OUTLOOK
We are going to see a damp, relatively warm weekend and though salmon season is slowing down, there should still be opportunity to get out on the water.
This week we have a report on the egg eater fisheries and late salmon fishing up Sea to Sky. Things have been solid and with the damp weather this weekend it should continue.
The Chilliwack is finally slowing down for salmon but there are still some late salmon fishing opportunities on rivers out the valley way. During the late season, there are some things you will want to consider when targeting late salmon or the egg eaters so that we don’t harm the older spawning salmon or disturb the salmon reds. With this in mind, we have a piece on ethics and best practices for late season salmon fishing.
Finally, we have a saltwater winter chinook update and some updates in the industry events section that are worth looking at if you want to support the Sports Fishing Institute of BC.
On to the report…
CLASSES AND COURSES
Thanks to all who attended one of our seminars, on the water, fly tying or casting courses this year! We loved being in the “classroom” with you and sharing our love of all things fishing. 2025 course dates will be released soon! Keep an eye on your inboxes for the full course listing.
INDUSTRY EVENTS AND UPDATES
Sport Fishing Institute of BC Online Auction + Raffle
The SFI Big Splash Gala and Annual Conference is today, Friday, November 29th! We are looking forward to connecting with other registrants at the event today!
If you aren’t able to attend, you can still participate and contribute through the Big Splash online auction or the Big Splash online raffle!
Please help raise funds to support and protect sustainable opportunities for BC’s sport fishing community by participating in the SFI Big Splash online auction. Bid on great items from now until the auction closes at 9:00 pm TONIGHT.
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Squamish River Fishing Report
It’s now the last few days of November and things are beginning to settle down in the Squamish systems. After a season of dramatic ups and downs in river levels, we’ve now had some colder temperatures and breaks in the rain forecast. The Squamish River has settled at around 2.0m and will likely drop a bit more as the temperatures drop. Although this would be considered the tail end of the season, there is still some great fishing to be had, you will just have to work a little harder than before.
Most coho you will encounter will have some colour to them, but there are still some chrome fish around if you’re willing to put in the time. With the low and clear water conditions, the coho are going to be a little trickier to entice. If you’re running gear, I would recommend small spinners or Colorado blades. Copper is my go-to when the water clears up, but don’t be afraid to give silver or nickel a try.
This is a time in the season where the fly can really shine. Coho tend to get cagey when the water is low and clear. When a coho doesn’t feel comfortable, it can be extremely challenging to get them to bite, especially on large and flashy presentations. Small and dark size 8 to 12 flies will be the best bet for these shyer fish. You will want to increase your leader length as well and consider switching to a lighter and clearer leader material such as fluorocarbon.
With the majority of salmon in the midst of spawning, the trout are just getting started. These hungry fish will be lingering around the salmon, chowing down on eggs for as long as they can before the true cold sets in. Fishing beads and other egg patterns will be the best way to target trout for the rest of the Fall and into the Winter. But, just like the salmon, the low and clear water will make catching them a bit more difficult. Light flouro leaders and an assortment of different colour beads will be key. Don’t be afraid to switch up your egg presentation often. Bull trout will often hone in on one specific color and won’t give anything else the time of day. As always, check the conditions before you go and stay safe out there!
Tight Lines,
Jake Comrie
Late Season Salmon Fishing – Things To consider
It’s very nearly December, and a vast majority of the 2024 salmon runs have come and gone; most people have called it quits for the season… rightly so, since finding fish that are still alive this late in the season can be a real challenge. Having said that, there will still be a few fish showing up, and they can still be targeted, though ethics should be considered.
What do I mean when I talk about ethics? Well, we as anglers, are enjoying a resource, and it’s our job to respect and protect that resource. While the usual considerations should always be made- don’t snag, don’t floss, and don’t be a poacher- there are a few extra things to be mindful of.
Salmon migrate back to freshwater to spawn… and with it being so late in the season, most of this year’s fish will have already done or will be actively doing that. There will be millions of chinook, coho and chum eggs buried in the gravel of our local systems; Salmon, especially chum, will have spawned in pretty much every side channel, tailout and near-shore area imaginable.
Salmon eggs are rather fragile, so it should come as no surprise that being stepped on is usually a death sentence for them. To put it mildly, careless or ignorant wading can wreak absolute havoc on redds (nests)… even if the eggs aren’t immediately squished to death, the compacting of gravel reduces the flow of oxygenated water through the gravel and can suffocate the eggs. And, to top it all off, dead eggs are very often colonized by fungus, which can- and usually will- spread throughout the redd and kill any surviving eggs. Carelessly wading through the Stave backchannel right now would be the salmon egg equivalent of a mass casualty event.
Thankfully, redds are usually very obvious and easy to avoid. They will be visible as a depression in the gravel with a small, slightly raised mound of gravel immediately downstream. The eggs will usually be buried under that raised mound, as the female salmon will dig a hole directly upstream of the redd to shift gravel downstream and bury the eggs. The gravel of a redd will usually appear disturbed/be a lighter colour than surrounding gravel and will feel soft/lose underfoot if stepped on. By looking for redds before wading and avoiding any unnecessary wading in spawning areas, you’ll be sparing a lot of salmon eggs from an untimely and unnecessary end.
Another issue is the targeting/harassing of actively spawning fish. There will be a lot of dark fish around now, and while it isn’t uncommon to hook a dark fish at this time of year, you shouldn’t be going out of your way to actively target them… especially if they’re actively spawning or on redds. Actively spawning fish will usually be very easy to spot, and the fact that they’re spawning will be apparent- they will be very coloured up and holding position in shallow water, sometimes in pairs but often in small groups. If observed for a few minutes, nest-digging and fighting between males may be noted. These fish should not be targeted at all, period.
First things first, these fish aren’t interested in biting anything; they have other things on their mind- as such, the odds of legitimately hooking them are quite low; you’re much more likely to snag one instead. Remember, these fish are near the end of their lives and have expended almost all of their fat/energy reserves, and they need every ounce of energy to fight off rivals, build their redds and successfully spawn… the last thing they need to be doing is wasting what little energy they have left by fighting an angler.
Speaking of fighting an angler, their lack of energy means that they won’t fight very hard anyways, thus nullifying the excitement of fighting a fish… and if that wasn’t enough, their flesh will be mushy, pale, and flavourless, thus rendering them as awful table fare. There’s no real reason, then, to target these fish- they’re not going to fight very well, they’re worthless table fare, and there’s no sporting value in it. Think of it this way: these fish are trying to get laid after a long, dangerous, tiresome journey- to interfere with them at this point is just plain rude.
There will still be fresh coho showing up in some systems well into December, so keep the following in mid if you plan on heading out: late-season salmon fishing can still be fun and rewarding, just be sure to watch where you wade, and don’t harass the spawning boots.
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Winter Salmon Fishing Report
The weather looks good for some winter chinook fishing this weekend with not a lot of wind in the forecast. The rain won’t be too bad either, especially on Sunday.
The fishing has been good overall with a few fish in Vancouver Harbour and up into Howe Sound. We haven’t ventured over to the Gulf Islands yet this winter season, but with some “winds light” in the forecast we might take a look if the opportunity presents itself.
Prawning has been decent, which is to be expected this time of year. We managed some crab on our last trip as we checked out the Harbour for winter feeder chinook and decided to drop the crab pots while fishing around the freighters.
As usual in the winter, keep your gear close to the bottom. With the clear water the bait feels most secure close to the bottom, so that is where the chinook are, and that is where your offerings should be too. What does “close to the bottom mean” while fishing for winter chinook? It means keeping your gear within 5-10 of the bottom as much as possible. To do this, keep an eye on your sonar and lower or raise your downrigger as needed. It’s a lot of work, but if you do this you will catch a lot more fish.
I’ve almost completed all my 2025 booking orders for the shop, so that should free up some more time for personal fishing and some guiding. The freezers at the Tonelli household are out of fish so it’s time get out there and harvest what I think are some of, if not the best eating salmon, the winter chinook. I hope to see some of you out there.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli
