OUTLOOK
This week we are watching the weather and the seemingly constant rain. Surprisingly enough the colder weather has helped the rivers settle in the last 2 days. We are optimistic about the weekend and in a number of cases we are more concerned about clear water making things challenging.
The Capilano went to near flood levels this week. We had solid reports before the jump in water and we are expecting good fishing when it drops. Check out this week’s Capilano report for more information.
The Squamish was high but dropped nicely early in the week due to cold temps. We were out on the weekend and the water was actually quite clear. This made things tough. Matt has a full report of what they saw and what we expect for this weekend in the Squamish report below.
The Vedder/Chilliwack spiked up the last couple days. We expect it to stay high but settle this weekend. The fishing, though not hot, has been consistent and we are approaching the best 2 months of the season. Alex has some details and updates in his report so make sure you don’t miss it.
On the saltwater front we have had a few boats out when the weather has cooperated and we have up-to-date saltwater info in the Vancouver Saltwater Fishing Report section this week.
January and February are a fun time for us at the shop not because we spend a ton of time on the water but because the sometimes ugly weather gives us an excuse to get on the fly tying vice and play. This winter we have brought in exciting new products from MFC, Puglisi, OPST and Lagartun. The guys have been having fun experimenting. You have seen how Jordan has been perfecting balanced streamers, Matt has been pumping out his buddy Mike’s, custom Trigger fish fly for CXI and this week we are going to look at what the master tier Dr. Dre (Andre) has been playing with.
Andre is known for his beach flies, classics and chironimids but with Jordan and Matt playing with streamers, he has caught the streamer tying bug too. He has been experimenting with a super cool material called CCT body fur to build great river bulltrout patterns and saltwater streamer. He has a full recipe for a fly that he is testing and we are optimistic that it will be a winner. Check it out in the feature product section.
CLASSES + COURSES
Escape the rain and join us in the classroom this month! Check out our awesome lineup of classes.
Mastering Local Saltwater Salmon Fishing – 2 SPOTS OPENED UP!!
Over 50 million salmon migrate past Vancouver annually. Learn how to catch these fish with a Pacific Angler. This course offers an in-depth look at the local saltwater scene. We cover the local saltwater salmon fishing for the entire year, showing you the how, when, and where. This course includes a 6hr weekend seminar and a fully guided day on the water in one of our Grady Whites.
Dates: Seminar: Feb 4 Guided: Feb 19
Cost: $300.00+GST
Seminar Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm – with a one-hour break for lunch. There are two restaurants on site for students to have lunch at their cost. Coffee/Tea and water will be provided.
Seminar held at Pacific Gateway Hotel – 3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond, BC
Guided Day: Full day on the water
Tying Essential Bulltrout Patterns
Bulltrout / dollies ….. let’s just call them char are an interesting species. These fish have a diverse habitat, a very interesting life cycle and within the species they have very different characteristics in both size, color and feeding habits depending on their environment. The feeding habits are what we look at in this course. This is a fishing course within a tying course. Instructor, Matt Sharp has caught bulltrout from here to Alaska will share with you an overview of his guide theories on fly selection for char in their different habitats. He will then tech you to tie three of his guide favourites. His sculpin pattern, the Cherokee intruder and then his go to intruder that has a name that is not fit for print.
This seminar is well suited to tiers who have taken our beginner course and have basic tying skills. Advanced tiers will find the first two patterns fairly easy but they can challenge themselves with variations of the last pattern. If you are an experienced tier you probably already know that sometimes the skill, effectiveness and beauty of many great guide flies comes from their simplicity. Students are required to supply their own vise, tools and materials. A 10% discount is available on materials and tools purchased for the course.
Dates: Feb 20
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Cost: $45.00+GST
Introduction To Fly Fishing
This course was specifically designed to give the new fly fisher the basic knowledge, casting skills and fly fishing strategies to effectively fish our local BC waters. This course is comprised of two sessions; 3hr evening seminar and a 3hr casting session. The dates below show the seminar date first and casting date second.
Dates: Seminar Feb 21 & Casting Feb 24
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Casting Time(s): 10am – 1pm or 2pm -5pm
Cost: $125.00 +GST
Introduction To Spey Casting
This 2-part course is designed to introduce you to the art of Spey fishing and establish the fundamental techniques required for basic Spey casts used on our local rivers.
Dates: Seminar: Feb 28 Casting: Mar 3 (Squamish)
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Cost: $150.00+GST
WE’RE HIRING
Saltwater Guides
At Pacific Angler, we are currently searching for saltwater fishing guides to join our select guide team for the 2018 season. The ideal candidate must have a genuine passion for fishing, knowledge of local fisheries, and is comfortable operating dual engine 28-foot Grady Whites. Must be a team player and demonstrate a commitment to exceeding guest expectations with a can-do attitude in all situations.
Do you want to fish every day but sleep in your own bed each night? Skip lodge life this season and join the Pacific Angler Team. We offer in season scheduled days off so you can fish hard this summer, make good money, but still have time to spend with family and friends. We run a fleet of well-maintained Grady Whites, outfitted with the best gear, and our pay rates and average gratuities are the highest in the industry.
Our team members receive discounts in our pro-shop on tackle and gear and are eligible for amazing pro-staff opportunities with our many partners. Have fun with us on team fish-outs during the season and enjoy personal boat use on your days off.
Don’t miss out on another Vancouver summer and everything that comes along with it – join us today!
Requirements
- SVOP
- MED A3
- Marine First Aid
- ROC-M
- CTAG considered an asset (but not required)
Email your resume to Pacific Angler’s Guide Manager, Lars Akerberg, lars@pacificangler.ca or drop it in person at Pacific Anger.
FEATURE
The CCT Body Fur Experiment
I have not yet tested this pattern for any fishery but it is always fun to come up with a pattern with new materials from different tying companies. I did this pattern to showcase the use of the CCT Body Fur by Wapsi. I can’t wait to test it on the water but its featured this week as more of a concept piece. Use it and your imagination to adapt the pattern to fisheries that you love! You can choose various colors, tweak the size, have fun coloring them with permanent markers and even take the material and incorporate it into other styles of patterns.
If you have any questions come by the shop and I will gladly help.
Materials:
Tail: Marabou – white
Body: CCT body fur- white
Gills: Palmer chenille- copper/olive
Eyes: Stick on of your choice.
Hook: Streamer or saltwater hook of you choice.
Steps:
1. Tail: Tie in the white marabou
2. Tie in the CCT body fur
3. Palmer the CCT just past the mid point of the hook shank, finish off and cut the excess
4. Tie in the palmer chenille and make 3 wraps and tie off
5. Tie in another piece of CCT body fur right after the palmer chenille and finish
6. Haircut: Start shaping the bait fish beginning from the top with sharp scissors
7. Pull the palmer chenille upwards (so you don’t cut it) and shape the bottom
8. Start shaping the sides always moving the palmer chenille out of the way
9. Use a water resistant marker i.e. PRISMACOLOR to colour the top of the bait fish
10. Glue on eyes of your choice
11. Two similar patterns on different hooks
Andre Stepanian
Pacific Angler
Partridge PRO-Team
Lagartun Pro-Staff
Frenzyflies
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Chilliwack River Fishing Report
Fishing has been a bit tough due to blown-out conditions this week but for those lucky enough to choose their fishing days it has been moderate to decent out there and the water is dropping as we write the report. Things have still been a bit patchy but numbers of fish and successful anglers have been steadily increasing when conditions are right.
With more rain coming we should see consistently moderate to high water levels, meaning bigger and louder presentations will be your go-to. However don’t be afraid to downsize especially between rain storms as the water drops and starts to clear. This weekend should be solid if you can pick your day and there is not too much rain.
Get out there and get your line in the water. A fish won’t bite a dry hook!
Alex Au-Yeung
Capilano Fishing Report
Water is at prime level on the Capilano River right now and there have been some positive reports. With the big push of water we expect more good steelhead reports this weekend.
If you can’t invest the time to hit the Vedder it is a great time to consider the Capilano. Take your drift gear out and look for walking speed water or pockets. Try anything from bait, plastic worms, gooey bob, corkies, spin N glos, and flies under the float. Also try to swing K-wobbler spoons as it will irritate them and get them to bite.
Once the water comes down a bit more, you can swing and strip flies or downsize your gear as it will be more productive than using the larger profile options.
Water level can change very fast on this river so watch out for the water level when you are fishing and as always release all steelhead with care as this system is very fragile.
Stay safe out there.
Dustin Oh
Squamish River Fishing Report
We had to tough day on the Squamish last Saturday. We covered a ton of water, fished hard and managed a few bites and a couple fish but it was a slog.
Clarity was the biggest factor. It was surprisingly clear and the fish shut down. I see this quite commonly late January / February with cold weather and snow in the mountains. Hooking a fish or two is not impossible but putting up any real numbers in low clear water is very challenging. I assume it is because the water is cold, there is way less food drifting down stream and the fish can see everything. All these factor are not good for nymphing or swinging flies. A spoon or a float can always drum up a fish but overall these kinds of conditions are not ideal.
Good job Stewart for grinding it out on a tough day.
The river surged on Sunday and looks as though it was the opposite problem. On Sunday from what I see on the graphs it probably coloured up and blew out. There might have been a nice window of good fishing early Sunday but ultimate I am assuming it was “out” around mid day. If anyone was out I would like to hear a report.
The river is now dropping but not as quickly as last week. There were ideal conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday. I suspect “good” conditions will carry into the weekend. Keep an eye on the river levels and weather. Note the “sweet spot” as the river dropped Tuesday and also note the levels on Saturday. I would consider them fishable but challenging. In regards to road conditions it didn’t snow as much as we expected up top and the road, as of Saturday, was clear.
In clear conditions get stealthy with lighter leaders, smaller flies and fish the deep spots slowly. It’s a grind but another little side note: we seem to encounter more large rainbows on clear days and they can make a tough day worth it.
Good luck out there,
Matt Sharp
Stave River Fishing Report
The Stave River has been producing some fish and is worth a look as well this week. It’s a short river so like the Capilano it is easy to cover in a half day. I recommend covering as much walking speed water as you can. When you have exhausted the walking speed water, hit the riffles and pocket water. Because the river is so short, you have a very high potential to at least be fishing over a steelhead. When fishing pocket water make sure to check your leaders often and take a hook file with you. It is easy to dull hooks and nick leaders in this kind of water. Though this river is short it has a good mix of water types to suit float fishing, fly fishing and spoon fishing.
Release all wild steelhead with care and be safe out there.
Dustin Oh
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report
Well finally it looks like there is a little break in the wind coming up with winds light in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday, although that could change by Friday night. Lets hope not, I have had enough of the big wind forecasts. Too bad the rain won’t leave us alone as well, although I will take the 10-15 mm in the forecast over the 50 + mm from last weekend.
The fishing remained consistent this past week on our guided trips and with the winds knocking off this weekend I expect it to be on the busy side of things. Eddie is booked this weekend and I plan on doing some personal fishing too, so see you out there. Tough to pick a spot with the fish being well distributed through Howe Sound and with winds light it can be a good bet to hit Gabriola or Galliano.
Glow flashers and spoons with some glow on them in smaller sizes, like the Kingfisher 3.0 and Skinny G, have remained consistently productive. I was organizing some of my flashers last night and tying up some fresh spoon leaders and took some pictures to share with you. So here is what will be on my boat on Saturday.
Must have winter chinook flashers and some of my favorite spoons these past few months.
Crabbing and prawning have also been pretty good and we are right in the middle of prime time for winter chinook, so give Lars a call at 778-788-8582 to book your trip.
See you out there this weekend,
Jason Tonelli