.
Membership in the company of Avid Women Anglers went
up by one, (like a rocket) because, as Dave explained,
“Tanya had the most catching-up to do.
“She had never, ever caught a chinook salmon
– of any size – but got her limit of four,
all over 30 pounds, the biggest a 38. We took four halibut,
and Tanya’s 38 was the biggest.
We went beachcombing, sailed among orcas (whales),
sea lions, seals and otters, saw unbelievable numbers
of eagles.”
“It really was incredible,” added Tanya.
“It wasn’t just the fishing. It also was
all the things people did for us between the Delta in
Vancouver and Englefield Bay, and back again.
“When we arrived in the Queen Charlottes, we
had to board a single Otter aircraft for the short hop
to the lodge. I was given the co-pilot’s seat
and saw incredible scenery. On the way out, we had to
take a helicopter, and guess who sat in the co-pilot’s
chair again?
“And then there was our fishing guide, ‘BJ’
Frame. He was excellent. Dave has fished B.C. waters
for half his life, and BJ must have sensed we weren’t
totally green. He helped when he had to but generally
sat back and left us alone. He has the perfect mix for
a guide.”
“The guides and instructors at the lodge really
were great,” added Dave. “They showed us
different techniques on hookups or how to cut bait,
how to tie the best knots. There will be changes to
my style when I start fishing home waters.”
Fishing with Tanya?
“Of course, she now knows how to cut bait, and
hook it up, as well as I do.”
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