Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-30

• flyfishing One of the shop regulars just posted a story on fishing in BC check it out http://bit.ly/17trxg #

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Twitter Updates for 2009-08-25

• flyfishing One of the shop regulars just posted a story on fishing in BC check it out http://bit.ly/17trxg #

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flyfishing One of the shop reg…

flyfishing One of the shop regulars just posted a story on fishing in BC check it out http://bit.ly/17trxg

Fishing Gods Land

Hello and welcome to all you fellow fishing dudes around the world.

I had a phone call on Friday 7th August from a fishing buddy by the name of Les (otherwise known as umbrella man). Les asked if I wanted to go to a lake called Silver Lake, I asked where it was ? and Les replied near to Hope in the Skagit Valley . Well I am not kidding you when I say that the hairs on the back of my neck started to stand up, my heart beat raised a little and the memories of my last trip to “GODS LAND” and indeed my first trip back on Canada Day (we like to call it Fishing Day) all came flooding back . There is a magical lure to this little gem tucked away at the back end of the Fraser Valley, it truly is paradise. So we agreed to meet up at Les’s house at 1pm for an afternoon sortie on some hopefully obliging trout.

So with all the gear crammed into Les’s car and not forgetting the superb little one man pontoon boats (yes indeed umbrella man has 2 of these, how very handy) we set off heading east.  Some very fine conversation was had on route in what can only be described as license looser of a car, a Magnum R/T Hemi, wow the white knuckle experience, yehaaaa!!!.

We took the back route to hope on highway 7, and when you get past Mission the valley becomes very pleasing to the eye as the rat race of the lower mainland gets left behind.   So with bellies laden with beef jerky we are approaching the lake up a very nice back road an then the tarmac ends and we are on a very well kept logging road made up of gravel with the Silver Creek on our right side. We stopped to have a look at a few pools, we spotted fish in these pools but decided not to fish them as you all know we may have never made the lake.

We entered the Silver Lake Park and it all hit me at once 99 acres of crystal clear waters and a mountain back drop and setting to put a tear in the eye of the most hardened Victorian gentleman.  I have only lived in British Columbia  with my good lady wife and 3 children for 11 months, but we are so glad we made that move from the UK last September.

If you are contemplating a trip to Canada then stop contemplating and book that flight right now,  just the way we did 4 years ago.  Remember BC is the world capitol for all out door sports bar none, and if you hunt, shoot and fish then look no further .

So we set up the pontoon boats in proper military style (umbrella man has a certain style about him) and in no time we were ready for the water, well Les was, I can’t row to save my life!, I am so glad the lake was almost deserted as I  was so embarrassing, you have to remember the fishing in the UK is a little different, we have little streams and well manicured put and take lakes where its designed not to get a toe wet!.

As the afternoon went on I became bloody fantastic at rowing, even the 2 families of otters came out to cheer me on, one came within spitting distance of me and was squeaking at me, I think in otter language it was “hello mate, nice bit of rowing for a limey, got any spare fish for me”!!!!!.

So I dropped anchor in around 18 feet of water amongst some dead heads (old trees) and began targeting the “bows” with as near as  damn it dry fly, bang first cast a little cracker of around 12 inches. I had scores of fish all around me hitting the surface blasting at the hatch coming off.  I was using an Amundson 8 feet  5wt rod (my Skagit Valley rod)  matched to a 5wt pale green floating line, 10 feet of 3.2lbs mono tippet and an English tied emerging brown gnat. The action was fast and furious with strike after strike at my little barbless gnat pattern (very strict rule in BC, barbless hooks only) the rangers who are armed and do patrol even the most remote waterways were present and were checking all fisherman, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!.

Well I ended up with a good haul of “bows” and all put back unharmed as Silver Lake and the creek is catch and release only, how very nice and English, it doesn’t have to be a “meat fest” all the time!.

Well I was wondering where the hell Umbrella Man was, had he sunk?, had he gone to the pub?, had he been abducted by banjo playing, moonshine drinking hillbillies?, no he was now rowing with great style and speed towards me. Have I got a story to tell you said the huffing and puffing Hemi driver, I’ve been doing battle with a “hog” of a fish 28 to 30 inches long!.

Well Les actually had the fish in his hand, but in 20 feet of water and a girls hand bag of a net to land a fish of that size he had slim chance.  You may have guest it, my fishing buddy had hooked a lunker truot, but not his first, Les had hooked and fought battle with 2 other leviathans of the deep the week before, and in the same spot. I can’t believe the silly sod was not geared and ready for a “hog”, perhaps next time will be better luck.

Well we had a fabulous time in “GODS LAND” and I can’t wait to return to paradise in the very near future. I would like to thank my buddy Les for chauffeuring me to and from the venue at the speed of light, and I will return the favour in my not so fast pick up.

I would like to say that all the staff at RIVERSIDE FLY & TACKLE are a great bunch indeed and its been a pleasure to have been invited out with Gary Elgear (owner and expert guide) and Christian Somogyi (store manager and expert guide). The staff and regular customer base are very kind and knowledgeable and all are willing to give advise, so if you want to go out on a guided trip, then you should be in very safe hands with this bunch of avid fishers.   Kind regards to all of you fellow people, and tight lines.

Adam J Lane.

Sockeye Mortality Study on the Fraser Aug 09

Fishery Notice – Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Subject: FN0611-RECREATIONAL: SALMON:  Sockeye Hook & Release Pilot Mortality Study Region 2, Fraser River, Grassy Bar

The Fraser Salmon & Watershed Program (FSWP) in conjunction with the Department
of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO) is conducting the second year of a sockeye hook and
release study in the Fraser River to determine the short term (24 hour)
mortality of sockeye caught and released in recreational fisheries. 

A contract biologist, Jim Thomas of JO Thomas & Associates (JOT), will be
responsible for the operational aspects of the study.

We are seeking interested volunteers to assist us in the study.  We need
approximately 35 anglers each day of the study. If you are interested please
join us at the location and time noted below.

Study Design: fish will be caught by the usual recreational fishing methods and
also by beach seine.  Sockeye health will be assessed and the fish will be
tagged and placed into a net pen and held for 24 hours.  After the 24 hour
period the fish health will be assessed again and they will be released.  In
addition, up to 100 radio tags will be applied to the sockeye prior to release
to assess their upstream migration.

Species and Amounts: the goal is to catch up to 700 sockeye by angling and
beach seine methods. All live sockeye will be released after the 24 hour
holding period.

Meeting Location and Time: Island 22 boat launch each day of the study at 7:30
AM. Please make sure you park in the appropriate parking area for your vehicle
type. Transportation to the study area will be available for those without
boats.  There is no need to sign up; just show up at the boat launch.

Location of Study: Grassy Bar – a portion of the bar will be marked off and
used solely for the purpose of the study

Timing of Study: three 5 day time periods August 10-14, August 17-21 and August
24-28. Note: The last week is currently tentative and may be moved to August 31-
September 4.

Given the varying weather conditions expected please make sure you are prepared
and bring enough liquids to keep yourself hydrated.  You may also need rain
jackets, sunscreen, bug repellant and a hat.

Similar to last year you are required to provide your own rod, reel and line
and if you want your terminal tackle.  If you prefer, there will be a selection
of weights, leader and wool available.

The study is open to volunteer anglers of all experience levels so please come
on out and join us. 

For information on year one results please visit:
http://www.thinksalmon.com/fswp_project/item/fraser_sockeye_hook_and_release_mor
tality_study/

Notes:
Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation?  If so, please call
the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line
at (800) 465-4336.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at (866) 431-
FISH.

John Davis with a nice Dolly from Revelstoke

John Davis with a nice Dolly Varden from the Revelstoke Area.

Sockeye on the Fraser Aug 4th 09

No opening as of yet and the next report will come out on Friday the 7th of August.

Rodney Wassenaar and his First Sturgeon

Rodney caught his first Sturgeon ever and at 7 1/2 feet it was no slouch.  Rodney and his Dad ,Ed ,  were out on a Charter with our guide Johnny B on the Fraser on July 25th 09 for spring’s and sturgeon.  Looks like a good time to me!

Monster Chinook on the Fraser

This beautiful Fraser Chinook was caught by Bob Rutherford at the end of July up by Peg Leg Bar.  It weighed in at 46lbs 8oz.  Good job Bob!

Fraser Sockeye and Pink Salmon Aug 09

    We are just a couple of weeks away from the big push of pink. Although it is a little early,  a few pinks have already been reported locally around Cates Park and Ambleside.  Sockeye are starting to push up the Fraser mouth but not in significant numbers yet, we hope to see an opening for recreational fishing in the salt water sometime in mid August.

    The mouth of the Fraser continues to produce consistent numbers of Chinook. The bulk of the fish have been reported between the T10 marker and the south arm in 40 to 60 ft of water. Anchovies fished in green glo or purple haze teaser heads behind a flasher have been working the best out there, small herring will work as well. Excellent fishing will continue off the mouth of the Fraser river as the Chinook migration will continue right through to October.

    Spring fishing in Vancouver Harbour has picked up in the last few days, fish  the incoming tide any where from 30ft to the bottom.  Anchovies fished in teaser heads behind a flasher, Coyote spoons,cuttlefish, batrix and Apex lures in various colours have been working.  The Cap river is still just a trickle so fish have been building in numbers out at the mouth, white hoochies have been working the best you can also try small coyote spoons or coho killers.
 

            The Bell Buoy and Qa marker have produced a few fish as well on Coyote spoons, Anchovies and Herring fished between 40 and 100 ft.

    Howe Sound, Aka Hole in the Wall has produced some nice Chinook up to 30 lbs, Coyote Spoons, Anchovies and Herring have all worked well fished 50 ft down to the bottom.

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