Fishing report for Oct 27 to Nov 3, 2008

As I mentioned last week the era of the 1950's forever changed sport fishing in our province. North America was in love with the automobile and with passable roads into most portions of our province, all our waters were now within the spending limits of most anglers. While fly fishing was fast loosing ground to the ease of spin casting, there were a few stalwarts who kept the craft alive; we will cover their flies first:

In 1951 Tommy Brayshaw produced another of his famous Coquihalla Steelhead flies: "Coquihalla Red".

In that same year Roderick Haig-Brown released his "General Fry", "Humpback Fry", "Stickleback", and "Steelhead Bee" fly patterns.

Two years later on Nov 13, 1953 Tommy Brayshaw, while field testing his proto type "Coquihalla Orange - Light" on a steelhead fishing trip with Haig-Brown, landed the first ever recorded fly caught Thompson River Steelhead.

In 1957 the ever famous "Tom Thumb" was discovered in the Jasper region, by the legendary Collie Peacock. Its originator remains unknown.

1958 saw emergence of the "Black Leech" in BC waters, and like the "Tom Thumb" its originator remains unknown.

In that same year John Dexeimer released his "Halfback Nymph".

Then in the last year of this era, came Jim Kilburn's famous sea-run cutthroat pattern; the "American Coachman".

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes remains good. Too achieve better success concentrate on the north by north east sections of your lake. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try Chironomid, Bloodworm, Micro Leach, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Doc Spratley, Green Spratley, Dragonfly Nymph, Coachman, 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.

Our interior lakes are all fishing very well. For wet fly fishing try: Big Black, Wooly Bugger, chironomid, Bloodworm, Nations Silver Tip Sedge, Halfback, Souboo, Sixpack, Butlers Bug, Micro Leech, Dragonfly Nymph, 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.

The Fraser River is fair to good for spring, coho, and chum. For coho try Christmas Tree, Coho Blue, Blue Christmas, olive Wooly Bugger, Egg Sucking Leech, Bite Me, or Rolled Muddler. For spring try large (#1 or #2) Eggo, Popsicle, GP, Flat Black, Big Black, or Kaufman Stone. For chum try Christmas Tree, Happy Hooker, Flat Black, Dec 25, Fire Ball, kelly green Wooly Bugger, or Mat Green.

The Vedder River is good for rainbow, spring, coho, and chum. For rainbow try Eggo, Stonefly Nymph, Elk Hair Caddis, Tom Thumb, Zulu, Fire Ball, Irresistible, Adams, Renegade, Grasshopper, or Stimulator.

The Harrison is good for cutthroat, chum, and spring. For cutthroat try Eggo, Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Bucktail, Stonefly Nymph, Coachman, American Coachman, Fire Ball, Lioness, Zulu, Black Gnat, Souboo, or Sixpack.

The Chehalis River is slow to fair for rainbow, spring, chum, and coho.

The Stave River is good for chum, coho, and spring.

The Squamish is fair to good for chum and coho.

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