124 ROD & CREEL 



SILVER LAKE 



This lake is just eight miles from Hope, the way to get to 

 it having been already described under Silver Creek. 



It is about a mile long and nearly half a mile broad. The 

 nearest accommodation is Hope, but there is a good shed on the 

 edge of the lake which makes a splendid camping place. There 

 is a dug-out canoe and a fine big raft there, but they and the 

 shed belong to the Dominion Fishery Department and permis- 

 sion to use them would have to be first obtained from the Fish- 

 ery officer stationed at Hope. 



This lake furnishes magnificent opportunities for splendid 

 fishing, either trolling, spinning, fly fishing or for bait. 



The fish comprise a large number of dolly vardens, running 

 up to eight or ten pounds in weight, and what appear to be 

 steelheads which have become land-locked owing to a log jam 

 blocking the exit. Probably there are other trout too. The 

 only time I fished it, I caught what was undoubtedly a steelhead 

 of about ten pounds, but they get fish from two pounds up, some 

 of which may be cut-throats. 



There fish are to be caught from as soon as the ice goes 

 out (generally about the middle of April) more or less all sum- 

 mer. Probably June arid July are the best months for the fly 

 fisherman, though they are often seen rising well as soon as the 

 ice goes out. The best water is just where the stream runs into 

 the lake and also near the exit, particularly on the edge of a 

 shallow off some big rocks. I have never known anybody try 

 for the big fish with a fly, but as they are constantly seen rising, 

 I feel confident that they can be caught if proper flies were 

 used. I should recommend the Grouse and Claret, Jock Scott 

 tied on big hooks, possibly as large as 5/0 and would also try 

 the Zulu and large March Browns. 



For trolling try 'a three-inch Leviere Stewart with a fairly 

 heavy lead, about two ounce, and let out from thirty to forty 

 yards of line. It is, however, bad water for trolling, as the 

 best water is full of huge trees which apparently have been 

 brought in by big slides. 



Good sport can be had by anchoring a raft near the exit, 

 or where the stream runs in and spinning with a brass or silver 

 Devon. 



THE SKAGIT 



The Skagit River rises in the Cascade Mountains in British 

 Columbia, but after running for about thirty miles, crosses the 

 boundary line into the United States. The last twenty miles of 

 the river in this province is one of the best streams in southern 

 British Columbia for the fly fisherman, and anybody wanting 



