OUTLOOK
This is an interesting time of year. For many anglers things are slowing down. Cold, short days may not feel ideal for fishing. We know better than to sugar coat this slower time of year but for the guys and girls who know the fisheries, this shoulder season can actually offer some of the best fishing of the entire season if you know how to watch the weather and plan your trips.
The saltwater scene has actually been very good but the wind really did hamper our efforts this week. Again we don’t usually think much about winter chinook until January but we are hearing solid reports and if you still have your boat in the water it is well worth a look. Do some prawning; drop the crab traps take a pass at your favorite winter spring spot. Most of the anglers we have talked too are coming home with a late season feast.
On the river front the Vedder is slowing down but there are still good reports from the anglers who have put in their time. Fresh coho are still being caught and though it is at the back end of the season it is worth a look if you have some time over the next 10 days. We expect it to slow considerably around the middle of the month.
Squamish and Harrison are systems you will also not want to miss if you are planning a trip. We consider this peak time for chum on the Squamish and we are catching bright coho well into the end of November so heading out Squamish way is a great option. We may face some weather issues over the next 3-5 days but if the weather holds this should be excellent. Check out Matt’s report for more details. The Harrison reports have been mixed but this is also a fishery that can shine in the end of the season. Andre has more info on that front and hitting sloughs this time of year can also be very productive.
Novembers is a fun time for us in the store too. We have time to get back to geeking out on what we love – fishing. We have our Steelhead Fly Tying Jam Session coming up and of course we are thinking about Christmas. It is early but if you are already thinking about your list and have loved ones who like to get things done early send them our way and we will make sure you get something good under the tree this year! Good luck and we will see you on the water or in the in the shop.
As you tomorrow is Remembrance Day – here is an overview of our Remembrance Day hours and closures at the shop.
- Friday November 10 – 10AM – 7PM
- Saturday November 11 – 10AM – 6PM
- Sunday November 12 – 11AM – 5PM
- Monday November 13 – Closed in lieu of Remembrance Day
CLASSES + COURSES
Fly Fishing Egg Patterns – ONE SPOT LEFT
This course is designed to teach you the secrets to one of the most productive presentations in the BC fly fishermen’s arsenal; nymphing egg patterns. This deadly method can be used for different species of trout, char, and salmon. During a 3 hour evening seminar we will teach you key concepts, strategies, and gear that will give you a well-rounded foundation during the seminar portion of the class. Then you will put those skills into practice during a fully guided day on the water.
Seminar: Nov 15, 2017
Guided: Nov 19, 2017
Cost: $250.00
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Guided: Full Day
INDUSTRY EVENTS
Fly Fishing Film Tour
November is here and that means it’s almost time for this years edition of the Fly Fishing Film Tour.
Don’t miss out on a great evening!
Date: November 14, 2017
Time: Doors at 6:15PM, Films Start at 7PM
Location: The Cinematheque, Vancouver
For more details including trailers check out the film tours website! Tickets available on the film tours website and here at the shop!
Pacific Angler Steelhead Fly Tying Jam Session
Wednesday November 22, 2017 – 6:30PM – 9:30PM
If you missed our special mail out this week there are still a few spots left at the tying table for our Steelhead Fly Tying Jam Session. Be sure to get your free spot today and don’t miss out on this sell out event!
We’ve got a great lineup of expert tyers for this relaxed and fun night. This event is for tyers of all levels of experience from beginner to expert to come hang out, do some tying, share their favourite flies and techniques, and of course talk about fishing.
From intruders to classics, we’ll be tying them all so come ready to share and learn!
For more details on the evening read our special mail out here or to get one the last tying tickets visit our eventbrite page!
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Chilliwack River Fishing Report
It’s starting to feel a lot like steelhead season! That’s just around the corner now, but there are still some salmon kicking about in the Vedder and it is still very possible to get into some clean fish too. Coho and chum are spread throughout the river though the majority of the fish will have pushed through to the middle and upper river. The water is extremely clear now so scale down your presentations and look for pockets of holding fish.
Drifting little chunks of pro-cured roe, egg ties, finesse jigs or smaller colorado blades can be productive in moving water. In frog water, think smaller spinners and spoons as well as twitching jigs, though if you are a fly chucker this can be deadly water for stripping small flash flies like Christmas trees for coho.
Alex Au-Yeung
Squamish River Fishing report
We are coming up on a time that we consider peak season for chum and coho fishing on the Squamish, which is a little later than many of the valley rivers. We have seen low and clear conditions for the last week. This has made fishing a little more challenging than normal but we have been finding fish. Andre had some success with smaller blue and purple flies for chum this week. He has noticed that in the clear water smaller flies have been producing for the chum where the standard larger pink and purple popsicles have not been as productive. For the coho this has also been true. In the upper river copper, purple and olive patterns have been out producing the larger chartreuse flies we usually use this time of year.
Chris with a chum from his guided trip with Andre this week.
We are excited about the fishing over the next 10 days but there is the standard weather watch warning that seems to be a constant concern for Squamish river anglers. There is a big storm in the forecast coming over the next 3 days. If the weather man is on his mark, we expect conditions to go from low and clear to high and dirty. If you can hit the sweet spot between the two conditions when the water is colored but not dirty, expect top notch fishing. We will see how long this sweet spot holds. It could last a few hours or even a day or two but it could also blow out fast. It is something you need to watch closely. Watch river levels, snow levels and temperature. If and when it gets dirty, large presentations will be back on. Large purple and pink patterns and jigs for chum. Large chartreuse patterns or bright large spoon for the coho will be critical.
A Squamish bulltrout landed by guide Ryan’s guests earlier this week.
Egging will also have a sweet spot at some point over the next couple days. The rain and subsequent surge of water will flip over rocks and push salmon eggs down stream. Again we are a little concerned that the sweet spot will be brief but we can guarantee than anglers that are out at the right time will have great fishing. If you hit the river and she is a grey color, look to the tributaries for clearer water and use brighter, larger bead presentations so the bulltrout and rainbows can see the egg in the lower vis water.
I will be on the water baring a major blow-out so good luck and see you out there!
Matt Sharp
Harrison River Fishing Report
This last week as the river level started to drop to a perfect 9.0 and good reports of coho were coming in but it’s still a matter of finding where they are sitting. This is what I mean when I mention fishing the back channels that it’s a hunting game so I often hear mixed reports all the time from different people. If you find a bunch then your day is going to be different than the others who don’t connect with the coho so you have to move around a lot but this is just half the battle; then you have to figure out the fly and depth and so on to get a bite. We had some rain but not enough to blow out the river again so get out there just in case before it does and as the season starts to wind down around the third week of November.
Andre Stepanian
Stave River Fishing Report
There are still lots of chances to target chum and coho in the Stave as well as the trout that are in the system gorging of eggs. Try drifting jigs, spoons and Colorado blades under a float as it will be very effective with a large amount of fish that are already in the system.
Twitching jigs can be very productive as well. However there is bit higher possibility to foul hook fish. If you do, remember to loosen the pressure on the line as they are most likely to unhook themselves more easily that way.
Looking for frog water is key if you want to cast spoons and spinners, twitch jigs or fly fish for coho. Try casting copper, brass, or Silver with little bit of chartreuse Crocs, Blue Fox, or Koho spoons.
Try stripping flashy coho buggers, Mickey fin, woolybuggers, etc. Andre’s Coho fly selection designed for the Harrison, works really well for the Coho in the frog waters of Stave as well. Come by the shop and we’ll help you pick out a few winners. If its trout you’re after try running a trout bead under a float.
Please follow the regs. If you see any poaching activities such as anyone throwing the Salmon back after killing it and taking its’ roe please contact the 24-hour R.A.P.P hotline (1-877-952-7277) and report them.
Best,
Dustin Oh
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report
Well the saltwater report is going to be short and sweet this week. Last week had a few charters lined up and few personal days but they never ended up happening. The winds got the better of us on the days we could head out, sometimes gusting north of 60 knots! Although the wind forecast this weekend isn’t great, it is certainly much better than last week, so that’s a start.
There were a few people who did sneak out in some breaks between windstorms and there were some fish around. Nothing red hot, but they put the time in and were rewarded with a fish or two. As usual, there are pockets of fish from Howe Sound to Vancouver Harbour and there are also fishing showing up in the Gulf Islands.
The usual winter tactic of glow flashers and spoons fished close to the bottom is producing as usual. Now if the rain and wind would just leave us alone!
In the meantime, off to the marina today for boat maintenance. We are in the process of updating the canvas and upholstery on our fleet.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli