FISHING JOURNAL Sept 1960 Part II

Alexis Creek and Chilko Lake Area, BC

September 1960

10.9.60 — John came by plane to visit us. There were 3 others with him in the group plus the pilot. The others were from the Department of Fisheries — the only one I knew was Harvey. Didn't receive any letters — they are delayed! We received fresh bread, etc., plus some books and magazines. — They stayed for about two hours because the department guys checked out the Springs on the river. Seems they didn't find any. After they left we picked the rest of the trays and then did the dead count for the whole area — total of 30.

11.9.60 (Sunday) — We started off by boat around the lake at 9 a.m. The weather was calm and sunny. Didn't see any Sockeye but one Moose was swimming across the lake. It looked like there was another one as well, but it dove under, so it most likely was a beaver. Now I know what this bedrock is composed of: mainly conglomerates, in other words, Breccia. Went to check out a rock vein. It turned out that the red color was caused by lichens and the white was calcium. — We tried to go check out a narrows at the south end of the lake but it turned out to be too shallow so we turned around. I would have liked to continue on. We beached the boat at the mouth of Cedar Creek. There wasn't much water in it. Ate lunch and were back at camp by 1500 hrs. We collected the eggs, and that took another 2 hours.

Onion Lake, BC

12.9.60 (Monday) — The daily chores only took until 1500 hrs. Did the DR (dead recovery) on the east shore by foot and wandered a bit further than was required. I climbed up the ridge on the way back and found a great trail. Followed it for about one and a 1/2 miles after which I turned back toward the main road. Crossed our stream, and ended up right near our campsite so it was only a few hundred yards to the cabin. In the afternoon we drove to Onion Lake and attempted a few half-hearted casts. The place where we were was shallow so all I caught was some grass. Drove to the north end of the lake — Onion Flats. Took a couple of photos. Well, at least got to see the area.

13.9.60 (Tuesday) — In the afternoon we went by foot to the nearby foothills. From the campsite we followed Jim's cart trail. Delightful, shady forest trail — maybe 3 miles long. At the end of it there was a meadow with a small lake. Gunnar named it Steve's Meadow because Steve (Vida) was so taken by it that he made Gunnar swear he wouldn't divulge its location to anyone. Saw several grouse.

14.9.60 (Wednesday) — Was finished with all chores by 1400 hrs so I took my fishing pole and went off to explore the river. Waded across some shallows to a sandbar and fished from there. Saw one Spring which was completely bright. Caught 2 Rainbows and a Dolly, and released all of them. Continued on downstream along the bank, mostly wading to make my way. I soon realized the terrain was quite the jungle of undergrowth in those areas where it was impossible to wade downstream and I had to clamber onto the river bank. Worked up quite a sweat but didn't come across any good fishing spots. It was about 1700 hrs when I reached the spot that I saw from the ridge last fall when I was with Steve (Vida) chasing down elk. Here there are multiple currents with many inviting pools and eddies to explore. Unfortunately didn't have more time to fish. The road is no more than 300 yards from the river. Probably saw about 30 grouse along the way. Saw 4 dead Springs. Back to camp by 1800 hrs.

15.9.60 (Thursday) — After collecting and sorting the roe went fishing for about an hour at the sandbar. Gunnar came along and waded with me. He was quite surprised when he realized I hadn't been kidding about my luck fishing yesterday. I caught 2 Dollies: a 1-pounder and a 1 1/2-pounder, but the larger one dropped off the line and the stream took it. Was quite surprised that one Dolly took the hook in its mouth and fought for about 10 minutes. With each cast I could feel how the lure or the line touched a fish, and a few took the hook. Well, at least we had some fish to make dinner.

16.9.60 (Friday) — My birthday (age 51) — and the plane made a visit. Was at the downstream backwaters fishing and inquired about some places where it was possible to wade across. Found that one could do it if there ever was need to go across to the other side. Saw the plane land and take off. Flushed a moose — didn't see anything but the tracks. It had swum to the other side. Followed the tracks and found an arrow — a birthday present! Expected a letter — it didn't arrive. On the radio Gunnar inquired after the mail and was told that the mail plane had not stopped at Alexis Creek for two weeks. No wonder the post has been delayed.

17.9.60 (Saturday) — In the afternoon I hiked to "Steve's Hill." My own name for the place. Followed the lake shore and tried to get to the meadow. Finally had to cut through the forest and that took a while. The forrest was made up of a thick growth of young trees, so don't have any desire to try that again. Lots of signs of elk and moose — wintering spots? The ridge was made up of quartzite; then finally located the meadow at the top as I had surmised. Found a 9-pronged rack of deer antlers which I dragged back to camp.

18.9.60 (Sunday) — Fishing — beautiful, cooler day. We brought in some firewood — enough probably to last for two weeks.

19.9.60 (Monday) — It had showed during the night in the mountains. No. 22 — mine — poor — about 750. No. 26 — Gunner's — even worse — about 1500. Ate a quick bite and headed directly across the lake. On the north end there was a huge cloud — looked pretty ominous. The wind was from the northeast and increasing. The waves suddenly turned into whitecaps and I thought to myself that it might be better to turn back. Gunnar had the same thought, but we kept going. The boat pitched dangerously a few times, but we managed to make it across. There was nothing we could do however when we reached the other shore so Gunnar beached the boat and we started exploring the shore a little further. A little later it started to snow and we built a fire. We waited for a couple of hours until the snowstorm went over us and the weather turned more calm. Crossed the lake quite comfortably. It was cozy and warm back at the cabin.

20.9.60 (Tuesday) — Beautiful and sunny. About 1 1/2 inches of snow on the front steps, and also covering the ground. The road is clear. The roe was pretty good — No 22 about 400 and No 26 about 800. Fishing in the afternoon. the water level has risen so some water got inside my waders. Not even a sign of any Springs. On the other shore there were 4-5 dead ones. No fish. A elk cow with her calf swam across to the other side. It was about 1600 hrs. It saw me but did not turn back. Maybe it's getting used to me!

Chilko Lake, BC

21.9.60 (Wednesday) — My best day to date. No. 22 — only 71. No. 26 seemed to be about the same. The weather is cold but sunny. The wind from the south and chilly. The mountains with a covering of snow. Have to wait for the waves to calm down a bit. Seem to have read all the available books so pretty soon I'll have to start reading fishing literature. Have to make a note that until last Sunday (18.9 that is) we had the most amazing Indian Summer. It began the moment the boys left. Gunnar and I have had a real summer vacation. Royal came last Sunday to Chilko, and John asked over the radio what the grouse situation was. Gunnar said it was poor — he received two separate reports — one from Gunner and one from me. Wonder what Killick will say when we return to town! My report was based on actual facts — Gunnar on the other hand didn't care to have the boss here.

22.9.60 (Thursday) — Were done by 1035 a.m. — collected about 400. The wind was fierce so we weren't able to cross over during the whole day. Radio connection kept cutting out so we couldn't get much out of the transmission. We listened to the conversation between Chilko and Alexis Creek — Stan Killick is on his way — Taseko — but that was about all we got from it.

Translated from the Finnish: Marja-Leena Tolvanen-Rogers

NB: This blog had been compiled from an autobiography and journal entries by Andy (Valto Antero) Tolvanen. He is renowned in fishing circles in Finland for being one of the first individuals to bring the art of fly-tying to Finland. Andy translated the instructions from English to Finnish in the early 1950s since there was no literature in Finnish on the art of fly-tying at that time. He is mentioned on several Finnish fishing club websites regarding this noteworthy fact. ~ MLTR

FISHING JOURNAL Sept 1959

Tuesday 1.9.59

Taseko Lake. Another hard day again—9 pulls. In the best nets over 150 salmon—there are getting to be a lot that have spawned among them. Note bene! I smoked my first cigarette well after midday. After lunch I smoked another. But the next didn’t come until evening when I smoked as usual. My cough improved right away—now I just have to get to the point where I quit altogether.

Wednesday 2.9.59

We didn’t reach 950,000 until after our late morning netting. In the afternoon we picked out the dead eggs. Went without cigarettes until breakfast—after that I have smoked as usual. After lunch Steve and I went in the truck to a burned out clearing to see if there was any game. We didn’t see anything —just a few signs indicating game. 

4.9.59

A brisk south wind all day so we couldn’t even think about going to the lake. We went through the spawning boxes—Doug was at camp preparing food. It took all three of us the better part of the day but we got it done. In the evening the wind died down, and Steve and I went across to the other shore to check around. At the head of the trail we beached the boat and immediately entered the brush on the other side of the lake and I took a picture. Many elk and moose tracks and a lot of droppings – the forest is lush with a great deal of undergrowth. Yarrow is very prevalent – a variety of orchid – has small anemone-like flowers, green onions and a peculiar, strange plant – which at its top has fist-sized bunches of cranberry-sized red berries. Would have loved to taste them but didn’t dare. Plenty of quail—and all of a sudden Steve pointed out to me about 75 meters from us a female deer – doe – nursing its fawn. It got to go on its way but we did check it out for a few minutes. Finally we climbed up the mountainside a short way so that we were approximately 1200 feet above the lake.

      On the way down we came across fresh elk tracks—they had come down for the night to forage—as is their custom. While we were in the forest I heard a branch break and mentioned it to Steve. He didn’t take any interest, however, but after we had gone forward about another 100 meters some large animal escaped out of the spot I had pointed out. It sounded like a horse had bolted —most likely a moose.

5.9.59

As soon as it was morning we went gill netting and tagging fish. In the morning we tagged 130. It was calm and beautiful for a change so we continued through the afternoon until 2000 hours by which time we had tagged all 500. In addition we took 230 scale samples, half male and female. The sex and length of every fish was noted down. Later on when the dead fish count is compared with the count of tagged fish mixed in with them it’s possible to figure out with some degree of accuracy how many fish have come to spawn at Taseko Lake. 

Saturday 6.9.59

We should have collected approximately another 10-15,000 eggs, but the wind was very strong again. It had to be postponed and so I left with Doug for Alexis Creek where new orders were waiting for me. In the morning Steve grumbled about the poor pay and against the seven-day week—and went out. Gunnar said to ask him if he wanted to go in my place. I really wanted to stay but was too shy to ask. Too bad because in hindsight I think Steve would have gone quite willingly—and I could have stayed. Gunnar said he has enjoyed working with me. I’m sure we would have got along very well. He came to say goodbye and we exchanged addresses.

I took about 10 photos along the way. Almost until we reached Clear Lake Fishing Camp we saw quail along the way – very tame. I was introduced to the Killdeer while we were driving – a bird which I have encountered before but haven’t known its name. As we were descending into the Chilko Valley a porcupine ran across the road, we stopped, and I chased it down. It was pretty easy to do—it climbed into a tree. It was a magnificent specimen – its fur would have provided fly tying materials for years to come. I’ll have to check at home where its hairs can be used and acquire a pelt as a gift for our return to Finland.

      This time we drove across Salvage Bridge – the road was good. On the other side of the lake we drank some coffee and took a few more pictures. We arrived at 1800 hours. A lot of mail—a letter from Aune, and another one in which were enclosed letters from Keränen, Maija and Dr. Heiskanen. Even the Bazan boys sent a letter in which was some money to cover damages—it was to be sent on to Harry. 16 dollars—and Doug got his orders in which I was mentioned also saying that if no new orders came I was to report to the Office. —This probably means and end to the job—I am waiting to hear what Mr. Killick might say. The plan is supposed to be that I’ll be sent to the Thompson River Eyeing Station, but . . .

     If there is no telegram tomorrow then I will go with Doug to Williams Lake and from there on a bus to Vancouver. Hm! Strange to say but I’m “as cool as a tub of yogurt” [Finnish saying]—whatever the outcome is. I feel that I’m healthy and energetic once again – maybe the dream where Aune saw an enormous school of fish is meant to convey something.

Translated from the original Finnish: Marja-Leena Tolvanen-Rogers

NB: This blog had been compiled from an autobiography and journal entries by Andy (Valto Antero Tolvanen). He is renowned in fishing circles in Finland for being one of the first individuals to bring the art of fly-tying to Finland. Andy translated the instructions from English to Finnish in the early 1950s since there was no literature in Finnish on the art of fly-tying at that time. He is mentioned on several Finnish fishing club websites regarding this fact. ~ MLR