Early Fish Conservation at Lac Le Jeune

This is a photo (early 1950s) of the foot bridge crossing between Little Lac Le Jeune and Lac Le Jeune, looking from the south shore to the Lodge.

On both sides of the bridge are fish traps that were mentioned in the story below. Yes, it appears some of the traps were still in place 20 years later.

One person’s thoughts on early fish conservation at Lac Le Jeune:

Fish Lake From 1927 to 1933

Following is a paper read by W. H. Squire, Victoria, on “Fish Lake From 1927 to 1933” read at the Fish and Game Protective Associations and Gun Clubs convention here last week:

I settled in Victoria in 1925, attracted to some extent by the publicity bureau’s statements as to the “wonderful fly fishing” on Vancouver Island. After trying out all the accessible fly water on the island, I concluded that none of it was worth wetting a line in, as the saying goes.

About June 1, 1927, Mr. G.M. Lynes of Victoria, another disillusioned fly fisherman and myself came to Kamloops for some real sport. We fished several of the best known lakes for a fortnight, but it was too early for Fish Lake, as it did not open at that time until June 10.

I returned to Fish Lake the last week in June. I made excellent catches and many of the sportsmen staying at Rainbow Lodge were, almost daily, getting the limit of 20 fine two-pounders.

I was so pleased with Fish Lake in every way that I at once decided to build a very comfortable and complete fishing lodge.

Sick Spawners of ‘27

The 1927 summer and autumn fishing was, however, a great disappointment, as the lake was full of very sick spawners. Meadow Creek was dried up that year, because of the low stage of the lake, so the fish could not spawn and clean up.

In 1928 the sport was not so good and we had the spawners again as Meadow Creek was again dried up. Fish Lake was in a bad way, unless something was done. That autumn the spawning ditch from Walloper Creek to the lake was dug. I didn’t feel very sure that it would work, but it was the only hope.

In 1929 I did very little fishing, at Fish Lake, but my interest was centred on the spawning ditch. It was crude and primitive, nevertheless the fish ran up it in hundreds and spawned. I watched the spawning fish and, later on, the fry, from their first day until they were driven or carried to the lake. That autumn the ditch was widened and very much improved and a quantity of gravel was brought in.

In 1930 the fishing was hopeless, but it was apparent that there was a stock of young fish in the lake. All that summer, I again kept close watch on the ditch.

In 1931 I visited other lakes in the region, as I didn’t expect much from Fish Lake.

Came Back In 1932

In June 1932, Fish Lake came back—the sport was quite as good as in 1927. It had taken that crude and primitive spawning ditch just three years to accomplish this miracle. It didn’t get much credit for it, from the authorities, however, as the dominion fisheries had taken charge, closed down the ditch, and built fish traps, one of which blocked the passage between the main and little lakes. I didn’t like the looks of this and later on it turned out that I was right. I had excellent sport for two weeks in June and then returned to the lake from July 15 to the end of August. During these last seven weeks my catch invariably contained 60 per cent or more of unclean fish. The sport had been ruined for three-quarters of the season, because the fish had been deprived of the running water, which they must have, in order to spawn and clean up.

Says Traps Menace

I feel that Fish Lake is doomed unless the traps are removed, the ditch re-opened, and the fish allowed to spawn and clean up as nature intended.

Fish Lake has many natural advantages—her high altitude, pure, fresh water and clean bottom, abundant fish food, an unusual number of attractive bars and shallows for the fly fisherman, just the right size for a lake accessible by motor, an many boats can be accommodated without interference. In a word, Fish Lake could easily rank the premier fly fishing lake of the North American continent. If properly, and rationally handled. And this is not an expensive proposition—the ditch exists—of course it can and should be very much improved, as funds become available, but, in the meantime, it would suffice to make only such repairs as are necessary to put it in working condition.

I am positive that I voice the sentiment of all Fish Lake fishermen in asking that this matter be acted upon as suggested above, that the present fish traps be removed and the ditch re-opened for the 1934 spawning run.

Note: This Mr. Squire’s fishing lodge may be a cabin that still stands in the old townsite of Lac Le Jeune today.

(Reprinted from Kamloops Sentinel – 26 June 1933 – Monday – page 1)
(Kamloops Sentinel read either at Thompson Rivers University or Kamloops Museum & Archives)

Submitted by Neil Burton