Sport fishing column for June 1 to 8, 2009


Okay last words on the Alouette Lake fishing derby. It's on Saturday June 6th; registration remains open until Friday June 5th. The lake has been yielding good catches of kokanee, along with rainbow, cutthroat and some nice sized dolly varden. The present summer like weather is forecast to hold for the week, which means the fish won't be put off the bite by a falling barometer. Everything is in place to bake the launch of this great annual family event, one to remember, and on the behalf of all who are making this event possible we hope to see you there.

The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is good and with the present stable weather pattern for the week, the weekend looks AAA. Time to move to summer tactics: mornings evenings and overcast days. If you do choose to fish during the bright sunlight hours, remember to go deep since fish don't have eyelids and avoid bright light. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Chironomid, Professor, Nations Black, Red Spratley, Baggy Shrimp, Carey Special, Souboo, Zulu, Halfback, Caddis Nymph, Big Black, Wooly Bugger, or Doc Spratley, Dragonfly Nymph. For dry (floating) try: Lady McConnel, Griffith Gnat, Black Gnat, Black Ant, Royal Coachman, Double Hackled Peacock, Adams, Tom Thumb, Big Ugly, Elk Hair Caddis, or Irresistible.

This weather is also waking up our lower mainland summer fishery; bass, crappie and carp. Now that we are starting to get some humid evenings, it's time to start thinking about these warm water species. I know there is still an anti bass agenda out there, but these fish are here so we might as well utilize them. For those unschooled in this fishery, it is a great place to get kids involved in our sport. These willingly sport fish can provide enough no-stop action to interest even the most impatient kids. For these alternate species try: Clouser's Deep Minnow, Crayfish, Poppers, Big Black, Stimulator, Bucktail, Rolled Muddler, Dolly Whacker, Tied down Minnow, or Tom Thumb.

Our interior lakes are fishing well, with report of fish to 7LB coming in. For wet fly fishing try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Nations Silver Tip, Sixpack, 52 Buick, Dragon Nymph, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Micro Leach, Big Black, Caddis Nymph, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry fly fishing try: Tom Thumb, Adams, Royal Wulff, Lady McConnel, Black Gnat, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith Gnat, Renegade, or Irresistible.

The Fraser River is high and muddy, concentrate on the cleaner water around its confluence streams. For cutthroat try: Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Bucktail, Mickey Finn, Kaufmann's Stone, Coachman, American Coachman, Lioness, Zulu, Souboo, Big Black, Micro Leach, Czech Nymph, Strawman, or Sixpack. For dolly varden try: large (#4 to #1) Bucktail, Rolled Muddler, Zonker, Big Black, or Kaufmann's Stone.

The Harrison River is high, but still fishable for rainbow and cutthroat. For rainbow try: Kaufmann's Stone, Elk Hair Caddis, Tom Thumb, Zulu, Irresistible, Adams, Renegade, or Stimulator.

The Stave River is fair for cutthroat, and rainbow.

At "Reel Life," we offer introductory and intermediate fly fishing and fly tying classes, for the budget minded angler. To shorten that learning curve, give us a call at 604-820-4099

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