Pacific Angler Friday Fishing Report: June 20,2025

OUTLOOK 

Happy Friday and the first official day of Summer!  We hope all the Dads and Grads are enjoying times of celebration with the Dads being recognized last weekend on Father’s Day and the Grads being celebrated this week and next.   

Here in the shop, we are busy with our summer bookings arriving daily.  Now is the time to swing by the shop and get geared up with the everything you need for your summer fishing trip.  One of our favourite lures – the Tassie Devil – arrived last week and these are a staple for the upcoming pink season.  Grab them in the shop or online before they sell out!  

We also have the last offering of our Introduction to Fly Fishing, before the Fall, coming up in early July – more details on that are below but don’t miss out on this course! 

On the fishing front, we are enjoying some excellent coho fishing on the saltwater; the coho have rolled in right on queue.  Check out more on that below in Jason’s saltwater report and be sure to have a read of Eric’s Beach Fishing report as well.    

On the freshwater front, we are looking ahead to the opening of the Vedder River.  Taylor has an overview of that fishery and what he’s looking ahead to this summer.   Jake tunes in this week with an update from our sturgeon guide team!    

CLASSES AND COURSES 

Summer is almost here and as we look ahead to warm summer days on the water we have just a few classes before we take a break for most of July and August.    

If you are looking to learn to fly fish or brush up on your skills we have our last Introduction to Fly Fishing before the Fall coming up in July.   Get your seat in this class before it sells out!  

Details and dates are below!  Sign up online or call the shop at 604.872.2204

Pacific Angler Course: Introduction to Fly Fishing

STURGEON FISHING REPORT 

Vancouver Sturgeon Fishing Report 

The warm weather at the start of June created some tough fishing conditions, but we’re now seeing river levels begin to stabilize as the Spring freshet tapers off. The high water brought plenty of debris downstream, which made anchoring in the main channels challenging. Thankfully, the PA jet boat was able to tuck into some productive eddies and side channels. 

The heavy current made for tougher fishing overall, but with the right timing—especially around slack tides—there were windows of opportunity where the water calmed down just enough to produce bites. 

A nice one caught in the Lower Fraser on a recent charter. 

As we move into July, we may still see a few more spikes in water levels, but the worst is likely behind us. With high water, expect fewer bites—but when they do come, they tend to be solid. It takes a strong, mature sturgeon to navigate the fast current and still be on the hunt for food, so the fish you connect with during these conditions are usually quality ones. 

Spring bait staples include pikeminnow, roe, and lamprey. Make sure you’ve got a few options on hand—sturgeon can change their preferences quickly, and it pays to be flexible.  

A quick reminder: sturgeon have an incredible sense of smell. Any unnatural scent on your bait can be a dealbreaker. Wearing gloves while handling bait can help avoid contamination. 

The Fraser can be unpredictable this time of year. Always keep an eye upstream for floating debris and plan your fishing around slack tides to reduce bait drift and maximize your time in the strike zone. 

Tight lines, 

Jake 

FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Chilliwack/Vedder River Fishing Report 

We’re already more than halfway through June, and that means the C/V system will be opening shortly- on July 1st, to be specific. The summertime fishery on this system isn't necessarily the most productive, but there will be opportunities to target Summer chinook, “trout”, whitefish, and some coarse fish; there will also be a run of sockeye coming through- though this run is considered to be “at risk” and thus is closed to targeted angling. More on that later...  

The Summer fishery is a variable one, with some years being “better” than others; water levels are usually the largest deciding factor as to whether or not anglers do well. If the water is still high due to freshet, the fish tend to push through the system quickly, which can make them rather hard to find; if the water is low, then the fish usually hold up in pools, thus making them easier to find... especially in the lower river. While this may sound like a good thing, it tends to result in very spooky fish, extremely crowded spots... and extremely questionable fishing ethics. For what it’s worth, the river is currently running at a nice level with a lot of viz, though the fact that it is actively dropping tells me that freshet is pretty much over. Given this info and the dwindling snowpack, I’m predicting a low water season unless we see a lot of rain in late June/early July.  

The Summer chinook run is a bit of an unusual fishery for the C/V system- it's a small run (averaging less than 2,000 fish) that is rather short in duration. There are usually a few fish in the system on opening day, with the run quickly ramping up and peaking around the middle of the month... then rapidly tapering off, with the run basically being over by early/mid-August. The short duration and small size of this run make it a challenging fishery, though those who are willing to put in time to find fish can be rewarded.  Float fishing is the go-to method for this fishery, with bait (roe/shrimp), beads, blades, jigs and yarn all being top producers. Spinners, spoons, jigs or swung flies can also produce fish, but you’re probably better off float fishing. These fish aren’t particularly big; they average 7-12 lbs, but they are extremely strong and tend to sit in fast water, so some beefier gear is a good idea- think medium-heavy rods, 20lb mainline, at least 15lb mono (or flouro) leaders, sz.1-3/0 hooks and 30-35 gram floats.  Focus your attention on areas of at least moderate depth and speed and note that these fish will usually occupy the “head” and “body” of a run; rarely will they sit in a tailout.  

A nice summer Chinook taken a few years ago. 

The “trout” fishery is also unique, specifically because there is no minimum size limit for “hatchery rainbow trout”, of which you may retain 4 per day (as long as they do not exceed 50cm in length, in which case they are considered a steelhead). You will note that I’m putting the word “trout” in quotation marks, as these fish aren’t resident rainbow trout- they're juvenile steelhead.  The idea behind this regulation is that the hatchery-marked fish that haven’t migrated to the ocean by now will be spending another year in freshwater, thus competing with wild juvenile steelhead in the system.  As such, the people who make the regulations figure that letting anglers retain the hatchery fish will protect the wild fish. The jury is out on whether or not this is a helpful regulation, but the fact is that the fishery is open and accessible to all. Float fishing with bait such as worms, shrimp or salmon eggs is very effective, as can be casting small spoons/spinners, nymphing under an indicator or stripping/swinging small flies.  These fish are typically quite small, averaging 8”-13", so light or ultralight gear is recommended.  If you do participate in this fishery, please handle any wild “trout” you catch with extreme care, as these fish are crucial for the recovery of wild steelhead populations in this system. Of course, there are a few actual resident trout in the system; they average 12”-16” and are most often found in the upper river. The same tactics that work for the smaller “trout” will also work for the larger trout as well. 

A chunky little resident rainbow that fell for a small nymph under an indicator. 

Of course, there will be plenty of whitefish and coarse fish (such as northern pikeminnow, pea mouth chub, largescale sucker and various species of sculpin) in the system during the warmer months; and these fish are very often encountered as bycatch when targeting other species. Whitefish will typically be found in the mid/upper stretches of the river, whereas coarse fish are usually found in the lower river.  These fish can be a lot of fun on light/ultralight gear and are easily caught on the same gear you would use for “trout” in the above paragraph.  

The humble mountain whitefish- commonly encountered while targeting salmon and steelhead. 

As was mentioned earlier, there is a reasonably decent run of sockeye that push into the system in July; their run timing is very similar to the chinook. As was also mentioned earlier, these fish are protected by a strict “no fishing for sockeye” regulation, so don’t even think about targeting them.  Having said that, these fish can be remarkably aggressive at times and unintentionally catching them while targeting chinook is not at all uncommon. Please handle any sockeye you hook with extreme care, as these fish are depressingly fragile and suffer very high mortality rates if not handled properly.  

While admittedly not my favourite fishery, the C/V’s summertime fishery is the first decent, accessible fishery of the season and is a great option for those who are looking for a bit of a challenge... or are just chomping at the bit to get out there. First light is your best bet, so waking up early (very early) is definitely helpful, though the afternoon bite can also be quite good. Be sure to bring some form of sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunshirts if you have them) and a lot of water or Gatorade- it gets HOT out there. Enjoy the fishery and be mindful of other people who are out there enjoying themselves- this includes other anglers, rafters/tubers, dog walkers and “beachgoers”. We're all out there to have a good time, so let’s keep it that way.  

Taylor Nakatani 

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Capilano River Fishing Report 

There have been a fair number of fish pushing through the system lately but as we all know this time of year this fishery can remain a challenge, and these fish tend to be elusive. It's not unusual for this time of year to have a small subset of anglers who are catching many of the willing biters. These fish arrive during the harshest conditions and the anglers that find the most success are the ones who can adapt and switch presentations on the fly.  

The water conditions are typical for the year, low and clear but not a trickle. The fish are still able to move throughout the system and in on the tide. 

The name of the game is sizing down, for fly guys and gear guys alike. Light fluorocarbon is the standard for right now; don’t shy away from the 8-10 lbs. flouro when the water drops.  

Gear guys stick to small fingernail nuggets of roe, size 4 hooks are great for this time of year, 8 mm beads are great if you run out, especially if other anglers are fishing large chunks in the system. Sometimes a change in presentation is all you need to dial in on these fish. 

Spoons and spinners will always be effective in the smaller sizes; our favourites remain the small Crocs and Rooster Tails.  

For the fly oriented among us, sizing down accordingly is effective as well. This time of year, the guys at the shop love running buggy patterns. These patterns simulate the small forage they grew up on and can trigger a bite when the flashier aggressive patterns get stale. Our favourites are rolled muddlers, 52 Buicks and Andre’s Cap Bugger.  

The Capilano is always a river subject to large swings in height and flow so it’s always good to plan your fishing with safety in mind, keep the waders off in the Cable Pool area.  

When retaining coho, always remember that you must have a conservation surcharge.  

Tight Lines,  

Mackenzie

SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report 

As we pass the mid-way mark of June it’s all about the coho.  As per the last few years they showed up in force around June 15th and I am very happy to report the fishing has been quite good.  Current regulations are 2 hatchery (missing the adipose fin) coho a day over 30 cm and there are plenty of them.  A reminder that chinook are closed to fishing and if encountered should be released at the side of the boat if possible.  Wild coho (they have an adipose fin) are closed for retention and should also be released boat side. 

 There have been plenty of hatchery coho around! 

We have been doing well for coho off South Bowen and reports further up the Sunshine Coast and up to Campbell River are excellent.  This means there are a lot more headed our way and fishing should remain excellent for the rest of June and well into July!  

Right now, the fish are shallow, in the top 50 feet of the water column, so keep those downrigger depths from 15 to 45 feet.  You can also catch these fish casting a fly, bucktailing, casting spoons, and jigging.  No downrigger no problem, a simple weight and spoon setup will catch these aggressive coho.  To get setup, come by the shop as we have a variety of productive coho gear to offer.  Check out previous reports for our top choices. 

Over on the other side in Area 17 we are also having a lot of fun catching coho, chinook (they are open for C&R in Area 17) rockfish and lingcod.  This is a great full day adventure with amazing scenery and multiple species.  A reminder that chinook are scheduled to open for retention in Area 17 on July 15. 

 A great harvest from Area 17 waters and some crab as well! 

It’s definitely go time in our local saltwater, so I hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy the amazing Vancouver salmon fishing only minutes from downtown. 

See you in the shop or on the water, 

Jason Tonelli  

________________________________________________________________________________________________Beach Fishing Report