Pacific Angler Friday Fishing Report: October 9, 2026

OUTLOOK 

Happy Thanksgiving Long Weekend! 

The rivers are busy with salmon, coho are becoming a big part of the Fall fishing picture, and there’s still plenty of action to keep anglers busy over the long weekend!  The Chilliwack/Vedder is holding good numbers of chinook, coho and chum, while the Capilano and Harrison are offering some great opportunities to get out and look for coho.  Water levels remain low and clear in many places, so a little stealth and patience can make all the difference.  Keep an eye on the weather, too — even a bit of rain could help freshen things up. 

On the saltwater side, mature chinook and coho are still producing around the Capilano and Fraser River mouths, and winter chinook are starting to show up in more areas. If you’re thinking ahead to the winter fishery, we’ve added a third date for our Winter Chinook Fishing Seminar on December 8 after the first two sessions sold out! 

Whatever your plans are this weekend, we hope you get a chance to enjoy some time outdoors. Stop by the shop if you need to top up your tackle or get geared up for your next adventure. 

Thanksgiving Long Weekend Hours: We’ll be closed Monday, October 12 for Thanksgiving, so be sure to swing by before then if you need anything for the long weekend. 

Have a great Thanksgiving, and we’ll see you on the water!  

CLASSES AND COURSES 

We have a great line-up for our Fall Courses. 

Please note that the Fly Fishing for Salmon in Rivers, Nymphing Coastal Streams, and November 18 & December 5 Winter Chinook Fishing with J. Tonelli are SOLD OUT.  Please call the store to have your name placed on the waitlist.

PRODUCT FEATURE 

Simms G3Z  Waders Have Arrived

Tougher, Drier, Smarter: Meet the New Simms G3Z Pro Wader

The legend has been upgraded. Launching just in time for fall and winter on British Columbia waters, the all-new Simms G3Z Pro Waders are here. Simms rebuilt this iconic wader from scratch to deliver next-level pinhole resistance, enhanced mobility for heavy layering, a redesigned suspender system with easy waist-high conversion, and the effortless convenience of a TIZIP center-front zipper. Discover all the upgrades and get ready for your next trip on the water.

FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Chilliwack/Vedder Fishing Report 

It’s hard to believe it, but we’ve already made it to the Thanksgiving long weekend and salmon season is in full swing on the C/V system. There are significant numbers of chinook, coho and chum spread throughout the system, from top to bottom- though low, clear water conditions are making the fishing a bit tough. There’s some rain in the forecast between Thursday night and Friday night, which is likely to push some fresh fish into the system... though I doubt it’ll bump the river levels much, it may put some colour into the water.  

Float fishing with bait (roe or shrimp), beads, yarn, jigs and blades is always a safe bet, though I never leave home without a spinner/spoon/jig rod- slow, deep pools are perfect for casting and retrieving a spoon/spinner or twitching a jig, and it can really pay dividends to have a “plan b” if the float gear isn’t producing. Case in point- coho love the big, deep, stagnant holes that were dug in the lower river, but float gear is next to useless in those “ponds”. Spoons, spinners or jigs, on the other hand, can be extremely productive if the fish are in a cooperative mood.  

There are still a ton of chinook in the system, though it's safe to say that we’re past the peak of their run. There will be fresh chinook entering the system well into October, but their numbers will slowly start petering out as the days go on. Look for these fish in the deepest parts of a run, as they like to hunker down in the deep stuff.  

The coho run typically reaches its peak around Thanksgiving, and it looks like that will be the case for them this year as well; there are a lot of coho around... though the low, clear water conditions have been making them quite spooky and rather difficult to catch at times. It's worth noting that both chum and chinook will often “bully” coho out of the deepest parts of a run, so it’s not uncommon to find coho holding in tailouts, near shore or in riffles. 

A nice limit of hatchery coho, brought to hand with spinners and twitching jigs. 

Interestingly, the chum run is off to a much better start than normal, with the test fisheries showing some very promising results. The chum run typically peaks around mid/late October, and the high numbers of early-run chum led me to believe that this could be a banger of a year. Having said that, do note that chum are still closed to both retention and targeted angling at the moment, so keep the pink and purple float jigs at home... for now. DFO will be meeting to discuss chum numbers and angling opportunities next week, so keep your ears open for news regarding any potential openings- we'll be sure to post any updates on our social media and in next week’s report!  

You can’t keep them or even target them, but there are a ton of chum in the system and they are very commonly encountered as incidental bycatch.  

October is go-time for the C/V, so now is the time to get out there. The long weekend crowds will be immense, but that’s the price you pay for fishing the C/V during prime-time. Put in a bit of leg work, and you’ll get away from the worst of the crowds... and maybe find yourself some less pressured fish! Remember to be considerate to other anglers, check the regulations before you head out, and don’t even think about snagging.  

Taylor Nakatani 

Capilano River Fishing Report 

The Capilano is a short but productive system straddling the border of North and West Vancouver. We talk alot about the beach fishery at Ambleside, but when the Fall rains hit, we focus on the river. The river fishing all hinges on the opening of the Cleveland dam. During the early Fall the low water prevents the bulk of the fish from moving up. The dam was opened at the start of the month, and a slightly higher flow was maintained through the first part of October. This created a push of coho and chinook moving up river with some great fishing opportunities.  

Conor & Calum doing it right.  A few friends putting in the time and figuring out how to get those coho! 

When the water is up, your standard river float gear produces. Try drifting small beads and yarn ties where you have a bit of flow. This is a solid technique to target chinook as they tend to hold in the deeper parts of the run. Coho anglers can also drift gear, but you may find the majority of coho getting pushed out from the deeper pools by chinook and sitting at the end of the run. Remember there is a bait ban on the system as of August 1st to the end of October. 

With the water flow being slightly slower it can be hard to target coho with the float… I tend to switch to spoons and spinners. Smaller Crocs, Koho, Blue fox spinners, and twitching jigs will help get you your coho in the slower water. A note on twitching jigs… be cautious with jigs in deeper water and don’t let them bounce off the bottom. It can lead to foul hooked fish, and no one wants you to bring in a 20lb chinook backwards.  

Don’t be afraid to size down when the fish get tight lipped. I go as small as a 3/16 Croc when the conditions get tough. 

My personal favorite for the Capilano is fly fishing. The river is notoriously difficult to fly fish as it’s mostly canyons and steep tree covered banks, but when the conditions are right small flash flies can be deadly. Fly anglers can use full sink lines like the Rio Fatham in the canyon pools or medium sink tips lines like the Rio Predator in the smaller pocket water to find coho. My go to is a clear line in the slow water and tailouts. The Rio Mainstream clear intermediate sink is stealthy for those spooky fish. 

I don’t get out as much as I used to but still managed to fill my fish bag a few times during some quick morning sessions. 

My fly selection is simple… small and sparkly. Arrow style patterns in a variety of olive, green chartreuse and copper will find fish. Have a variety of bead sizes to add weight. This helps you get down when you need to. These are best tied with a loop knot and stripped rather quickly. This produces a jigging action that cracks those tight lipped coho. 

I asked master fly tier, shop alumni, and all-around coho wizard Andre to make a few of these specifically for the Capilano: Small - Sparse - Deadly. 

As with any urban system the Capilano can get very busy. You may find yourself combat fishing with a number of other anglers on the banks. This can be a little intimidating for new anglers. My best advice is getting up early to find a suitable spot and maximize your chances at the first light bite. I love this river as I have fished it since it was a kid… Make friends with those around you and practice proper fishing etiquette. Pack out your garbage and leave your area cleaner than when you found it.  

Eric Peake Harrison River Fishing Report 

It’s mid-October now, which means things will be starting to shape up on the Harrison. While the water is still low, there are good amounts of fish in the system. It’s important to note that the only species open to fishing at the moment is coho salmon. Chinook, chum and sockeye are all closed as target species, not just catch and release. More and more coho should be showing up as we progress into October, so fishing will only be getting better. 

A nice wild coho caught in the early hours of dawn

Coho salmon can be tricky to catch, especially in a large and wide river system like the Harrison. The key is finding them; coho salmon will stack up in back channels and slower pockets of water. With the current water levels, they are pretty easy to spot, look for silver almost translucent looking fish with square black tails. These fish are fairly spooky at the moment, especially once the sun hits the water. Your best shot at one will be in the early hours of the morning, or on a cloudy overcast day.  

Keeping your distance from the deeper part of a run when casting can help keep the element of surprise, when dealing with spooky fish. 

Fishing techniques vary in this system. Spinning gear and fly rods are my personal favorite things to bring, especially if you’re actively searching for fish. It’s easy to pause your hike and throw a couple casts with a jig or small flash fly into whatever spot you think there may be fish. Float gear will also work but is more specific to a certain type of water. It doesn’t hurt to bring a float rod; however, I find myself reaching for the fly and spin setups more frequently on this system. The Reddington Wrangler 8wt fly rod is a great starter fly rod if you’ve been thinking about giving fly fishing for salmon a try. It loads nicely and is a forgiving rod for new fly anglers. Fluorocarbon leaders can make all the difference in low and clear conditions. Seaguar STS Fluorocarbon in my go to for the spinning gear, as for the fly I use Scientific Anglers Absolute Fluorocarbon in a 2x or 1x. 

Some of my favorite twitching jig colors for fall season coho. 

Some of my favorite fly patterns for picky coho on the Harrison. 

Currently the water level is sitting at around 8.8 meters, which is pretty low for the Harrison. There is a bit of rain in the forecast for Friday out in the valley, but not much. Fish will still push in, regardless of if it rains or not, however they will be significantly more aggressive once the river comes up a bit. There is a ton of chum salmon around, as well as sockeye. These are the bycatch species you will most likely run into while coho fishing. It’s important that these fish are released as gently as possible.  

Overall, if you’re planning on heading up that way this weekend, I’d say it’s worth it. Get there early for your best shot at fish or pick a nice cloudy overcast day with a slight drizzle of rain.  

Good luck out there everyone. 

Jacob Leboe 

SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS 

Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report: Chinook & Coho Update 

Vancouver Salmon Fishing Conditions 

It’s Friday morning, October 9th, and the wind is howling!  We had two Vancouver salmon fishing trips scheduled today, but powerful northwest winds forced us to cancel. With gusts hitting 37 knots off Point Atkinson, even Vancouver Harbour offers little refuge. The upside? Wind cancellations have been rare this season, and the weekend forecast looks far more promising. 

If you’re heading out later this weekend, the big decision is whether to target winter chinook—also called feeder chinook—or mature chinook. Fortunately, anglers have a real shot at both, with encouraging numbers of fish in several productive areas. 

Where to Find Chinook and Coho 

The Capilano River mouth remains a top option, with good numbers of mature chinook and coho stacked up off the mouth. The bottom of the ebb tide and the first few hours of the flood have been the most productive for us. Our go-to setup is a flasher and anchovy fished close to the bottom. The Fraser River mouth—from the North Arm to the South Arm—continues to produce chinook and coho as well. When we’ve marked chinook feeding on bait near the bottom, dropping the gear down has delivered a few bonus winter chinook, too. 

 A winter chinook we caught off the Fraser Mouth this week. 

Lower Howe Sound is also holding some winter chinook. For anglers willing to burn a little fuel and make the run, Gabriola is another strong option. Both areas can deliver excellent winter chinook fishing from now through March, which means this fishery is just getting started. 

Winter Chinook Fishing Seminar 

Ready to sharpen your winter chinook tactics? Both original dates for my Winter Chinook Fishing Seminar sold out, so we’ve added a third session on December 8th. Whether you’re new to the fishery or want to take your results to the next level, this seminar will help you approach the season with greater confidence.  

More Vancouver Fishing Reports Coming Soon 

Looking ahead, we’ll publish a new Vancouver winter chinook fishing report every two to three weeks. Watch for our winter chinook tackle kits launching later in November. I’ll also share a full season wrap-up, followed by my take on the 2027 salmon forecast once it’s released. 

Until then, stop by the shop, get your gear dialled in, and make the most of the next weather window.  

We’ll see you in the shop or on the water, 

Jason Tonelli