Riverside Fly & Tackle » Fishing Stories: Fly Fishing Articles

Hunting licenses and LEH’s are in! (Synopsis’ as well)

rsfat — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:36:58 +0000

Riverside has all your Hunting tags/Licenses, as well as the LEH cards. We just got a box of the synopsis’ the other day, but they’re going quickly and we only get on box…so come by! Just remember, applications must reach the Victoria address by 4:30 pm May 25, 2012. Also, we have a good range of basic ammunition types and a variety of hunting gear and attire. On a side note, we can special order just about anything at any time. Just call the shop or swing by! Riverside Fly and Tackle (604)-944-2479

We now carry: MARUTO HOOKS and Terminal Tackle!

rsfat — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:13:58 +0000

Riverside is now carrying Maruto hooks, (both Japanese made and owned since 1892), and we’re the only shop in Canada to have them. They are a premium quality hook, and are of an extremely high carbon composition. They are the only hook that has not been bent open on our might Fraser River sturgeon. We have a complete line of all their products and sizes, from sturgeon hooks, to salmon, to fly tying hooks and all types of swivels. Furthermore, all fly tying hooks are available in BARBLESS. Brian Chan and Phil Rowley were the first to purchase our Maruto fly tying hooks, and now highly recommend them to all, (especially our specialty balanced leech jig hooks). Come into the shop and check them out, I can actually guarantee that you will be impressed with the strength, sharpness, design, and look of these fine hooks. Hello Sturgeon!

A short history on Ryobi reels

rsfat — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:26:44 +0000

Since its establishment as a die casting manufacturer in HIROSHIMA in December 1943, Ryobi Limited has accumulated innovative technologies by making components for automobiles, electronics, telecommunications and other industries. In 1944, Ryobi has leveraged these technologies and drawn on its experience to diversify into the manufacture of printing equipment, fishing tackle, golf supplies, power tools and builders’ hardware. Therefore RYOBI, DAIWA and SHIMANO are the top three fishing tackle brands in Japan.

Ryobi is all around you, making an enjoyable, comfortable daily lifestyle possible. Next time you’re in the shop feel free to ask about Ryobi reels and try spinning one for yourself and comparing them to Diawa and Shimano’s top of the line reels. We are extremely pleased and excited to be one of the few distributors in North America carrying the innovative and precise designs engineered by Ryobi.

Ryobi sets the new standard for quality. Our Riverside reel technician has personally inspected these reels inside and out and has confirmed their superiority. Put one in your hand and feel the difference yourself.

Modern Chironomid Techniques with TOM LAM. April 21st, 2012

rsfat — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 21:29:39 +0000

Tom has been fishing over 30 years and is one of the most knowledgeable stillwater anglers out there. On April 21st, he will be delving deeply into one of the most technically challenging disciplines of Stillwater angling… the chironomid. The course is hands on and will be taking place at Hyde Creek, with everyone just meeting at the shop at 930am for the introduction.This one day course, tailored to all anglers, emphasizes the use of an indicator and instills a rigorous and disciplined approach to this fishery. Topics covered include the hows, whens, wheres and whys, of chironomiding, as well as tackle, knots, flies and etiquette.

Call the shop for more info, and come in to sign up! Spots are filling fast.

604-944-2479

Cutthroat Fishing – Searching Out The Pack

rsfat — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:00:11 +0000

Kicking back in my boat waiting for my guests to arrive I pull out my binoculars and start scanning the water for activity. Two hundred yards in the distance I see the surface erupt in the telltale manner of cutthroat trout working fry caught in a back eddy. My pulse quickens and I wish my clients would hurry up so that I can get to these cruisers before they move on. That’s cutthroat fishing on our coast – here one day and gone the next. These nomadic beauties cruise where ever they desire – up and down rivers, creeks and sloughs in search of salmon fry, sculpin and whatever else should come their way. They travel in groups like a pack of rabid wolves in search of prey. Visually pleasing, the cutthroat is decorated with magnificent spots up and down its lateral line. Under their jaw they display lipstick-like markings – another work of art. I could admire them forever but I practice catch and release as these fish are in decline. There are a lot of factors going against the cutthroat, such as urban sprawl and the subsequent lack of natural riparian zones where they thrive. I would like to tell you that cutthroat are difficult to catch but I would be lying. Cutties give up their location by their rises, aggressively slashing at fry on the waters surface. I’ve witnessed what looks like a hot tub when a pack of cutthroat was viciously attacking fry in front of me. One of the cutthroat fisher’s tools of the trade are binoculars. With them you can cover lots of water in your search for their rises. Successful areas to target cutties are sloughs, creeks and river mouths that sustain healthy fry populations. Don’t overlook side channels on bigger rivers such as the Fraser, Harrison and Pitt systems. Finding out when fry are hatching and what species can really help your success rate. To aid your search, call local hatcheries and find out if there are any release dates of fry or if there are fry hatching in the river. As a fly chucker, matching the hatch can be very helpful in your fly selection. My favourites are muddlers in different shades of natural to represent chum, olive to represent sockeye and gold for dirty water. All my flies consist of a bead and a red throat of tying thread to represent a bleeding minnow. Other times proven patterns such as mickey finn, the olive woolly bugger with a gold bead head or epoxy minnows should be located in your fly box. Fly lines that are used by the cutthroat angler are floating lines, intermediate sinking lines or clear ghost tips as these fish feed on the surface. Nothing can send one’s heart racing as much as when on the strip and witnessing the wakes in behind your fly as a toilet bowl flushes on your presentation. Cutthroat are true game fish exhibiting strong runs and, on occasion, acrobatic leaps, giving anglers something to look forward to if you are a true trout bum. Just because you don’t toss flies don’t let that stop you – cutthroat are aggressive feeders that will take almost anything thrown at them. The most successful way to intercept cutties and to cover water is with spoons and spinners. My favourites are 3/16 crocs with the smaller hook size, as they do far less damage to the fish when hooked. In my experience silver fire stripe or fire wing is the winning ticket. Brass can also be very effective in stained or coloured water conditions, with the hammered finish reflecting the most light. For the spin fisherman, small silver spinners work really well. Use presentations which you are confident in. Mepps Aglia in a number two size is popular as well as Blue Fox in number one and two, silver being the preferred colour. Drift fishers can also produce fine numbers of cutthroat using blades in the smaller sizes. Colorado, French and Indiana blades all work well. I like to hang a blade on a quick change snap for the easy alteration of size and colour. Place a few beads underneath to hang the hook directly below your blade. Many presentations can work well under a float, which is dew worms, single eggs, shrimp, or even wool. Make sure to trim your presentation down – a good rule of thumb is the size of your pinky nail. Cutthroat fishing starts earlier, so those trout bums that normally wait to fish until the ice is off in our interior lakes don’t have to wait so long. Dust off that gear, take some casts and remember that around every bend of a river there is something new. From views to fish, it always changes. Garry Elgear

Coquitlam River Cleanup Recap

rsfat — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:42:54 +0000

Yesterday was our much anticipated Riverside Riverdaze Coquitlam river cleanup. We would like to thank everybody who came out and helped clean up such a precious river system. We were overjoyed by the amazing turnout we had, it was by far our largest yet. The river is now noticeably much cleaner due to the efforts of the over 250 hard working volunteers. This event has done a lot to increase the awareness of the issues present in the Coquitlam River ecosystem and will hopefully make some of the local residents more mindful of the river in their backyards. We used over 400 garbage bags and collected approximately 3-4 tonnes of garbage from the river banks. Everything from tires and cast iron stoves to rebar, couches and even a toilet was removed. We would like to thank the Cities of Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam for donating the garbage pickup of all the material collected. Riverside had some great support this year from volunteers, sponsors and the cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. Thanks very much to : -Jing Niu & Allen Jensen from the City of Port Coquitlam for supplying bags and gloves -Caresse Selk from the City of Coquitlam for supplying bags and gloves - Redl Sports for donating a dragonfly 9ft 5wt fly rod to our prize draw -Echo/Rajeff Sports donated 2 Micro practice casting rods with Spey adaptors to our prize draw -BC Outdoors Magazine for supplying garbage bags and gloves for the clean up as well as some T-shirts hats, A Rapala casting rod and reel, Fillet knife, Ultimate Fly Box fly tying books, and Suffix line. - Shimano Canada for donating T-shirts, Hats stickers and tattoos - Daniel Rivet for donating gloves -Clarissa for the Custom made Fish Pin Our lucky prize winners: Wayne Namana – 8wt Fetha Styx Winelle- Shimano Hat Ted Wingrove- Rapala Casting Rod Kallum Corr-DFW 5 wt Fly Rod Shawn Peter- Rapala Andros Reel Dan Currie –Rapala Filet Knife Kane Beebe- Echo Micro Practice Rod Aidan Campbell – Echo Micro Practice Rod Glen – Shimano shirt Loyd- Shimano hat Stewart – Rapala Hat Jason Ryu – Shimano hat Nana – Shimano Shirt Derek Lowe – B$C outdoors shirt Kathy- BC outdoors hat Nick- Suffix siege line Custom intruder flies- Ray Seymour Andrew Collins- Stillwater selections fly book

Julian Reedel’s Classic’s

Shea O'Grady — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:14:46 +0000

A little showcasing of shop tier Juilian Reedel’s Classic fly tying patterns (names in order) ”The Radiant Whisper” ”tequila sunrise” “the blue elegance” “the blue angel”

”the chronic”

Winter Fishing – Plan Ahead for a Perfect Trip

rsfat — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:00:56 +0000

With the change of the season, winter is finally upon us. Barren trees, crisp air, a brand new dusting of snow and I am exhilarated, anticipating and planning my next trip with my fishing partner for winter steelhead. Planning my trip is half the fun. I take pleasure in knowing I’ll be ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at me. I give thanks every morning because of my life. I am a man of many trips, and I enjoy experiencing everything our beautiful outdoors has to offer. Whether you are able to take off on many trips or only once a year, it is important to plan carefully as this is a special time that can rejuvenate your batteries.

One of the most important things for your successful trip is a list. Just like Santa, check it twice. One of the fun parts of planning a trip is playing out the trip in your head. Depending on the season, you will be planning which flies, lures or bait will be most successful. Ideally, bring three of each presentation. This is the most common mistake I see – people only packing one of each presentation, and they lose it. Try not to be this person.

Depending on where I go, I’ll have anywhere from two to six rod and reel combos with me. For my trip up North, I bring four rods. Two are always on my boat, one being a dry line and the other a sink tip.. The spare will come in handy if we have a problem, such as a broken rod. Now is the time to replace old lines, tapered leaders or cracked fly lines. Make sure your casting or spinning reel is in good shape. Replace these if they have excessive memory or abrasion marks, or, if your reel is just low in capacity. People not maintaining their equipment is the most overlooked practice. Something as simple as a touch of oil to the bearings, bushings and moving parts can make your trip run more smoothly.

Every year I travel abroad to a little destination in the tropics. This place is God’s land and resembles Gilligan’s Island. I chase bonefish and tarpon on the flats all day, but on a particular day of fishing, I was unprepared for the rain. A simple shell jacket was all that I needed for the day. Even though I was in the tropics, the cold was unbearable as I travelled across the bay, making my trip uncomfortable. Learn from my mistake. Always be prepared. Clothing is essential. Start from the top and work your way down.

A hat is key in cold and hot weather. It keeps in the heat and protects from the suns harmful rays. A good quality pair of polarized sunglasses helps with locating fish. Choose the appropriate shade such as amber for low light and a smoked tint for sunny days. Gloves help our hands in the cold, but also protect our skin from the sun. Anglers are among those who are at most risk for skin cancer, so using sunscreen is absolutely important, even on cloudy days. My favorite clothing to wear is micro-fleece in cold or hot weather. This material breathes, eliminates sweat and wicks it away from our skin, keeping us comfortable in all temperatures. One of the most important pieces of clothing are socks. My socks have the same quality as my fleece, taking the moisture away from my skin. They also have arch support built in, which allows me to walk all day and stay comfortable. Never double up your socks. This traps in sweat and makes a tighter fit in your footwear, which causes you to lose circulation and your feet to get cold.

Having fun and enjoying our experience can be helped with a proper list and being prepared. When you are in the great outdoors, something as simple as proper snacks for refuelling and clean water goes farther than just food. It brings a certain civilization when you’re in the middle of nowhere. I personally enjoy hiking, so I need snacks that are lightweight and high in fuel. The body burns fat first. Try bringing a bag of pork rinds. The energy delivered is quick. I also carry granola bars with fruits, nuts and peanut butter. I’m not looking to burn out, but keep my fuel levels running long.

In short, be prepared for everything, keeping in mind that being comfortable and well-fed will make your trip more enjoyable.

Garry Elgear

Jig Tying Seminar – Garry Elgear Instructor

rsfat — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:11:02 +0000

On January 27th Riverside will be hosting an instructional jig tying course. Jig fishing has been increasing in popularity throughout the the years and has become a solid tool in the arsenal of any decent Steelhead or salmon angler. Shop Owner Garry is the tying instructor for the course. Garry will take you through various steps and techniques needed to help you become a more confidant tyer & angler. Bring your tools and Vises (Vises available on request), Materials Provided To sign up call the shop (604-994-2479) or email us at fishing5@telus.net

Riverside RiverDaze and Coquitlam River Clean Up Feb 4th and 5th 2012

rsfat — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:39:30 +0000

Riverside River Daze are coming soon. Join the gang at Riverside Fly & Tackle February 4th and 5th, 2012 at the store from 9am to 5pm. With free Spey casting lessons tailored to give you tips and info on how to improve your technique and free single hand fly casting lessons designed to improve your casting distance and accuracy, it’s a sure thing that there is something to learn for everyone. Take this opportunity to try out new lines and rods with no commitment. Everything in the store will be on sale: from fly rods and blanks to lines and reels, casting and spinning rods and reels, clothes, waders and more at 20 to 80% off. The Coquitlam River Clean Up will take place on February 5th, 2012. This is an important day to give back to our local river. From 10am to 3pm come on out and lend your hand at keeping our local river clean and free of garbage. Meet at 10am at the store, bring your own gloves or if you don’t have any just bring you. We’ll supply gloves and garbage bags for you. Please be sure to dress well for the weather and the task at hand. The Coquitlam River Clean Up has been an annual event for the past nine years with the generous help of volunteers and the support of the City of Port Coquitlam and the City of Coquitlam. In years past we’ve removed a tremendous amount of garbage including everything from discarded dog waste in bags tossed into the river to mattresses, sleeping bags, shopping carts, car parts and even fishermen’s waste items like line, floats and bait containers. Every helping handis appreciated and the river needs you.