OUTLOOK
We have some nice weather this weekend and good reports keep coming in. This week we have news on the river salmon fishing where the Chilliwack and Harrison are fishing well. We also have an update on the Squamish where the water is still dirty, fish are in, and folks are catching coho and bull trout.
We also have news on the saltwater fishing. Things continue to be great this late in the season. Fish are at the Capilano mouth, and more fish keep rolling into the mouth of the Fraser. We continue to see record late numbers on the Albion test fishery so it should continue well into mid-October. They have also increased the chum retention limits in saltwater areas around Vancouver. This is good news as we were not expecting a good chum return this year. It is going to be interesting to see if the better numbers continue and how it will affect freshwater fisheries. Jake has an update on what we have seen out with the guide fleet this week.
Last, we have more lake news. Local lakes have been stocked. We have a list in the local lake section of the report. If you only have a few hours to get out on the water these lakes are perfect for a quick trip.
The interior lakes are also fishing great. Water temps are getting into that low 50s high 40s range. Matt has a detailed report and some tips for Fall lake fishing. Jason is in the Interior right now and we will have more updates from him next week.
We hope you all enjoy the Thanksgiving Long Weekend and if you need to drop by the shop, we are open regular hours all weekend and closed on Monday.
Long Weekend Hours
Friday October 11 | 10AM-7PM
Saturday October 12 | 10AM-6PM
Sunday October 13 | 11AM-5PM
Monday October 14 | Closed
On to the report!
CLASSES AND COURSES
Fly Fishing for Salmon in Rivers
Fly fishing for salmon is one of the most exciting fisheries in the Lower Mainland. Let us teach you the techniques and the hot spots to catch salmon on the fly in our local rivers. In the 3hr evening seminar you will learn about rod, reel and line, sink tip, and fly selection. Then put the skills into practice during a fully guided day on the water where you will learn how to read water and swing the fly!
Seminar: Oct 16, 2024 SOLD OUT – Call store to be waitlisted
Guided: Oct 26 or 27, 2024
Custom Trip Dates Available
Seminar Only Cost: $75.00+GST
Seminar & Guided Walk’n Wade Cost: $325.00+GST per angler, minimum of 2 anglers per guided day on the water.
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Guided: Full Day
Fly Fishing Egg Patterns
This course is designed to teach you the secrets to one of the most productive presentations in the BC fly fishermen’s arsenal; nymphing egg patterns. This deadly method can be used for different species of trout, char, and salmon. During a 3 hour evening seminar we will teach you key concepts, strategies, and gear that will give you a well-rounded foundation during the seminar portion of the class. Then you will put those skills into practice during a fully guided day on the water.
Date:
Seminar: Nov 20, 2024
Guided: Nov 23 or 24, 2024
Seminar Only Cost: $75.00+GST
Seminar & Guided Walk’n Wade Cost: $325.00+GST
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Guided: Full Day
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Chilliwack/Vedder River Fishing Report
The weather forecast has been all over the place this week, but one thing is for sure- Chilliwack got a significant amount of rain between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning and the river came up a fair bit. It was enough rain to bump the river up about a foot and completely blow it out for most of Wednesday, but the forecast is clear and sunny for the weekend, so I’m expecting a return to low and clear conditions- probably not as low as it was before the rain, but still below what I like to see. A ton of fish pushed into the system with the rain, so fishing has been very good since the viz returned to a fishable level. This somewhat unexpected change in conditions is a prime example of why I always harp on bringing a variety of gear to cover different conditions.
There are still great numbers of chinook in the system, though some of them are starting to look a bit rough; this is to be expected as we get a bit later into that run… though the Albion test fishery has made it clear that the run is a bit behind schedule this year. As such, I’m expecting fresh chinook to be pushing into the system for at least a few more weeks; I suspect there may even be chrome chinook pushing into the system into early November.
The Coho numbers are ramping up as well. I saw a ton of them moving through the lower river when I was out there late last week, and I’ve been hearing similar reports from guys that have been out there this week, so there’s no shortage of coho in the system. This run normally peaks around now, so I’m expecting very good coho fishing for the next few weeks; probably until late October/early November.
Surprisingly, the chum numbers have been much higher than what was originally forecasted; high enough for retention opportunities in the local saltwater… though not in freshwater as of right now. Now, this isn’t saying much, as the number that was forecasted was very low, but good news is good news. I’m still not expecting any retention opportunities in freshwater this year, though I have been wrong before. Note: Chum fishing is still closed to retention and any targeted fishing in the C/V system, so it’s best to leave your pink/purple jigs at home for now. Keep an eye on the DFO Fisheries Notices for any in-season regulation changes.
Early/mid-October is usually considered to be peak-season on the C/V system- the chinook are present in large numbers, the coho run is peaking, and the chum are ramping up. As such, now is the time to get out there.
Taylor Nakatani
Squamish River Fishing Report
Lots of fish. Just the right amount of water. No Visibility.
The main stem was showing signs or clearing over the week and our scouting trips did well in the upper and lower river. Unfortunately, the downpour late Wednesday has really colored up the system. Most tributaries are still fishing but expect to see more anglers on the banks as the remaining fishing areas will be limited. We get a sunny break for the weekend before the next system brings more rain.
Spoons are still my go to right now to cover water and swing runs. If you find some slow holding water with fish rolling, try twitching jigs. With the limited viability you can tie right to braid or use heavier mono leaders in the 12-15lb range.
Fly anglers can strip flies in the slower stuff. Go larger on the profile and go with brighter fluorescent flies… If it ain’t chartreuse it ain’t no use… With fish moving you can also swing flies with a sink tip. Cast out, let the fly swing down to depth then strip back. Expect the take on the strip.
There is a mix of fresh and old fish in the system. This means an early start to chase egg eaters. Beads under a float or indicator will produce trout and the odd coho. You will find trout behind older fish preparing to spawn. Take care not to harass spawning fish or walk through redds (salmon nests) where eggs are being deposited.
A few reminders on fishing the Squamish:
- Only ONE hatchery marked coho can be retained a day. All rivers in the Squamish watersheds combined.
- No bait or scents can be used. Artificial lure or fly only.
- Be bear aware. Even close to town we have seen an increase in bear activity
- Respect private property and First Nations Lands.
Have fun and respect your fishing environment.
Eric
Capilano Update
The water has come back to the Capilano. The first Nation weirs at the mouth of the river were opened and the dam has released the first big bump of water. This is go time for the system as waves of chinook and coho will be found through the system.
This is a unique opportunity for salmon fishing in Vancouver, so I implore everyone to be respectful of the resource. The river will be busy so be willing to share your space with other anglers. Release all unkept fish with care and fish ethically within the regulations.
Eric
Harrison River Fishing Report
This week saw some great fishing on the Harrison by anglers venturing out on both foot and watercraft. River levels have been favourable, concentrating fish in evident pockets and corners, with travel lanes being explored by those pulling plugs and swinging or thumping spoons.
Exploring on foot and/or by boat can be a great way to find groups of willing fish, as coho will arrive and move with the tides.
Spinners, spoons, twitching jigs, and Colorado blades are all great options for gear anglers whether you use spinning gear or float gear. For those using fly rods, a mix of small and sparse, as well as flashy flies, can be great for those spooky coho found in softer water.
If you’re looking for a tight-line grab on the swing, larger profiled flies with a mix of colours and flash can be great options for prospecting fresh fish.
Whether or not you use single-hand or two-hand rods, having a variety of tips to help get your fly into the right zone can play a critical role, with many anglers fishing the right fly at the wrong speed or depth; being able to adjust to water conditions or spots can help.
Remember to wade and boat safely as water levels can rise suddenly and without warning; having a backup plan on how to hike back is always a great idea.
Cheers,
Strip-Strike Simpson
STILLWATER FISHING REPORTS
Local Lake Fishing Report
They have been stocking a number of our local lakes over the last week and if you want to get out for some fun easy access fishing it is a great time. Check out below some of the lakes with the dates they were stocked and check out https://www.gofishbc.com/where-to-fish/ for the latest updates.
Stocked Lakes:
2024-10-08 BUNTZEN
2024-10-08 SASAMAT
2024-10-03 RICE
2024-10-03 LAFARGE
2024-10-03 GREEN TIMBERS
2024-10-04 MIKE
Interior Lake Fishing Report
Matt and Jason were out last week in different areas of the Interior hunting Fall trout. They both had great fishing but saw different conditions. In this report we will talk about what they were looking for and how they used different strategies based on what they saw from the two different lakes.
If you are new to Fall lake fishing it can rival the fishing in the Spring, but you need to think a little differently and look for slightly different trends.
The first thing to pay attention to is water temperature. If the given lake you are fishing is mid to high 50s the fish will probably be holding in deeper water. When temperatures get below 55 you will see fish move into the shallows. The conventional wisdom is that the high 40’s is the best for amazing shallow water fishing, but every lake will be a little different.
Last week, both the lakes that the guys fished were in the mid 50s. But with about a 300-foot elevation difference Matt’s lake was a little cooler. Note both the lakes have dropped in temperature in the last week and are now in the low 50s.
In this scenario we recommend having 4 techniques ready to fish.
Jason saw fish holding in deeper water (20-30 feet). Water temps were in the 55-56 range and fish were happily hugging the bottom eating chironomids. He fished floating lines, indicators and long leaders with classic chironomid patterns. He also had the full sinking line chironomid setup ready in case fish were deeper. He saw anglers finding fish in the shallows fishing scuds, but it seemed that the majority of the fish were still feeding at depth.
Matt’s lake was a little colder with temps hitting 53s. There were fish holding in 25-30 feet of water, but they were suspended mid water column and not eating. Some fish were moving up into the shallows and Matt used an indicator setup with a 12ft leader and then a floating line with no indicator and a 10ft casting leader setup. With the correct anchor angle, he fished the indicator in 7-12ft of water off the drop and then cast the 10ft floating line into the shallows and retrieved patterns in 4-7 ft of water.
There were not many fish coming shallow but the ones that came in were aggressive. He consistently caught fish on both setups as they moved from the 10ft zone into the 5ft zones.
Flies
This time of year, you will still want chironomids in your box however, it is more common to see fish eating scuds, baby damsels and leeches when they are pushing into the shallows. If you are striking out, boobies and blobs are well worth a try in both the deeper water and shallow water if you can’t dial in on what they are eating.
Interior Lake Forecast
This weekend looks like the last warm weekend of the season. In the 14-day forecast things will cool off over next week into single digit daytime temps. It should make for some nice fishing weather this weekend but dress well if you are heading up next week.
Both lakes that the guys fished are now in the low 50-degree range so we should see more fish pushing into the shallows right now on most lakes in Regions 3 and 5.
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Saltwater Fishing Report
We’re now a week into October and the saltwater scene has been interesting. October is when we transition away from the migratory salmon and switch gears for winter chinook. We have been planning for trips into the Sound, but those plans have been put on a brief hold with the local action continuing at the Fraser mouth as well as within the harbour.
At Sandheads, fishing has continued to be relatively steady, with plenty of chinook and coho still being found. While the chinook are showing a bit more color as the season progresses, their size has been impressive. The top of the flood over the high slack has been the most productive according to the guide team, and a mix of bait and hoochies has been working well. When the bite slows down, bait seems to still be the clear winner. That said, hoochies are performing just as well when the fish are active, which can help you preserve some bait. The fish have been scattered across the water column, so if things slow down, experiment with your depths. We’ve found fish as deep as 130 feet on the downrigger and as shallow as 30 feet, so don’t hesitate to adjust throughout the tides. We’ve also been seeing more chum salmon around at Sandheads and T-10, just in time for the October 5th opening.
Closer to home, the Capilano River mouth has seen a decent uptick in activity. After an inconsistent September, the fish have finally arrived, and our guide boats have had success this past week with both chinook and coho. The dry forecast and low river levels mean these fish are likely to stick around for a while. Like the Fraser, bait is usually more effective here, but after some productive mornings, our guides have had success using spoons and hoochies as well, so don’t hesitate to switch things up if your bait supply is running low.
A quick reminder for those fishing the Capilano mouth: it’s a tight spot, and boats need to work together to keep things running smoothly. The etiquette to remember is “Right rod to the rocks”, or the beach in this case. Boats heading west, or away from the Lions Gate Bridge, get the inside tack, meaning they should be closer to shore with their right (starboard) rod along the beach. Boats heading east, or towards the bridge, should take the outside tack and turn at the green marker, bringing their right rod inside. Don’t forget to keep an eye on commercial traffic and give freighters plenty of room as they enter and leave the harbour.
As mentioned, October is the month when we start shifting focus to winter chinook in Howe Sound and around Bowen Island. Reports have been light so far, but we’ll keep you updated as we gather more intel. In the meantime, make sure your downriggers are topped up with cable and the drag is set appropriately for the deep trolling required during the winter months.
The chum fishery is now open in local waters for 4 a day, see the details below:
Subject: FN1053-RECREATIONAL Salmon – Chum – Areas 11 to 20, 28, 111, 121 to 127 and Subareas 29-1 to 29-5, 29-8 – Opening – Effective October 12, 2024 Effective 00:01 hours October 12, 2024, until 23:59 hours March 31, 2025, the daily limit of Chum Salmon is four (4) in the following waters: Areas 11 to 21, 28, 111, 121 to 127, and Subareas 29-1 to 29-5 and 29-8.
Tight Lines,
Jake Comrie
