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Spring/Summer 2010


Fresh Water

Local Lakes
Trout season is well underway at our local lakes throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Steadily throughout the course of March to November, our many urban lakes are stocked with Rainbow Trout. Trout are stocked up to the thousands each stocking and give local anglers a great opportunity to catch fish. Prime time for many local lakes tends to be May and June, due to the colder water temperatures. Towards the period of July to August, many smaller lakes tend to become very warm as the temperature increases, making the fish difficult to catch. Try larger lakes to increase your success as the fish are more active in the deeper and colder water. Lakes to try this Spring/Summer include: Como Lake, Lafarge Lake, and Buntzen Lake.

Tackle Suggestions

  • Fly rods in the 3-6wt range are ideal (Floating, Sink-tip, and Sinking Lines)
  • Fly Selection: Leech patterns, chironomids, and other small attractors in darker colours
  • Gear Rods should be in the 6-8 foot range with
  • Gear Reels are most preferable in the spincasting variety and spooled with 4-10lb test
  • Bait: Try powerbait in many colour variations, small deli shrimp, or worms
  • Spinners/Spoons: Try small Gibbs Crocs and Blue Foxes

Interior Lakes

Rainbow Trout fishing in the interior lakes is underway and fishing has been steady. With decent numbers of hatches, chironomid fishing has been good. Same goes to trolling leech and attractor patterns. Have a good selection of chironomids this time of year. Lakes producing large numbers of fish include Roche and Tunkwa Lakes. Although there are many large lakes that hold large numbers of fish, don't be tenative to try the one of the many smaller and secluded lakes. May to June will produce the best fishing in most situations as come July and in through August many lakes warm up and the fish become harder to catch. Once the Fall rolls around, fishing will increase with the colder temperature

Tackle Suggestions

  • Fly rods in the 3-6wt range are ideal (Floating, Sink-tip, and Sinking Lines
  • Fly Selection: Leech patterns, chironomids (various sizes and colours), and other small attractors in darker colours
  • Gear fishing: While trolling, use wedding bands, flat fish, or lucky bugs
  • Try using willow leafs or gang trolls when trolling gear

Freshwater Salmon

Capilano River: There is more to be had this time of year other then trout fishing. While many anglers travel away to fish the interior lakes, there is a large run of Coho Salmon that enter the Capilano in May through to November. Although, the Capilano is special in the way that a Summer run of Coho begin to migrate in large numbers in mid-May and continue through to the end of June. One of the best ways to produce this run of coho is by drifting bait such as roe, shrimp, or krill under a float. Fishing in the lower portion of the river can show great success with watching the tides. The upper canyon pools can yield large schools of coho as well to. The amount of fish entering the river and travelling is normally dependent on the water levels. A steady flow of water will increase your chances of success. During May and June, water levels are usually not an issue, but come July and August, the river tends to drop to a minimum level. Fish will begin to stage at the mouth of the river due to the low water levels. Fish will still trickle in, but not in large numbers. With the low later, there is not a lot of movement in many pools where drift fishing would have been adequate a couple months before. Methods such as fly fishing with full sink lines in the deeper canyon pools and small dark attractor patterns like olive wooly buggers can be deadly. Tossing small Gibbs Crocs will produce as well. During periods of low water, downsize your hooks and line as the fish tend to become very spooky.

Chilliwack/Vedder River: The Chilliwack/Vedder System opens on July 1st for the Summer fishery. The Summer fishing consists of Chinook Salmon and trout fishing. Most anglers target the Summer Chinook run. Come July 1st, the odd Chinook will begin to trickle in, but decent numbers will not be found until Mid-Late July. Opening day normally consists of higher water and more challenging conditions. The Chinook fishery is a short one, with the peak being late July and winding down within the second week of August. The Summer Chinook are unlike the Fall Chinook in which the Summer Chinook have red flesh, not white. Fishing deeper pools throughout the river (Upper River being your best bet) as the Chinook seek out deep water. The Summer Chinook fishery can be challenging as finiding the fish is not always easy. Rainbow Trout fishing is also available, and best in the lower river. Sockeye Salmon will also be migrating through the river during the Summer months. This fish are not to be targeted and must be released.

Chehalis River: Opened June 1st, the Chehalis has various species to offer. Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout are present throughout the system. Towards the end of June Summer Steelhead will begin to arrive. Chinook Salmon will enter in July and fishing can be fair throughout the system for both species.

Tackle Suggestions (Chilliwack/Vedder & Chehalis Rivers)

  • 10'6" Medium-Heavy Drift Rod
  • Baitcasting or Centerpin Reel spooled with 15-20lb test
  • 10-12lb leader
  • Hook size 1-3/0
  • Roe, Prawns, Jigs, or Blades

Fraser River: Sturgeon fishing has been excellent. Fish Eulachons. Salmon fishing remains closed throughout the system. Stay tuned with the regulations, or call the shop for updated regulations.

Stream Trout Fishing

Skagit River: From July to October the Skagit offers great trout fishing. Fly fishing with dry flies will produce fish, along with nymphing. Rainbow trout as well as Bull Trout are present. Dry flies to use consist of Mosquitos and Sedges, and nymphs consist or Stonefly Nymphs, and Copper Johns. Floating lines and light leaders are ideal. The Skagit can be easily accessed via Hope-Princeton Highway (Hwy 3) or Silver-Skagit Valley Road.

Thompson River: The Thompson offers incredible Rainbow Trout fishing in the Summer months. Fly fishing dry flies and nymphing stoneflies are great producers. Rainbows up to the 5lb class are available, but most range around the 1-2lb. range. Floating lines are ideal for this fishery. Also available in August is the jack Chinook fishery which fish bests with drift fishing roe under a float.

There are many streams throughout the province that offer great stream fishing for trout. Please feel free to contact the store, or ask our staff for more information.

Summer Saltwater Report

Local fishing this spring has been quite good and should continue to be good right through until the fall. Local favorite areas are the QA marker, Bell Buoy, Mouth of the Capilano, and off the south arm of the Fraser River. In all of these areas using a downrigger with a flasher and either and anchovy, hoochie or a spoon is the most productive.

The artificial lures don’t seem to do as well as we get later into summer (mid August) but they still do catch the odd fish, an anchovy seems to be the most productive during this time of the year. For those looking to venture outside the local waters fishing around the Gulf Islands has been excellent with lots of Salmon being caught around Thrasher Rock (Gabriola Island). Again anchovies, hoochies and spoons are the ticket. Fishing in this area can stay consistent right through into September. The fishing off of the west coast of the Island has also started off looking quite promising.

The same kinds of things used locally work over on the west coast but you can throw into the mix larger spoons up to 6” long, Tomic plugs and Herring. The west coast also offers ling cod and halibut there are a few different ways to catch these fish they are sometimes caught while trolling for Salmon (especially if you troll a bit slower), some like to jig for them with large sized jigs such as Mudrakers.

Anchoring up and using bait such as large herring can land some larger sized Halibut or drifting with Berkley White Power Grubs off of a spreader bar can be an awesome way to cover lots of ground and find areas were fish are in good numbers. Always make sure that you check your regulations before heading out as they can change throughout the season. Please feel free to give us a call or stop by for the latest update to information.