Kalamalka Fly Fishers 2025 Polson Pond Kids Fishing Weekend

Saturday, May 3 –  9am – 4pm

Sunday, May 4 – 9am – 3pm

The Polson Pond Kids fishing weekend will be held for the last time in 2025! It will be run as usual rain or shine, so your children can learn the joy that comes with catching a fish.   This is a free event for kids up to the age of 14. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Kids can bring their own fishing rod and tackle, or gear will be provided; all the rods, tackle, including worms and it’s all for free. If you need help, that’s free too. The kids can keep 2 fish each per day and the volunteers will even clean them for you. Nothing like fresh fish for supper.

There is a concession stand where hotdogs, chips, pop or water will be available for lunch.

Huge thank-you to the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, who donate about 1,000 rainbow trout weighing about 3/4 of a pound for the kids to catch.

The fun starts with the cleaning of the Polson Park Duck Pond the Sunday before the big event. Come on down and watch. We start draining the pond about 7 am and then use fire hoses to clean out the bottom of the pond. We want the pond nice and clean for the rainbow trout when they arrive. It is after all, a duck pond, and usually takes 4-5 hours to clean. After a thorough cleaning, we string some nets up in the pond to keep the trout spread out. Once that is done, we close the gates and let the pond fill back up.

Bring in the fish. The Wednesday before, the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC bring in and release 1,000 rainbow trout, each about 10-12 inches long, into the pond. The trout are spread out in the different areas so everyone has a chance to catch fish. These trout are raised by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC at the Summerland hatchery. Check out the hatchery for tour dates and times. The fish are a little confused when they first arrive but recover quickly and start looking for something to eat.

Let the fishing begin. By Saturday morning the fish are hungry and easy to catch. As the afternoon rolls around, especially if it is one of those sunny Okanagan days, the fish start looking for cover and the catching slows down a little. Sunday morning and the fish are looking for breakfast. There are always still lots of fish left to catch and they readily take the hook and worm again. If the kids are having some trouble getting the trout to bite, grab one of the Volunteers. We know a trick or two that may work. We do not want any child to go home without catching a fish.

Sunday April 27th: 7 am to 1 pm – pond cleaning

Wednesday April 30th: usually around noon the fish arrive

Saturday May 3rd: Fishing starts at 9am to 4 pm.

Sunday May 4th: Fishing starts at 9 am to 3 pm.

Check out the Kalamalka Fly Fishers website

Poster

We’re a few days into the snap Federal Election.  The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) has worked with the National Fishing and Hunting Collaborative (NFHC) on National Priorities for a couple years. 

The NFHC is a coalition of twelve organizations representing 375,000 anglers and hunters across Canada.

The NFHC has identified 5 priority issues, and BCWF has added a 6^th around DFO/Federal fisheries.  

From the NFHC website: “On behalf of our members and all conservationists in Canada, the NFHC requests meaningful commitments to these five priorities from the parties seeking to form the next federal government.”

BCWF has launched this webpage https://bcwf.bc.ca/2025-federal-election/ with the backgrounds and accompanying documents.  OFAH has a similar page:  https://www.ofah.org/nfhc/

BCWF has also created a ‘cheat sheet’ for  clubs and members: https://bcwf.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Election-cheat-sheet-printable.pdf .

We need our club members to engage their MP candidates with the cheat sheet to raise awareness.  Also let them know the NFHC sent questions to all parties and we want a response.

Finally, Club members on social media will see that the BCWF/NFHC have launched a series of videos and will continue to do so.  Please share and feel free to tag your MP Candidates.

The North Okanagan Trap & Skeet Club (NOTSC) are extending a special invitation exclusive to Vernon Fish & Game Club members, to participate in a Shotgun Event at their premises on Sunday, May 25th.  

*IMPORTANT* 
To participate in this event, individuals MUST RSVP via email to Paul Munroe at:  [email protected]
*The deadline to RSVP is Tuesday, May 20th
 

The message below is from NOTSC:

Greetings to all Vernon Fish and Game Club Members!

The North Okanagan Trap and Skeet Club invites you to attend a Shotgun event at the NOTSC club’s premises on Sunday morning, May 25.

At that time, we will welcome you (and your shotgun) to try your hand at our skeet and/or trap facilities. New to the game? We will help you to get started. There will be no charge for the trap/skeet shooting that you do.

So, here’s the outline.

• Arrive by 9:45 a.m.
• Bring your own shotgun. Most of us use a 12 gauge but a 20 gauge would do the job.
• Bring your own ammunition –  #7-1/2 or #8 loads.
• Both trap and skeet fire 25 rounds.  Should you do both, you will need to bring two boxes.

1. Welcome/Registration
2. Safety protocols at NOTSC
3. Brief orientation re: both Trap and Skeet procedures
4. Vernon members meet hosts
5. Select your venue and proceed to location

At the conclusion of the shooting portion of your visit, please join in the complimentary luncheon with your hosts.

To register for this event, please forward your name and contact information via email to Paul Munroe at:
[email protected]

DEADLINE Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
 

North Okanagan Trap & Skeet Club – Directions:
From Vernon, drive towards Armstrong. Turn right off the Highway 97A opposite Pleasant Valley Road turnout (which turns left off the highway) at the concrete building with the For Sale sign on it. Take the frontage road back towards Vernon, take your first left (if you hit Tolko Reforestation Center, you went too far – back up) and head up the windy dirt road to the top of the hill.

GPS Coordinates:
50.398261 – Latitude
-119.209355 – Longitude
 

There are only a few tickets left! Don’t delay, get your banquet tickets from Fisher’s Hardware or Meier’s Building Products before they’re sold out!

Tickets are $60 each.

Date: Saturday, March 15th 2025
Location: Coldstream Community Hall – 9909 Kalamalka Rd
Doors open: 4:30pm
Cocktails: 4:30 pm – 9:30pm
Dinner: 5:30pm
Catering provided by Overlander
*There will be a beef option available

Banquet Poster

Come join us at the 2025 Vernon Fish & Game Club Banquet, including a gourmet game meat buffet. A beef option will also be available.

The Banquet will be held at the Coldstream Community Hall on Saturday March 15th. Cocktails start at 4:30, dinner at 5:30. There will be a silent auction and raffles.

Tickets are $60 each, and can be purchased at Fisher’s Hardware and Meier’s Building Products. There are limited number of tickets available, so don’t delay!

Please note this is a cash-only event!

Check out our poster

To all members,

Our clubs relies on Canada Post to send memberships out to our members, for both renewals and new memberships. As an interim measure, we are transitioning to sending membership details electronically via email.

Please note that you will still receive your membership card in the mail once Canada Post resumes circulation! At this time, when we receive your membership we will send a copy of your membership card as an attachment that can be printed out, as well as range access information for 2025.

Please be patient while we work out our new system and do our best to get renewals out to members in a timely fashion.

Thank you on behalf of the VFGC!

Under new provincial regulations, every hunter who purchases a species license for moose or caribou is required to file a hunting activity report by January 15, 2025. This applies whether you hunted or not, whether you harvested an animal or not. If you purchased a tag, you must report your moose and caribou hunting activity for the government’s data set. 

We encourage hunters to provide hunting activity and harvest information.

All memberships are from January 1st to December 31st. 2024 memberships expire on December 31, 2024.

2025 memberships are now available online. New membership forms will be available at Del Selin’s Gunsmith, and Meier’s Building Products.

A valid 2025 membership will be required to continue to enjoy membership benefits including insurance coverage and access to the range after December 31st.

If you require a 2024 membership (expires December 31, 2024) please contact [email protected]

Membership Benefits

• Membership in the BC Wildlife Federation, the largest and longest standing conservation group in BC
• $2,000,000 Excess Third Party Liability Insurance including ATV use for hunting or fishing (for more information please see BCWF Membership Info, scroll to the bottom of the page for Frequently Asked Questions)
• Subscription to BC Outdoors Magazine
• Reduced rates at major hotels, and other special pricing discounts
• Extra ATV coverage for pleasure use available at nominal cost

Please Note:
All individuals who use an ATV for hunting or fishing purposes are required to carry a certificate of insurance with them at all times. Members must carry their Vernon Fish and Game Club membership card as well as their current BC Wildlife Federation membership card to provide proof of ATV liability insurance.

The Vernon Fish & Game Club and thrilled to announce that we are planning to reinstate our annual awards and game banquet on March 15th, 2025!  More details will be announced in the new year, but mark this date in your calendars!

We are pleased to announce that the Vernon Fish & Game Club, thanks to the generous support of our members and dedicated Board, have set up a local CWD drop-off freezer.

The freezer is located at: Meier’s Building Products, 8711 Kalamalka Road, Coldstream

The freezer is available 24/7 for hunters to drop off harvested cervid heads.

For more details on submitting samples, go to: Instructions for submitting harvest locations

Visit the surveillance and testing page to learn more about:  

• Why surveillance is important 
• Mandatory testing requirement
• Drop-off locations for testing
• Instructions for submitting a CWD sample
• Instructions for submitting harvest locations
• How to find your CWD result
• How to report a sick animal