OUTLOOK
Big thanks to everyone who made it out to this week’s Stillwater Fly Tying Jam Session -what a night! Plenty of flies tied, tips shared, and more than a few fish stories floating around. Always a good time getting the community together to talk Stillwater tactics.
After last week’s high water, things are starting to settle down on the rivers. Eric and Jacob have been out keeping tabs in the Valley and Squamish, and the outlook is improving just in time for the weekend. As levels drop and the weather cooperates, expect more fishable conditions heading into the next few days. If you’ve been waiting for your window, this might be it.
Local lakes have been freshly stocked, and in the Interior, those lower elevation lakes are starting to ice off. If lake fishing is on your Spring Break agenda, now’s a great time to get out there. Be sure to check our latest Stillwater reports before you head out for the most up-to-date info.
In the shop we’ve got a few April courses lined up, including Jason’s Contemporary Chironomid Tactics session. There’s been a last-minute cancellation, which means one lucky angler can still sneak in—don’t wait on that one!
April also brings the Vancouver stop of the International Fly Fishing Film Festival. It’s shaping up to be an awesome night - films, friends, and a whole lot of fishing stoke. VIP tickets are nearly gone, so if you’re thinking about it, now’s the time to lock it in. Check out the details below and grab your tickets before they’re history!
Good luck out there this weekend - tight lines, and we’ll see you in the shop!
CLASSES AND COURSES
Contemporary Chironomid Tactics
Chironomids can account for 2/3 of a trout’s diet in BC lakes and on many days, it is all they will eat. If you want to catch the biggest fish and the most fish, you need to know how to effectively fish chironomids. Your instructor, Jason Tonelli, has been fishing BC interior lakes since he was 5 years old, and in recent years he has been extremely devoted to chironomid fishing. We finally convinced him to share some of his very productive techniques and insights using today’s contemporary rods, fly lines, tippet materials, fly designs and electronics. Here is what he will cover during the course.
- Life cycle of chironomids and their importance to trout and anglers.
- Boat selection, setup, rod holders, anchors, oars, electric motors.
- Rod, reel, fly line, leader and tippet selection.
- Floating line indicator setups, floating line “naked” setup, sinking line “dangle” setup, and when to use them.
- Understanding and utilizing todays electronics (sonar and GPS) including High CHIRP and Forward-Facing Sonar (Live Scope Plus, Active Target 2, Mega Live 2) with recommendations.
- The steps to properly assess a lake and subsequent boat positioning and fishing techniques.
- Contemporary fly design and fly choice (dark flies, bright flies, dark beads, white beads, etc).
- Chironomid fishing seasons and elevation.
- 10% off all in store purchases on course night.
Cost: $100+GST
Date: April 7, 2026
Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Introduction to Fly Fishing
INDUSTRY EVENTS AND UPDATES
International Fly Fishing Film Festival – IF4 – just under two weeks away!
The International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4) is cruising into Vancouver in just under two weeks! March absolutely flew by, and now we’re counting down to one of the most fun nights of the season.
This is a don’t-miss event - we’re talking epic fly fishing films, a packed house of local anglers, and good vibes all around at the iconic Rio Theatre. Even better, You’ll be supporting two awesome local groups doing serious work for our fisheries: the Public Fishery Alliance and the Steelhead Society of BC.
🎟️ Want to level up your night? Go VIP:
VIP tickets are already nearly gone, so if you’ve been thinking about it… this is your nudge. Here’s what you get:
-
Reserved seating with the Pacific Angler crew (yep, the good seats )
-
A 1-year Fly Fusion Magazine subscription (print + digital)
-
A Pacific Angler fishing cap
-
Plus, a portion of your ticket goes straight to supporting local conservation and advocacy efforts coordinated by the Steelhead Society of BC and the Public Fishery Alliance
🎁 And don’t forget the raffle!
Come ready - you’ll have a shot at some seriously sweet gear: Orvis fly rod, Airflo reels, Scientific Angler line, Fly Fusion swag packs, a Renzetti vise, and more. Let’s just say… you might leave with more than fish stories.
📅 Event Details:
-
Date: April 9, 2026
-
Time: Doors at 5PM | Films start at 6PM
-
Location: Rio Theatre, Vancouver
While you are at it take a sneak peek at “The Lucky” trailer below and trust us, it’s just a taste of what’s in store for April 9!
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Chilliwack/Vedder River Fishing Report
This past week has been tough on the Vedder. The big blow-out last week created some high and dirty water conditions, making fishing tough. However, the water levels have started to drop and are currently sitting at around 2.5 meters.
With no rain in sight, it looks like they will continue to drop over this weekend, making for some much better conditions than last week. Water clarity should start to clear up as well, provided the up-river clay banks hold. After a big blow out, these clay banks often become un-stable, making for the possibility of a slide at any time. If a clay bank does give out, it can color up the river for a while. So, if you're out fishing and suddenly the river turns to mud, that would be why.
Nevertheless, there should be plenty of fish kicking around. The dump of rain and higher water levels should allow for a good number of fresh fish to push into the river. The lower, middle and upper sections of the river will all be good options. However, keep in mind the upper river, above the Tamahi rapids will close to fishing on April 1st. So, if you want to fish in the upper river, this weekend is the last chance.
A variety of presentations will work well this time of year, Worms, Beads, Jigs, Blades, Shrimp and Roe will all be effective. Match your presentation to the type of water you are fishing, steelhead will bite virtually anything, however specific baits and lures will present themselves better to fish in certain types of water.
In conclusion, it’s shaping up to be a pretty good-looking weekend out there. Overcast conditions and a gradually dropping water will make for a pretty good chance of hooking into something this weekend.
Good luck out there! We'll see you in the shop or out on the water!
Jacob Leboe
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Squamish River Fishing Report
The Sea to Sky rivers are all back in shape after last week's big water event. I have had plenty of positive reports of anglers getting out and having luck once the water settled. This helped push some fish about and wake up some of those lethargic winter trout.
If you’re heading up the valley, smaller spoons or flashy fry patterns have been most productive. If you’re gear fishing, try to have a mix of coho and crocs in smaller sizes to swing across larger runs. Bull trout and rainbows will happily chase the shiny hardware all the way to the bank, so make sure you fish right to the end of your retrieve. Fly anglers can have similar success with a light sink tip and flashy fry pattern. On my single hander I like the trout versileaders sink tip with a short 3-4 ft leader in the 8-10lb range. Two handed spey anglers will benefit from a heavier t8 mow tip in the 8-12 ft range to balance the rod. Cast way out and swing your gear to the bank… step - cast - repeat. In the spring the flash really produces fish as the trout are keyed in on the small fish and not looking for the big beads and eggs.
If you’re out covering water, you may be lucky to encounter something bigger than the bull trout and pocket rainbows… Steelhead reports are always spotty on the Sea to Sky but with enough time and effort you can find them. If you are looking for chrome leave the trout rods at home. Go heavy with an 8wt fly rod or 6-7-8wt two hander. Gear anglers will be set with a medium heavy salmon float setup or heavy spin gear. This will give you a fighting chance for the larger more powerful fish. Flies for steelhead will also be a little different with a host of larger pinks, purple, black, and blue finding their way into the fly box. The big thing here is have a variety of sizes and weights. Have a few unweighted, a few with cones or beads, and a few with the heavy lead eyes to cover whatever water you are presented. Mad River worms, trout beads, and colorado blades will be deadly under a float.
Road and wildlife update: The road is still unpassable around 19km so no vehicle access to the upper portion of the river. We have had some early black bear sightings and a few “big cat” sightings in the upper and lower sections, so have the bear spray on hand and accessible in an instant... one can for every pair of anglers is a good start.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Friday Fry Report Update:
Fry are migrating and we have had reports of traveling fry from Harrison, Squamish, and up and down the Fraser. The multiple “false starts” to Spring has made for a mix of fishing results. Anglers getting out during stable weather have been finding fish.
This is a great fishery for newer fly anglers to get out and explore our local systems. A 4-6wt fly rod, floating line, leaders, tippet, and box of fry and streamer patterns will get you started. We still have a few of Andre’s famous fry patterns in stock if you are heading out this weekend. Estuaries, creek mouths and slower holding water off the main current of the river will be your hunting grounds. Cutthroat trout are nomadic creatures. They will travel great distances to locate fry and will move with them as they migrate down river. The trick here is to cover plenty of water until you see signs of fish. Look for traveling fry, surfacing trout, and birds targeting fry. Cutthroat usually make their presence known. Fish quickly. If you are fishing calm dead water with no signs of life for 30 min… move on.
Pacific Angler Introduction To Fly Fishing graduate Luke with a nice one on the fly!
We have some awesome trout fly packages from Redington (Original trout or Wrangler Combo) and Orvis (Orvis Encounter Combo) to get you started on your fly journey.
Gear anglers can have a lot of fun with these fish as well. Small spoons are deadly for fry chasing trout. A light spinning rod and a box of hardware will get the job done. You can also throw small water bobbers with fry patterns… a great technique for gear anglers looking to pare down and fish smaller presentations. Try using a thin 10lb braided mainline to maximize your casting distance and have an increase in sensitivity. Something like the Dawa Crossfire combo will get you started in the right direction.
STILLWATER FISHING REPORTS
Local Lake Fishing Reports
The big Spring stocking has hit the Lower Mainland. This fishery offers new anglers and those unable to travel a chance to take part in a close to home urban trout fishery. Many lakes are a short drive from major urban centers, and some are even accessible via public transit.
Stocked trout are generally willing biters so there is a good chance you can fool a few once you find them. I like to fish natural baits such as worms, salmon eggs, and shrimp under a small float. If you prefer a more dynamic presentation, you can cast small lightweight spinners and spoons. We are stocked up on some great lightweight trout setups to get you on the water. Check out the Dawa D shock as an easy entry to trout fishing without breaking the bank.
Fly anglers can get in the mix by casting and retrieving small leeches, BMW's and pumpkin heads sub surface. Alternatively, you can suspend balanced leeches, blobs, and bright attractor chironomids under a light indicator setup. This has been one of my most productive methods over the last few years. It might take some patience but eventually this will pay off... it's also a great warm up for ice off in the Interior!
I will add that a small boat or float tube can be a great way to explore some lakes close to home. If you want to access the best trout and bass spots think about getting in the water after them. Float tubes are affordable and versatile. We had a fresh shipment of Outcast so check out our line of Fishcat 4 LCS Float tubes. These inflatables can pack up small and can be hiked into more remote lakes... heck I have even taken my inflatable paddle board on the bus.
Check gofishbc to see if your favorite spot has been stocked. Lastly, be kind and courteous to your fellow anglers out there. With Spring Break ending and nicer weather approaching, we see many anglers on the banks of our local lakes. Remember this fishery is intended to be inclusive and family friendly. Give a hand to your fellow anglers and leave your fishing area cleaner than when you arrived.
Interior Lake Fishing Reports
It’s the last week of March and most years, there would be few if any lakes iced off in Region 3 by now. This is not that kind of year, with multiple lakes off already and many more to come in the following days. Your classic early season lakes like Stump, 6 Mile, Morgan and White have been off for weeks now and the early season hardcore anglers are 2 weeks into their season. Even Tunkwa iced off this week and that is the earliest in 20 years or more.
So, what does this early ice off mean? Well, it really depends on the weather and so far, it has been cold. This means the lakes have been slow to warm up. I was on Stump last weekend with Matt and Taylor and the water was 39F and we had snow flurries. The fish were in 5-10 feet of water and were receptive to blobs and leeches suspended under an indicator.
Early season, snow, sun, smiles, and fish!
Using blobs, leeches and baby damsels under an indicator, or stripping blobs, leeches, and scuds on a sinking line are all productive techniques this time of year. If you are by yourself and fishing two rods, try an indicator setup on one rod and a sinking line and retrieve on your other rod. As things warm up some lakes will go into turn over, and once those clean up and we get a bit more heat, the chironomids will start hatching. For now, it is a shallow water show until we get some warmer days and nights.
We are fully stocked with all the early season productive flies!
Looking at Region 5, things are more “normal” up there with fresh snow and nighttime temps well into the minuses. I expect the lakes up there to start opening up later in April as per usual. Meanwhile there are already lots of options close to home and things are progressing nicely, so get ready and get out there, the season is here!
