Pacific Angler Friday Fishing Report: January 9, 2026

OUTLOOK 

Happy Friday!  We hope everyone’s first full week back to regular schedules after the holidays went smoothly. 

We’re looking ahead with excitement to some of our favourite upcoming fisheries, along with a great lineup of courses this month.  Be sure to check out our full January course schedule, especially if steelhead fishing is on your radar this winter. 

In this week’s report, we’re sharing a mid-month update on steelhead and trout fishing in our local waters, plus a saltwater update after an excellent week of winter chinook fishing. Pair that with our winter chinook guided trip promotion, and there’s no better time to get out on the water! 

We’ve also included important information on changes to recreational boat licenses, so if you own or operate a boat, be sure not to miss that update. 

Have a great weekend, and we hope to see you on the water or in the shop soon

CLASSES AND COURSES 

We’ve got a little something for everyone this month - from fly tying classes and a steelhead float fishing seminar to a brand-new course, Nymphing Coastal Streams. Check out the details on our January classes below and be sure to sign up online or give the shop a call before spots fill up! 

Tying Essential Steelhead Patterns

This course is designed for the fly tyer looking to get the best start on tying steelhead patterns. In the 3-hour evening seminar your instructor will cover everything from tying techniques, material and colour choices, size and weight.  They will walk you through 3 essential patterns that will build a well-rounded steelhead fly box. If you’re looking to get yourself into tying your own flies for steelhead, this is the course for you.

Students are required to supply their own vise, tools and materials.  A 10% discount is available on materials and tools purchased for the course.
This course is suitable for fly tyers with a basic knowledge.

Cost: $85.00+GST                    
Dates: Jan 13
Time:  6:30pm – 9:30pm (at the store) 

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Steelhead Float Fishing

In this fishery, 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the fish. This is your chance to learn from the 10%! Our 3hr evening seminar will educate you on the gear, water types, conditions and other key variables that put veteran steelhead anglers in that 10%. 

You will learn about the top steelhead float fishing presentations including specific presentations for low and clear water, medium "steelhead green" water, and high and dirty water.  We will talk about the rods, reels, floats, and leaders that work well for steelhead. You will also learn how to read the river so you know where steelhead will be holding in different water conditions and how to fish those types of water and conditions.  Other key variables and secrets will be discussed that will help you become a better steelheader.

Course Instructor:  Taylor Nakatani
Cost: $85.00+GST
Date:  Jan 20
Time:  6:30pm-9:30pm

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Nymphing Coastal Streams

This course is designed to teach you the secrets to one of the most productive presentations in the BC fly fishermen’s arsenal; indicator nymphing. This deadly method can be used across season for different species of trout, char, and salmon. We focus on fundamentals of nymphing, specifics on egging and a light dive into tight line / euro techniques. We also do a deep dive in to the gear you need to make the most of your time on the water.

Seminar Only Cost: $85+GST
Seminar Date: January 21 6:30-9:30 PM
Seminar & Guided Walk’n Wade Cost: $375.00+GST per angler, minimum of 2 anglers per guided day on the water.  
Walk 'n Wade Dates: Saturday, January 24 or Sunday, January 25

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Tying Intruder Patterns

In this one-night course you will learn about the specifics techniques and unique materials used to tie Intruder style flies.  At the end of this course, you will have the skills needed to tie a variety of Intruder style flies from multistage, monster flies for high water, average sized flies for everyday conditions, down to small, mini intruders for low water.    Students are required to supply their own vise, tools and materials. A detailed list of what materials are needed will be supplied in advance of the course. A 10% discount is available on materials and tools purchased for the course.
This course is suitable for intermediate to advanced tyers.

Cost: $85.00+GST                          
Date: January 27, 2026
Time:  6:30pm – 9:30pm

INDUSTRY EVENTS AND UPDATES 

Transport Canada Makes Changes to Recreational Boat Licenses 

It’s mid-January and usually that means low and clear water conditions for many of the rivers around the Vancouver area and out into the Lower Mainland.  It’s this time of year we often see a few weeks of freezing conditions during the day and night, but this year it has been very mild and very wet.  

We have more rain coming this weekend and we aren’t seeing any freezing at night, so the rivers will bump again this weekend and potentially reduced visibility.  This means the fish will be close to shore and your presentations on gear or fly should be big and bright so the winter steelhead can see them.  Although reduced visibility of less than a few feet is far from ideal for winter steelhead, decent catches can be had by using larger presentations like big soft beads, gooey bobs, pink worms, spin n glos, and scent or bait (roe and prawns) where allowed.  Colours like hot pink, cerise, flame, and chartreuse, or a combination of these, are all good choices for dirty water presentations or flies. 

The one good thing about all the rain, at least from a trout anglers’ perspective, is that it keeps things moving on the bottom, and that means a fresh supply of salmon eggs for hungry resident rainbow trout and bull trout.  Float fishing smaller soft beads or hard beads that imitate coho, chinook, and chum eggs can be productive this time of year.  Fly fisherman will also do well with the egg patterns or the same beads, nymphed under an indicator or euro nymph style.  Often this fishing is tough in January because the rivers are so low and clear, but with all the rain this year has provided some better than usual trout opportunities.  

If you are new to steelhead float fishing or want to up your game this year, I highly recommend Taylor’s Steelhead Float Fishing Course where you will learn about reading water and top steelhead tactics.  This course is on Jan 20th, and there are only a few spots left so sign up online ASAP. 

One of the joys about fly fishing for steelhead is tying your own flies.  Steelhead flies are a lot of fun to tie, they are big, and you can take some creative liberties.  That being said, there are some styles and colours you don’t want to be without if you hope to have consistent success swinging flies for steelhead.  That is why we have Eric’s Tying Essential Steelhead Patterns Course on Jan 13.  Eric is a master tier, so if you want to learn more about tying steelhead flies, this is the course for you.  Another great course to take is  Tying Intruder Steelhead Patterns.  This style of fly and the many variations are considered a core learning for all serious steelheaders.  This course will teach you how to tie flies for high water all the way down to low water, so you are ready for all conditions. 

Good luck out on the rivers in the coming weeks and I hope conditions line up for your adventure.

Jason Tonelli  

SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Vancouver Winter Fishing for Chinook Salmon – Mid January Report 

As we enter into mid-January, we are right in the middle of the winter chinook season, which generally starts early November and closes March 31st. Current regulations are 2 chinook salmon per day, wild or hatchery (missing adipose), 62cm or greater.  

Fishing last week and into this week has been great, with a definite push of larger chinook into Vancouver Harbour and Lower Howe Sound.  In terms of where to go, that will depend on the size of your boat and the marine forecast, as a lot of spots are now producing some really nice fish.   

One of our friends and fellow guide down on Granville Island got a 90cm fish, which would put its weight into the high teens (in pounds), off the Cap Mouth.  Other anglers have had some nice fish in the Freighters and off the Bell Buoy.  Eddie was out on Thursday and had some great fishing in Howe Sound.  On previous trips, we ran over to Gabriola and had multiple keeper chinook there as well.  Just like previous years, the winter chinook population in and around Vancouver is doing extremely well.  

 Eddie’s guest with 5 nice winter chinook from Thursday. 

With the mild temperatures and all the rain, the water really isn’t that clear for this time of year.  As a result, we have been doing well on brighter presentations that include green, chartreuse, and of course glow.  Productive flashers have been Gibbs Lemon Lime in green or chartreuse blades, Phantom in chartreuse, and of course the Salty Dawg from Oki Tackle.  For spoons, the same colours have been doing well, so green and chartreuse with glow.  Kingfisher 3.0 or 3.5 in Irish Cream, Skinny G in Trailhead or Irish Cream or G-Force 3.0 and 3.5 in the same colours.  The glow chartreuse splatter back Yamashita G140R hootchy is also a must have all winter long and has taken its fair share of fish this past week. 

If you want to book a charter, now would be an excellent time, the fish are in and we are running our Winter Chinook Special: 

1-4 guests, fishing and prawning, for $1,300 plus GST 

5-6 guests, fishing and prawning, for $1,500 plus GST 

To book a trip give us a call at 778-788-8582 or email us at kathryn@pacificangler.ca  

Jason Tonelli