OUTLOOK
The first week of September is in the books and everyone is settling into Fall routines. We’re looking forward to getting back into the classroom this Fall with our upcoming courses here at the shop.
On the fishing front, there were some openings in the last week for pink salmon so be sure to check out those updates in the “Regulation Update” section below. For those of you out in the valley, things are slowly starting to pick up on the Chilliwack/Vedder. If you’re heading a bit further afield, Matt has a quick update on what to expect on the Skagit this weekend and Sterling has a report on the Interior Lakes.
On the saltwater, Jason will be back next week with a detailed report but our boats have been out on the water and we are still seeing a good number of pinks and coho out there as well as chinook fishing down south which has been consistently inconsistent but, as we all know, that can change in a tide!
Last, but not least, we are looking for some fresh faces to join our retail team. If you are looking for a new opportunity, read on for the full job description here and email your resume to kathryn@pacificangler.ca
CLASSES AND COURSES
Introduction to Fly Fishing
This course is specifically designed to give the new fly fisher the basic knowledge, casting skills and fly fishing strategies to effectively fish our local BC waters. The course is comprised of two sessions; a 3hr evening Zoom seminar and a 3hr casting session. The dates below show the seminar date first and casting date second.
Seminar Date: September 21 Casting Date September 26
Cost: $150.00+GST
Seminar Time: Zoom Seminar 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Casting Time(s): 10am – 1pm or 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Fall Salmon River Fishing: Floats, Spinners & Spoons
This 3hr evening seminar covers float fishing, spinner fishing and spoon fishing; the three most productive techniques to catch BC salmon in a river. Upgrade your seminar to include a fully guided day on the water, putting into practice your new knowledge with a Pacific Angler guide.
Seminar: Sep 27, 2021
Guided Portion: SOLD OUT
Seminar Only Cost: $50.00+GST
Zoom Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
REGULATION UPDATE
Pink Salmon Openings and Fraser Report
On Wednesday, announcements were made for the Chilliwack, Harrison and Stave which have opened for pink salmon fishing. You can now target pinks and until September 30th the daily limit is 2 pink salmon in these areas. Please refer to the official notices below for details on boundaries for specific systems.
We have already heard reports of fish showing up in many of these systems and though early it is worth a scout trip.
On the Fraser itself, we also have an opening in the tidal areas below the Mission bridge. Again, the official notice is below. We were hoping for a bar fishery above the Mission bridge but it does not look as though it will come this season. Fishing in the tidal areas has been good, though it takes a little knowledge of the tides and fish movement.
Flies, spinners, spoons and spin glows are all effective in pink and chartreus colors but finding where the fish pod up is almost more important. You need fish compressed in to groups within casting range to be successful.
Though every spot is a little different, you can expect fish to move slowly on an outgoing tide when the river is pushing down stream and they will stack up on the edges and protected areas when the river is pushing the hardest. Usually, this is when the best fishing happens or just as the tide is switching but note when the tide is incoming and the current is pushing up river or is relatedly slack the fish spread out and can be hard to find in castable areas.
Here is the official notice for Tidal Fraser Pinks:
FN0880-RECREATIONAL – Salmon – Tidal Waters of the Fraser River (29-11 to 29-17) – Pink Salmon Opportunities – Effective September 3, 2021
Waters: Tidal waters of the Fraser River (downstream edge of the CPR Bridge at Mission to the mouth)
Management measures:
Effective September 3, 2021 until September 18, 2021:
– The daily limit for Pink salmon is four (4).
– You may not retain Chinook, Coho, or Chum salmon.
– No fishing for Sockeye salmon.
– You may not use bait when fishing for salmon.
In the tidal Fraser River, fishing for salmon is only permitted from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset each day.
Variation Order(s): 2021-RCT-477, 2021-RFQ-478, 2021-RGM-479
Here is the announcement for pink salmon in the Vedder Harrison and Stave:
FN0900-RECREATIONAL – Salmon – Region 2 – Fraser Tributaries – Pink Salmon Opportunities – Effective Immediately
Waters: Chilliwack/Vedder River (including Sumas River) (from a line between two fishing boundary signs on either side of the Chilliwack River 100 m from the confluence of the Chilliwack River and Slesse Creek downstream including that portion of the Sumas River from the Barrow Town Pump Station downstream to fishing boundary signs near the confluence with the Fraser River).
Waters: Harrison River (from the outlet of Harrison Lake downstream to the Hwy 7 bridge).
Waters: Stave River (downstream of BC Hydro Dam to the CPR Railway bridge).
Effective immediately until September 30, 2021:
– The daily limit for Pink salmon is two (2).
Variation Order(s): 2021-RFQ-488; 2021-RCT-489
Notes:
The aggregate daily limit for all species of Pacific salmon from tidal and non-tidal waters combined is four (4). Individual species limits also apply.
Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal waters and non-tidal waters in British Columbia.
The term “marked” means a hatchery fish that has a healed scar in place of the adipose fin.
Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labelling and submitting heads from adipose fin-clipped Chinook and Coho salmon. Recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for coast-wide stock assessment. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program toll free at (866) 483-9994 for further information.
If you’re going fishing for salmon in non-tidal (fresh) waters, you need a Non-Tidal Angling Licence, issued by the Province of British Columbia. Visit the provincial website to buy your licence. Licences are available to B.C. residents and non-residents. Fees may vary and are listed online. (www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/licences)
For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 1-(866)431-FISH (3474).
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or visit our website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
DFO sent out a clarification of boundaries on the Harrison.
This fishery notice amends FN0900 to clarify the Harrison River boundary description. The full notice follows.
Waters: Chilliwack/Vedder River (including Sumas River) (from a line between two fishing boundary signs on either side of the Chilliwack River 100 m from the confluence of the Chilliwack River and Slesse Creek downstream including that portion of the Sumas River from the Barrow Town Pump Station downstream to fishing boundary signs near the confluence with the Fraser River).
Waters: Harrison River (from the Hwy 7 bridge downstream to the confluence with the Fraser River).
Waters: Stave River (downstream of BC Hydro Dam to the CPR Railway bridge).
Effective immediately until September 30, 2021:
– The daily limit for Pink salmon is two (2).
Variation Order(s): 2021-RFQ-488; 2021-RCT-489
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vedder/Chilliwack River Fishing Report
The fishing in the Vedder/Chilliwack has slowly been picking up over the past week, although I wouldn’t say it’s “on fire”. Exceptionally low and clear conditions are keeping fish in the lower reaches of the river, where they’ve been getting a lot of pressure. As such, they’re not exactly the most willing biters, although the pinks and springs can still be coaxed into grabbing the usual presentations that we’ve discussed over the past few weeks. First or last light will be your best bets, which is usually the case when the river is very low, as is downsizing presentations.
There are currently good numbers of pinks in the system, with a reasonable number of springs mixed in, most of which are jacks. As mentioned, a majority of the fish are stuck in the lower, milling about in the pools and only moving at night, if at all… so they’re already getting pretty “stale” and are less likely to bite than fresher fish would be. This can be overcome by repeatedly changing presentations until you find something that they’re interested in, or by just moving on and trying to find fish that are a bit more “bitey”. No, resorting to snagging or flossing is not an acceptable option, so don’t.
The weather forecast seems to be changing every five minutes, so it’s hard to say when we’ll get the rain, we need to improve conditions and get fish moving. Right now, it’s not looking like that’ll be anytime this week, but who knows… we’ll have to wait and see. If we do get a significant rainfall, it’ll probably blow the river out for a day or two, but fishing could be incredible when it comes back into shape. Fingers crossed.
Taylor Nakatani
Squamish River Fishing Report
We continue to see coloured water on the Squamish and the good news is with cooler weather coming next week it should clear up quite a bit. The bad news is we are getting to the end of the pink fishery on this system. We can expect less and less fresh fish to come in and it is almost time to start thinking coho.
It still should be worth a look over the next 10 days but if you want to try something different, bulltrout fishing in the upper river and scouting for coho water is not a bad bet.
As always if you snag a fish, it is your responsibility to change presentations or move and it is still a catch and release fishery on the Squamish system.
Matt Sharp
Skagit River Fishing Report
Reports continue to be solid from the Skagit with water temps cooling. We will see some overcast days this weekend. In the past, if temperatures are warm and the weather is stable, overcast days can provide some of the best bug activity late season. The concern is wind and a fluctuating barometer. Over all, fishing this weekend should be worth the gamble and temps should remain relatively warm.
We are going to see a big drop in average temps mid next week. When looking at the 14-day trend we can expect the first bite of fall weather. When the cool weather does kick in things slow considerably in the mornings and evenings but can still provide excellent mid-day fishing.
Dry fly fishing can be excellent even when things cool but we sometimes we see fish keying in on things that are not your normal summer Skagit presentations. Small yellow caddis, and size 14-16 dark mayflies have been hatches that have surprised me late season. Always have your larger grey mayflies but a #14-16 Lady McConnel, a small size 16-18 yellow caddis or even a little Griffith’s Gnat is worth putting in the box.
Good Luck for the last few weeks of the season!
Matt Sharp
STILLWATER FISHING REPORTS
Interior Lake Fishing Report
Each weekend takes us deeper into Fall but we are not quite in Fall conditions yet. Water temperatures have continued to drop overnight but Kamloops/Merritt are still quite warm during the day meaning we’re still seeing those characteristic chironomid hatches. The same can be said for those lower elevation lakes in the Cariboo. Chromies, ASB, and zucchini patterns all saw good success last weekend.
I was able to get up to a higher elevation lake last weekend and scuds, boatmen, and leeches all had their time to shine. Subsurface boils were a dead giveaway that the fish were keying in on water boatmen. I fished all three patterns on my hover sinking line as I saw fish suspended throughout the 12 ft water column. Leeches under an indicator were productive as always.
Expect to see the lower elevation lakes getting better as temps continue to drop. When looking at the 14 day trend we are not too far off.
Sterling Balzer