OUTLOOK
Fall fishing is about to kick into high gear! After a warm and very dry start to September, the much-needed rain arriving next week should give our Lower Mainland rivers a boost. Chinook and coho are already starting to push into systems like the Vedder/Chilliwack, and the forecasted rain should bring a fresh wave of fish and get the river season rolling.
While river anglers wait for the water to rise, the saltwater fishing remains excellent. Big Chinook continue to show off the Fraser Mouth, including several fish over 30 pounds, with plenty more chinook and coho expected through the end of September. We’re also starting to see encouraging signs at the Capilano Mouth as the late-season fishery gets underway.
If you’re looking for a serious fight, Fraser River sturgeon fishing is in prime time. The fall feeding pattern is in full swing, with our guides putting clients into some incredible fish, including several trophy-class sturgeon in the 8- to 9-foot range.
One more important reminder - our Fall Fishing Sale is THIS WEEKEND! Join us in-store or shop online Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, with great deals across the shop. Keep an eye on your inbox for the full sale list later today and get ready to save on the gear you’ll need for the season ahead.
There’s a lot to look forward to as we head into fall. Stop by the shop, get your gear ready, 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 Introduction to Fly Fishing Course is SOLD OUT. Please call the store to have your name placed on the waitlist.
Introduction to Fly Fishing
Fall Salmon River Fishing Floats, Spinners & Spoons
This 3hr evening seminar covers float fishing, spinner fishing and spoon fishing; the three most productive techniques to catch BC salmon in a river.
Cost: $85.00 +GST
Date: September 22, 2026
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Fly Fishing for Salmon in Rivers
Fly fishing for salmon is one of the most exciting fisheries in the Lower Mainland. Let us teach you the techniques and the hot spots to catch salmon on the fly in our local rivers. In the 3hr evening seminar you will learn about rod, reel and line, sink tip, and fly selection. Then put the skills into practice during a fully guided day on the water where you will learn how to read water and swing the fly!
Seminar Only Cost: $85.00+GST
Seminar Date: October 20
Seminar & Guided Walk’n Wade Cost: $375.00+GST per angler, minimum of 2 anglers per guided day on the water.
Walk 'n Wade Dates: October 24, 25, November 1 or 2
Nymphing Coastal Streams
This course is designed to teach you the secrets to one of the most productive presentations in the BC fly fishermen’s arsenal; indicator nymphing. This deadly method can be used across season for different species of trout, char, and salmon. We focus on fundamentals of nymphing, specifics on egging and a light dive into tight line / euro techniques. We also do a deep dive in to the gear you need to make the most of your time on the water.
Seminar Only Cost: $85+GST
Seminar Date: November 17
Seminar & Guided Walk’n Wade Cost: $375.00+GST per angler, minimum of 2 anglers per guided day on the water.
Walk 'n Wade Dates: November 21 or 22
INDUSTRY EVENTS AND UPDATES
🎣 OUR FALL SALMON SALE IS THIS WEEKEND!
It’s almost here! Join us Saturday, September 19 & Sunday, September 20 for big savings in store and online at Pacific Angler.
We’ll be sharing the full sale list and more details with our email subscribers later this today, so make sure you’re signed up. And follow us on social media for sale updates, featured deals, and more !
🗓️ Saturday, September 19 & Sunday, September 20
Get your salmon gear list ready — you won’t want to miss this one! 🎣
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
BC Fall River Fishing Report
Overview
The first two weeks of September have been warm and dry, resulting in very low and clear river fishing conditions across the popular Lower Mainland salmon streams. That has been great for anglers fishing the ocean off the mouth of the Fraser, where plentiful chinook and coho are staging, but not great for river anglers.
Rain Outlook
Things are about to change in the river anglers’ favour in a major way later next week, with 10 mm of rain forecast for Thursday and Friday. This will be the first meaningful rain of the fall river fishing season and should trigger a significant push of chinook and coho into the local streams.
River-by-River Conditions
Vedder/Chilliwack
The Vedder/Chilliwack already has chinook and coho pushing in despite very low and clear conditions. The rain should bring a major influx of fish and make this one of the key systems to watch after the weather changes.
Harrison and Chehalis
The Harrison and Chehalis are also very low and clear. The rain will help raise water levels, bring some fresh chinook into the Harrison, and start moving a few coho as well, although the bulk of the coho in this watershed is still expected in October.
Capilano
The Capilano is very low, and the rain should bring the river up temporarily. Chinook and coho staging off the beaches will likely make an attempt to move into the river with next week’s rain, but with only 10 mm forecast, the dam likely will not open, so the river level will depend entirely on how much rain falls.
Smaller Lower Mainland Streams
The smaller streams in and around the Lower Mainland that are open to salmon fishing should also get a push of fish with next week’s rain.
Squamish Corridor
Heading over to the Squamish corridor, conditions are a bit different. The rivers are on the lower side, but visibility on the Squamish itself usually does not improve until cooler nighttime temperatures arrive, often around early October. Although the rain will cause the river to rise and bring some fresh coho into the system, visibility will likely remain limited, so efforts are probably better spent on open tributaries for coho fishing, such as the Cheakamus.
Bottom Line
Overall, the good news is that chinook and coho runs are strong this year, ocean fishing has been fantastic, and the much-needed rain should kick off the river fishing season this coming week, with many more good weeks to come.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli
Fraser River Sturgeon Fishing Report: Fall Giants Are on the Feed
It is prime time for Fraser River sturgeon fishing, and the action has been nothing short of incredible. With beautiful fall weather, strong salmon returns, and white sturgeon feeding aggressively, our guided sturgeon trips near Vancouver are delivering the kind of big-fish battles anglers dream about. These powerful Fraser River giants have been peeling line, testing gear, and launching into huge jumps that make every hookup unforgettable.
Pacific Angler guide Josh Lo is back on the monsters this week! Here is another trophy Fraser River white sturgeon and a very happy crew from Wednesday’s guided sturgeon fishing trip near Vancouver.
As we have mentioned in previous fishing reports, the sturgeon are locked into their fall feeding pattern and are focused on the salmon moving through the Fraser River. That combination has created outstanding opportunities for anglers looking to experience the best of fall sturgeon fishing in British Columbia. Our guide Josh Lo has been dialed in over the past few weeks, putting clients into amazing fish, including several trophy-class sturgeon in the 8- to 9-foot range.
If catching one of the most impressive freshwater gamefish on the planet is on your bucket list, now is the time to book your Fraser River sturgeon fishing charter. This world-class fishery is right here near downtown Vancouver, and the fall season can produce some of the most exciting action of the year. Call us at 778-788-8582 or visit Sturgeon Fishing - Pacific Angler for trip details, more reports, pictures, videos, and booking information.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report: Big Chinook, Coho Action & Late-September Hot Spots
September salmon fishing in Vancouver is heating up in a big way. We are past the halfway mark of the month, and the local saltwater scene continues to deliver exciting action for both chinook and coho salmon. Big fish have been in the mix, including chinook in the mid-40-pound range landed by some lucky anglers, including a few PA shop customers. On recent Vancouver salmon fishing charters, we have put multiple 30-plus-pound chinook on deck, and we have also tangled with a few larger fish that tested both tackle and angler before managing to get away.
PA Guide Gavin Lau got his clients into some hefty Vancouver chinook salmon this week!
The best part? There are plenty more chinook and coho on the way. From conversations with people working at lodges up the coast and on Vancouver Island, it sounds like some chinook runs are running a little late this year. That should translate into more quality salmon fishing off the Fraser River mouth through the end of September. Coho migration typically builds in late September and early October, so anglers should expect more opportunities as fresh waves of fish push toward Vancouver waters.
We are also starting to see encouraging signs at the Capilano Mouth. Fish began showing up over the past few days, which is right on schedule for this fishery, as we often see a strong push of salmon arrive around September 15 to 18. With more chinook and coho moving in, the Cap Mouth should continue to improve in the coming weeks. It can get busy, but that is no surprise when one of Vancouver’s best late-season chinook fisheries is only minutes from downtown.
A Capilano chinook caught on one of our Vancouver saltwater salmon charters this week.
If you have not had time to get out on the water yet this summer, now is the time to make it happen. Late September is one of the most exciting windows for Vancouver saltwater salmon fishing, with big chinook, hard-fighting coho, and productive local fishing grounds all in play. Give us a call at 778-788-8582 to book your Vancouver salmon fishing charter and get in on the action.
Jason Tonelli
