After the loss of nearly all of his sight seven years ago, Scott Laird found purpose and satisfaction in continuing to fish for salmon in his Tyee rowboat 鈥� the same rowboat that served him for 33 years as a salmon guide and angler.
But that purpose and satisfaction was taken away from him Sunday, Aug. 7 when somebody stole it from the Campbell River fisherman鈥檚 wharf.
鈥淚鈥檓 devastated,鈥� Laird said. 鈥淟ike, I get up in the morning at three and I think about what the implications of this are for me.鈥�
Laird was a fishing guide for 40 years in the internationally renowned waters off the Tyee Spit in Campbell River. He has owned the classic Tyee-style rowboat for 33 years. These boats were designed for fishing the Tyee Pool and are based on the classic Painter rowboats that have been associated with this traditional fishery.
鈥淏ut I have this condition that came on like that. And I lost it (vision) all in that eye and I got about 20 per cent, 25 per cent in this eye,鈥� Laird said. 鈥淪o I鈥檓 able to read under certain circumstances, I can even row the boat close to shore.鈥�
Rowboat fishing for Tyee salmon is a longstanding tradition in Campbell River. Traditional tackle is used in a human-powered boat and catching a Chinook bigger than 30 pounds (a Tyee) qualifies you for membership in the Tyee Club.
Laird鈥檚 condition means he can鈥檛 fish the Tyee Pool any more because it would be too dangerous with the number of other boats. He can, however, fish close to shore near where his boat is docked.
鈥淭he government dock is where I do all my fishing. Because nobody else fishes there鈥 can see the shore and I know enough about it. I have done it so much that I can be effective,鈥� Laird said.
鈥淚 can row that boat. I got all the tackle. And I could take you out there, you鈥檇 have a decent chance of hooking a 20-plus pound Campbell (River) Chinook, because they鈥檙e along the whole shoreline.鈥�
But that has all come to an end with the theft of his boat.
Laird is asking everyone to help him retrieve his boat. He鈥檚 sure it could still be somewhere in the area. They have digital surveillance images of the actual theft and hope to be able to identify the suspect. The images are in the hands of the RCMP. But in the meantime, he would like to get the boat 鈥� which had hoped to leave to his grandchildren 鈥� back, if possible.
It鈥檚 a 1989, 14-foot fibreglass hull Tyee rowboat called 鈥淪trikes 90鈥� made by Whitehall Boats in Victoria. It has a classic 7.5 h.p. Evinrude outboard on its transom. It retails for about new for about $20,000 plus the cost of the motor and oars.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 my fishing lifestyle now. And I don鈥檛 want to give it up. I won鈥檛 be buying another boat, you know. I鈥檓 75, I can barely manage this one,鈥� Laird said.
If you see the boat, contact Campbell River Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). The file number is 2022-10262. Or call Laird at 250-287-3706.
