Sport fishing column for July 13 to 19, 2009

I feel a good place to start a new series, after our study on BC sport fishing history, is to broach one of my favorite subjects, fun family fishing. I use the qualifier fun, along with family fishing because if it's not fun, often other family members loose interest. Involving and maintaining the interest of all family members can be challenging but the rewards are always worth the effort. A teacher much wiser than I once said "Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it." The large majority of successful anglers have to look no further than themselves to prove the truth of that statement. Yet too many of those same anglers fish without their family; Why? Many answers come to mind but all point to one conclusion. Too many of us, have become too serious, and too technical, in our drive for perfection, leaving novice anglers no room for fun. The fun, excitement, and wonder are what got us hooked and it is no different for those who come after us.

The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is fair to good. Focus on the better oxygenated water in the south west regions of your favorite lake, during early mornings and evenings. For our local trout on a wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Chironomid, Professor, Nations Black, Baggy Shrimp, Carey Special, Souboo, Zulu, Halfback, Caddis Nymph, Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Doc Spratley, or 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.

Local kokanee, bass, and panfish fishing is good. For kokanee: Red Abbis, Red Spratley, red Tom Thumb, red Leach, pink Leach, Happy Hooker, Cathy's Coat, or Pink Eve. For bass and panfish try: Clouser's Deep Minnow, Crayfish, Poppers, Big Black, Stimulator, Bucktail, Rolled Muddler, Dolly Whacker, Tied down Minnow, or Tom Thumb.

The fishing on all of our interior lakes is fair to good. For wet fly fishing try: Chironomid (the big bombers), Nations Silver Tip, Sixpack, 52 Buick, Butlers Bug, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Big Black, Green Spratley, Caddis Nymph, or Baggy Shrimp. If dry fly is your fancy try: Tom Thumb, Adams, Royal Wulff, Lady McConnel, Black Gnat, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith Gnat, Renegade, or Irresistible.

The Fraser River is fishing well for springs, dolly varden, and cutthroat. For spring try: Big Black, Popsicle, black GP, Squamish Poacher, flat black, or Kaufmann's Stone. For cutthroat try: Professor, Rolled Muddler, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Zulu, Lioness, Big Black, Coachman, Cezch Nymph, Sixpack or Mickey Finn. For dolly varden try: Large (#4 to #2) Eggo, Bucktail, Rolled Muddler, Dolly Whacker, Zonker, Big Black or Kaufmann's Stone.

The Stave River is fair to good for rainbow and cutthroat. For rainbow try: Big Black, Zulu, Souboo, Royal Coachman, Elk Hair Caddis, Kaufmann's Stone, Adams, Irresistible, Stimulator, or Renegade.

The Vedder River is good for spring and rainbow.

The Harrison is good for rainbow and cutthroat.

The Thompson River is good for rainbow.

At "Reel Life," we offer fly fishing classes for the budget minded angler. Call us at 604-820-4099.

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