Sport fishing column for Dec 13 to 20, 2010

Christmas is less than two weeks away, so this week we are sharing some practical gift ideas for the angler on your list: Wool socks; nothing beats wool for keeping feet warm. Be sure to check for a high wool content when buying blended wool socks. Long underwear; I know you are thinking no body wants underwear for Christmas, but this item will be appreciated on cold days and chilly mornings. Breathable raingear to stay dry. A Co2 inflatable collar; one of these personal flotation devices is not only a gift for your favorite angler, but the whole family as well. Available from Sterns, Mustang, and Cabalas; an inflatable collar will ensure your angler makes it home safe. A head lamp or lighted cap; allows one to keep their hands free while providing a lighted path. Red, blue, and green colored LED flashlights available from Marks Work Warehouse or Canadian Tire stores. These lights will allow your angler to see how their fly, lure, or bait appears to the fish in different colored water. A Weather Station, and or Barometer; will help your angler predict fish feeding activity. A stream thermometer for testing water temperature. A portable fish finder; portable so it can be tranfered from water craft to water craft. These items have three useful purposes; to help find fish, read the bottom structure, and entertain impatient kids (young children will watch the screen on a fish finder, like they watch a television set for hours). A lure or fly tying kit so your angler can make their own creations.

We will have last minuet suggestions next week.

The report

The ice is off our lower mainland lakes making them fishable again. Try a slow troll or retrieve with: Big Black, Nation's Black, Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Baggy Shrimp, Coachman, Halfback, Dragon Nymph, olive Matuka, Butler's Bug, Zulu, or Doc Spratley.

Our lower mainland beach and estuaries fisheries are active for sea-run cutthroat. Try: Epoxy Minnow, Tied Down Minnow, Muddler Minnow, Clouser's deep Minnow, Lioness, Grizzly King, Mickey Finn, Coachman, Knudson's Spider, Zulu, Purple Joe, or Borden Special.

The Fraser River is slow to fair for cutthroat and dolly varden. For cutthroat try: Rolled Muddler, Mickey Finn, Eggo, Tied Down Minnow, Epoxy Minnow, black, Flesh Fly, Stone, Professor, Lioness, Coachman, Zulu, Chez Nymph. For dolly Varden try: Large (#4 to #1) Eggo, Dolly Whacker, Bucktail, Epoxy Minnow, Big Black, Muddler, or Zunker.

The Vedder River is slow for rainbow and dolly varden. For rainbow try: rolled Muddler, Mickey Finn, Eggo, Flesh Fly, Kaufmann Black Stone, Black Gnat, Zulu, Chez Nymph, Big Black, Sixpack, or Renegade.

The Stave River is fair for rainbow and cutthroat.

The Harrison River is fair for cutthroat, and rainbow.

You can find more at "The Reel Life Press" by Jeff Weltz.