OUTLOOK
We are almost at the end of July and though the cooler weather in the forecast is not ideal sun tanning weather, it is good for our fisheries. A little break in the heat with some moisture will help cool down rivers and dampen our forests. We need to be on the lookout for lightning in the interior but at least in the long term forecast the weatherman is not calling for lightning.
In this week’s report we have updates on the saltwater fishing. Our guide team has had productive days on the water both locally for coho and across the strait for chinook, coho and bottom fish.
On the river front we are seeing the trout rivers hit ideal levels and overcast skies can make for great hatches if the timing is right. In this week’s report Matt has a quick update but he also has a video where he goes over the gear and setups he carries while summer trout fishing plus he demonstrates the three main presentations that you want to use when you are out. Check that video out here and read below for the specific river updates. One note is that there are travel advisories for areas around Ashcroft if you are thinking about heading to the Thompson
“Highway 1 (TransCanada Highway), in both directions. There is a wildfire between Junction Hwy 8 and Cornwall Rd for 39.1 km (9 km south of Cache Creek to Spences Bridge). Travel advisory in effect. Wildfire activity may cause highway to close on short notice. Motorists are advised to exercise caution when traveling and consider alternate routes. No commercial vehicle access on Highway 8.” This was as of us writing the report – be sure to check for the most up to date highway closures information if you are heading that direction.
The Chilliwack summer chinook season is slightly past its peak but there should still be a week or two left before we are into the August doldrums and are waiting for the fall fishery. Taylor has an update on this fishery in the river section.
Last but not least we have a beach fishing update plus an overview of the gear you want to consider. We expect August to be a great time to hit the beaches so check out Eric’s report and get ready!
On to the report!
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Chilliwack/Vedder River Fishing Report
The past week has been fairly productive on the C/V system, which is to be expected for the 3rd week of July. There are good numbers of summer Chinook and Sockeye around, though the number of Sockeye is starting to decrease as the run makes it’s way upstream to the lake. The numbers of summer Chinook should also start to drop considerably in the coming week, as we’re nearing the end of July- which usually heralds the end of the summer Chinook run. As I’ve mentioned previously, the summer Chinook run is short in duration and tends to come to a rather abrupt end in early August, with very few “late” fish being encountered.
The river is continuing to run very low and clear, which is no surprise given the weather. There is a bit of rain in the forecast for the coming week, though I’m not sure if it’ll be enough to cause a meaningful bump in river levels. Remember to bring some larger presentations if you’re heading out after the rain, as the first rain after an extended dry period often causes a not insignificant increase in turbidity- even if the actual amount of rainfall is minimal. Bait is often a good choice in this scenario, as the extra scent from a good chunk of roe or shrimp can really draw fish in… not to mention the fact that less viz can also make fish a bit less timid and more willing to bite.
Though most fish are being caught in the lower river, it may be a good idea to try your luck in the mid or upper stretches of the river instead. Although there are still a fair few fish hanging around in the lower due to the low water, plenty of fish are pushing upstream, mostly at night. The lower river is quite busy (and full of snaggers) so looking for fish a bit higher up is not a bad move; I’ve heard some decent reports from both the mid and upper stretches of the river. Unfortunately, summer Chinook tend to get dark rather quickly and are usually quite coloured up by the time they make it to the upper, so there is that to consider.
After the summer Chinook run comes to an end in mid-August, there won’t really be anything going on in the C/V system until early September, when the fall Chinook start showing up.
Taylor Nakatani
Summer Trout Rivers Fishing Report
We are in full swing and water levels are at a really good height for all the major systems. Cooler weather isn’t ideal for consistent fishing on these systems though you will find some of the best hatches when we see overcast days. The hatches up to this point have not been very intense but we have heard reports of caddis on Thompson and intermittent Mayfly hatches on the Skagit. It will be interesting to hear the reports from this weekend. I don’t love seeing a cooling trend but when temperatures start rising after a quick drop and we see mixed cloud and a rising barometer, things can get interesting.
This week we released a video on what I carry when I am out on the water. As a guy who for years has been lugging multiple rods around when out guiding, I am conformable carrying multiple rods when hiking the rivers. Depending on the situation I carry 2-4 rods to cover the 3 major ways we present food to fish. The Dry Fly Presentation, Nymphing Presentations and the Swung Fly presentation. If you are new to fly fishing check this video out as I show the exact setups I use plus we demonstrate each presentation.
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report
Chinook has been open NW of Gower Point and over in area 17 since July 15th and here is what is going on. At Gower there has been some chinook caught in 90-150 feet of water, relatively close to bottom. This spot in July doesn’t produce a lot of chinook, but at this time it is the closest chinook spot to Vancouver that is open. If you are in the area, it is worth a try, but if you are serious about hooking a lot of chinook you need to make the run across.
The run from the Bell Buoy (Point Grey) in Vancouver to Gower is about 14 miles, and the run to Thrasher on Gabriola is about 17 miles from the same starting point. So usually if it is calm enough to fish Gower, as it is an exposed spot that gets hammered by the NW winds, it is also calm enough to run across the Strait of Georgia and fish Gabriola. There are a lot more chinook off Gabriola, plenty of coho, and it is open for lingcod and rockfish as well. This definitely makes it worth the bit of extra time and fuel.
We have been across a few times this week and the fishing has been very good with limits of chinook and plenty of coho in the mix. We have also been doing fairly well for lingcod. The big full moon tides are behind us now and I think fishing should be excellent this week and next. It sounds like the reports all up the ECVI are excellent, so I would expect the back end of July and all of August to have good chinook fishing in Area 17, just like we have seen the past few years.
Locally there are still plenty of coho off South Bowen and all the way up to Gower and likely well past that. There are also good amounts of coho from Point Atkinson down to the Cap Mouth and we have been running into some Fraser chinook while coho fishing. Select areas along West Van will open for chinook August 1st and that will be a great chinook option only a few minutes from downtown.
Crabbing is pretty slow right now, the commercial fleet has scooped up all the legals, so I wouldn’t recommend dropping pots in the harbour at this time.
There is lots of great fishing to be had in the next 5 weeks and then Sep 1 it will open off the Fraser Mouth. So, if you want to get out there, especially for chinook, coho, and lings, now is the time to go.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli
Essential Beach Fishing Gear + Beach Report
The Capilano beaches continue to produce a few fish each day. Tides are shaping up to be decent for the weekend so set your alarm and have your gear packed and ready. We have some rain in the forecast for early next week that could provide some cover and prolong the first light bite. I wanted to dive into some of the gear to make the most of my beach fishing season. If you find yourself getting up early and wading the salty flats this gear list is for you. I have some general items and some fly/gear specific items to review.
Waterproof Packs and Bags: Saltwater environments are rough on fabrics and zippers. A fully waterproof submersible bag is the best way to keep your tackle salt free and still be able to wade deep when you need to. These bags often have heavy duty rubber gaskets and closures that have no metals parts to rust out on you.
Salt Specific Boots: Your regular felt boots will start to get torn up on the barnacle and shell encrusted beaches. A few trips is fine but the best solution is a rubber soled boot… specificity a gum sole found on a salt water specific model. These are made to tackle the jagged surfaces and provide excellent traction.
Sun protection: A big part of fishing is staying comfortable when out on the water. A few sun protective clothing pieces will keep you out longer casting to your trophy. A good hat, sun gator and gloves means I don’t have to slap on as much sun screen, and a quality sun shirt will keep you cool under the summer sun. Don’t forget sunglasses! A vital part of the beach fishery kit is polarized glasses. This will reduce eye fatigue and cut the glare off the water to spot those fast moving fish.
Fluorocarbon: All anglers will benefit from the stealth and invisibility afforded by these ultra clear lines. This also lets me fish slightly heavier leaders to ensure a proper connection on every encounter. I check my leaders often for nicks and abrasion in the shallows.
Stripping Basket: these are very important for fly anglers. Your ability to managing shooting/running lines will result in longer controlled casts. The basket will keep you tangle free and casting smooth when the waves are rolling. They also provide vital protection for Fly lines… one bad miss step on a razor sharp clam bed can destroy your new fly line.
Salt specific fly lines: a Saltwater fly line generally has a more robust coating for harsher environments. A longer head floating line will give more intermediate casters a delicate presentation at distance. Some more novice casters may opt for a short head shooting line that is quick loading and easy to shoot. This is a quick fix for distance but many not land as delicately. More technical coho chasers may go to clear intermediate lines for the stealthy approach and the versatility it offers when chasing fish in shallow clear waters… not just the beach.
Weighted Castings Jigs: It’s no secret that buzz bombs and zingers can cast a mile. When the sun is out, I pick up a larger offering to cast farther and hopefully dredge something up from off the far bank. Come August we can expect to see retention for chinook off the Ambleside and Capilano mouth areas. A larger zinger on a heavy spin setup just might find you more than Coho off the beaches later in the summer.
Expect the beaches to get busier as fish continue hold up during the low river season. Be courteous to your fellow anglers and pack out whatever you bring down to the shore.
Cheers
Eric Peake
