Fishing report for to March 2 to 9, 2009

This week we close the book on BC Sport Fishing during the 1970's and open our look into the 1980's.

1979 saw four books released on our sport fishery: Two by Lee Straight, "BC Fresh Water Fishing Guide" and "Sea Angling Guide." "Pacific Salmon & Steelhead trout," by R J Childerhose and Trim Marj; and "The Anglers Workshop," by Letcher Lambuth.

1980 opened with "The Salmon Fisherman's Bible," by Dave Nuttall and "Kamloops: An Angler's Study of the Kamloops Trout," which was an updated edition of Steve Raymond's 1971 book.

In 1981 Valerie Haig-Brown released "The Master and His Fish," in honor of her late father. Contained in the pages of this prized book are many of Haig-Brown's essays on fly fishing and conservation.

Tara Robinson was in print in 1983, 86, & 92 with "How to Catch Really Big Fish."

Editor Mary S Aikins released "A Cutthroat Collection," in 1984. This work was a collaboration of articles by old time greats: Bob Jones, Karl Bruhn, Dave Elliott, Ian Fobes, John Massy, Ron Nelson and Dave Stewart. This book is a must read for those who wish to master these elusive nomads.

Fishing on our lower elevation lower mainland lakes is fair to good depending on the weather pattern of the day. The water temperature is still on the cold side making fish sluggish, but now that March is here this should improve soon. For better success concentrate on the warmer water in the north easterly sections of your chosen lake, with: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Nations Black, Baggy Shrimp, Zulu, Micro Leach, Halfback, Big Black, or Dragonfly Nymph; trolled or retrieved dead slow.

The Fraser River backwaters and sloughs are fishing well for cutthroat and dolly varden. For cutthroat try: Eggo, Flesh Fly, Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Bucktail, Mickey Finn, Winter Stone, Coachman, American Coachman, Lioness, Zulu, Souboo, Big Black, Micro Leach, or Sixpack. For dolly varden try: large (#4 to #1) Flesh Fly, Eggo, Bucktail, Rolled Muddler, Zonker, Big Black, or Kaufmann's Black Stone.

The Vedder River is fair for rainbow, dolly varden, and steelhead. For rainbow try: Eggo, Stonefly Nymph, Elk Hair Caddis, Tom Thumb, Zulu, Fire Ball, Irresistible, Adams, Renegade, Grasshopper, or Stimulator. For Steelhead try: Big Black, Flat Black, Squamish Poacher, Thor, Polar Shrimp, Popsicle, pink Eggo, Happy Hooker, or Kaufmann's Black Stone.

The Harrison is good for cutthroat, rainbow, and whitefish. 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. For whitefish try: small (size #16 to 12) Eggo, black Micro Leach, black Wooly Bugger, black Stonefly Nymph, or Flesh Fly.

The Chehalis River is slow to fair for rainbow, and steelhead.

The Stave River is fair for cutthroat, rainbow, and whitefish.

The Squamish River is slow for rainbow, cutthroat, and dolly varden.

Don't forget to check out the Fraser Valley Boat & Sportsman's Show at the Tradex, this coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

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