Pacific Angler Friday Fishing Report: July 10, 2026

OUTLOOK 

Summer fishing is hitting its stride, and this week's report is packed with updates.  Freshwater anglers will find updates from the Chilliwack/Vedder, where chinook numbers are steadily building, as well as the Skagit, where trout fishing continues to produce and we've included important access and floating updates. If battling giants is more your style, Fraser River sturgeon fishing is hitting its stride as fish settle into their summer feeding patterns. 

On the saltwater side, coho fishing continues to be one of highlights of the season so far, and excitement is building with the Area 17 chinook opening coming up on July 15. There are also several important regulation changes taking effect that day, so if you're planning to fish the salt this summer, be sure to read this week's report carefully to make sure you're up to date before heading out. 

Getting to the shop is easier than it has been in quite some time, too. Construction on the Broadway Subway Project continues to make great progress. Broadway is now open to two lanes in each direction, and we're happy to report that our loading and quick-stop zone directly in front of the shop is back. Whether you need a few last-minute supplies before the weekend or want to browse the latest gear, it's now much easier to swing by, and there is plenty of parking available nearby. 

It's back – Free parking out' front of the shop! 

Finally, if you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check out our new Limited Edition Pacific Angler Coho Trolling Kit. We put together the same proven tackle combinations featured in our new Saltwater Salmon Series Coho Trolling Tactics video, making it easy to get rigged with confidence for one of the best parts of the salmon season. 

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

CLASSES AND COURSES 

Our courses for the Summer are sold out but it's never too early to start thinking about the Fall  

INDUSTRY EVENTS AND UPDATES 

Important Regulation Updates 

There were lots of DFO FN this week (Fisheries Notices).  Here they are and what they mean. 

HOOKS 

Let’s start with hooks.  This one came out of nowhere.  As of July 15, there is a ban on all treble hooks when fishing for salmon.  You can still use one or two (tandem rig) single hooks, but the hook gap (point to shank) must not exceed 22mm.  Usually salmon hooks are 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0 and most will still be legal, but it depends on the brand and model.  I measured a standard 4/0 Octopus style hook and it was 15mm.  The industry was expecting some regulations where Chinook Mark Select Fisheries are in place, and what we thought we would see is a ban on single hooks in excess of 15mm.  This would keep hook size at about a 3/0 and studies show that this size or smaller increases catch and release survival rate because of the shorter hook shank and thinner wire resulting in less bleeders.  

I am not sure where the 22mm came from or the logic on the treble hooks, but it sounds like they will be checking for this as of July 15.  The SFAB and the fishing industry in general is pushing back on how and when this was announced, so stay tuned. 

For more information and some tips on using a nickel and quarter to measure hooks size, read this article by Island Fisherman Magazine:  Sudden Hook Ban 

DFO FN0677 

Effective July 15, 2026, when fishing for salmon in all tidal waters, the following regulations apply: 

Using a hook having more than one point (e.g., a treble hook) is no longer permitted when fishing for salmon in tidal waters; and 

Using a single hook with a measurement greater than 22 millimeters from point to shank is not permitted when fishing for salmon in tidal waters (i.e., the gap width of the hook must be 22 mm or less when fishing for salmon). 

For clarity, the use of more than one single hook is permitted (e.g., using two single hooks in a tandem set up is permitted). 

DFO AREA 17 

Same as last year, if you are heading over to Gabriola (Area 17) you can fish for and retain one chinook 62cm or greater, but not greater than 80cm.  So this means you can fish popular spots like the Thrasher Rock, The Grande, and Entrance Island.  Watch Thrasher though as you are close to the line there. 

FN0674 

CHINOOK NON-RETENTION AREAS: 

Effective 00:01 hours August 1 until 23:59 hours October 15, 2026 - Subareas 17-5 to 17-7, 17-9, 17-13 to 17-17, 17-19 and 17-20; and that portion of Subarea 17-4 except for those waters southeasterly of a line from Shingle Point to Pilkey Point; and that portion of Subarea 17-12 inside a line from Tinson Point to Snake Island Light (RCA boundary) to the southern Five Finger Island group, then to the RCA boundary starting at Horswell Channel Buoy (49°12.93'N and 123°56.03'W), thence true west to a point on shore north of Horswell Bluff located at 49°12.93N and 123°56.47'W; and 

In Subareas 17-18 to 17-20 and a portion of 17-12, those waters inside a line from Icarus Point on Vancouver Island true north 2 nautical miles, thence northwesterly to the Navy buoy in Ballenas Channel, thence to Nankivell Point at the entrance to Schooner Cove on Vancouver Island. 

CHINOOK RETENTION OPPORTUNITIES (EXCLUDING THOSE PORTIONS LISTED ABOVE AS CLOSED OR NON-RETENTION): 

Effective 00:01 hours July 15 to 23:59 hours August 31, 2026: One (1) Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook. 

DFO AREA 29 

This one always causes mass confusion and gets the phone ringing.  No, you cannot fish for chinook off the Fraser Mouth or in Area 29-3 after Aug 1.  It does read that way, the key here is reading the exceptions.  You can fish for chinook basically north of Gower Point though after Aug 1, however it’s not usually that productive of a chinook spot that time of year.  You would be better off running across to Area 17 if conditions allow. 

DFO FN0675SUBAREAS 29-3 to 29-5 and 29-8 

CHINOOK FISHING CLOSURE: 

Effective 00:01 hours April 1 until 23:59 hours August 31, 2026, the following areas are closed to fishing for Chinook: 

Those portions of Subareas 29-3 to 29-5 that lie east of a line from Gower Point (49°23.021’N, 123°32.166’ W) near Gibsons to Shah Point on the southern tip of Valdes Island (49°01.695’N, 123°35.721’W). 

SUBAREAS 29-3 TO 29-5 AND 29-8 CHINOOK RETENTION OPPORTUNITIES (EXCLUDING THOSE CLOSED AND NON-RETENTION AREAS/PERIODS LISTED ABOVE): 

Effective 00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours August 31, 2026: One (1) Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook. 

Effective 00:01 hours September 1, 2026, until further notice: Two (2) Chinook per day, no maximum size limit. 

REMINDER: Chinook minimum size limit is 62 cm in Subareas 29-1 to 29-5 and 29-8. 

If you have any questions, feel free to phone the shop or send us an email and we will help you out.  Lots of coho and chinook around, so the rest of the summer should be great.  The Fraser Mouth will open Sep 1, back to 2 chinook per day, no max size limit, hatchery or wild, min size 62cm.  So, we have that to look forward to.  Area 17 will also be excellent once it opens July 15.  I was over there test fishing last week and there were a lot of chinook around! 

See you in the shop or on the water, 

Jason Tonelli  

PRODUCT FEATURE 

Pacific Angler Limited Edition Coho Trolling Kit 

After releasing our new Saltwater Salmon Series Video on trolling for coho, we had a lot of anglers asking if they could get the setup featured in the video without having to piece everything together themselves. 

So we did just that. 

Our Limited Edition Pacific Angler Coho Kit is built around the same proven gear our staff and guide team use on the water and is talked about throughout the video.  Inside these kits you'll find a hand-picked selection of flashers, hoochies, spoons and terminal tackle that work together to create a productive, ready-to-fish setup. 

It's an easy way to get on the water with proven coho trolling setups, whether you're new to salmon fishing or simply looking to refresh your gear. 

🎥 Haven't watched the full Coho Trolling Tactics video yet? Check it out here to learn how we fish everything included in the kit. 

🛒 Coho Trolling Kits available now online and in-store while quantities last. 

FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Chilliwack/Vedder Fishing Report 

The C/V system is continuing to drop as we approach the middle of the month. While the water is low, it’s not quite as low as I thought, and some chinook have been able to make their way into the mid and upper sections of the river. I’ve heard of more than a few chinook being caught, and that number will be increasing daily; fishing will be picking up as we head into the middle of the month, so the best is still to come.  

Float fishing with roe, beads (soft or hard), blades and jigs are all good options when targeting summer chinook. Note that summer chinook tend to hold in faster water than their fall-run cousins, so don’t ignore the head or tailout of a run.  

In addition to the chinook, there are some sockeye starting to roll into the system as well. Despite what some folks say, sockeye do in fact bite, so hooking them while targeting chinook is not at all uncommon... though you may not specifically target them, and you certainly can’t retain them.  

Sockeye are fragile fish that do not tolerate poor handling practices well at all, so please be sure to handle any sockeye they you encounter with care- get it landed and released as quickly as possible, keep it in the water, and minimize handling.  Sockeye and chinook don’t normally occupy the same water, unless the water is extremely low, which is not currently the case, so If you’re fishing a spot and catching nothing but sockeye, it’s probably a good idea to move on to a different spot to avoid unnecessary encounters with fragile, endangered fish.  

Skagit River Fishing Report 

The Skagit has been good with anglers finding fish in the upper and lower river. We have had a number of reports coming in regarding access and log jams. We also have an update on the work being done at Sumalo Grove. Water levels are slowly on the descent but is still a little high. With this in mind, it’s important to go with a few options of dries, nymphs and streamers to make the most of your time out. A little about how I choose my Skagit flies below: 

Nymphs: 

Most of my early season Skagit fish are fooled by nymphs. I like to carry a large, medium and small size nymphs… I prefer heavily weighted jig style flies to get down in faster moving water. A bonus here is that I can usually get away fishing a heavy nymph without split shot. This makes for a better casting experience and more tangle free presentation. Brown pheasant tails, golden stones, hare's ears and girdle bugs will do the trick. 

Dry Flies: 

Large hatches have been hard to time, but dries have started to take fish. I think it’s worth having a second rod rigged up and ready for a quick hatch or active rising fish. Your standard smaller Adam’s, Klinkhammer, mayflies, and smaller terrestrials have been fooling fish up and down river. Dry fly fishing outside a hatch can sometimes be a grind, but each surface take is worth it. More substantial hatches have been reported in the evenings and mixed weather days. 

Streamers: 

Bull trout have taken up residence in the deepest pools and runs and make excellent targets for streamer anglers. There is nothing quite like the big eat of a big bull trout on a swung fly. White, black and olive rabbit strip flies will be a good starting point. Look for flies with breathable movement that look animated and alive. Patterns like the Slumpbuster, Kiwi Muddler or the good old Wooly Bugger will work great. 

Nice rainbow on the drift 

With the higher water, we have had some questions about drifts on the lower. There are a few navigable log jams that will require you to get out and walk but the main portion of the float is fine. Most frameless rafts will have no trouble, but larger boats or framed rafts will be a bit of work to pack around. As with any moving water, know your limits and comfort level and think safety first. Wear your PFD. 

Sumalo Grove Update: 

The gate to Sumallo Grove is closed, and construction crews are working in the area. Public access to the grove and the start of the Skagit River Trail is currently not permitted. This is expected to be closed until October… not ideal for the Skagit angler but we will keep you posted on any updates. 

A friendly reminder that camping is only permitted in designated camp sites. Make sure you have your bear spray and your bug spray. Be kind and courteous to your fellow anglers, and pack out any garbage you bring in. 

Eric Peake 

Fraser River Sturgeon Fishing Report 

Sturgeon fishing on the Fraser continues to be productive as water levels settle following freshet. The fish have spread into their summer holding areas and are feeding aggressively, making this an excellent time to target these incredible fish. Roe, lamprey, and pikeminnow have all been producing consistently. 

A mighty Lower Fraser Sturgeon! 

If you've been thinking about trying Fraser River sturgeon fishing, summer is a fantastic time to get out. Our guided trips depart from Richmond aboard our 22-foot jet boat, putting you on world-class sturgeon water just minutes from downtown Vancouver. It's an unforgettable day on the river, with the chance to battle some true giants while enjoying the sunshine.  Give us a call at 778.788.8582 or email bookings@pacificangler.ca to lock in your trip today! 

Planning to head out on your own? We've got all the tackle, terminal gear, and bait you'll need to get rigged up. And if you don't have a boat, don't worry, excellent shore opportunities are available as well. Stop by the shop and we'll help you put together a productive setup and point you toward some great local bank fishing locations. 

Kathryn Sharp 

SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Vancouver Salmon Fishing Report 

It’s all about the coho!  Fishing has been awesome this week with lots of hatchery coho around.  There is no better way to show you how good the coho fishing has been than our recently released Coho Trolling Tactics video on YouTube that was filmed last week. 

When it comes to what is working, that is covered in the video in detail.  We made it easy for you by putting all our top producers in a PA Coho Trolling Kit so make sure you check that out, limited quantities are available! 

As you can see from the photo, hatchery coho fishing has been exceptional.  This should continue well into August.  

Chinook will open in Area 17 on July 15.  This is a red hot chinook fishery that goes all of July and August.  Without a doubt this is our favorite trip to do.  You can fish for chinook, coho, lingcod, and rockfish all on the same trip and it’s not uncommon to get a limit of each.   

This is what you can expect when you head to Area 17 in one of our boats! 

July is filling up fast, so if you are interested in a local coho trip, or heading over to Area 17 for some chinook, coho, and bottom fishing, give us a call to book a trip! 

Stay tuned for more videos on coho fishing, chinook fishing, and boat setups.  Subscribe to our Newsletter at the bottom of our Home Page.  Check out and subscribe to our videos at Pacific Angler TV and follow us on Instagram @pacificanglersportfishing for the latest on Vancouver summer salmon fishing. 

See you in the shop or on the water,

Jason Tonelli & the PA Guide Team