People gather around a pond at Bush Creek Hatchery for the 2023 Family Fishing Weekend event. (Ladysmith Sportmen's Club)

By Ian Holmes

reel fun

Plenty of options to reel one in during Family Fishing Weekend in B.C.

Jun 12, 2024 | 5:26 AM

NANAIMO — More rods than usual will be dropped in local lakes with a popular annual province-wide tradition returning this weekend.

The 25th anniversary of Family Fishing Weekend happens Friday, June 14 through Sunday, allowing for license-free freshwater fishing.

Tens of thousands of catchable-sized rainbow trout have been placed in lakes across Vancouver Island so far this year, including nearly 13,000 at nine Nanaimo area lakes, according to Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.

Popular stocked urban fishing opportunities within Nanaimo city limits include Long, Westwood, Brannen, Green and Diver lakes, along with all three Colliery dams.

Quennell Lake in rural Ladysmith (3,500 trout) and Spider Lake west of Qualicum Beach (4,500) have also been topped up this year.

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Numerous mid Island area lakes, including Nanaimo’s Long Lake, have been topped with trout this year. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The local Family Fishing Weekend event takes place at Bush Creek Hatchery in rural Ladysmith on Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m.

Operated by Ladysmith Sportsmen’s Club, the non-profit organization has hosted an annual event at the hatchery where people gravitate around a small stocked pond where 100 trout were recently delivered.

Ladysmith Sportsmen’s Club’s Jason Murray told NanaimoNewsNOW the barbecue will be on, while prizes will be available for kids who catch a fish

“We have a couple volunteers cooking hamburgers and hot dogs, it’s completely free, no donations are required.”

Rods and bait will be provided to those who don’t have those fishing necessities.

Murray said last year’s event drew about 60 people, including grandparents who hadn’t fished in many years.

“We had one little girl last year…she showed up at five to 10 and left at 3 o’clock, she fished for five hours,” he said.

Murray noted the event is a great publicity opportunity for the 35-year-old hatchery, which predominately sees Chum salmon cared for then delivered back to local creeks.

More information about Family Fishing Weekend, including applicable restrictions, can be found here.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes