Outlook:
Reel Screaming Deals ahead!!! Day 2 of our BOXING WEEK MADNESS SALE is today!
In case you have been “under a rock” the last few days, click on Pacific Angler’s Monday, December 23rd Blog to view all the discounts JT and the team have put together for our Boxing Week Sale!
Remember to LIKE the Pacific Angler Facebook Page to get special discounts (during our Boxing Week Sale) when you show us that you LIKE our FB page!
Josh Wolfe (pictured below) as seen at the inaugural Christmas day Vedder River steelhead swim. In 2014 Josh is hoping to have company so mark it in your calendar!! (p.s. in 2014 it will not be an accident)
January, 2014 Course SPOTLIGHT
STEELHEAD FLOAT FISHING – Taught by Jason Tonelli
Class Size: 20
Seminar Only Cost: $45.00 (before taxes)
Seminar & Guided Walk’n Wade Cost: $400 for one person or $500 for two people
Dates: Seminar on Jan 7th. Seminar on Feb 19th. Guided trip dates are flexible.
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
In this fishery, 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the fish. This is your chance to learn from the Jason Tonelli who would be in that preferred 10%! Our 3hr evening seminar will educate you on the gear, water types, conditions and other key variables that put veteran steelhead anglers in that 10%. Mastering this fishery will make you the envy of your friends. Upgrade your seminar to include a fully guided day on the water, putting into practice your new knowledge with a Pacific Angler guide.
Scroll to bottom of report to view all courses upcoming in Jan/Feb 2014 or you can download the complete Pacific Angler 2014 Course Schedule!
Saltwater Report:
Jason Tonelli Report:
The fishing this week in the harbour was a little slower than last week. We had a few charters out and it was definitely on the slow side this week. We did have a few different weather fronts come in, a high pressure NW and then a low pressure SE, so things were a little unsettled. Does this actually affect fishing? Well it is tough to say, but I always like to see table weather patterns as opposed to drastic changes. If you have read our reports about winter chinook fishing in the past, you will know that these fish move around a lot. As a result, you just have to go fishing and put some time in on the water. You can have an excellent day and the next day the fish are gone. When you do head out, try Green Onion or Purlple Onion flashers, a 6 foot leader, and smaller spoons like the Coho Killer or 3.0 Kingfisher in colours like Irish Cream, Cookies’n Cream, and good old Glow/Green. Keep your gear close to the bottom (where the bait is), cover water, and enjoy that coffee and Bailey’s.
I was out on on my day off the other day and managed to bring home a few nice fillets. Check out the color of this fish, some of the best eating salmon there is, the reward to winter chinook efforts.
Bryce was out on the weekend fishing with Todd Sweet and agree’s that a bottle of baileys and a thermos of coffee are a “must have” for winter chinook fishing. While Bryce and Todd hooked 4 chinook and landed 3, all were undersized. However as is the case in fishing off W. Vancouver for winter chinook, the day was saved by a nice haul of crabs and BC spot prawns!
Call Bryce at 778-788-8582 to book your winter chinook, prawning and crabbing charter today!! January is shaping up to be a great time to get out on the water and hook up!
Eddie Matthei Report:
Last Saturday I was crossing Lions Gate bridge on my way to the boats to do some prep work to the Dawg for an upcoming charter. As I crossed I looked down at the water which was slack and calm. I was thinking to myself that I would have liked being down there and then I spotted a boat washing his net! After prepping, Jason and I filled the boat with fuel and went for a short run to investigate the mouth of the Capilano river. One of our other guides Todd was there fun fishing with Bryce our booking manager and his new lady friend, Patty on their day off. As we approached his boat we saw one of the rods twitching and sure enough they hooked a fish just as we arrived.
Unfortunately the fish was not big enough but Todd mentioned to me that just before he arrived the boat I had seen from the bridge had boxed a legal chinook. A couple of days later I went out on the charter. We dropped the crab traps and headed for the QB marker to drop the lines and troll in with the tide. It didn’t take long before we got a strike which turned to a double of undersized chinook.
It was a nice overcast morning and we watched porpoises around the boat. Shortly after we caught and released another fish and I was thinking it was going to be a good day. The 3.5″ Green glo spoon with a chartreuse flasher off the bottom in 110′ and a 3’5″ Irish Cream spoon 20′ up with no flasher worked. We approached the Cap as the water began to slacken and I met up with a buddy on another charter boat. We exchanged intel and neither of us had had and action for a while. He also informed me he had boxed a good fish the day before near the QB marker. We covered ground (water) and I even tried some of my favourite 4″ spoons but they just weren’t biting. Just before we headed to the traps the sky cleared up and the predicted northwest wind began to blow.We headed for home and ended up with 3 crab of which 2 were huge and at least had some action.
Tight lines,
Eddie
Chilliwack/Vedder:
The river blew out this week due to the rain early in the week and now is on the drop and in good shape. Some fish moved in and the time to go is now! The river is steelhead green and some fresh steelhead are there looking for your offerings. There is lots of pressure on the river as well because people are on holidays and they are out there trying their new Sage rods and Simms waders. We have had numerous reports of fish, so if you put your time in and cover water, you will hit some fish. Float fishing the usual suspects like jensen eggs, gooey bobs, pink worms, jigs, and roe, will get these eager, fresh, steelhead biting.
For fly fishing or spey fishing, concentrate on the lower river where you get first crack at aggressive fish, concentrate on the tailout, and use bright flies in pink, peach and orange, in sizes like a #1 or #1/0 popsicle or medium size intruder or string leech.
Chehalis:
The Chehalis was low and clear with some dark coho around, but it likely would have come up with the same rains that brought the Chillliwack/Vedder up. The first of the season steelhead will be trickling in. Often these early fish will literally be eating coho eggs. Yes, steelhead do feed, but more so due to instinct as opposed to a conscious decision of feeding to retain nutrients. In fact their stomach shrinks down considerably to make room for the eggs or milt that they need for spawning and their ability to digest food is greatly diminished. Regardless, when there are lots of salmon eggs floating around, they are quick to snatch one up, just like they were 10 inch smolts rather than 10lb adults. Short floating roe bags for these fish is a deadly technique. If you are fly fishing try a single egg pattern. This river is not for the lazy, access is limited to canyon crawling or bush whacking. Steelhead+Explore so get out and go exploring and reap the rewards.
Fraser River & Harrison River:
Well there are a few cutthroat around and fishing has been good. We can’t tell you exactly where or we might get a letter full of anthrax mailed to the shop! Just kidding, but all joking aside, the cutthroat are out there and we suggest fishing and exploring the Fraser and Harrison for these frisky fish that love to slam flies.
These fish are great on a 5wt fly rod or light spinning rod and can be a good option when your favorite steelhead river is too high or too low. It will take some time to figure out the spots, but get out there and explore the region and try and decipher the secrets of Lower Mainland cutthroat fishing. We think you will find the exploring and the journey along the way is as or more rewarding than actually catching the fish.
Pacific Angler Courses (Jan & Feb 2014)
STEELHEAD FLOAT FISHING – Taught by Jason Tonelli
Class Size: 20
Seminar Only Cost: $45.00 (before taxes)
Seminar & Guided Walk’n Wade Cost: $400 for one person or $500 for two people
Dates: Seminar on Jan 7th. Seminar on Feb 19th. Guided trip dates are flexible.
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
In this fishery, 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the fish. This is your chance to learn from the Jason Tonelli who would be in that preferred 10%! Our 3hr evening seminar will educate you on the gear, water types, conditions and other key variables that put veteran steelhead anglers in that 10%. Mastering this fishery will make you the envy of your friends. Upgrade your seminar to include a fully guided day on the water, putting into practice your new knowledge with a Pacific Angler guide.
FLY FISHING EGG PATTERNS – SOLD OUT!!!
Class Size: 8
Cost: $225.00
Dates: Seminar on Jan 8. / Guided Jan 11 or 12
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
This course is designed to teach you the secrets to one of the most productive presentations in the BC fly fishermen’s arsenal; nymphing egg patterns. This deadly method can be used for different species of trout, char, and salmon. During a 3 hour evening seminar we will teach you key concepts, strategies, and gear that will give you a well-rounded foundation during the seminar portion of the class. Then you will put those skills into practice during a fully guided day on the water.
TYING INTRUDER FLY PATTERNS – Taught by Dimitri Roussanidis
Class Size: 7
Cost: $45.00
Dates: (Jan 14 & 15) (Feb 17 & 18)
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm
This course is designed for those that are interested in tying steelhead flies in the “Intruder style”. This style of fly is extremely productive for steelhead and salmon due to its profile and movement in the water. During this two night (5hr total instruction) tying series, you will learn the very specific techniques and unique materials used to tie this fly. This course is suitable for intermediate to advanced tiers. Students are required to supply their own vise, tools and materials. A 10% discount is available on materials and tools purchased for the course.
INTRODUCTION TO FLY TYING – Taught by Andre Stepanian
Class Size: 7
Cost: $75.00
Dates: (Jan 21, 28 & Feb 4)
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
There is no greater satisfaction than catching a fish with a fly you tied yourself. This 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; each session is 3hrs. Students are required to supply their own vise, tools and materials. A 10% discount is available on materials and tools purchased for the course.
TYING JIGS FOR STEELHEAD & SALMON – Max Stickel
Class Size: 7
Cost: $40.00
Date: Jan 22
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
The use of jigs for catching steelhead and salmon is not a new idea; however, in the last few years we have seen a revolution on our local rivers. Fisherman using had tied jigs are accounting for record numbers of steelhead! Join us around the tying tables and learn how to tie jigs for steelhead and salmon! If you have never thought of making your own lures don’t feel intimidated, Pacific Angler will help you with each step. For those who have lots of experience we will hone your skills and show you the tricks that make jigs the choice of top rods across the Lower Mainland. Students are required to supply their own vise, tools and materials. A 10% discount is available on materials and tools purchased for the course.
INTRODUCTION TO FLY FISHING – Matt Sharp
Class Size: 12
Cost: $125.00
Dates: (Feb 12 & 16)
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Casting Time(s): 10am – 1pm or 2pm -5pm
This course was specifically designed to give the new fly fisher the basic knowledge, casting skills and fly fishing strategies to effectively fish our local BC waters. This course is comprised of two sessions; 3hr evening seminar and a 3hr casting session. The dates below show the seminar date first and casting date second.
Additional course dates are added throughout the year due to demand.
Please contact the store for additional information or to be added to a wait list.
Pacific Angler Retail: 604-872-2204
On behalf of the Pacific Angler staff we wish you the best in your fishing endeavors and we hope to see you either at the shop or on the water. To check out the latest Pacific Angler news view the Pacific Angler Facebook page.
Jason, Matt, Andre, Max, Eddie, Jordan and Bryce