OUTLOOK 

Can you believe we're already in the back half of July?  This summer is flying by! 

We’ve got some exciting updates for freshwater anglers this week, with fresh reports from both the Skagit and Chilliwack/Vedder Rivers.  Fishing on both systems is in full swing, and we've been hearing some good reports.  If you're planning a trip to either river, be sure to check out Taylor and Jay’s detailed reports below. 

On the saltwater side, beach anglers have had some productive days targeting coho, and we're starting to hear whispers of the first pink salmon showing up — an encouraging sign of what's to come. 

If you're heading out on your own boat or joining a guided trip, you'll know it's been another solid week for coho fishing, and the rest of the season is shaping up to be a strong one.  July 15 also marked the chinook opening northwest of Gower Point and over near Gabriola in Areas 17-10, 17-11, and 17-12.  While recent winds have made it a bit tricky to reach Area 17 from the Lower Mainland, those who’ve found some pockets of smoother seas and made the trip have found it well worth the effort.  Jason breaks down all the latest on both coho and chinook in his report this week. 

In the shop, we're busy helping you gear up for your next summer adventure.  Looking ahead to a busy fall season, we're also expanding our retail team.  If you're interested in joining us, be sure to check out the job posting below. 

We’re Hiring!  Join our retail team at Pacific Angler!

We are looking for a self-motivated team player with previous retail, e-commerce or related customer service experience and a passion for fishing to join our team.    

The ideal candidate should be passionate about fishing and involved in the fishing community and lifestyle. You have previous retail/e-commerce/customer service experience, have a friendly and outgoing personality, be reliable and responsible and possess the willingness to work. We are looking for someone with a flexible schedule including weekends and some holidays. A strong knowledge of our local fisheries is ideal, but we are willing to work with the right candidate that might be newer to our fisheries, with the expectation that you will learn our local waters quickly. 

Find out more details on the position and how to apply here!

FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Chilliwack/Vedder River Fishing Report 

It’s mid-July, so the C/V system’s summer salmon fishery has ramped up and is pretty much in full swing. There are good numbers of summer chinook and reasonable numbers of sockeye in the system... though, as predicted, the very low and clear water conditions are making things challenging. There are a lot of fish holed up in a few of the lower river spots and those fish are facing extremely heavy angling pressure as a result.  

Of course, fish are making their way through the lower and into the mid and upper stretches of the river, albeit slower than normal, so there are angling opportunities in those areas as well- often with a bit less angling pressure than the lower river.  Bait, beads, blades, jigs, gooey bobs and yarn are all producing fish and will all continue producing fish; no surprises there. With the low and clear conditions, you’ll want to focus your angling effort on deep, fast stuff- runs or the head of a pool, for example. Summer chinook are strong fish that generally prefer to sit in faster water than their fall-run cousins (warmer water = higher metabolic rates, higher metabolic rates = higher oxygen requirements, faster water = more dissolved oxygen), so keep that in mind when you’re looking for them. Also keep in mind that they tend to be quite “showy” and will often give themselves away by jumping or rising, so keep an eye out for surface activity.  

As I’ve said in my previous reports, this fishery will stay good until the end of the month, at which point it tapers off very rapidly; the run is pretty much done by the 2nd week of August. It’s peak season right now, so now is the time to be getting out there. First light is going to be your best bet, as you’re more likely to find aggressive, travelling fish that are actually willing to bite... though I’ve had success at all times of day.  Remember that there will be a bunch of sockeye moving through the system alongside the chinook; these sockeye may not be targeted or retained due to their threatened status. Despite the common belief that sockeye don’t bite in freshwater they are very commonly encountered while targeting chinook, so make sure to identify your catch before landing it and ensure that any sockeye you hook is landed and released as quickly and carefully as possible.  

Taylor Nakatani 

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Skagit  River Fishing Report 

Skagit season is well underway now, and we’ve been hearing lots of positive reports of strong fishing throughout the day.  There haven’t been as many reports of early season big fish compared with last year, but there are lots of fish in the system.  With great weather and summer vacation comes increased angling pressure and we’ve heard multiple reports of a fair number of anglers fishing the more accessible upper sections of the river.  It’s not quite Vedder river busy, but if you’re hoping to avoid sharing the beat you’re going to need to do a bit more walking.  I would recommend taking a bit of an extended walk down to the lower sections of the river and search for some less-pressured fish.   

While we all want to throw dry flies and watch surface eats all day, the reality is that if you want to spike fish all day you’re going to need some sub-surface presentations.  I like to carry a couple of different fly rods on a Skagit trip and leave them rigged up and ready to switch, but that’s admittedly a luxury.   We’ve been seeing lots of new fly anglers in the shop of late, so I wanted to touch quickly on a simple setup that will allow you to cover the most situations with one floating line.   

Beginner Skagit Setup 

If you’ve ever come to chat with the fellas in the shop about a beginner fly setup for trout, you’ve heard us espouse the virtues of a 9’ 5wt. fly setup for its versatility and ease of use for beginners.  It splits the difference well and will throw dry flies in morning and evening, nymph with an indicator all day, and throw streamers with a sink tip or leader  for bigger predatory fish hiding in deep cover.   

Nymphing with an indicator is a terrific way to fish the Skagit all day long, but it will become especially important as the sun and temperature rises through the day.  The easiest way to set up a highly effective nymphing rig is to combine the Oros strike indicators with a standard tapered leader, join the tippet to the leader with a micro swivel and tie on a classic attractor nymph with a non-slip loop knot.  Classics for the Skagit include Pat’s Rubber Leg, Prince Nymphs, Hare’s Ears and Pheasant Tail nymphs.   

Essentials for a Full Day of Skagit Fly Fishing 

If you can only have one fly line, make it a floating one and keep a selection of sinking leaders with you to turn it into a de facto sink tip line.  These can go by a few different names. Airflo calls them polyleaders and we carry the versileaders from Rio here in our shop in three different sink rates measured in inches per second: 1.5IPS, 4IPS, and 6IPS.  It’s important to remember those sink rates are measured in still water so in moving rivers with a fly on the end these are more of a range than an exact calculation.  Add a short section of leader material onto the end of your sinking leader, tie on something white and/or with bunny strip and enjoy the methodical cast, swing, step of streamer fishing.   

Jay Awrey 

STURGEON FISHING REPORTS 

Vancouver Sturgeon Fishing Report 

The bulk of the high water from freshet is behind us, but we’re still seeing solid flow and decent water levels thanks to the warm weather. That means a bit less debris coming downriver, but don’t get too comfortable, always keep an eye out for logs that can take out your anchor line. 

With the heavy current that sticks around through most of the summer, getting your bait to stay put is key. If it’s dragging or bouncing around, your chances of getting bit go way down. You’ll want to run 20oz to 26oz wedge weights depending on where you’re fishing, and in some of those heavier main flow zones, don’t be afraid to go even heavier. 

Quick boat side release for this 5-footer

Timing your trip can make a big difference - especially in the tidal portion of the Fraser. The tide swings here are no joke. On a big flood tide, you’ll find yourself anchored facing east, with the river flowing back towards the mountains. That’s not a bad thing. You want current –regardless of direction. It keeps your boat lined up, keeps your gear tight, and helps push scent both downstream and upstream to hungry sturgeon. 

Slack tide, on the other hand, is tough. The boat won’t sit properly, your connection to the bait goes soft, and scent dispersal basically stops. That said, you also don’t want to fish right in the peak of a heavy tide. A strong outgoing tide combined with high river discharge can make holding bottom and even holding anchor a challenge. The sweet spot tends to be just after slack or when the current starts to ease up heading into the next high or low. 

Getting airborne down on the Lower Fraser! 

As for bait, it’s a bit of a mixed bag right now. Sturgeon typically key in on what’s naturally available in the system, and right now, that’s somewhat limited. The best approach is to bring a good variety and see what gets the most attention. Pike minnow, lamprey, roe, and salmon scraps are all solid bets. In just a couple weeks, pinks will start pushing in, and once they do, that’s what the sturgeon will be dialed in on. Save those pink heads and spines, they’ll come in handy. 

Cheers, 

Jake Comrie 

SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report 

It’s been a month since the coho showed up in full force, almost to the day, and what a month it has been.  Coho fishing has been nothing short of fantastic this past week, just like the previous 3 weeks, and there are still many more to come.   

What has changed is we are now seeing some good numbers of coho from Point Atkinson down to the Capilano River Mouth.  There are still plenty of coho off South Bowen Island and further up the Sunshine Coast, but it’s great to see some good size schools of fish so close to the city.   

As we move into August, these numbers should only increase, as the Capilano River remains low, fish destined for the Capilano or Seymour systems will hold in the saltwater until the fall rains. That means more opportunities right along the West Vancouver shoreline down to the Cap— ideal if conditions off South Bowen are rough or you’re short on time. 

 Eddie’s guests with some great coho from a morning trip in local waters. 

As many of you know, chinook are now open NW of Gower Point and over off Gabriola Island in Area 17-10, 17-11 and 17-12.  You can retain 1 chinook (hatchery or wild) a day, greater than 62cm, up to 80 cm.  Anything less than 62cm or greater than 80cm needs to be released.  The winds kept us from Area 17 on opening day of July 15, but on Thursday the NW backed off later in the afternoon and one of our boats was able to zip over a few hours and was rewarded with some excellent chinook fishing.   

This fishery will continue all of July and August and is literally some of the best chinook fishing on the entire coast.  Double digit days are the norm, not the exception, and we can also retain rockfish and lingcod in this area.  If you haven’t experienced this fishery, it’s never been better in recorded history and now is the time, so give us a call. 

PA Guide Josh Lo had to wait until late in the day to make the crossing on Thursday, but it was worth the wait with red hot chinook fishing for his guests, pictured here with their chinook, coho, and some rockfish and a ling. 

See you in the shop or on the water, 

Jason Tonelli 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ Vancouver Beach Fishing Report 

The beach is the best chance to catch summer salmon without leaving the city. Coho fishing has been decent, and we have the first confirmed reports of pinks being caught on the beach. 

The timing for the pink run will change every year. With the first few making an appearance I wouldn’t go all out pink salmon fever yet. Coho are still the dominant target for the next few weeks. Spinner spoons and buzz bombs will take fish and allow anglers to cover a range of depths. Tides are looking great for the weekend so it should be a good one. We have plenty of combos to start out new anglers in this fishery or refill the tackle box for those already fishing. 

As we see more pinks enter the inlet, you can slowly change the gear over to include Tasmanian devils and small pink flies. A quick pro tip: a 2-3 inch pink buzz bomb will catch coho and pinks. Ambleside will usually show the first fish followed by encounters on other beaches in North Van beaches as the weeks progress.  

This can be an exciting time of year to get on the water. With the buzz of pinks about I expect to see more anglers out than usual. Try to get out early to maximize the tide changes and get a decent spot... there will be plenty of space for everyone and I expect to see some good success over the weekend. Always be patient with your fellow anglers and keep our beaches cleaner than when you found them.  

Not much to report on the river. It’s low and clear but you may be able to grind a fish on the smallest of gear at first light. 

Cheers 

Eric Peake