OUTLOOK
We hope everyone enjoyed last weekend’s epic weather! This weekend looks a little less like patio weather and more like classic early Vancouver spring weather. We will see a mix of light rain and clouds with a little sun poking through. This should make for some great steelhead weather. Last week, we saw good reports across the board on this front. We also saw the chinook fishing pick up again. Last week, we saw things get challenged in the saltwater, but we have had solid trips south end of Bowen and across the strait. This is the last weekend to get out before regulation changes so make the most of it!
In this week’s report, we have river reports for the Chilliwack and Squamish systems and a fry report. We have not been seeing as many fry as we expected with last week’s heat, but it may just be because things went from relatively cold to hot in a very short time. All our systems have salmon fry in them now so check out the update below for more details.
INDUSTRY EVENTS AND UPDATES
Join Our Retail Team – We’re Hiring!
As we look toward the spring and summer season we are looking to add to our retail team!
Check out the full job description here
COURSES
Introduction to Fly Fishing
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.
Dates: (Apr 29 & May 5), (Jun 4 & 8), (July 11 & 15), (Sept 18 & 22)
Cost: $180.00+GST
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Casting Time(s): 10am – 1pm or 1:30pm -4:30pm
Introduction To Fly Fishing Lakes
This course will give you an in-depth look at the fundamentals of fly fishing lakes. We explore equipment, techniques, major insect hatches and ideal lakes to begin with. You will learn all you need to plan your next successful lake trip to one of BC’s 5,000 lakes! This course is comprised of one 3hr evening seminar.
Dates: Apr 3, 2024
Cost: $75.00+GST
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Coastal Streamer Fishing
Many Anglers focus on steelhead in the spring but with spring comes warmer waters, salmon fry, more active sculpin species and all the predators that feed on them. In this course Matt will go over different techniques and flies for targeting these species with single hand and switch rods on coastal streams. This course includes an evening seminar and a guided day on the water.
Dates: Seminar: Apr 9, 2024
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Seminar Only Cost: $75.00+GST
Seminar & Guided Walk’n Wade Portion SOLD OUT
Introduction to Fly Tying
There is no greater satisfaction than catching a fish with a fly you tied yourself. This Introduction to Fly Tying 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 fly tying materials and tools purchased for the course.
Dates: Apr 10, 17, 24
Cost: $125.00+GST
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Introduction to Chironomid Techniques
Chironomids are the number one food source for trout in BC’s lakes; however, few anglers have taken the time to become true masters of this discipline. Those that do, are often rewarded with the largest fish. Trevor is a former member of the Canadian Fly Fishing Team and an excellent chironomid angler. Dedication to his sport has helped Trevor to become one of the top fly fishermen in the province as well as a fisheries biologist. This course is comprised on one 3 hour evening seminar. Content is for beginner to advanced.
Date: April 23
Time: 6:30-9:30 PM
Cost: $75.00+GST
Check out the full course listing here and give us a call at the shop (604.872.2204) to sign up today!
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Chilliwack River Fishing Report
The past week saw some unseasonably pleasant weather and some ridiculously high daytime temps. The excessive heat did trigger snowmelt, and the river bumped up and dirty up a reasonable amount. Thankfully, the river didn’t completely blow out, but visibility was getting a bit sketchy in some areas by Sunday. There are a ton of fish in the system, though the warm spell did make the fishing a bit hit-or-miss; some days were incredibly good, some days weren’t.
The dirtier water meant that larger presentations were a good thing to have. Bait, gooey bobs, rubber worms, large beads and jigs all produced fish, as one would expect. The forecast is calling for rain over the next week, though the amount of precipitation that falls will dictate whether the river will remain fishable. As always, you’ll want to take a good look at the forecast and river levels before you head out. Bring an assortment of gear to make sure you’re ready for whatever conditions you face and be aware that I’ve heard that the clay banks have been unstable, resulting in increased turbidity at random times.
Salmon fry are out and about in reasonable numbers, so be careful while wading to avoid squashing them. Also, keep in mind that the upper river from the Tamihi bridge to the boundary, will be closing to all fishing at the end of the month, so if you want to fish up there… now is the time.
Taylor Nakatani
Squamish River Fishing Report
We had some mixed reports over the weekend. The river rose for the first time this season due to snow melt. It hit some great levels for migratory fish, but the resident bull trout reports we heard were not as good as we would have liked to have heard. This is all very subjective but the observations from the high sections of both Cheakamus and the Squamish were that the fry were not out in force yet.
This could change any day so make sure to have fry patterns, spoons and Colorado blades in the kit. It is also well worth fishing some of the large presentations right now as we move into the true spring season. We have trips out all weekend. We have high hopes and will have more details next week.
If you are looking to get out on the water, be it on a drift or walk and wade guided trip, give the charter line a call at 778-788-8582. Now is time to book!
Matt Sharp
Fry Day Update – Salmon Fry Report
This past week has seen an increase in fry reports, but not as much as we expected.
We had a couple of reports from the Harrison of anglers finding cutthroat, but they found their success with more general small streamer patterns like cutthroat buggers and slump busters. This is common when there are a few fry out but not many. You will usually see a couple days of very good fishing when the first big pushes of fry hit a given system then the fishing continues to be good, but the fish get more and more selective. This is when you want to match size a color but in the early part of the cycle general attractor streamers are sometime more effective than the realistic fry patterns.
Rember this is not just a river game. It is also an estuary fishery. Anywhere a salon stream dumps into the ocean is worth a look.
Right now, have some more general attractor patterns in the kit. Start your day with them when searching but make sure to have some sparsely dressed muddler minnows or Andre’s epoxy minnows in the kit. They are great when more fry are about and fish get pickier. If you are a gear angler small Dick Knights, Mini Gs or Crocs are great imitations to throw.
Once we see a good spell of hot weather that stretches for more than a few days, we should start to see the fry become more abundant, and then hopefully turn into a food source.
Remember that your leaders and tippet, along with your mainline if fishing gear, will want to be light. This will help increase distance and sensitivity.
Cheers,
Jordan Simpson