OUTLOOK
We hope everyone enjoyed the snow days and were able to stay safe and warm! We can appreciate if not many of you went out fishing as conditions were tough.
Things are going to get interesting on the fishing front now that the snowstorm has passed. With warm wet weather hitting the entire coast we expect it to get good on the rivers as long as long as the rain doesn’t blow things out.
In this week’s report we look at the sea to sky and valley river systems. If we don’t have a blow out but rivers rise and hold clarity there should be some excellent fishing opportunities for those willing to brave the rain and slushy roads.
On the saltwater front we don’t have a report this week, but we encourage all boaters to take a couple hours this weekend and check on their boats. Clear off any remaining snow, make sure your drains are clear of any ice or debris and ensure your bilge pumps are running and everything is ship shape.
Due to weather, we moved our Steelhead Float Fishing course to next week so if you would like to sign up there is still time to do so. New date details are in the Course section below.
COURSES
Steelhead Float Fishing
In this fishery, 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the fish. This is your chance to learn from the 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.
Seminar: NEW DATE – January 23, 2024, 6:30PM-9:30PM
Cost: $75+GST
Tying Intruder Patterns
In this one night course you will learn about the specifics techniques and unique materials used to tie Intruder style flies. At the end of this course you will have the skills needed to tie a variety of Intruder style flies from multi stage, monster flies for high water, average sized flies for everyday conditions, down to small, mini intruders for low water. Note that 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. A detailed list of what materials are needed will be supplied in advance of the course.
Date: Feb 7, 2024
Cost: $75.00+GST
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Tying Essential Steelhead Patterns
This course is designed for the fly tyer looking to get the best start on tying steelhead patterns. In the 3-hour evening seminar your instructor will cover everything from tying techniques, material and colour choices, size and weight. They will walk you through 3 essential patterns that will build a well-rounded steelhead fly box. If you’re looking to get yourself into tying your own flies for steelhead, this is the course for you. This course is suitable for fly tiers with a basic knowledge. Students are required to supply their own vise, tools and materials. A 10% discount is available on materials and tools purchased for the course.
Date: Feb 13, 2024
Cost: $75.00+GST
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Squamish River Fishing Report
As we write the report (Friday morning) it is still snowing in Squamish and the river is very low. We expect this to change in a big way with temps hitting 11 degrees tomorrow and 25-30 mm of rain in the forecast over the next 24hrs. It is hard to tell what this will bring. We want to see the snow get beaten down and river to rise. If this happens and the river doesn’t blow out it could be excellent fishing conditions.
Using artificial salmon egg imitations should still be the best bet but don’t hesitate to swing flies or spoons if we see good water condition. We expect the fish to be active and aggressive if we can get stable higher water. Just make sure you are being safe when hitting the forest service roads.
This is what it looks like at the Alice Lake turn off right now (Friday Morning) Make sure to bring shovels and chains if heading to the upper river.
Matt Sharp
Chilliwack River Fishing Report
The past week’s cold weather has definitely caused a noticeable slowdown on the C/V system, as is to be expected. There are fish around, but low, clear conditions and very cold water are making things tough. The good news is that the coming week is forecasted to be a lot warmer than last week, albeit with the potential for a fair bit of rain. The combination of rain and snowmelt will definitely bump the river up, though it’s hard to say if it’ll blow the river out or not.
With a high degree of uncertainty regarding conditions over the coming week, you’ll want to pay attention to the weather forecasts and real-time hydrometric data to give yourself an idea of what kind of conditions you can expect- or if it’s even worth driving to Chilliwack in the first place. Do bear in mind that the weather forecast is not infallible; they call it the “forecast” because it has a 4% chance of being right. If you do head out there, drive carefully and remember to have access to a wide variety of gear to cover the expected conditions. Cover water and stay mobile to give yourself the best odds of finding fish.
Remember that there will still be a fair amount of built-up ice at the water’s edge, so be careful when bumbling around on the now snow-covered river rocks. The incoming warming trend and precipitation will almost certainly get fish to push into the system, so it’s likely that there will be some decent fishing when things settle… and not having to chip ice from your eyelets is going to be a nice bonus too!
Taylor Nakatani