January 2012 Rivers Report

With the salmon runs finally over, fishing has slowed and it is now time to move on to BC’s prized fish… Steelhead! While steelhead have just started to trickle into some of the smaller North-side Fraser systems, the Chilliwack River has had fish since early December. Since mid-December, there have been reports of fish caught every day on the Chilliwack. Throughout the last couple weeks fishing conditions have greatly varied on the Chilliwack from gin clear to high and colored. For low and clear days on the river, try smaller presentations such as wool (peach or pink), smaller pink worms (4”), jenson eggs, EZ egg clusters, and gooey bobs. On the higher and colored water days, try larger worms, roe, ghost shrimp, and Colorado blades.

As many of you know, the 68th edition of the Boxing Day Steelhead Derby put on by the Chilliwack Fish and Game Protective Association has just passed us. 14 fish were weighed in this year, with a beautiful 13.75 lb. chromer taking the cake. Conditions for the derby were excellent, with perfect water conditions and a rain free day for the enjoyment of the many anglers out on the flow. Other good news was that a good number of wild fish were reported being landed as well the usual reports of good sized hatchery fish being lost too.

For those that may not have a current case of the steelhead fever, there are good numbers of rainbows, cutties, and dollies kicking around in our local rivers feeding on salmon eggs and flesh. Trout beads under an indicator or a float can almost always fool these fish at this time of year. Just have a decent selection of sizes and colors of eggs available. Beads can be slid on to your leader (of about 18”) where they will sit on top of your hook, (sizes 4 and 6 gamakatsus are nice).

Even though it’s the “slow” time of year, don’t forget this is BC and there are always fish to be had! Come into the shop and we can help point you in the right direction if you’re having trouble! Tight lines.

Michael Thom

Rivers Report Dec 19′th 2011

The 2011 fall salmon run has all but ended,except for a few very late pushes of coho. This means it is time for all of us winter steelheaders to once again head out into to the wet and cold to experience all the fun and frustration that come with an equally difficult and rewarding fishery. Most of our salmon bearing streams will also produce steelhead, with the Vedder being the most popular. Luckely due to the lower numbers of fish and the colder conditions alot of the more fairweathered fisherman turn there gear in for the season, this means that crowd number are reduced significantly when compared to a few months ago. It is still early in the season so fish numbers are not high but steelhead are typicaly more aggressive at this point in the year due to the warmer water conditions and low fishing pressure. This means that anglers have decent odds as long as they stay focused and cover as much water as they possibly can in an effective manner. Fish have been caught throughout the system so dont focus on one area all day but instead focus your efforts on finding unfished water. Also make sure your getting proper drag-free drifts and properly presenting your offering to the fish.

 Good luck

- Shea O’Grady

ATTENTION ALL ANGLERS!!!!! Chum Fishing Closed OCT 27th 2011

Due to the poor returns of Chum Salmon the DFO is closing down retention of Chum Salmon.

Effective 00:01 hours October 27, 2011, the non-tidal waters of the Fraser
River in Region 2 as well as the Chehalis River, Harrison River, the Nicomen
Slough and the Stave River will be closed to Chum Salmon retention until 23:59
hours December 31, 2011. The daily limit for Chum Salmon in those waters is
therefore reduced to zero (0) per day. Anglers are reminded that the portion of
the Stave River, known as the Ruskin Spawning Channel on the east bank of the
BC Hydro Park from the inlet near the dam, downstream to the boat ramp crossing
remains closed to salmon fishing until further notice.

Fall River Fishing for Salmon (Oct 14 2011)

We are now in the heart of salmon season. This is a very exciting time to fish your favorite salmon bearing rivers. In the shop we are hearing steady reports of good fishing on the local flows such as the vedder and the stave.

Most fisherman are using the widley prefered drift fishing teqniphes and using wool, roe, blades and jigs with succsess.

As the springs start to colour up i suggest targeting the coho with small hooks and pink and peach wool, fresh roe or small spoon/bluefoxes if you would like to change things up from float fishing.

Remember when targeting coho to fish water that is not heavily occupied by springs

- Shea O’Grady

Local Rivers Oct 13 2011

 

We are now in the heart of salmon season. This is a very exciting time to fish your favorite salmon bearing rivers. In the shop we are hearing steady reports of good fishing on the local flows such as the vedder and the stave.

Most fisherman are using the widley prefered drift fishing teqniphes and using wool, roe, blades and jigs with succsess.

As the springs start to colour up i suggest targeting the coho with small hooks and pink and peach wool, fresh roe or small spoon/bluefoxes if you would like to change things up from float fishing.

Remember when targeting coho to fish water that is not heavily occupied by springs

- Shea O’Grady

Local Rivers Febuary 2011!

The local rivers have been fishing very well for steel so far this month, particularly the Vedder (Chiliwack River). We’ve heard of fish being caught on a daily basis, with some guys tagging into multiple fish on a single outing.

As is the norm this time of year fish are steadily moving into all the river systems influenced by fluctuating water levels. This has spread good numbers of steelhead throughout the Upper, lower and mid-river sections.

When you head out be sure to swiftly and effectivley cover as much water as possible using dew worms, roe, shrimp, gooey bobs, plastic worms (White, Pink, Purple and Orange) as well as jigs. Anglers also have a good chance of catching fish on spinners & spoons.

If your a fly guy, dont forget to pick up some of Christian’s excellent custom intruders. He will have recommendations as to what will be working at the time.

~Shea O’Grady

August 3rd RIVER REPORT

Well I guess I’ll start with the Vedder (Chilliwack) River as it is pretty much the best spring producing river at the moment …next to the Fraser of course. This week will be the peak of the red spring run for the Vedder. The river is in great shape, clarity, height, and temperature are all in check. As the days go on this month the river will start to get its mix of the more plentiful, larger, robust white springs. Try roe, spinners, and blades as springs are suckers for them.

Alright now for the Fraser! The river is stacked with sockeye and are being caught at 10 to 1 over the springs if not more! Although there isn’t an opening for the sockeye yet, we are waiting for the DFO report which is to be released later this afternoon. The predictions for an opening are very favorable .Bar fishing has been fair, and will only be getting better.

Sturgeon fishing is excellent at the moment and FRESH ROE is in!!!!!

As for the local rivers, trout fishing is always good this time of year…can you say dry flies!

~Michael Thom

We’ve got Fresh Roe!

We’ve got some fresh spring roe in now!  We have limited quantities though so come and get it

Local Rivers Open July 2010

All our local rivers are open once again.  Some of the rivers are still flowing high and dirty but they should be settling down in the next week.  If you find a river that you want to fish is high and dirty try fishing the upper reaches as there won’t be as much sediment, and that’s where you will find the fish.  Rivers like the Alouette and Pitt River have been fishing well for cutthroat and rainbows up to 18 inches.  Try using silver and gold spinners and for the fly go with minnow or stickleback patterns as well as some caddis or mayfly nymphs.  The Vedder River is dirty down low and flowing pretty fast, but the farther up you go the lower and clearer the water is.  We’ve received 2 reports of early reds being caught up around Tamihi, so get out there.  For those of you who like Coho, the Capilano has been dropping due to lack of rain, so the upper river will be the best bet as more fish will hold in those deep canyon pools.  Casting spoons and spinners has been doing fairly well at Ambleside as fish are holding at the mouth waiting for higher water as well.

Coho are in June 2010

With most of the local rivers being closed at this time of the year you have limited options for river fishing.  You can try Cutthroat fishing on the Stave, Harrison, or Pitt River using small silver spinners such as Mepps or Blue Fox.  Fry patterns such as epoxy minnows, rolled muddlers in gold, silver or olive.  For the faster water try Chartreuse Clouser’s.  The dollie fishing can be superb at this time of year.  Popular places such as the Squamish and it’s tributaries can produce some big bruisers.  Intruder patterns such as Garry’s Whorehouse in blacks and blues, pink and the sculpinator all work well.  The Capilano is plugged with blue back Cohos right now.  For flies try olive wooly buggers, gcck’s, Kelsey’s hope,  and Chartreuse Clousers. For gear use  roe or colorado spinners.

Come join Riverside Fly and Tackle at the 9th annual PoCo Canada Day Fishing Derby.  Held from 8am – 11:30am.  There will be lots of prizes and fun for all.  The Port Coquitlam Lions Club will be hosting their Annual Pancake Breakfast.

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