weekly Fraser Valley BC sport fishing column

Fishing report for July 28 to Aug 4, 2008


As we take a last look at the era of the 1920's it time to mention some of the famous lodges that made their mark during those exciting times.

Echo lodge: on Paul Lake, Wigwam Inn: on Indian Arm, Pennask Lake Lodge: on Pennask Lake, Fen Lodge: on Chehalis River, Steelhead Ranch: on Coquitlam River, and Watch Lake Lodge: on Watch Lake. If I have missed any lodges built during this period in our BC history it is because I am unable to find record of their inception.

Next week begin looking at the 1930's. While the great depression of this are took a heavy toll on the people and industry across North America; here in BC sport fishing remained the stuff of legends.

Trout fishing on our lower mainland lakes remains good. Early mornings and evenings are the ticket. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try Micro Leach, Wooly Worm, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Doc Spratley, Green Spratley, Dragonfly Nymph, Coachman, Cased Caddis, Carey Special, Zulu, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry (floating) fly fishing try Tom Thumb, Renegade, Lady McConnel, Elk Hair Caddis, Adams, Griffith Gnat, Royal Coachman, or Brayshaw's Fancy. For bass & panfish try Clouser's Deep Minnow, Whitlock's Crayfish, Wooly Bugger, Popping Bugs, Big Black, Tom Thumb, Stimulator, or Bucktail.

Our interior lakes are fishing very well, with anglers reporting 100 fish days at Nicola Lake over this passed week. If you are toying with the idea of spending the gas money on a fishing trip to our interior, I would say now is the time. For wet fly fishing try: Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Nations Silver Tip Sedge, Halfback, Souboo, Sixpack, Butlers Bug, 52 Buick, olive Matuka, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry fly, try: Lady McConnel, Irresistible, Double Hackled Peacock, Goddard Sedge, Tom Thumb, Adams, Royal Wulff, or Black Gnat. For kokanee, try: Bloodworm, Red Spratley, Red Abbis, Royal Coachman, Royal Wulff, red Tom Thumb, or Royal Trude.

The Fraser River is good for spring and sockeye. Yes sockeye are open! For spring try large (#1 or #2) Eggo, Popsicle, GP, Flat Black, Big Black, or Kaufman Stone. For sockeye try chartreuse or lime green Clouser's Deep Minnow, Wooly Bugger, Crazy Charley, Dean River Lantern, or Bucktail.

The Vedder River is good for spring and rainbow. For rainbow try Stonefly Nymph, Cased caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, Tom Thumb, Zulu, Irresistible, Adams, Renegade, Grasshopper, or Stimulator.

The Harrison is good for cutthroat. Try Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Bucktail, Stonefly Nymph, Cased caddis, Coachman, American Coachman, Lioness, Zulu, Black Gnat, Souboo, or Sixpack.

The Chehalis River is fair to good for rainbow, and steelhead. For steelhead try Kaufman Stone, Joe's Hopper, Big Black, Irresistible, Elk Hair Caddis, Tom Thumb or Stimulator.

The Thompson is good for rainbow and fair for spring. Springs are open on weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday). For those big Thompson bows try Joe's Hopper, Kaufman Stone, red bodied Tom Thumb, Irresistible, Chernobyl Ant, Elk Hair Caddis, or Stimulator.

Until the next time, "Keep your fly in the water".