Welcome to Riverside Fly & Tackle

Riverside Fly & Tackle is your premier fly &  tackle shop in the lower mainland. Located in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, just a short way from Vancouver, in a prime central location to access some of the best fishing in the world for Sturgeon, all species of Pacific salmon as well as great trout and steelhead fishing.

We cater to all types of fishing so no one is left out! If you love saltwater, stillwater, drift fishing, spin casting, fly fishing or even ice fishing in the winter. We have knowledgeable staff and all the gear to get you prepared for a great day on the water.

Come in and say hi, you’ll be happy you did.

Local Saltwater Jan 09

Fishing this time a year can be very spotty but the anglers who put in their time will be rewarded. Try around English Bay and out to the West side of Bowen Island. Try anywhere from 60-140 feet down with anchovy, purple haze and army truck hoochies, Coyote Spoon and purple haze Tonic plugs.  Make sure to dress warm and that your finder is working as finding the bait will mean all the difference between success and failure.  Take advantage of the lowest fuel prices of the year and get out there!

Local Lakes

The local lakes are a little slow lately with the inconsistent weather we’ve been getting.  A few have been fishing well such as Lafarge lake, which was recently stocked with brood stock to 4lbs.  Several of the big ones being caught are on leeches or power bait.  For other local lakes spratley’s and micro leeches in red, burgundy, and olive seem to be doing well.

Interior Lakes Nov 08

A lot of the lakes are starting to freeze up now,  but those that are still open are experiencing excellent fishing.  Two things needed at this time of year for the successful fisherman are steady weather patterns and a good fish finder.  One definitely is easier to get than the other,  without stable weather lasting at least 2-3 days the fish will be put off.  Don’t forget this is the time of year when the fish are eating anything and everything to fatten up for winter some times all you need is a sunny warm day and the fishing can be unbelieveable.  So take advantage of the cheap gas and maybe hit some interior lakes before they ice over.  Fish leeches and dragons and hold on tight as the takes are vicious.

Harrison River

The Harrison River is flowing high right now but it is still very fishable. Look to areas where cutthroat trout will stack up and feed. Small Gibbs Crocks in fire stripe and fire wing colorations are worth a shot. If fly-fishing try using green wooly buggers, rolled muddlers and mickey finns.

Test Fishing Reports

Test Fishing Reports

Carp Fishing In The Lower Mainland

     British Columbia has always been known for its salmon, trout and steelhead fisheries.  Our province boasts some of the best known fishing in the world.  From our high jumping Kamloops strain of trout, to the monster Skeena system steelhead and our famous Campbell River Tyee, when we think of B.C. we think silver.

 

     In B.C. , we still have an undiscovered fishery that’s neglected by most – the carp fishery.  Fished worldwide, the carp is held in high esteem in the UK and many eastern European countries as a huge sports fishery.  When we think carp in B.C., we think of a coarse, nuisance or scrap fish.  Being the silver snobs that we are, we’ve overlooked this fishery.  Most people turn their nose up as soon as I tell them I fish for carp.  Honestly, I’ve never had a fish spool me like I get spooled by carp.  Traditionally, I’ve always fly fished for them, first as a by-catch  when fishing for Bass, but now I specifically target them.  Usually, you have to be very stealthy, using clear sink tip lines, fluorocarbon leaders and a perfect cast, or else they will be spooked.  For myself, I  compare it to bone fishing, however in  freshwater.  The runs are blistering, usually running into your backing at least three or four times – these fish are goldfish on steroids.  Your line rips through the water like it’s hooked up to the back of a pick-up truck.  There is nothing you can do to stop them.

 

     Now you are probably asking yourself, ” why would I want to catch one of those ugly fish?”.   Agreed, these fish have a face only a mother can love, but these fish are all about the fight.  Big runs, powerful surges, your arms are sore from the tug of war they perform with you and there are plenty around.  From spring to fall, these fish live to feed.  In the winter, they become lethargic like all other species, but on days when the temperature rises, it springs life into them and they again start to feed.

 

      Carp feed on many things with their diet consisting of berries in season, bugs such as dragons and damselflies, tadpoles, crayfish and a variety of minnows and crustaceans.  With having such a wide variety of baits to use, anyone can target these bruisers.  A great species to target for kids, the action can be awesome, keeping them entertained, as well as  yourself looking for more.  To find carp, target places such as the Sumas River, Sturgeon Slough, Silvermere and Lafarge Lake.  Most backwaters and sloughs of the Fraser and Pitt River contain large populations of carp as well.

 

     Many store bought baits can be purchased such as Uncle Josh’s carp bait, Power Bait Carp Formula and my favorite being Dam European boilie that’s used by many European anglers.  These baits are using lots of different ingredients that the carp love, the most popular being yellow sweet corn, strawberry and orange vanilla.  Carp love a variety of bait and some good standbys are multigrain bagels,  canned potatoes and corn.

 

     Not just any rod can be used when carp fishing.  One must have decent backbone in their rod.  For fly rods, 7 to 8 weight rods are sufficient with decent drag systems.  Large arbors help because these fish can run at you, you need to be able to pick up as much line as possible.  Productive flies are crayfish patterns, squirrel nymph, possie bugger, carp candy, dragon or damsel nymphs and they love rubber legs in their patterns.  Lots of flies are coming out such as carp critter, crazy charlie concoctions and my own little swamp donkey being a cross between a damsel and frog pattern.

 

     For conventional rods, the rod of choice is 12 feet long with some European rods up to 5 meters in length.  You don’t necessarily need a rod this long, but it helps a great deal with longer casts.  I’d recommend a Shimano Necave.  Damquick also has a great carp rod in a 12 foot length.  Kufa has the most affordable rod and is probably the best bang for your buck.  For reels, most carp fisherman prefer spinning reels with bait runner capabilities.  This is a free spool setting that allows the carp to pick up the bait without detecting resistance.  If one doesn’t have the funds for a new reel, turn your drag right off to allow the fish to run with the bait.  Most takes are fairly exciting.  The carp usually picks up the bait and runs with it, with your reel screaming line.  The reels of choice are the Shimano or Okuma bait runners.  These reels are designed specifically for this application, the Okuma being the more affordable of the two.  The line of choice should be a proper spin line, usually in a 12 pound strength.  Good spin lines are the new Trilene XT, Trilene X1, P-line flouroClear or any other limp line which helps casts with spinning reels.  Leaders should be flourocarbon, usually in 8 – 10 pound breaking strength and 2-3 feet in length.  P-Line makes a great flourocarbon leader which is affordable compared to most other companies.  The weight should be a sliding weight system to help with the carp not detecting any resistance.  I like to use bell sinkers as they assist in your gear not hanging up on the bottom.  The weight should slide and bottom onto a bead.  The bead should be placed in between the bell sinker and the swivel.  The swivel I use is a Kodiak rolling swivel in size 7 and it will join the mainline and leader together.  For hooks, I like smaller ones in sizes 6 & 8, preferably  Gamakatsu.  Colour doesn’t matter and you want to hide the hook with your bait so the carp can’t feel the steel.  I’ll also use a small float, my favorite being a small Thill straight through that bottoms to a float stop.  Adjust the float stop so that it isn’t submerged under the water and keep a taught line.

 

     Most carp feed in shallow water 2-3 feet in depth, sometimes in only inches of water.  Look for actively feeding carp as fish that are stationary are generally not takers.  The carp that are travelling are looking for food along their feeding highways, just like game trails.  These fish travel in search of food.  Carp also root around displaying their tail in the air.  For fly fishers, cast right at them and allow your fly to sink for 1 to 2 seconds and start your retrieve.  Usually by the second pull they are on.

 

     Whether you are using conventional gear or fly fishing for your quarry, success relies on feeding fish and available feed at the time.  Carp love to feed on salmon berries and blackberries.  When in season try using these berries to flavour your bait.  Pay  special attention to insects hatching and try matching the hatch as close as you can.  Good luck and hopefully carp fishing will bring you as much enjoyment as it has me.

 

Garry Elgear