OUTLOOK
Both fresh and saltwater anglers continue to enjoy the warm October weather; it really doesn’t get much better than this.
On the saltwater front we’ve been spending most of our time down at the docks getting the boats ready for winter but we’ve snuck out a few times to do a bit of prospecting for winter chinook and generally just enjoying trying our luck in the sunshine. Lars has all the details in this week’s report.
If you’re heading out to the rivers we’ve had solid reports coming in from the Valley all the way up to the Whistler area. Many rivers are starting to hit their stride so check out the reports in the freshwater section below or drop in to the shop.
For those of you looking to take in Andre’s Fly Fishing For Salmon Course – there is ONE spot left in his seminar. Call the shop at 604.872.2204 today to grab that last spot.
Last but not least don’t forget to get your tickets to the upcoming Fly Fishing Film Tour in Vancouver on November 6. It’s one of our favourite events of the year and always gets us dreaming about amazing places to hit the water.
INDUSTRY EVENTS
Fly Fishing Film Tour
Don’t miss out on this years Fly Fishing Film Tour. It is always a great night to get together with friends, check out the films and dream of your next adventure. Get your tickets online or at the shop for $15. $20 at the door. We’ll see you there!
Date: Tuesday November 6, 2018
Time: Doors at 6:15PM, Films Start at 7:00PM – 8 films with an intermission
Location: The Cinematheque – 1131 Howe Street Vancouver
Tickets: Online at www.flyfishingfilmtour.ca or at the shop for $15 (cash only)
CLASSES AND COURSES
Fly Fishing For Salmon In Rivers – ONE SEMINAR SPOT LEFT!
Fly fishing for salmon is one of the most exciting fisheries in the Lower Mainland. Let us teach you the techniques and the hot spots to catch salmon on the fly in our local rivers. In the 3hr evening seminar you will learn about rod, reel and line, sink tip, and fly selection. Then put the skills into practice during a fully guided day on the water where you will learn how to read water and swing the fly!
Seminar: Oct 24, 2018 – ONE SEAT LEFT
Guided: Oct 27 or 28, 2018 SOLD OUT
Guided: Nov 3 or 4, 2018 SOLD OUT
*Custom Trip Dates Available*
Seminar Only Cost: $45.00+GST
Seminar & Guided Walk’n Wade Cost: $250.00+GST per angler, minimum of 2 anglers per guided day on the water.
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Squamish River Fishing Report
This past week saw the Squamish drop in to shape, providing anglers with some great opportunities to chase salmon and char. That said, it did get warm and the river did slightly colour on Wednesday. Despite that it was still very fishable and anglers are finding fish throughout.
Brian with a coho landed on a guided trip this week.
Spoons, jigs, blades, and spinners have all found fish in various water conditions; with the K3 and K4 being the ticket for my partner and I especially in slow moving troughs and slots. Silver, gold, and fire-stripe have all found interested fish.
For flies, small flash flies, naked muddlers, and popsicle/intruder style have been effective. The key is to cover water until you encounter fish; either laid up and stacked, or fresh fish that are moving.
Jordan with a nice coho from his trip earlier this week.
Be aware that there have been grizzlies spotted about the Squamish, and that black bears are also the norm. Carrying bear spray in your hand while walking is important- not just keeping it in your pack. Make noise and talk loudly while hiking, and don’t leave that pack of beef jerky open on the shore next to your bag…
Tightest of lines,
Jordan Simpson
Chilliwack/Vedder River Fishing Report
The Vedder River has seen a big wave of fish show up the past week! Even with the low water, more schools have pushed up and pretty much all the sections of the Vedder hold fish at the moment.
All methods were quite successful, some better than others depending on conditions of the water and the day. For drifting and fishing with gear, you can drift roe in the morning to get the first light bite when the fish have just finished moving upstream. After the sun hits the water you can entice them by using Colorado blades, jigs, spoons and spinners and trigger aggression. If you have trouble connecting with fish or have hard time float fishing, come in the shop and we will gladly help.
For fly guys, swinging or stripping small flashy patterns produced the best success the past week. Come to check out Andre’s Coho patterns!
It will be very crowded at the Vedder like every salmon season because it is one of the most productive rivers in the lower mainland. Please respect other anglers and clean up after yourself.
See you out there,
Dustin Oh
Capilano River Fishing Report
Not much has changed for the Capilano River. The water remains low, the fish remain in good numbers, and fishing remains tough. Some lucky anglers are enticing bites on finesse presentations like single beads, roe ties, small colorado blades, and flash flies. As with most of the year when the water is low on this river, salmon fishing is much more productive at first light and the low light conditions will give you a fighting chance at getting a biting fish. Focus on the upper pools, as the majority of the fish will have staged in the top end of the river.
Alex Au-Yeung
Stave River Fishing Report
The Stave is starting to hit its stride and by next week will be in full swing for chum salmon. There are already a good number of chum in the system and though the low water is posing difficult conditions for enticing fish it is definitely worth a look if you are looking to get a couple of dogs on the line. I have been keeping the Stave in regular rotation for my fishing trips during the last couple of weeks and have observed some pockets with higher concentrations of fish than others so it may take some moving around but expect some action if you put in the time.
Sarah with her catch on the Stave!
These fish have been a little bit pickier thus far than they typically are. Float fishing jigs or fly fishing with big popsicles is the way to go and while you can definitely catch them on other things, these are the go-to’s 95% of the time. Know that you are probably fishing over a bunch of them at any given moment so if they aren’t reacting change up your colour. Colour can have a huge impact. While the typical producers are purple, pink, fuchsia, and chartreuse (and any combination of those), don’t be afraid to mix it up. I have caught them on fluorescent blue, for instance.
For those curious about the coho fishing on the Stave, it has started but isn’t particularly good and won’t be particularly good until we get some higher water levels. There are some in the river and the odd one is being hooked but they have been very tight lipped for the most part. I am not implying that you won’t catch them, but there are better places to target coho right now in the Valley.
See you out there!
Alex Au-Yeung
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report
In terms of the guide business we are very thankful for the wonderful late fall weather we have had the last few weeks, and our focus has been on fixing up our fleet of Grady White’s. If you are running your own boat, now is a perfect time fix everything on the boat as its comfortable out and still warm enough even for paint projects.
Captain Eddie’s guests enjoying our balmy October weather!
In terms of fishing reports, the Cap Mouth is pretty much a wrapped up done deal. There are the occasional fish, and I have heard of the odd fish being caught, but I wouldn’t recommend it for the rest of the season.
So, if you are heading out, option one (especially good if you have your boat near the South Arm), is Sand Heads would be one spot to try for the upcoming days. While most coho and chinook are already up the river, historically, this time of year is when the main flow of chum have come through. While each year is different, looking at the Albion Test (nets) for both 2016/2017 some of the best numbers of chum were in the October 10-20 range, so that is an option for sure.
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/fraser/docs/commercial/albionchinook-quinnat-eng.html
For gear, everyone has their own style, but a start depth is 40-60 on the rigger for chum, troll slower, just like sockeye fishing, and just like sockeye, hoochies seems to be more productive than both bait and spoons. For flashers, I like black/glow, purple haze, and purple phantoms. Some guides prefer chartreuse. My preferred setup is 62 on one rigger, and 57 on the other, putting a dummy flasher on the cannon ball, then the first live line 10 feet up. If currents allow, I would use a second live line (at another 10 spread) up the cable. If you are not getting them there, go deeper, as the fish can be anywhere from surface down to 150 feet. If you have your sockeye Michael Bait setups still, they work well for chum too.
Option two is to head up Howe Sound and prospect for some feeder/winter chinook. Our guide boats have been doing just that lately and have found a few fish . These fish are aggressively feeding, hard to find, but usually easy to get to bite if you find them. Troll fast, fish close to the bottom, and look for bait. 18 lb balls are better, as it allows you to troll faster, covering more water, and since most action is off the bottom, a 2-rod setup is recommended.
These fish are deep, between 100-250 on the rigger, so glow flashers are a must. My favourites are the BC, Madi, CB 55, and Salty Dawg, Chartreuse Glow and Green Onion Glow. If you are fishing deeper than 150 feet, a double glow flasher is a good idea as well. My go-to spoon for this fishery is the Kingfisher 3.0 Irish Cream, other great colors are Homeland Security, Herring Aide, Yellow Tail and Kitchen Sink.
See you in the shop or on the water
Lars Akerberg