NANAIMO — An impactful local organization has been handing out free fishing gear in Nanaimo for well over a decade now.
Smiles on the faces of appreciative recipients doesn’t get old for Vancouver Island Fishing for Fun Society (VIFFS) founder Mike Lawrence.
He’s partnered with Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (FFSBC) for a trout release event on Monday, Oct. 26 starting at 10 a.m. at Colliery Dam Park, which happens to see public school students out of class due to a Pro-D day.
At noon, 500 catchable sized rainbow trout are scheduled to be delivered into the lake, which Lawrence said includes the ability for participants to place fish in their new homes with a bucket.
Lawrence said it’s a tradition children constantly get a kick out of.
“You hear them laughing, parents think it’s great, they’re getting splashed, it’s memories that they’re going to remember 20 years down the road,” Lawrence told NanaimoNewsNOW.
The trout release is scheduled for noon Monday at Colliery Dam #1 off Sixth St.
Lawrence founded VIFFS over 11 years ago, which has said has resulted in over 3,000 fishing rods, along with fishing accessories, handed out to people who need it.
“Our main purpose is to try to get families, youth groups, seniors’ homes, people in general to get them out fishing. We do that by by collecting new and used fishing gear that we hand out to them 100 per cent free of charge.”
Lawrence will have several rods at the event for people to borrow free of charge, adding the events are also designed to provide basic fishing tips to inexperienced anglers.
Participants 16-years-old and up are required to carry a non-tidal fishing license.
Lawrence pointed out now is a great time of year to go fishing with trout becoming more abundant, which are not distressed by elevated lake temperatures.
Last week FFSBC crews have released 1,500 rainbow trout in each of Westwood and Long lakes, as well as 500 each in all three Colliery dams.
Brannen, Green and Diver lakes are Nanaimo’s other urban watering holes which are stocked with catchable sized trout each spring and fall.
“We are so very fortunate to have so many different lakes that are so easily accessible for fishing,” Lawrence said.
Constantly updated lake stocking reports courtesy of the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC can be accessed here.
Colliery Dam Park provides an accessible, convenient location to catch trout. (Image Credit: Mike Lawrence)
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