OUTLOOK
Father's Day weekend is here, and with it comes some fantastic fishing opportunities around the Lower Mainland and beyond. Don’t forget it is also BC Family Fishing Weekend – be sure to check out all the fun events and opportunities for free licensing at gofishbc.com.
Saltwater anglers are enjoying some of the best coho fishing we've seen so far this season, with good numbers of fish showing up on all of our trips. On our longer trips lingcod and rockfish fishing continues to be productive as well, making this an excellent time to get out on the salt. Check out all the details in Jake’s report below!
For freshwater anglers, the Skagit River opening is just around the corner and we're taking a closer look at one of BC's most unique trout fisheries in this week's report. Local stocked lakes are still producing fish, especially if you're willing to venture a little farther from the city. Recent stockings throughout the Sea-to-Sky corridor have created some great opportunities for anglers looking to chase trout in beautiful surroundings.
We've also got a new Pacific Angler Favourites video this week focusing on Stillwater fly lines. Choosing the right line can make a huge difference and we break down some of our go-to options. If you haven’t watched it yet, don’t miss it!
And of course, it's Father's Day weekend. If you're still looking for the perfect gift for Dad, we've got plenty of great options both in-store and online - from rods, reels, tackle, fly fishing gear, and apparel to courses and guided fishing adventures. Not sure exactly what he'd like? Our Father's Day Gift Card Sale is on until June 21, making it easy to let Dad pick out exactly what he wants while saving a little money at the same time.
Whether you're planning a day on the water with family, sneaking away for an early morning fish, or shopping for the fishing enthusiast in your life, it's shaping up to be a great weekend to be part of the fishing community.
CLASSES AND COURSES
Introduction to Fly Fishing
INDUSTRY EVENTS AND UPDATES
Father's Day Gift Card Sale: Give Dad More Fishing for Less!
Looking for a Father's Day gift that's guaranteed to get used? Whether Dad has been eyeing a new rod, wanting to stock up on tackle, sign up for a course, or planning his next fishing adventure, a Pacific Angler Gift Card lets him choose exactly what he wants.
For a limited time, we're making our gift cards go even further.
Father's Day Gift Card Sale - June 12 – June 21*
(*Sale ends at 5:00 PM in-store and 11:59 PM online on June 21)
Save on Gift Cards
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Buy a $100 Gift Card for $90
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Buy a $200 Gift Card for $180
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Buy a $500 Gift Card for $450
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Buy a $1000 Gift Card for $850
Whether you're shopping for Dad or treating yourself, this is a great opportunity to save on future gear purchases, classes, and more.
Come Work With Us! We're Hiring a Marketing Specialist
After years of growth, we're excited to add a dedicated Marketing Specialist to the Pacific Angler team. If you or you know someone who would be a great fit, please share this opportunity with them.
Check out all the details HERE!
PRODUCT FEATURE
Pacific Angler Favourites: Our Go-To Stillwater Fly Lines
Choosing the right fly line can make all the difference when fishing the Interior lakes. In this edition of Pacific Angler Favourites, we take a look at some of our go-to Scientific Anglers fly lines for indicator fishing, fishing just below the surface, and getting down deeper with sinking lines.
We cover two of our favourite indicator lines—the Amplitude Smooth Anadro Indicator and the Titan Long—as well as the Emerger Tip and Clear Water Camo lines for targeting fish feeding in the top few feet of the water column. We also break down the Scientific Anglers Sonar Stillwater series and explain how different sink rates can help you effectively cover the entire water column throughout the season.
Whether you're fishing chironomids, damselflies, leeches, dragons, or attractor patterns, selecting the right line can help you fish more effectively and catch more fish.
Watch the full video below to learn when and where we use each line and how they fit into our stillwater fly fishing setups or swing by the shop and we can give you a hand!
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Skagit River Trout Primer
The Skagit is a beautiful little trout river just outside of Hope. It flows from its Canada headwaters south to Ross Lake. The river is home to a large population of dry fly sipping rainbow trout and large aggressive streamer eating bull trout. The fishing season is short spanning July-October and is a catch and release fishery only. It is open to gear and fly anglers, but it is important to handle fish with care to maintain the healthy populations we have. Be sure to pinch those barbs and bring a landing net to “Keep ‘em Wet”.
At first opening, the water levels are usually a little high so you may be limited on where you can cross and fish. The clear water can give a false sense of security as you can see the bottom easily but not realize how much water velocity is really coming down the river. If I am wading deep, it doesn’t take much to lose footing in fast water. If you are a confident wader, you can still find plenty of water, just be smart about where you choose to wade.
There are plenty of ways you can fish this river, but I usually look to three specific techniques. Dry fly fishing, Nymphing, and Swinging.
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Swinging flies is a great way to cover water early season and dredge up bull trout. Larger flies are cast across river, usually with a sink tip, and swung back to shore. This is usually done in a cast, swing step repeat pattern. It’s simple, effective and the takes are usually aggressive. I really like this method when the water is up and I’m looking to cover ground. If you’re new to this river, I recommend a small slump buster pattern on a Trout versileader sink tip. Move fast in the riffle shallow stuff and slow down on the larger pools and deeper runs.
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Nymphing is the primary sub surface presentation. At its core you are presenting a small bug drifting freely down river. This can be achieved in several ways including, indicator fishing, high sticking, tight line, or other technical nymphing strategy. Small stone flies and hares ear flies will do great early season. I am a fan of larger jig nymphs like griddle bugs under a non-slip Oros Indicator. Once that indicator dips, pauses, or moves outside the usual current Set Hard! Nymphing usually has a fair amount of slack line in the system, so you need to really set on the fish to pick up the slack and make the connection.
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Dry fly as you expect is a surface fly. Expect to see grey duns and small black flies early season. Hatches usually materialize once things get warm. As things heat up expect to see may flies, stone flies and moth hatches. Don’t forget your fly flotant and dry shake powder to make the most of your dry fishing. A good dry fly treatment like Dr Slick Bug Jelly will keep small flies riding high for longer and a desiccant powder like the Dr Slick Bug Wick will help dry out waterlogged flies quickly.
A great starter collection of dries, nymphs, and flies for swinging on the Skagit
If you want to get the most of your day on the water, we recommend a load out of at least two rods. One for nymphing and a second for dry fly fishing. You can also throw a sink tip swing rod in the mix if you want the full quiver of three… I tend to carry a sink tip separately to quickly attach to my nymphing rod when the opportunity presents itself to save me from packing 3 rods.
A few bits of gear that can make or break your day on the water are your choice of pack/vest and your wading gear.
Packs and vest:
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First off, let’s talk bags and vest. If you choose to hike many kilometers and bushwhack far from the road, I like larger sling packs and dry bag backpacks. Check out the Thunderhead by Fishpond or the Dry creek backpack from Simms. These allow me to carry additional food and water but evenly distribute the weight on my back.
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If I choose to spot hop and make smaller trips from the car to the river then a vest or smaller hip pack is great. The Headwaters vest is a classic option with plenty of storage for fly anglers. The larger Headwaters hip pack from Simms is my go-to trout bag. Make sure you don’t overload your pack and adjust the size to fit properly. We often carry way too much stuff on the water and a floppy ill-fitting bag can be arduous to fight with for 5 km in the heat and bugs. You can prevent hot spots on your shoulders or hips by adjusting the retention straps to evenly distribute the weight. I usually tighten the straps up for hiking and loosen them up when fishing.
Wading gear:
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Waders are a key component in accessing some of the better locations on the river. The early season waters can be fringed so waders are very common. A good pair of Tributary waders from Simms will get new anglers out on the water. If you are expecting to put a number of days on the river something a bit more robust like the Simms Freestone are durable and breathable for every season. Pair these with a well-fitting boot like the Simms tributary or freestone and you are set.
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As the season progresses and things warm up, I choose to embrace the wetness and loose the waders. Wet wading has become more popular for summer fisheries. I choose a Simms lightweight pant that is quick dry and extremely comfortable for hiking. I pair these with my regular wading boots and use a neoprene Simms Guide Sock to keep my toes from freezing. This makes the hiking much more enjoyable and scrambling over log jams easier.
Bring a net:
I mentioned in my intro that a net is an essential catch and release tool on a river like the Skagit. We want to maintain these excellent trout populations so handling fish with care is key. A small landing net allows you to land a fish quicker and gently remove a fly without taking the fish from the water. It helps you slow down take your time and revive the fish without too much struggle. We also see a few larger bull trout around that could be trouble to land on light gear without a net. Check out our range of Fishpond and Moby hand nets to carefully land that trophy and allow it to swim off to fight another day.
Well, that’s about it… Pack your bags and get out there. If you are thinking of heading up it is worth it. The road is in good shape, and the bugs are still not out in full force. However, river opening can sometimes be a little busy and you may be limited on where to fish because of the river height. Don’t leave any valuables in your vehicle and keep the present ecosystem as clean as when you found it.
Cheers
Eric Peake
STILLWATER FISHING REPORTS
Local Lakes Fishing Reports
Reports from the urban stocked lakes have been a bit of a mixed bag lately, which is no surprise given how many anglers have been getting out and enjoying the local trout fisheries. The most accessible and popular lakes have seen plenty of pressure, so anglers willing to venture a little farther from the city will likely find less competition and more consistent fishing. There are still some great transit and bike-friendly options around the Lower Mainland, but this time of year can be a great excuse to explore a few new waters.
That said, there are still fish to be caught locally, and cooler mornings continue to provide some of the best opportunities. As water temperatures rise, I find myself reaching more often for a bottom-fishing setup with a floating bait such as Berkley Gulp Floating Salmon Eggs on a small Gamakatsu Octopus Hook in a size 8 or similar. Adding a small marshmallow soaked with a trout-enticing scent can also be a day-saver!
This little lake is a reasonable day trip from Vancouver and I spent most of the day enjoying the water without another angler in sight!
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has been busy throughout June, with 13 lakes receiving nearly 16,000 trout. While many of these recently stocked fish will need a little time to grow, there have been several noteworthy stockings in beautiful lakes that are well within day-trip range of Vancouver.
If you’re looking for something a little different than Rice or Deer Lake, the Sea to Sky Corridor has recent stockings at Lost, Alpha, and Nita lakes in Whistler, and Edith and Stump in Brackendale. I was up fishing in Whistler and Pemberton this last weekend and Alpha and Lost lake were fishing very well with small Gibbs Croc spoons in the Hammered Brass Metallic Perch and Hammered Green Stripe, and Fire Tiger Panther Martin spinners. Lost lake has a slew of floating swim docks which double as terrific swim-up fishing platforms, and the trout in that lake eat small (size 12-16) dry flies like it’s going out of style. Just don’t forget the bug spray!
Jay Awrey
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report
We have now entered the coveted 3rd-week of June! This week is known for being the time that coho begin showing up in greater numbers, but this year it came early!
Some happy clients with a limit of coho and a bonus 2 for the guide!
Just like last week, coho fishing has been steady and consistent out off South Bowen as well as further North along the islands towards Gower. The guide boats spent a bit of time fishing near the Cap mouth, West Van, and Point Atkinson this week with little success, but it is only a matter time before we start seeing coho even closer to home.
A quick morning limit! The size of the coho has been increasing by the week.
In the previous week, the hatchery to wild ratio was definitely shifting pretty dramatically from day to day, but this week it seemed to have shifted over to more consistently hatchery fish. The chinook bycatch has dropped off but still try your best to I.D. the fish before it hits the net and opt for a quick boat-side gaff release of chinook and wild coho. As for coho strategy, bright and flashy in the upper 50ft of the water column has been the ticket, and as always... TROLL FAST. You really can't troll too fast for coho.
Some chrome coho brought to you by the famous hoochie flasher combo.
Over across the strait there still seems to be a solid number of lingcod and rockfish lurking in shallow structure. The guide team has been having fun casting and jigging for these aggressive bottom feeders. If you ever find yourself struggling on the jigging program due to uncooperative currents or weather, don't be afraid to throw a swim bait on a mooching rod and use the downriggers to troll them up! The Gibbs Delta Power Paddles have terrific action when trolled and this strategy allows you to cover a lot of water. Find a spot adjacent to the rocky structure, lower your cannon ball right to bottom, and once it touches, quickly bring it up approx. 10 feet so the heavy swim bait doesn't sink and snag. Troll as slow as you can and wait for those rods to BEND.
Hard to beat bent rods and beautiful weather.
If you are looking to get in on the action, give our charter line a call at 778-788-8582 or swing by the shop to book your custom trip! Whether you want to hang around the local waters for coho, or cross the strait for some bottom fish action, we're ready to build a charter day just for you!
See you out on the water!
Jake Comrie
