BC Fish Stocking Program: BC Fish Stock Report

You know, we here in British Columbia are pretty lucky, well those of us who like to fish are anyway. Sure an argument can be made for those who don’t enjoy fishing to have reason to feel blessed for living in Canada as well but hey…those are many and would only serve to mess up a good fish story.

Since the last week of September I have been regularly checking the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC website for the Recent Releases Stocking Reports. Having 3 boys that I am trying to instill a passion for fishing, I needed to know when and where the best places were going to be for some local lake angling success. Nothing ignites the passion for fishing more than actually catching some fish and I wanted to get in at least one more day of fishing with my sons before the weather got too bad.

On October 17th I checked the site and they finally updated the recent releases report for the Lower Mainland and I noticed that they had stocked Mike Lake with some decent sized rainbow trout a few days earlier. For those of you who do not know about Mike Lake it is a small lake located within Golden Ears Provincial Park. Mike is a nice little lake that is small enough to negate the need for motor boats and in fact, they are not even allowed.

According to the recent releases report the fisheries released 182, pound and a half trout, on the 13th of October making this a really good place to go catch some fish with the kids. As luck would have it the weather was supposed to break on the 18th and it did but all of the kids had other plans for that day, bummer.

Not wanting to pass up a perfect fall day with really good fly fishing prospects, I packed up one of my pontoon boats and went out on my own. Armed with my favorite #4/5 fly rod and a black micro leech on a sinking line, I set out to rowing around the lake.

Having rowed one and a half times laps without so much as a nibble I figured it was time to try another fly. So what did I put on? A green micro leech, how is that for a new presentation? Don’t laugh as I barely got the fly in the water before I landed me a nice and fat 17 inch bow. Looking to shake hands with a few more like that I worked the green micro leech for a few more turns of the lake but with only a few small ones for my rowing efforts.

With the Park under winter hours (gates locked up at 5:30 PM) and it getting later in the afternoon I figured I would try some other flies. The sun had been poking through some scattered clouds all afternon but it appeared that it would be out for the rest of the day so I figured I would try me a nice and shiny silver Muddler Minnow pattern.

Oh man was that ever the right call as I caught me a 16 incher right off of my cast and no sooner did I land that one when I got another a few moments later. Wishing that at least one of my boys could have come out with me I vowed to take one of them with me next weekend rain or shine. I finished off my day with 2 more beauties that I took home with me.

Fast forward to next Saturday the 24th; I consult the BC Fish Stocking Program again and see that on the 20th they stocked Rolley Lake with some even bigger fish so I grab my oldest son and head on out. Having stopped at Riverside Fly & Tackle to talk to Christian about Rolley Lake, he outfitted us with a couple of chartreuse muddler minnows and a request for a report on their effectiveness.

Squared away with some tips and gear my boy and I head on up to the lake only to find that winter hours for Rolley Lake means closed to the public. After all that build up I felt sorry for my son who was really looking forward to catching some respectable sized trout. Not wanting to just go back to the house we figured that we could stop by Mike Lake on the way home and check it out.

Upon arriving at Mike Lake we walk out on the dock just in time to watch some guy land a fish. Apparently there were still a few of the recent stock left so we geared up and took the pontoons out. Both of us figured we would try the chartreuse muddlers and my son landed one right away. Myself, I wasn’t having any luck with the thing so I went back to the silver minnow but to no avail.

I tried the chartreuse, silver and even a gold muddler with no success. Oh well at least my son was catching fish and that was what was important.

With the afternoon getting on I figured I would go back to the old tried and true green micro leech and wouldn’t you know it, I hooked into a really spirited 16 inch rainbow trout to close my day.

All in all I landed two for the day and my son got 3 which was perfect as his fish allowed for his younger brothers to get in on the day’s events too by cleaning them. But that is another story.

Les Romhanyi

October

                                                                          

The Showgirl fly is a killer fly pattern for Chum.  It has now moved in to jigs and other styles of fishing because of how effective it is.  This is a very effective fly in both fast and slow water.  Marabou is the key to this fly, its action in the water is irresistable to fish.  You can also use rabbit strips to tie this pattern.  The rabbit strip patterns seem to be most effective in low and clear conditions while the marabou patterns are deadly during high and coloured conditions.

Tying Materials

• Hook: Mustad  36890 size 2-6
• Thread: Hot orange
• Body: Palmered Marabou, first pink then  purple
• Flash: 2-4 strands of Purple Flashabou

 

Tips:  When tying this fly make sure to tie in the tips first rather then the heavy quill end.  For fast water don’t be afraid to lead the body or put a bead head on.

Garry’s Own Fresh Cured Roe Now Available

                                                                

 

Garry has just finished curing his own batch of roe,and it’s now available in the shop.  These are his own recipes perfected over the years and tested thoroughly on our local rivers.   This stuff doesn’t last long, guys who have fished it before tend to grab a bunch because it’s a proven producer of fish.  Garry’s done up his 5 favorites and they are, BC Orange, Hot Pink, Orange, Natural Garlic, and Natural.  Come get some before it’s all gone!

Thompson River Steelhead open to fishing Oct 23, 2009

The Thompson River opened today after the Albion Test sets were showing good returns of Steelhead.  So gear up and go fish for some of these beauties, who knows how long it will stay open.  We’ve got everything you need for these gorgeous fish, come and see us.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-10-18

• Sports Fishing, Sturgeon Fishing – Don't forget to sign up for our annual Sturgeon Fishing Derby http://bit.ly/3QeGOq on the Fraser River #

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Twitter Updates for 2009-10-15

• Sports Fishing, Sturgeon Fishing – Don't forget to sign up for our annual Sturgeon Fishing Derby http://bit.ly/3QeGOq on the Fraser River #

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Sports Fishing, Sturgeon Fishi…

Sports Fishing, Sturgeon Fishing – Don’t forget to sign up for our annual Sturgeon Fishing Derby http://bit.ly/3QeGOq on the Fraser River

Riverside Fly & Tackle Annual Sturgeon Derby 2009

 

Join Riverside for our Sturgeon Derby.  The entrance fee is $30.00 per rod.  The derby borders will be between Whonnock dock and the Mission Bridge.  As with last year we will meet at Duncan Bar at 8:30 am.  We will assign boat numbers at that time and draw numbers for the order of people leaving the beach.  We will also be giving out the phone numbers to contact once you have a fish on.  When you get a fish call in a marshall to come verify the fish.  Only call if you think the fish is over 4 feet.  We don’t want to be measuring a bunch of little guys and miss the oppurtunity to measure a big one, plus a fish under four feet definitely won’t be taking the money prize.  The derby will be over at 3pm.  Any fish to be measured must be called in no later than 3 pm, and no fish not landed by 4 pm will be entered, so if you have a big one work him hard and quick.  We will be once again meeting at Mission Springs Pub at 5pm to hand out prizes and cash to the winners, Mission Springs has told me they will have extra staff on hand to handle the orders, not to worry.    If you plan on going to the pub before 5 pm please let us know.  For any other questions please call (604-944-2479)  and to sign up come see us in the shop.

Local Rivers fishing well for Salmon Oct 09

The Vedder River is absolutely plugged with fish, with Pinks and Chinook and now Coho pouring in it’s Fish Heaven.  Chum are starting to come in as well.  The Vedder is fishing well with wool and roe.  Chehalis should start picking up soon.  The Harrison river is fishing well with jigs and spin-n-glos for Chinook.

Don’t Forget to sign up now for Riverside’s Sturgeon Derby-November 1st-$30.00 entrance fee- !st place last year took $2000.00 cash!

Fall fishing Interior Lakes Oct 09

Time for one last camping trip to the Interior before the snow settles in.  Fishing in the Interior is taking off right now, with the cool nights and warm days it is triggering the fish to feed actively in preparation for winter.  These warm days are creating some great dry fly fishing as well.  Flies to use right now are green micro-leeches, pumpkin head leeches, dragonfly nymphs, boatmen, and for dries take sedges.

 

Sign up now for Riverside’s Annual Sturgeon Derby-$30.00 entrance fee- 1st place last year took $2000.00 cash

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