Cheers All,

Never been on Cameron Lake and have been booked to test some equipment on the lake next week. Guests are coming from out of province so the info is needed sooner than later.

Does anyone have first hand knowledge of what type of ramp is located on Cameron Lake, where the ramp is located and how big a boat can be launched on the ramp. Is it a good ramp or is it a 4x4 situation? Also, is it a pay-per-use or behind a locked gate? Any info that you may also think important would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance....

The only access to this lake is through private cottages or the campground. the campground ramp is supposed to be good, however you must be very careful how you approach the guy who decides whether you get to use it or not. You must fill out a full page sheet of your info, name address driver's license no. etc. this is because of numerous hooligans disrespecting the lake and the campground, drinking and leaving litter, being obnoxious and so on. As long as you are respectful and keep your launching and landing to daylight hours you should be fine. But I have heard stories about it being difficult if approached the wrong way. You should call ahead maybe?
This is all through hearsay, I launched at a private beach and it was 4x4 for sure.
If you are fishing, they say there are big browns in that lake down deep, we caught one about 14" nice and fat but mostly tiny rainbows is all we got. try fishing where the river comes in and the steeply sloping rock slides. Good luck!

P.S. I think this is the campground's number: 250-752-6707

Cheers,

Sadly this charter does not involve fishing. We will be towing a side scan sonar as well as deploying a ROV as some field engineers develop field hours on the equipment. Apparently they need deep fresh water and that appears to be the deepest lake in close proximity to Nanaimo. We will not even have rods on board.
I will take note of the signature returns on the SSS in an effort to figure out what is down there, where and how much. If the clients don't object, I will ensure this
info is posted here afterwards.

As for the owner being sensitive when idiots tear the place up - I can't blame him. I would do the same. It only takes a few idiots to ruin it for everyone.

I used to teach high school in Port Alberni and travelled that road from Nanaimo almost daily. It is a strange lake as the only real fishing I saw was in early spring and late fall - during the summer it was almost deserted. If the returns on the SSS are promising I may take the inflatable out there in spring and give it a whirl.

Thanks for the info!

I had an old friend who was an avid Brown Trout fisherman.He had to launch his boat across the beach because he wasn't one of the special ones(those who use the campsite)who were able to use the ramp.
The owner kind of reminds me of the Soup Nazi on Sienfeld except this guys line is "No ramp for you"
Dave

Cheers,

Very difficult to blame a guy who has a significant investment in his commercial activity when, by all accounts, it has been abused. I am quite sure if I had an investment and it was being abused I would do whatever I could to limit that abuse and that includes limiting who can use the facilities. If his facilities have been abused we can only point the finger elsewhere and not in his direction for
he is simply protecting his investment. And I totally understand.

A lesson to all of us to protect what we value as, if and when it disappears, we truly recognize the value of that which we lost.

Did you ever get ahold of the guy FG?
I've had a few "encounters" with the fellow in question. He did let us use the launch, after more or less berating us for 1/2 an hour on each occasion. We simply ain't the problem, but he certainly made us feel like we were. Left a rather bad taste in my mouth over the whole thing.
Be interested to hear how you make out with this "gent"...

Wondering,
Nog

PS: Good Luck in finding "Nellie"!