ROD & CREEL 73 



an hour's drive by automobile. There is a fishing lodge, called 

 the Ark, at the foot of the lake owned by J. Drinkwater, who 

 also has a camp at the head of the lake to which he will take you 

 by launch. 



For fishing of all kinds it is doubtful if there is any other 

 lake on the coast that is its equal, certainly none better. Until 

 the past couple of years the lake was hardly fished at all and 

 even since then the number of people who have been there is so 

 small that it is next thing to virgin water. 



There are all sorts and sizes of trout in the lake which can 

 be caught by trolling, spinning, with the fly or bait if you care 

 to use it. 



You can catch fish by trolling any time during the fishing 

 season and you can catch them with the fly all summer but July 

 and August are the best months. 



The best part of the lake is up at the head where McBride 

 Creek runs in. This creek itself furnishes splendid fly fishing. 



From the foot of the lake you can also fish both Stamp and 

 Ash Rivers from the Ark. For fly fishing you need a rod with 

 lots of power and plenty of line as the fish run very large : they 

 have been caught as high as twelve pounds on the fly. 



With regard to flies the usual lake flies such as Montreal, 

 Grouse and Claret, Teal and Red will always take well, but you 

 should also have the March Brown and Black Gnat as well as 

 the Jock Scott, Silver Doctor and Parmachene Belle for the *iver 

 fishing. 



THE ASH RIVER 



This river is part of the river running between Great Central 

 Lake and Alberni Canal. It is a splendid river if you want to 

 get some real big trout, anywhere from three pounds to ten 

 pounds, on the fly. 



You can fish it either from the "Ark" on Great Central Lake 

 or by car from Alberni. 



SPROAT LAKE 



This lake is reached by car from Alberni which is the nearest 

 hotel. 



The fishing is similar to Great Central Lake. 



SOMAS RIVER 



This river runs into the head of Alberni Canal. It is of 

 quite large size, draining both Central and Sproat Lakes. It has 

 excellent trout fishing, both for the fly and spinning. May, June 

 and July are the best months. 



