OUTLOOK
The fall salmon season has been ramping up and with many anglers getting out on our local rivers after a long hiatus. With yesterday’s rain and some more in the forecast things should up nicely. We’ve got a full overview of local rivers below and don’t forget that we still have some great river courses in case you want to brush up on some techniques. Before you head out don’t forget to check your river levels to ensure they are at a safe and fishable level.
If you’re looking to check out some of the urban lake fisheries with your family this is a good time to do it. A number of local lakes have been stocked and it’s a fun and approachable fishery. Interior lakes are fishing well as the weather patterns have settled down again after last week’s storms and temperatures continue to drop.
For those out on the saltwater we’ve been faced with mixed weather and fishing, with some grinding for a fish or 2 and other days with absolutely outstanding fishing! Sandheads has been the place to be this week while those staying local and fishing the Cap have had some tougher days on the water.
Nice fish Jo-Anne!
The beach fishing season is coming to a close. It was certainly one of the best years on the beach so we’ll be heading out this week to see if we can land one last coho before wrapping up.
COURSES
Fall is here and we’ve got a full lineup of river courses. These courses sell out every season so be sure to sign up soon.
Fall Salmon River Fishing: Floats, Spinners and 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 Date: October 6, 6:30PM – 9:30PM
Cost: $45.00
Upgrade this course to a guided trip!! Call us or come see us in shop for more details.
FLY FISHING FOR SALMON IN RIVERS
Fly fishing for salmon is one of the most exciting fisheries in the Lower Mainland. Let us teach you the techniques and the hot spots to catch salmon on the fly in our local rivers. In the 3hr evening seminar you will learn about rod, reel and line, sink tip, and fly selection. Then put the skills into practice during a fully guided day on the water where you will learn how to read water and swing the fly!
Dates: Seminar: Oct 14 Guided: Oct 17 or 18
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Cost: $225.00
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.
Seminar Date and Time: October 19, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Casting Date and Time(s): October 19, 10am – 1pm or 2pm -5pm
Cost: $125.00
FLY FISHING FOR COHO IN RIVERS
Catching a coho salmon on the fly in BC’s many coastal rivers is a bucket list item for any fly fisherman. Our course is designed to educate you on the very specific techniques used to catch coho salmon on the fly in the Lower Mainland. After your 3 hour evening seminar you will then put the skills into practice during a fully guided day on the water.
Dates: Seminar: Oct 20 Guided: Oct 25
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Cost: $245.00
FRESHWATER REPORTS
Chilliwack
The Chilliwack fall salmon season has been ramping up. With the recent rain we had and bump in water height there has been reports of some good fishing. Both coho and chinook salmon are in the river. Pink salmon are also in the river but the condition of them may not be great. So long story short, it is definitely worth taking a look at this weekend. Fish will be all throughout the river so keep moving until you find that pod of willing biters. Keep an eye on the graph before you head out to get the latest up to date river height. http://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/report/report_e.html?type=realTime&stn=08MH001.
Squamish
The Squamish blew out hard last week and the rain yesterday has bumped it up again. This should bring in the first good waves of coho of the season but without cold weather the river will remain dirty and in poor fishing condition. We expect the main river to be dirty all weekend but tributaries may be worth looking at. If you go be sure to watch the water levels as we are expecting more rain this weekend and bring along some larger presentations to try out. Large purple or chartreuse flies can sometimes do well this time of year and large spoons and jigs if you are gear fishing should be in your arsenal. The pinks are now very stale and should be avoided where they are spawning. Some fresh pinks may come into the lower river and pinks spoons and spinners are worth a try but we expect that this fishery is finished for the season.
We have heard good reports of egging in areas of clear water behind the pinks but again with the coloured water these spots are hard to find. If you want to get geared up for coho or egging we just got a big shipment of beads in and Andre has brought in his custom coho flies so it looks like a good weekend to stock up on gear or go scouting but we expect the best fishing to be a week or two off.
The river has gone back to completely catch and release, no bait, single barbless fishery. Play by the rules and Good luck!
Matt
Skagit
We have heard ok reports off the Skagit, even with sub par weather conditions this anglers were hitting fish but the number of insects hatching were way down. With warmer weather in the forecast we expect good things from this weekend and next week. Reports of lots of bull trout in the system with hatches of small yellow caddis coming off in day and grey mayflies following into the evening.
We recommend having a good variety of grey and green mayfly imitation as well as some small yellow caddis and some larger orange ones. Parachute Adams, small Elk Hair Caddis and orange stimulators are a couple of our favourites. Fish the dry flies with 4-5lb tapered mono leaders in the 9-10ft length. Remember to bring dry fly floatant and work to make the drift as drag free as possible. If the weather gets cold or the wind picks up the dry fly fishing will suffer, so be prepared to change out your presentation and go deep with bead headed nymphs. Prince nymphs, golden stones and hares ears are always worth having in the box.
Good Luck and remember the Skagit is a 100% catch and release bait-banned river. Also make sure all your barbs are pinched!
Matt
Harrison
I have not gone scouting yet due to the high water levels last week and the bridge closure on the Nicomen slough. The river was dropping but rose again to 9.4 meters making it unable to walk the shoreline or to the back channels. I did talk to a few customers that went out before the rainfall last weekend and saw a few chums but no coho yet. Hopefully as soon as the river drops close to 9.0 meters I will be able to get out there and check out the river and the back channels. If you would like to learn this river there is a course dedicated to this fishery coming up. Alternately if you’re ready to get organized and to gear up for the Harrison fishery come to the shop and we will direct you to the right tackle whether fly or gear fishing.
Andre
Chehalis
The Chehalis is another river to consider but it is still a bit early. It starts to fish well towards the end of October and into late November. It can be worth a look if everywhere else is blown out.
Sam
Stave River
With the warm days of summer finally coming to a close and the much welcomed cool fall days starting to show their face, anglers will start to gear up for the much anticipated coho and chum fisheries our lower mainland rivers. Right now, it is still quite a bit early for the chum salmon to be showing up, though don’t be surprised if an early fish does decide to bite your line.
There have been a few reports of a couple early coho starting to trickle in, and with October right around the corner, anglers can expect to start seeing numbers of both coho and chum salmon starting to increase.
Fly fishing (both single-hand and Spey), float fishing, and spinners/spoons are all great tactics for these fish and once they start to show in greater numbers, any one of these methods should fair well.
Jordan
Fraser (non-tidal)
With bar fishing picking up for chinook in the Fraser, we’ve seen lots of anglers coming in and getting geared up with the appropriate weights, rods, and the variety of tackle that goes along with it. There have been some great reports of anglers having multi-fish days while socializing, stoking a fire, and enjoying a beverage along the banks of this big river. We have a variety of Spin-n-Glo’s, roe, and other bar fishing gear here at the shop to help get you outfitted for a fun and relaxing day on the water.
Fraser (tidal)
With the kids back in school and day light being limited now, one great option is to fish ultra-light gear for coarse fish. Species include, but are not limited to, the ever-present peamouth chub and pike-minnow.
These fish offer great fun for ultra-light enthusiasts, as well as for the young (and future) angler in your life. Gear is simple, and one doesn’t need to travel far to find them. Lots of the regional parks along the Fraser (Deas Island, Gary Point, etc.) are all great locations to take the kids after school for a few hours of fun.
Light spinning gear, simple terminal tackle, and readily available baits are all that is needed. Come on in to the shop to get outfitted or to pick up the simple and specific tackle needed for this unique and fun fishery!
Jordan
STILLWATER REPORTS
Local Lakes
As we mentioned for the last few weeks local lake fishing has been slow and most anglers have been focusing their attention elsewhere. If you follow us on Facebook you may have seen some of our posts about the stocking of local lakes that was taking place this week. Como, Green Timbers, Lafarge, Rice and Sanctuary Pond were all stocked this week. These lakes offer some fun fishing opportunities for beginner or young anglers so head out. Gofishbc.com is an excellent resource for information on fishing your local lakes so be sure to check it out!
Interior Lakes
I had some good reports from Roche, Englishmen, Harmon and Corbett Lakes this week. The fishing slowed down after the storm we had last week but picked up again after the weather pattern settled. The water temps are hovering around 55 to 58 degrees and the fish are on the shoals picking up anything juicy on their path, leeches, scuds, damsels and dragon nymphs. Waterboat mans are starting to hatch as the air temps drop down to zero degrees so dress warm and be prepared if you are camping on the lakes. Caribou lakes are also fishing really well.
Andre
SALTWATER REPORTS
Beach
This is the last report from our local beaches for this season until. It was certainly one of the best years in the last 6 due to early low river levels. Many fisherman, myself included, caught more coho and pinks than any other year and our guided trips went really well with clients catching their first salmon off the beach.
Another coho on an “AS POPPER” of Ambleside beach.
I went out last Wednesday after the heavy rain on Sunday not expecting to see any fish but I found a couple of pods in the calm glassy surface, the fish were barely fining but I could see the wake they created as they swam by. I hooked one on my “AS POPPER” as the fish leaped over the fly as soon as it hit the water and that was it for the day. So if you head out you have to be really looking for any sign of disturbance on the surface and make an accurate cast in front of the moving fish, if you cast in the pod you will spook them so fishing now truly tests you sight fishing ability and your cast.
Local Saltwater
As is typical this time of the year the weather and the fishing are mixed. We’ve had rainy days where we’re grinding for a fish or 2 or the warm sunny days with absolutely outstanding fishing! Sometimes the other way around too, so don’t limit yourself to those sunny weather days. For the most part every area from local to down south and everywhere in between will produce fish. Some places better than others on any given day. Starting from the South arm, the fishing had been really good earlier this week but slower on Wednesday. I’d heard that killer whales made a visit Tuesday afternoon, which would explain why they were not in the mood the next day. T10, Middle arm, North arm and Bell Buoy have been spotty as waves of fish pass thru. On any given day it can be hit or miss for a mega bite but you can usually get to take something home for the barbecue.
Smiles from all on board!
In past years the mouth of the Capilano is often red hot this time of the year. The tides for this fishery have been pretty good but it has been slower fishing so far. We had been hooking fish there but with the rains last weekend the level of the river rose and I’m sure some fish got past us. As in past years there’s usually another push of fish after that occurs and the fishing can really turn on as more fish come in. Fish are still being hooked but just not everyone is hooking up. I’m keeping my fingers crossed on this fishery because we’ve had such incredible fishing there in the past few years.
Dimitri’s guest with his catch – just over 30lbs!
Bait, both herring and anchovies have been the prime lure. I run 2 and 2 and double up when I notice which they prefer that day. If on a good day you run out of bait try out some of your favorite patterns of spoons. I haven’t run out of bait yet but heard some guys on the radio had some success with the Cop Car. Other similar patterns should work. There’s also more cohos being caught so white hoochies would also be a good bet. Depths can be from 90′ and up higher to 30′ to also target the cohos. My best range has been between the 70′ to 50′ range except for when fishing the Capilano and hugging the bottom. Good teaser heads are the Spackle back in the light and Dark versions, Glo green, Bloody Nose, Purple Haze, UV clear and Clear green. I like to run a mix of the opaque and clear patterns and let the fish tell me which they prefer. In terms of flashers I’ve seen a wide array of patterns been used successfully. It’s always a good idea to mix and match and that’s how you find the combos that the fish really like!
Tight lines,
Eddie