OUTLOOK
We hope everyone had a great long weekend! It looks like we have another nice one coming and maybe spring is here to stay.
Rain is in the forecast today but a nice mix of sun and cloud will carry us over the weekend and we could see some of the first above seasonal temps mid next week.
This week we have some info on lake fishing in the interior where things continue to be excellent. Things are warming up and we are starting to hear reports of more diverse insect hatches in the lower elevation lakes.
The warm weather last week finally kicked in snow melt in a noticeable way. It is still behind schedule but we are starting to see the Fraser and major tributaries spike. We have some details in the Fraser River sturgeon section this week.
Last but not least we have a little update on Saltwater fishing and the Capilano where we are hearing positive reports. Check those reports out and good luck on the water this week.
CLASSES AND 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: (Jun 15 & 18), (July 12 & 17), (Sept 20 & 24)
Cost: $150.00
Zoom Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Casting Time(s): 10am – 1pm or 1:30pm -4:30pm
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 28, 2022
Cost: $50.00+GST
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Capilano River Fishing Report
The unsettled weather that we’ve been having lately has resulted in some higher-than-normal water levels in the Capilano- it’s been running relatively high for the past week, which means that fish have been able to move up without too much trouble. As such, fishing has been somewhat spotty, with some anglers struggling to find fish… but when they do find fish, they’re usually quite fresh and aggressive.
Due to the slightly higher water levels and aggressive fish, float fishing with gear has been the most productive method lately. Colorado blades, beads, yarn and jigs will all work, but remember that there is no bait ban at this time of year, so roe and shrimp can be used as well. Casting spoons and spinners or twitching jigs can also be effective in some situations. Fly fishing is still a very viable option, but it should be known that fly anglers usually start out producing gear guys when the water levels drop and the fish aren’t quite so fresh. Being a canyon river, your best bet will be to target some of the mid/upper river pools- fish a pool for a while and move on to the next if the fish aren’t there. Remember, the fish are a bit spread out right now, so success depends on finding them. Be aware that these early-season Coho are usually quite small; a vast majority will be “Jacks”, with the average fish being well under 4 pounds, so gear up accordingly… consider taking a medium-action rod instead of a medium-heavy.
Don’t forget that the Capilano is a dam-controlled river, so water levels can fluctuate greatly, with little warning. Always keep an eye on river levels and be ready to get to safety quickly if water levels start rising quickly, or if you hear the water release alarm.
Taylor Nakatani
Fraser River Sturgeon Update
Warmer weather over the past week has made for some tough conditions. The Fraser continues to be high as expected. It is still well below seasonal averages so much higher water is anticipated in the coming weeks. The snowpack is well above average this year so extremely high water is expected. As always if your boating be extremely cautious as there is a considerable number of debris making its way down the Fraser right now and will only get worse as the month progresses.
Sturgeon fishing has been challenging for some the last couple weeks. This is a bit of an odd year as freshet came quite late and still hasn’t come close to its peak. This has made the fishing challenging. Fishing with faster current as always is an issue this time of the year. Playing your tides correctly should entail much more success. Just before slack tide on the incoming or outgoing tide seems to still be producing best. Sturgeon will scatter considerably once freshet hits. This makes shore fishing especially hard as locating fish can be tough as moving around isn’t really possible. If fishing from a boat, make it a point to move around. Of course, fishing from shore will often make that unattainable. But fishing the correct tides will make a considerable difference. I’m still finding that eulachons are the bait of choice at the moment but switching it up has brought success for me lately. Adding dew worm clusters to your eulachon can also change things up and enhance your presentation. Spider thread or Magic thread allows you to secure dew worms to your hook extremely well. Although sturgeon fishing right now can be a bit challenging there is still great fishing to be had. Moving around, changing up baits and fishing the correct tides are key right now. As always if you have any questions about sturgeon fishing be sure to stop by the shop.
Ethan Da Silva
STILLWATER FISHING REPORTS
Interior Lakes Fishing Report
This past May Long weekend the Kamloops/Merritt area saw a lot of anglers and surely a number of fish caught!
Depending on elevation and wind, some lakes saw water temperatures bump past 50 degrees while others remained in the low 40s. Chironomid hatches were still prevalent on most lakes, some signs of mayflies have started on a handful of lakes as well.
Anglers trolling attractor patterns such as pumpkin heads, leeches and Spratleys / 52 Buicks were having success as well with type 3 and 6 full sink lines.
Some lakes saw chironomid hatches in strictly 25+ ft of water, making indicator fishing with 30ft leaders challenging. This is a sign to pull out the Type 7 full sink lines and dangle chironomids naked. Being prepared and ready to adapt to any situation that arises is critical to success for every lake trip, I know I wish I had brought my type 7 line when I had to turn over 30ft leaders and split shot in heavy wind. Having a spread of not just the right patterns but the right size of flies is critical as well. Some days you can be one size off and be left behind in the dust.
It seems like a number of lakes in the Merritt/Kamloops area are in the thriving part of the cycle with many lakes producing a much larger average size of fish compared to the past 2 years. This is great sign for the rest of the season as these fish continue to feed heavily and grow.
Cheers,
Gavin Lau
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report
Not a whole lot of new things to report this week. In general, we have been keeping an eye on the winds and crossing when we have the opportunity. Bottom fishing has been consistent on the other side in the Gulf Islands up to Nanaimo and the catch and release chinook fishing has been great. When we have been out we’ve been dropping crab traps as well and that has definitely been productive.
Winds are bit of a mixed bag this weekend, but it does look like if you time it right there might the chance to get across.
Locally we have the potential for some more opportunity come June 1st, as hatchery coho will open off South Bowen in area 29. Typically, this fishery doesn’t pick up until mid-June but at least there is the opportunity for some local retention. I will cover this fishery in more detail next week and fingers crossed for an early start and a good run.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli