OUTLOOK
Spring fishing is in full swing across the Lower Mainland and Interior, with improving conditions and more consistent opportunities heading into the back half of April.
On the Vedder/Chilliwack, steelhead season is winding down but there are still fish to be found. Expect marginal visibility and focus on larger, high-contrast presentations.
The Harrison River is heating up as fry activity ramps up, bringing aggressive cutthroat into the shallows. This fishery is all about observation and timing, be sure to check out Jordan’s report this week for all the details. In the Sea to Sky, rivers like the Squamish are in good shape, with stable flows and increasing fry activity. This is a great time to explore, cover water, and fish a mix of fry patterns and small streamers as trout become more active.
Interior stillwaters are kicking off nicely. Chironomid hatches have started on lower elevation lakes, while higher lakes are transitioning with productive leech, blob, and bloodworm fishing. With warmer weather ahead, expect more lakes to turn on quickly. Jason has all the details in his report this week.
Closer to home, local stocked lakes are continuing to fish well. These smaller systems can fish out quickly, so success often comes down to timing and switching up presentations once fish become more selective. Eric goes over his tips on this and more in our local lake fishing report.
Be sure to swing by the shop for the latest reports and we’ll see you on the water this weekend!
🚧 Parking Update – We’ve Got You Covered!
If you’ve been by the shop as the Broadway Subway project rolls on, you’ve probably noticed parking in the area has become a bit of an adventure. The good news? There are still some solid options nearby once you know where to look.
We’ve put together an updated parking map to make things easier, and here are a few highlights:
- New 2-hour free parking on the north side of Broadway (just west of Ontario St.)—only a block from the shop
- Loading / quick drop-off zone just half a block west, perfect for a fast in-and-out
- Free hourly parking along Quebec and Manitoba Streets
It might take an extra minute or two, but we promise we’re still easy to get to and well worth the stop. Thanks for your patience while the neighbourhood evolves… we can’t wait to see you in the shop!
More details in the map below!
CLASSES AND COURSES
Introduction to Fly Fishing
Introduction to Fly Fishing Trout Streams
Stalking trout on mountain streams defines fly fishing. In this course we will teach you the fundamental techniques for fly fishing trout streams; dry fly fishing, nymphing, and streamer fishing. This course will get you as close to being Brad Pitt (River Runs Through It) as you will ever be! This course is comprised of one 3hr evening seminar.
Cost: $85.00+GST
Date: June 16, 2026
Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
INDUSTRY EVENTS AND UPDATES
Salmon Allocation Policy Town Halls
There was a great turnout at the Campbell River Town Hall last weekend and there ae TWO more town halls coming up THIS weekend. These town halls are a great opportunity to hear what’s being proposed, understand how it could affect anglers, local economies, conservation, and learn how to take action.
• Langley: April 18 - 10:00 to 12:00 - SouthRidge fellowship Church
• Victoria: April 19 - 10:00 to 12:00 - Langford Legion Hall
More details here - https://www.fishingrights.ca/getinvolved
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DFO Announces Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative and Mass Marketing
If you’ve been following the news, you’ve likely seen two important updates from DFO: the renewal of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) and a commitment to expand mass marking of hatchery Chinook across southern BC.
Both are encouraging steps for the recreational fishing community. Together, they signal progress toward better salmon recovery, improved fisheries management, and more consistent opportunities on the water.
There’s still plenty to unpack and more work ahead, but the direction is positive. The Sport Fishing Institute of BC put together a great summary of these two announcements. Check that out here.
FEATURE
If you have missed it earlier this week or want to take a second look, check out our latest Blob video. This week we’re focused on tying blobs but keep your eyes on your inbox or our social media feeds for our next video where we take a look at how to fish blobs.
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Chilliwack/Vedder Fishing Report
It's already mid-April, and as such we’re nearing the end of this steelhead season on the C/V system. While there are still some fish around, a vast majority of the run is already in the system, and a good portion of the run will be in the upper section of the river, which closed to fishing at the end of March.
There will still be some fresh fish entering the system over the coming weeks, but things are definitely tapering off, as is to be expected, for this time of year. The upshot to this is that a lot of anglers have hung up their waders for the season, so you’re less likely to deal with the atrocious crowds that the C/V is famous for... though true solitude is still unlikely. This is the C/V, after all.
The current water conditions aren’t excellent... the water levels are on a hard downward trend, but viz still isn’t great, varying from 1.5’-3.5’. Definitely fishable, but dirtier than most people would like. As such, you’ll want to have some larger presentations on hand- float gear, spoons, spinners and even swung flies are all taking fish, just adjust your presentation’s size and colour to suit the conditions. It’s likely that things will stay more or less the same next week, though levels may rise a bit if the daytime temps get high enough to trigger some snowmelt.
Keep in mind that the mid-section of the river, the section between the Vedder Crossing Bridge and the Tamihi Bridge, will close at the end of this month, leaving only the lower section, from the Vedder Crossing Bridge to the confluence with the Sumas River, open to fly fishing only for the month of May. Gear guys, now is the time to get your reps in if you still want to get out there!
Please handle any coloured-up fish that you happen to encounter carefully and with due respect and avoid any unnecessary wading to prevent the squishing of any salmon fry that happen to be hiding in the gravel.
Taylor Nakatani
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Harrison River Fishing Report
The past couple of weeks have brought a noticeable increase in fry activity—and with it, a big jump in trout action. With the warmer weather triggering fry movement, cutthroat trout have started hunting in packs, often moving with the tides as they search for out-migrating fry.
As the season progresses and temperatures rise, river levels will begin to climb. This can make access more challenging for anglers on foot, so if you’re planning to wade, it’s best to go sooner rather than later. Anglers fishing from a boat may find their window extends a bit longer, until freshet fully sets in and the river blows out.
Under higher water conditions, it’s worth focusing efforts around areas like the golf course, where fry push into vegetated shallows for cover from predators and current. Whether you’re wading or fishing from a boat, locating fish before making your first cast is key.
While these fish can be aggressive, they’re also sensitive and easily put down by sloppy presentations. They’ll often give themselves away, so blind casting isn’t the most effective approach as it can disturb the water and waste time over unproductive areas. Instead, take the time to observe. Watch how fish are feeding, identify their patterns, and make deliberate, well-placed casts. Move quietly when wading, and if you’re in a boat, drift or position yourself carefully to stay ahead of moving fish without alerting them.
A beautiful cutthroat that was sighted, stalked, and caught by Andre on one of his go-to fry patterns.
Photo: Mike Kliman
You may find that after a few attempts, fish stick around but become less responsive. When that happens, give them a rest. Once they settle and regain confidence, they’ll often return to feeding more aggressively. It can also pay to switch up your fry pattern; these fish can be surprisingly selective despite their aggressive behavior.
It’s also worth noting that this system typically isn’t a first-light fishery for cutthroat. There’s no need for a crack-of-dawn start. Most of the action tends to happen from mid- to late morning through early evening. Many anglers find the sweet spot is roughly 10:30 a.m. to 4–5 p.m., so you can skip the early still chilly mornings and still hit prime time.
As always, when targeting these fish, remember they are catch-and-release. Handle them with care and ensure they’re released safely.
If the Harrison isn’t in the cards—or feels like a bit of a stretch for the time you have—the Stave is a solid alternative. As a dam-controlled river, it can sometimes fish “too perfect,” with low, clear water conditions. In these situations, trout often become more active later in the day, especially in the fading light before sunset.
This is also a great opportunity to fish chum and chinook fry patterns, as these species tend to hatch and move during low-light periods. If you’re short on time at the vise, we’ve got you covered—there’s a strong selection of Andre’s proven fry patterns available in the shop.
On bright, sunny days, it can feel like there are no fish around—but often they’re simply inactive earlier in the day. An after-work session can be a great call. On overcast or rainy days, fish may stay active longer, so keep an eye out and learn to distinguish rise forms from raindrops.
If you happen to stumble across some larger caches of money while wading, please leave them there as the fish like to store their money in the River Bank...
Cheers,
Jordan Simpson
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Squamish River Fishing Report
Spring has been good to the Sea to Sky. After a rise in the levels last week the rivers have dropped and remain fishable. The river never blew but it did het high and move fish around. The Spring season is always hard to predict so keep an eye on the weather. Evening temps remain low so this will keep the big melt events at bay for now. The water levels should stay stable with some daytime melt providing small bumps and a little colour to the water.
Fry hatches continue and we will have more opportunities to fish fry and flashy baitfish patterns. These are staple in my Spring fly box as fish get aggressive and warm up. A well-stocked fly box for the Spring will include some small, detailed fry patterns (think Andres epoxy fry), some medium sized flash flies in the 2-3 inch range and finally some larger 3-4 inch weighted intruders and sculpin style flies. This will give anglers options to effectively fish a variety of river conditions and levels.
The main stem Squamish can be a little intimidating and we get a lot of questions of where to start. I have some quick tips for newer anglers getting out to explore.
Fish the “Spot within a Spot”
- The big runs can seem to go on forever but it’s important to break down the water and learn where the fishiest spots are. When approaching big water, I like to take some time to survey the river. Look for where the fast water slows down to walking speed. This is the area where suspended food items will deposit and Trout won’t have to waste much energy holding in the current. This also the area where fry will collect as they will seek the calmer, warmer shallow water. Swing cast and repeat until you have covered the water effectively. If you are able to fish the same areas a few times over a season you will eventually find that “Pocket” within a larger run that hold fish consistently.
Crunch points and pools
- Crunch or choke points are also great spots to target trout. Fry and prey items will get tumbled through fast bends or rapids and become easy targets for awaiting trout on the other side. The Squamish has plenty of these crunch spots that are worth your effort. You may need a weighted fly to fish deeper plunge pools or grab an indicator and a jig steamer to fish the depth of these spots.
Cover and structure
- It’s no surprise that fry and trout will seek out log jams, boulders and structure to hide behind. Logs and stumps will wash down river during high water and create all sorts of structure. I might not spend all day fishing behind the same stump, but a few cast into the pockets can yield some great catches. The jog jams and debris will change with every high-water event so your favorite spot might fish different after a flood.
Put in the leg work for future pay offs
- Because the Squamish is so large it pays to do some scouting. Most of my early season is spent covering many KM of river to build a good mental picture of what the river looks like. I take photos and videos of the best locations or make a short journal note. This will let me come back and spot hop the best locations and make the most of subsequent trips to the river.
The Spring fishery is an excellent time to go explore but the upper valley is still quite remote. Make sure you have plenty of layers as the mornings will be chilly and it gets cold fast once the sun drops behind the mountains.
Wildlife encounters will be common as Spring weather lures people out to explore, and groggy bears stumble out from their winter dens. Bear spray is a key piece of a safety kit and should be easily accessible when on the trail or on the water. Be bear aware and keep a clean camping site if you're spending the night.
Eric Peake
STILLWATER FISHING REPORTS
BC Interior Lakes Fishing Report
We had a bit of a cold snap mid-week, but it looks like that is behind us and there are some warm days ahead, more hatches and great fishing.
In the lower elevation lakes in Region 3 and Region 8, I am happy to report the chironomid hatches have started. I was out last weekend and there was great chironomid fishing when things warmed up in the afternoon, and the hatch was strong until about 4:30 pm. On the higher elevation lakes anglers are doing well on blobs, leeches, baby damsels, and bloodworms as lakes continue to ice off, turn over, and clean up.
The chrons were hatching in Region 3 lower elevation lakes this past week and made for some memorable fishing!
Further up in Region 5, some of the lower elevation lakes came off this week. Things are a little behind last year up there, but still early compared to a 20-year average. It’s been cold at night and there was fresh snow mid-week, but just like Region 3, things are warming up fast. Early this coming week the temps jump up to the high teens and low twenties, so that will take the ice off more lakes and get some of those lower elevation lakes turning and clearing. Chrons will be hatching as we move into the last week of April and first week of May. For now, it will be blobs and leeches on the menu.
Speaking of blobs check out our recent videos about blobs and how to tie them on Pacific Angler TV and stay tuned for more great lake videos on the way, including how to fish blobs, forward facing sonar, and chironomid fishing techniques.
Good luck on the lakes; it’s go time, and I will see you out there!
Jason Tonelli
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Local Lakes Fishing Report
Local lakes will continue to fish for the next little while. Check out Go Fish BC for the latest stocking reports and fish numbers. Smaller bodies of water can be fished out quickly and will be slow until the next batch of trout. Many of the Harrison area lakes received a fresh batch of fish earlier in the month so I expect these to fish well.
The key to continued success after the fish acclimatizes to the lakes is a variety of presentations. Yes, Powerbait works most of the time, but what if it doesn't? Gear anglers should have some small spinners and spoons along with a few types of baits; power worms, power bait, salmon eggs or shrimp to entice curious fish.
A little dock time with the kiddo.
For those looking to take full advantage of these lakes I would look to a personal watercraft. Small boats are not permitted on all stocked waterbodies but some lakes fish best from a boat. A Fishcat or belly boat lets you access all the spots on a lake and cover the most water. These are lightweight, versatile and easily pack down for transport and storage. Small watercraft are also extremely useful once the waterlilies and vegetation build on the lake edges limiting access for shore angling. If you are looking to fish the summer for trout or bass, a watercraft will make a big difference.
Stocked Lakes are easy access, urban fishing opportunities designed to accommodate new anglers, families, and people with mobility issues… For many this is their first introduction to fishing.
Let’s keep a positive and accepting learning environment for newcomers to the sport. Keep your fishing area cleaner than when you found it and be courteous to your fellow anglers.
Eric Peake
