Fall, with its cooler weather and cloudy skies came quickly to the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Bee Creek looks considerably different than during the summer as the foliage lining the banks of the waterway has begun to die off.

As the more frequent rain raises the water level, the trout are filling growing pools and 26 trout ranging in fork lengths of 30 to 195 millimeters were recorded. The largest trout of 195 looks like it was the same one recorded upstream, a month ago, on Royal Roads property.

One of the more interesting finds this month is a Stonefly nymph, seen above, It measured about an inch, indicating that it was midway through its nymph stage, before climbing ashore as an adult, and beginning the cycle again. Stoneflies are particularly prone to unclean water and its presence in the creek is an excellent sign.

Altogether 2023 was a good year on Bee Creek, with numerous of visitors, somewhat consistent trout count and a healthy creek environment.