OUTLOOK
The heat is coming back! We are going to see a mixed bag of rain and sun, Saturday and into Sunday but next week looks great. Temperatures will be getting into the mid 20s in Vancouver and hotter in the interior.
We are still having awesome salmon fishing up Howe Sound. Our boats are consistently putting up good numbers of springs. We keep expecting this fishery to slow down but the bait is thick and the fish are happy. The exciting news is that we are seeing record numbers of coho mixed in with the springs. These hatchery fish are perfect for the barbeque and it bodes well for coho fishing around the Capilano next month. The full details are below the saltwater report.
With the amazing coho fishing up Howe sound it is time to start getting ready for beach fishing on the north shore. With this in mind we have Andre’s beach fly tying course coming up next Monday and there are spots still available. This is your opportunity to sit down with the master. The patterns are simple but with over 20 years of beach fishing experience you will get to see the tricks and secrets that have made Andre’s beach patterns famous. Call today to get a spot! 604-872-2204
Lake fishing was a little hit a miss with the shifting weather this last week but with the hot weather coming next week it should get good again. In the long run the heat will slow things down but in the short term it should be good for the following 2 weeks. Check out Andre’s lake report for more details.
Finally don’t forget Father’s Day is this weekend! We’re here to give you a hand to pick out the perfect gift for Dad. Or give him a Pacific Angler Gift Card and he can pick out his own gift!
COURSES
We have some great courses coming up for the latter part of June and if you’re already thinking about July – don’t forget to sign up for our July Mastering Local Saltwater Salmon and Beach Fishing Course. They are sellouts every July!
Tying Beach Fly Patterns
Join Pacific Angler for a 3hr evening seminar of tying flies specific to catching salmon on our coastal beaches. Without a doubt, fly selection is critical while beach fishing.
These flies are often not commercially available, so successful beach anglers learn to tie their own patterns. Your instructor will walk you through each fly pattern step-by-step.
This Tying Beach Fly Patterns 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 fly tying materials and tools purchased for the course.
Date: June 20
Cost: $45.00
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Introduction to Fly Fishing Trout Streams
Stalking trout on mountain streams defines fly fishing. In this course we will teach you the fundamental techniques for fly fishing trout streams; dry fly fishing, nymphing, and streamer fishing.
This Introduction to Fly Fishing Trout Streams course will get you as close to being Brad Pitt (A River Runs Through It) as you will ever be! This course is comprised of one 3hr evening seminar.
Date: June 21
Cost: $45.00
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Fly Fishing On Beaches
This single evening 3hr seminar will cover the basic principles needed to be an effective beach fly fishermen in BC from Howe Sound to the east coast of Vancouver Island. Topics covered will include rods, reels, fly lines, flies, tides, and techniques. Andre Stepanian, the instructor for this course, has been chasing salmon on our local beaches for over two decades. Remember, east coast Vancouver Island has a pink salmon run every year and last year the Capilano had 12,000 coho! Book this course early as we sold out all 3 courses in 2015!!
Dates: July 5, July 13 or July 18
Cost: $45.00
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Mastering Local Saltwater Salmon Fishing
Over 50 million salmon migrate past Vancouver annually. Learn how to catch these fish with a Pacific Angler. This course offers an in-depth look at the local saltwater scene. We cover the local saltwater salmon fishing for the entire year, showing you the how, when, and where. This course includes a 3hr evening seminar and a fully guided day on the water in one of our Grady Whites.
Dates: Seminar July 6; Guided July 8, 9 or 10
Cost: $250.00
Seminar Time: 6:30PM – 9:30PM, Guided: Full Day
FRESHWATER REPORTS
Capilano River Fishing Report
The water level on the Capilano is now relatively low. However, it is at an excellent height for fly fishing. There have been some coho caught on both fly and gear over the past week. Focusing your efforts during morning and evening will give you the best chance at enticing a coho to bite.
Short floating a variety of natural baits such roe, krill, and dew worms is effective when there is enough current in the pools to move your float. When the river level drops, casting and retrieving small spinners and spoons is a more effective presentation than float fishing. Fly fishing is a deadly way to target coho salmon, particularly in the deep canyon pools. A 6 to 8 weight fly rod matched up with a type 6 sinking line allows you to steadily retrieve your fly through the right column of the water. Effective fly patterns for Capilano coho include small olive coloured flies; such as Andre’s Cap Bugger, olive or blue muddler minnows, and even small flashabou flies.
You may catch the odd summer run steelhead in the Capilano. These fish are extremely low in number and must be handled and released with the utmost care. There is zero retention of steelhead (both hatchery and wild) in the Capilano River. If you don’t know what it is, don’t kill it!
Please note: ALL steelhead (adipose clipped and unclipped) must be released with the utmost care.
STILLWATER REPORTS
Since the last long weekend we have had unsettled weather, ranging from extreme heat for a few days which started the damsel and caddis hatches and a few days later there was snow in the Cariboo and high elevation lakes. This makes it tough for lake fishermen but on a positive note the lakes are not done like they were last year at this time. I have had some reports from Merritt and Kamloops lakes with damsels hatching, the water temps are still less than 65 degrees so we still have time to hit the lakes. If you’re heading out I would recommend to fish higher elevation lakes 4500 and over or start fishing the Cariboo lakes but before you go make sure to choose a high pressure window if you have the choice for better fishing. Don’t forget to have a few dragon nymphs in your tackle box as they should be hatching soon specially in Caribou.
Andre
VANCOUVER SALTWATER REPORT
Four chinook and two coho from South Bowen.
Mastering Local Saltwater Salmon Students on a successful day on the water.
Some nice chinook and a coho from a trip on this past Tuesday in our local waters.