There was something fishy going on at Glen Lake in Langford ahead of the long weekend, but recreational anglers have no reason for concern.
That’s because the lake has been topped up with Fraser Valley rainbow trout for the summer, thanks to the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. and Fishing for Fun. Friday (May 19) saw the release of 1,000 catchable-sized trout into the lake.
“We raise and stock fish for local lakes for angling opportunities to help people get out and go fishing,” said Chris Stone, senior fish culturist at the society. “Glen Lake is part of our fishing in the city program, so it’s all about bringing fish into more urban environments to help bring fishing to people’s back door.”
Families enjoying the warm weather were invited to take part, with folks young and old taking turns carrying fish in buckets from the society’s truck and releasing them into the water. To help speed up the process, the society turned to the truck’s fish hose to release the bulk of the fish, which was met with enthusiasm from the children as the fish shot out into the water.
Friday’s release was one of 50 the society performs each year in the province, with today’s fish being sourced from their Vancouver Island trout hatchery in Duncan.
“The release is the end of the raising process for the fish, and it’s definitely the best part,” said Stone. “To see the kids, the volunteers out helping, the whole community involvement really is the best part of it all.”
The initiative is wholly funded by the sale of freshwater fishing licences in the province, a requirement for those 16 and older to fish in Glen Lake. The society also plans on releasing more fish into the lake this fall.
In Greater Victoria, the society also stocks Thetis Lake, Langford Lake, Prospect Lake, Lookout Lake, Elk Lake, Durrance Lake, and Colwood Lake.
READ MORE: Fish return to View Royal creek at transit construction site
@JSamanski
justin.samanski-langille@goldstreamgazette.com
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