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Showman Ted achieved a lot fishing

Clarke Edsell "Ted" Peck, one of Vancouver's and BC's most well-known anglers and outdoorsman, was and remains a man of mystery.

Clarke Edsell "Ted" Peck, one of Vancouver's and BC's most well-known anglers and outdoorsman, was and remains a man of mystery.

Famous for his television show, Tides and Trails, that ran from 1960 to 1966, Ted also ran a salmon charter and hosted a Sunday night open-line radio show on Vancouver's CKWX for an additional 10 years.

He was always endorsing products on his shows; be it Ted Peck fishing rods available at Woodwards, Sportsman cigarettes, Mustang floater coats, Cowichan sweaters or nilodor. Whatever it was, we bought it because Ted said so.

I got to know Ted personally in his later years when he was selling gear at Jaymer's Fly and Tackle and teaching evening fishing classes in various school districts.

Irascible on occasion, I always laughed at the thought that this cantankerous curmudgeon had achieved so much for himself and B.C. sport fishing.

I found his secret was in the way he treated my daughter.

While Ted could be short with adults, he would always put everything else aside to render encouragement towards children and listen intently to their fish stories.

I find it hard to accept that for a man who achieved such fame, so little is documented, but that is the way he wanted it. He was a man whose only interest was seeing others enjoy the outdoors -- period.

Ted passed away on Oct 26, 2001.

I am honoured that I got to follow in his footsteps and teach fly fishing for the Burnaby School District in the four years following his departure.

The report

Fishing on our Lower Mainland lakes is fair to good.

Concentrate on the northeast area of your favorite lake from late morning through mid-afternoon

The Fraser River is good for cutthroat and dolly varden.