Sport fishing column for Nov 9 to 16, 2009

This passed week two of my mentors posted articles in the popular press, each at opposite ends of the spectrum on the missing sockeye salmon debate. Both drew attention to valid points: The over abundance of pink salmon which returned to our Fraser River and it's tributaries was the result of an experiment to see what would happen if these two year fish, as smolts, were enabled to pass fallowed fish farms. The potential danger of breeding out genetic diversity by over populating spawning beds with hatchery raised salmon. Somewhere in the bell curve between these two poles is the answer. Unfortunately here in British Columbia we appear to be applying two wrongs in an attempt to make things right; by closing hatcheries while increasing open net pen salmon farms.

One glaring question arises; why was our Harrison River sockeye run over prediction, like the returns of Alaska and Washington States? Three cheers for Prime Minster Stephen Harper calling for a full judicial inquiry into the missing Fraser and Skeena River sockeye, by our own Vancouver Crown Justus Bruce Cohen.

This all boils down to the best news I have heard on the sockeye salmon front in eleven years. They are not just fish! They are an integral part of our BC Heritage and Culture.

The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is fair. For better success concentrate on the warmer north east sections of your favorite lake with: The Chironomid, Professor, Nations Black, Baggy Shrimp, Carey Special, Souboo, Zulu, Halfback, Caddis Nymph, Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Doc Spratley, or Dragonfly Nymph.

The Fraser River is good for spring, Coho, cutthroat, and chum. For Coho try: Coho Blue, Christmas Tree, green or black Wooly Bugger, Bite Me, Blue Christmas, or Rolled Muddler. For spring try: Big Black, Popsicle, Squamish Poacher, GP, Flat Black or Eggo. For cutthroat try: Stickleback, Rolled Muddler, Mickey Finn, Tied Down Minnow, Professor, Lioness, Coachman, Sixpack, Zulu, or Souboo. For chum try: Eggo, Holliman, Squamish Poacher, Mat green, Dec 25, Red Bull, Flat Black, or dark Popsicle.

The Stave River is fair to good for cutthroat, chum, rainbow, coho, and spring. For rainbow try: Eggo, red Spratley, red Carey, Mickey Finn, Kaufmann Stone, Chez Nymph, Royal Coachman, Zulu, or Black Gnat.

The Harrison River is fair to good for chum, coho, spring, and cutthroat.

The Chehalis River is fair to good for chum, coho, and cutthroat.

The Thompson River is good for rainbow and steelhead with fish to 26 lb reported. For steelhead try: Steelhead Nightmare, Thor, Squamish Poacher, GP, Popsicle, Big Black, Flat Black, Polar Shrimp, Purple Peril, Eggo, Kaufmann Stone, or Steelhead Spratley

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