Pacific Angler Friday Fishing Report: June 6, 2025

 OUTLOOK 

Happy Friday!  We hope everyone had a great week and has some plans to head out on the water this weekend.  For those of us on the Coast, we have our first weekend of heat for the summer headed our way.  

For saltwater anglers that means keeping an eye on the marine forecast as the heat often comes with a bit of wind out on the water.   If you are heading out, have a read of our saltwater report where we have an update on the first week of coho fishing.    

For those looking to head out for some freshwater fishing, check out this week’s reports on local lake fishing, our bass fishing update as well as a report from the Capilano.   

There are also a few things to mark on your calendar.  We have Matt’s Introduction to Fly Fishing Trout Streams coming up along with some great family friendly activities throughout the Province for the upcoming Family Fishing Weekend.     

Check all that out below and we will see you in the shop or on the water this weekend.  

CLASSES AND COURSES 

We have a great line up of courses.  Check out all of our upcoming May and June courses below and our full course listing here and sign up today online or over the phone at the shop - 604.872.2204!

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Pacific Angler Course: Introduction to Fly Fishing

INDUSTRY EVENTS AND UPDATES 

BC Family Fishing Weekend 2025 

Mark your calendars!  BC Family Fishing Weekend is almost upon us!   

B.C.’s Family Fishing Weekend is an annual celebration of the great tradition of sport fishing that coincides with the Father’s Day weekend. In 2025, the three-day event falls on June 13th to 15th. This is a great chance to get together with family and friends and try fishing!  

During B.C.’s Family Fishing Weekend, free fishing events for anglers and families are held throughout the province. Knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand at most events to teach tricks of the trade. 

In addition to the free events, our provincial government waives the requirement for residents of Canada – individuals who have lived in Canada for the preceding 12 months to buy or carry a non-tidal (freshwater) basic fishing license for Friday June 13 through to Sunday June 15.  There are some exceptions so if you plan to fish be sure to read up on those.  

More information on the events, licensing exceptions etc. can be found here!  

If you are a saltwater angler heading out over Family Fishing Weekend, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which manages fishing in tidal waters, also offers the opportunity to go saltwater fishing for free from June 13-15, 2025.   

More details on the free Tidal Waters Sport Fishing License and requirements can be found here!   

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British Columbia Federation of Drift Fishers 50/50 Raffle 

Don’t miss out on another opportunity to support one of our local angling groups and have the chance to win at the same time!  

Check out this message from our friends at the BC Federation of Drift Fishers and be sure to enter into their 50/50 raffle!   

“Some of the best memories are made on the water—fishing with family, teaching the next generation how to cast a line, and feeling the tug that brings joy and connection across generations. 

At the British Columbia Federation of Drift Fishers (BCFDF), we believe in more than just protecting fish stocks—we believe in protecting the experience of fishing itself. For years, we’ve worked to ensure that youth are involved in conservation efforts, learn about respectful stewardship, and have fair access to recreational fisheries. 

From education programs to advocacy for family-friendly fishing policies, we continue to invest in youth as the future stewards of BC’s rivers and lakes. 

Now we’re asking for your help. 
 
By entering our 50/50 raffle, you’re not only giving yourself a chance to win a growing cash prize—you’re helping ensure that children and families across BC can continue to build lasting memories on the water. 

Get your tickets today: 
https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/bcfdf2025 

Ticket sales close June 12, 2025. 

Your support helps us protect the values we all hold dear—community, family, and a shared future where fishing remains accessible, meaningful, and sustainable. 

Thank you for standing with us. 
Rodney Clapton and The BCFDF Team” 

FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Capilano River Fishing Report Update 

The Capilano dropped and we had some typical lower water conditions through the week. Coho could be seen hunkered down in the bottom of pools and the odd fish could be seen in the hatchery.  

We are all exited to get out there but one thing I noticed on the river was the amount of “heavy” gear drifting down river. These are not huge fish. Having the right gear will make the day more fun and drastically increase your chances of encountering fish. leave the big chinook gear at home and focus on smaller lighter getups for these early fish. A lightweight centrepin or medium action short baitcaster is my go-to float rod for the Cap. Small bits of roe under a light cleardrift float is my most productive technique in the faster flows. A smaller clear drift floats keeps the presentations stealthy in the clear water. Don’t forget to keep the hooks small and leaders light to fools those picky biters… Try using small “Trout” sized croc spoons and blue foxes to cover slow water pools. 

With the lower water levels, it was possible to get out and fly fish the canyons over the week. Fly fishing might be tricky leading up to the weekend as we had another small release of water. If you are looking to get out, be sure to have a few sink tips or heavy sinking lines to deal with the extra water turbulence. Heavily weighted flies can also help keep you in the zone. 

Lastly, we have heard of some solid reports of coho off the beach. This is early season, but fish will start to school up at the mouth when the river stays low. A classic medium action spinning rod will get you the distance you need to cover water and encounter one of these fresh. Coho, crocks and spinners will all work well. Fly anglers can look to some of our custom tied krill, shrimp, and euphausiid patters, along with smaller pink and flash flies. 6-8wt rods with floating or intermediate sink lines will do the trick. Try casting small flies on long fluorocarbon leaders with various strip methods. 

With coho in the river and the beach there is no wrong choice to fish. Both are technical fisheries that will benefit from time spent on the water to fully understand the timing and habits of the returning fish.  

Do the leg work now and get your gear set up for the great season ahead. It's quiet now but it will get busy moving into the summer. Remember to treat your fellow anglers with respect and keep your fishing environment cleaner than when you found it. 

Eric Peake 

STILLWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Local Lakes Fishing Report 

The weekend is about to arrive, and the weather is shaping up to make it a beauty. The local lakes are always a popular place for friends and family. The Freshwater Fisheries Society has been keeping up to date regular stockings of catchable trout. If any of you folks are heading up the Sea to Sky this weekend, keep an eye on those lakes. Nita and Stump specifically both received a healthy load of catchable trout so if you’re going on any adventures up that way this weekend some of these lakes can make out to be fantastic pit stops! Trout fishing is a great way to get some sun and great table fare at the same time; here are some quick tips to increase your odds if you make it out! 

Keep it simple; the beauty of stockers is it’s as simple or technical as you’d like to make it. Most seasoned anglers first cut their teeth on a simple bobber and worm rig.  These rigs when paired with an Adjust-a-bubble are as effective as it gets. Pair this rig with deli shrimp, nightcrawlers or your preferred bait and hold on. For the fly oriented among us, these water bobbers can be used readily to present a myriad of fly patterns to these fish. Next time you’re in shop ask one of the guys to show you how it's done. Bottom rigs can be used to target these trout as well; floating bait such as power bait provides a low-effort way to catch some fish. With this tactic, remember to size you’re your hooks to sizes 8-10 accordingly to keep your bait buoyant.  

Those introducing people to trout fishing may want to include some spinners and spoons to build confidence in new anglers. These are also extremely effective for aggressive fish.  

With all this being said, remember to keep it light and simple; these trout do not tend to be humongous. Lighter action rods tend to be more well suited to these fish; your standard 6’6 rod works fantastic. These also happen to come in many great priced combos down at the shop. 

A word to the wise, don’t get discouraged if you don’t find immediate success, it can take some time to dial in on these fisheries so don’t be afraid to switch up presentations. If you’re not getting any takers within 30-40 minutes, it’s a prudent measure to change tactics or locations, or even just depth. Changing tactics on a dime can mean a world of difference between getting skunked and bringing home a bounty.  

As always, remember to have fun and be safe! 

Tight loops, 

Mackenzie Champaigne 

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Local Bass Fishing Report 

As the weather warms up and school lets out, we’re now transitioned over into the post-spawn season for the largemouth bass that have invaded our local systems.  Spawn season is perhaps the easiest of the three (pre, spawn, and post-spawn) seasons because fish hold close to their spawn beds, easily identified by their shape and colour under the water.  While these fish are not strictly feeding, they are extremely aggressive towards anything they perceive as a threat to their genetic line!  That means that anglers have been throwing all manner of baits at them for as long as they can remember, so don’t be surprised if you’re encountering fewer bass and work harder to catch them than you were earlier in the year.  They’re simply less aggressive and more spread out! 

Even if the bass aren’t big, the views are beautiful!

Bass are much more comfortable in warmer temperatures than trout are and are less affected by the higher temperatures of the upper strata of the water column and are also very sensitive to changes in barometric pressure.  Generally speaking, the higher the barometric pressure, the worse the fishing will be; but don’t let that dissuade you from fishing on bright clear days!  Bass still have the need to feed; they’re just going to be doing it in less conspicuous areas than on overcast days.  If you’re new to bass fishing, bottom dragging  a creature bait rigged on a weedless jig is an easy way to effectively fish blind and deep.  I also like to fish a Carolina rigged floating soft bait if the bottom conditions are a little more favourable, but if I have unobstructed bottom to fish I’m really into Ned rigging!  We’ve also got the Rapala Crush City Ned Rig hooks and worms in stock at the shop, and they’re a super simple way to fish finesse presentations even if you don’t have any experience bass fishing. 

Rapala’s Crush City Ned Worms are unbelievably soft and float like corks 

Ned-rigging is so easy, even I can do it – stab a floating worm on a mushroom-headed jig hook and let it sink.  Ned rigs aren’t for throwing into cover, but open spaces near points of cover are great ned water.  Cast your bait and let it sink, and once it reaches bottom take a breath and let it sit there for a moment – sometimes the static jig head undulates and causes a strike.  From there, experiment with different retrieve patterns and speeds, and stay focused for the slack line of a falling bait to go tight.   

If you’ve got experience trout fishing, remember that the way we set the hook on a bass is nothing like how we set on a trout!  Trout have teeth in the gumline and at the front of the mouth, whereas bass need to move prey towards their throat to complete the kill, so give them a beat or two to get your bait down their throat before reeling down and setting the hook.  You don’t need to be as aggressive on your hookset with ned rigging as compared to other bass bites, just remember to reel down and set up and away! 

Jay Awrey 

SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Vancouver Saltwater Coho Salmon Fishing Report 

Time to break out the flashy gear—hatchery coho is open! 

We’re one week into hatchery coho season, and early signs are pointing toward a promising fishery. The first few days haven’t been on fire, but our guide boats have already bumped into a handful of fish during charters. That’s typical for early June—coho fishing tends to be “snappy.” You might troll around for an hour or two without a sniff, and then all of a sudden, rods are popping off every time the gear hits the zone. Just as quickly as it fires up, it can shut right down again. 

During these snap bites, your sounder is your best friend. Was there a bait ball under the boat? Sometimes those flurries of action are from a traveling pod you’ve intercepted, and sometimes it’s a school actively feeding on bait. If you spot bait and get some bites, try to stay on top of them. Drop a waypoint, keep track of the tide direction, and make an educated guess about where that bait—and those coho—might move next. 

A nice early season hatchery coho. 

If you’re new to trolling for coho, there are a few techniques that will up your odds. Speed is key when chasing coho. Adjust your speed to match the tide, but generally, 2.8–3.5 mph is a solid range. Coho often feed high in the water column early in the season, and our guides have had recent success between 40 and 60 feet. Because you’re trolling shallower, you can push the speed a bit more without compromising your downrigger angles—you don't have to worry too much about a perfect 45-degree angle. 

Coho love flash—especially when they’re near the surface. Use flashers with reflective tape and UV materials. For spoons, nickel-plated models are go-tos for our guides because they catch and reflect light effectively. The Goldstar Coho Killers, Kingfishers, and Gibbs Wee Gees are all proven producers. 

Some top picks for June coho!

Hoochies are a coho staple. A 28-inch leader is standard, and UV colours like white, pink, and green are top picks. If you want to dial it in further, rig a small clevis and blade in front of your hoochie to add extra flash and vibration—perfect for grabbing more attention. 

As more fish show up, you’ll encounter both wild and hatchery coho. Only hatchery fish, missing the adipose fin, can be retained, so careful handling of wild fish is a must. If you can identify the adipose fin before netting, even better—you can skip the net and gaff-release wild fish safely at the side of the boat. 

Have questions or need gear recommendations? Drop by the shop or give us a call—we’re always happy to talk tackle and tactics. 

Tight lines,

Jake