OUTLOOK
Happy October!
In this week’s report, we dive into the latest updates from all of our favourite Fall fisheries.
Taylor, Eric, and Jake share the latest conditions from the Chilliwack, Capilano, Squamish, along with the Fraser River Sturgeon fisheries. Check out their detailed reports below for current updates and insights into what to expect in the coming weeks.
Jason checks in from the BC Interior, where Fall stillwater fishing is picking up with the cooler temperatures. Don’t miss the Fishing BC video featuring Jason and Brian Chan fishing together in the South Cariboo, linked in his report.
And last, but certainly not least, be sure to read this week’s saltwater salmon fishing report. Jake highlights great opportunities still available for those not quite ready to put the boat away for the season!
CLASSES AND COURSES
Introduction to Fly Tying
There is no greater satisfaction than catching a fish with a fly you tied yourself. This Introduction to Fly Tying course was specifically designed to give you the fundamental skills needed to tie proven fly patterns used here in BC for trout, salmon, and steelhead.
This course consists of 3 sessions, spread over 3 consecutive weeks. Each session is 3hrs. Location: At Pacific Angler from 6:30pm - 9:30pm. Choose your 3 dates below.
Students are required to supply their own vise, tools and materials. A 10% discount is available on fly tying materials and tools purchased for the course. Sign up here today!
Cost: $130.00+GST SPOTS AVAILABLE
Class Size: 7
Dates: (Jan 28, Feb 4, 11), (Apr 2, 9, 16), (Nov 18, 25, Dec 2)
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
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Winter Chinook Fishing With Jason Tonelli
Did you know there is excellent chinook fishing in local Vancouver waters from Oct to March? This is the winter chinook season and fishing the last few seasons has been excellent and this season is no different!
Learn the secrets on how to catch these hard fighting chinook, which are prized for their table fare as well. Your instructor, Jason Tonelli, will cover all aspects of what it takes to be a successful winter chinook angler. Jason has been honing his winter chinook skills out of Vancouver for close to two decades and is Pro-Staff for Gibbs Delta Tackle.
You will learn the top producing areas, including how to fish them productively and what tides, correct speed, how to fish close to the bottom, the most productive fishing tackle setups depending on conditions, how to use your sonar effectively to catch more fish, what weather patterns to avoid for boating safety, and many more winter chinook secrets.
Sign up here today!
SOLD OUT - Call Store To Be Waitlisted For A Cancellation
Seminar Cost: $100+GST
Date: Dec 10, 2025
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Chilliwack/Vedder River Fishing Report
It’s hard to believe that it’s already October, and with the new month comes some of the best fishing of the year in the C/V system. There are tons of chinook in the system, alongside good and still increasing numbers of coho and a few early chum. The pink run is pretty much over, with most of the remaining pinks in the system being pretty dark and actively spawning. Note that pinks closed for retention at midnight on September 30th, so they may no longer be retained. Also, be aware that chum are currently closed for retention and targeted angling, so stick to targeting chinook and coho for now... it’s not like there’s a shortage of them in the system!
A brawny coho that couldn't resist a well twitched jig
Despite the not insignificant amount of rain that has fallen over the past week, the system is actually still running quite low; all that rain only made the river come up about 10cm. I would think that the dry ground is absorbing and retaining a lot of that precipitation at the moment, hence the less than awe-inspiring increase in water levels. While .1 of a meter is by no means a significant increase, it will have been enough to get a lot of fresh fish moving into and throughout the system... any increase in water levels is a good thing. I would also suspect that visibility has gone down a fair bit, though it should still be perfectly fishable; a decrease in visibility is actually a good thing. Bring a variety of presentations in order to suit whatever water conditions you happen to encounter.
Unfortunately, the weather looks to be shifting back to sunny, warm and dry for the next week, so the low and clear conditions will probably be returning shortly. There will still be a lot of fish in the system, so it’s worth getting out there anyways... we’re at peak chinook season and are heading into peak coho season, so the fishing should remain good for the next few weeks.
Taylor Nakatani
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Squamish River Fishing Report
It’s finally that time of year! Coho fishing in Squamish is BACK… kind of. Early Fall conditions have been less than ideal, and the forecast makes it tricky to predict what’s to come. But with all that aside, reports from the early birds are promising. All the systems have been consistently high and muddy for the past few weeks, but the keeners putting in the time have been finding some early chrome coho. If you can battle the elements and locate where they’re holding, early October can be a phenomenal time to hook into some of the cleanest, brightest coho of the season!
The Squamish River level spiked dramatically this past week. Warm late-September temperatures, combined with the first decent rainfall, pushed the water up to around 6.4 meters. At this level, parts of the Upper Squamish Forest Service Road are flooded and, unsurprisingly, the river is essentially unfishable. Those who ventured up when the water dropped to about 3.5 meters reported very poor clarity – in simpler terms: chocolate milk. Looking ahead to the weekend, there’s little to no rain forecasted, but overnight temperatures remain warm, and the freezing level on surrounding mountains is still very high. Given these factors, I don’t expect water clarity to improve quickly.
Not the time to be fishing... or on the road.
That said, all hope isn’t lost. While at a certain muddiness and water height it may be wise to rain check your outing for safety reasons; once the river settles enough to comfortably walk and distinct pools and runs form, success is definitely possible in the brown water.
I love casting small, light coho flies as much as the next guy, but when visibility is only a couple of inches, you’ll need to pull out the big guns. Larger intruder patterns are very effective for coho when clarity is poor. Flies with bright colors – chartreuse, pink, and orange – grab attention, and their larger profile helps fish notice them when they can’t see much around them. For gear anglers, the Gibbs Fire Orange Silver Koho spoons offer a lot of presence and something for coho to focus on in muddy water. Fishing in colored water can be tough, but once you find where the fish are holding, they’re often less skittish than in clear water and more willing to bite a variety of presentations – you just need to get it in front of them.
The Squamish River systems change a lot over the summer. Runs you fished last season might look completely different or even no longer exist. Use caution on your first outing. Don’t run into your favorite run from last year without checking it first – a foot-deep pool could now be ten feet. For those floating the rivers, be extra cautious. Stop at every corner and bend to peek around before floating through.
Good luck out there, and I look forward to seeing you all on the river soon!
Tight lines,
Jake Comrie
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Capilano River Fishing Report
The Capilano had a lot of action this week. Early rain in the week kicked off the fishing but water levels remained low… that changed two days ago with the opening of the dam. Hydrographs were out of order yesterday, so it was hard to forecast the fishing conditions. Water levels rose quickly, and anglers were able to capitalize on the big water before it got too high.
Currently levels are holding high and near unfishable in many spots. Use caution if you are heading out. Water will be high making up and down descent to the canyon that much more intense.
I would wait for levels to settle before making my way out. Heavier float setups and spinner spoon and twitching setups will find the most fish. I might save the fly rods for when the levels come back down. Plenty of coho are present and the odd early chinook can be encountered.
Stay safe and watch the water levels. It can be fast and frantic fishing to make the most of the bump in water. It’s a busy time of year on this river so respect your fellow anglers and be patient with new anglers figuring out the game.
Cheers Eric
STURGEON FISHING REPORTS
Fraser River Sturgeon Fishing Report
September was a phenomenal month for sturgeon fishing, with hard bites, long runs, and some big fish coming to the boat. The sturgeon are certainly not full– they’re still gorging on the plentiful conveyor belt of salmon flowing into the Fraser. This feeding frenzy will continue well into fall and early winter, with their diet gradually shifting to match the food available in the system.
Recent rains have slightly raised the river level, but not enough to make a noticeable difference. The steady flow has kept fishing comfortable throughout the tides and has provided easy access to almost every spot. The consistent fishing is expected to continue and may even improve. As we move deeper into October and November, it’ll become crunch time for the sturgeon, as they scramble to fill up on as much protein as possible before food becomes scarce and water temperatures drop.
Landing the big ones is usually a team effort!
The pink salmon bait program has mostly wrapped up, and most action has shifted to white chinook waste parts. Chinook heads and spines have been producing well since the bulk of the run has entered the Fraser. Coho salmon waste pieces are effective as well, but white chinook has been more consistent. Roe remains a year-round go-to, and right now it’s especially productive. Every salmon species is either on route to spawn or actively spawning, sending millions of eggs tumbling downstream – an irresistible buffet for hungry sturgeon. Having a plump, uncured sac of roe on your line is your best bet for hooking into a sturgeon this time of year.
During this period, you can still expect quick, hard bait strikes. However, as temperatures begin to drop, sturgeon bites will become more hesitant and subtle. With full stomachs and cold water, they may take their time with bait, sometimes hovering over it before committing later on. Practice patience before setting the hook to avoid foul hooking or missing a fish.
A quick boat-side release for this hungry sturgeon.
This is an incredible time to experience this fishery. Conditions are ideal, the sturgeon are hungry, and the PA jet boat keeps you dry while the purpose-built fighting platform provides the perfect vantage point to battle these incredible fish. To get in on the action this Fall, call us at 778-788-8582 or visit sturgeonfishingvancouver.ca to book your charter.
Tight lines,
Jake Comrie
STILLWATER FISHING REPORTS
BC Interior Lakes Fishing Report
Earlier this month things were too warm, and we didn’t get those colder nights that often trigger Fall chironomid hatches on many lakes. This made for some tough September trips for those on the prowl for the infamous Fall chironomid hatches. We finally did get some cooler temps in the last week of September, and the chironomids did hatch, albeit about 2-3 weeks late on some lakes. I’ve been looking for these hatches most of September and had some tough fishing, but this past weekend was as good as it gets, so the persistence paid off with some double-digit days using chironomids and indicators. These hatches have been intense and but will likely be short lived as temperatures are now starting to drop quickly and the fish will be in the shallows feeding on staple food sources before we know it.
The chrons finally started hatching on a lot of lakes in late September, resulting in some excellent fishing!
As temperatures continue to drop and those water temperatures get into the low 50’s and high 40’s the trout will slide into the shallower water in search of staple food items like leeches, shrimp, scuds, baby damsels and dragons.
The keys here are elevation and timing. We are already seeing fish feeding in 10 feet of water or less on lakes above 3,500 feet. On these lakes any Fall chron hatches are usually over and anglers are now having success stripping leeches or scuds in the shallows or fishing an indicator with leeches or blobs. On the lower elevation lakes, around 2,000 feet, the Fall chron hatches will be tapering off this week and we will enter that in between zone where there isn’t a chron hatch to focus the fish but the water temps aren’t cold enough to really get fish heading into the shallows. If you find yourself on a lake where the fish aren’t focused like this, it can be very tough fishing. The fish are usually suspended mid water column, not focused on a specific food source, and they are hard to catch. In these situations, some success can be had on leeches or blobs under an indicator, or stripping leeches and boobies, but your best bet is to head to a different lake with focused and feeding fish.
So, to sum it all up, the shallow water season is here, but you might need to head up a bit higher this week to find the focused fish and then extend your season all the way in to November as temperatures continue to drop and the lower elevation lakes turn on.
Not sure if you should put in the effort or try fall lake fishing? Here is a video of Brian Chan and me fishing some trophy lakes in October in 10 feet of water using leeches under an indicator. See you out there!
See you on the water or in the shop!
Jason Tonelli
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Saltwater Fishing Report
Welcome to October! It’s hard to believe how fast September flew by. Although the month has wrapped up, it brought us some terrific salmon fishing from the Sandheads to the Cap Mouth. For those not ready to put the boat away just yet, don’t worry– October still offers excellent opportunities, and the months ahead are arguably some of the best for winter chinook.
A limit of coho landed on the flood tide earlier this week.
This past week we’ve seen things slow down at both the North and South Arm of the Fraser. The recent rain hasn’t raised the river levels much, but it was still enough to trigger a push of salmon into the river on their way to the spawning grounds. Fishing off the Fraser can remain productive into October, but it won’t be nearly as hot as September. Around this time of year, you’ll also start to see chum salmon showing up more consistently, as they tend to run later than coho and chinook.
The Capilano Mouth has had a fairly productive week, though the bite has been “snappy,” with short windows of action during the flood tide. Chinook are still around but not as consistent as coho, which have provided some fast-paced fishing when the bite turns on. Most success has come from running gear right along the bottom, where fish tend to hold out of the current.
A solid chinook from a recent charter at the Cap Mouth.
With things tapering off at the Fraser, the PA guide boats have been spending more time in the harbour. While targeting the mature chinook and coho heading to the Capilano and other rivers, the guides have also been into a good number of “winter” or feeder chinook. Many of these fish have been undersized and released, but there’s been a healthy mix of legals in there as well. This is a great sign of what’s to come as we move further into October and November.
A beautiful feeder chinook caught along West Van this week.
October is always a bit of a transition period. There’s no set day where we switch from the Fall fishery to the Winter fishery, but the early signs this year suggest it may happen sooner than later. The Capilano will likely continue to produce for another couple of weeks, but once we see more rain and the first significant dam release, the river will fill up with salmon quickly, and the bite at the mouth will shut off. Fortunately, with the number of winter chinook showing up already, it looks like the transition will be a smooth one, with plenty of action in the harbour and around Bowen Island.
October and November are often overlooked for winter chinook fishing. Understandably so– the weather turns, the days get shorter, boats need servicing, and many anglers are winding down after the busy Fall fishery. Ironically, while others are packing it in, we’re gearing up for some of the best winter chinook fishing of the season. In fact, over the past few years, October and November have consistently produced not only great action but also some of the biggest winter chinook of the year. On top of that, these early winter fish are among the best eating salmon the Pacific has to offer.
An 18lb winter chinook from early October last season!
If you’re looking to try this fishery, the next couple of months are an excellent time. Be sure your downriggers are spooled with fresh cable for deep trolling and stop by the shop so the team can set you up with the go-to winter gear.
Don’t have a boat, or want to learn the fishery firsthand? Book a charter with one of our guides. They specialize in this fishery and will share all the tips and tricks you need to make the most of this underappreciated season.
Tight Lines,
Jake Comrie
