Sport fishing column for May 16 to 23, 2011

This week in our series on Vancouver Sport fishing personalities; Earl Anderson.

Known for creating the Anderson Stonefly Nymph in 1960, Anderson had other achievements to his credit. He made a career out of sport fishing as a commercial fly tier, reel repairman, tackle salesman, and fly fishing instructor. Along with his famous Anderson Stone, created for the rainbow trout of the Babine River; Anderson also created the What Else and Yellow Bell for our lower mainland cutthroat. Among his other accomplishments, this self taught fly caster won first place in dry fly casting at the (1950) Vancouver Sportsman Show, and was the fly fishing instructor of School District #39, Vancouver. During his years teaching (1951 though 1982) for the Vancouver school district he introduced 1,200 individuals to the sport of fly fishing.

Earl Anderson was born in the Prairies in 1911 and moved to Vancouver around 1920 with his family. Earl along with his brothers Arne, Frank, and Willard, became known as the fishing Andersons, frequenting the Capilano, Alouette, Nicomekl, Stave, Silver, Coquihalla, and Harrison Rivers. He lived to a good age of 84, departing in 1995.


The report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes looks good for the long weekend. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Coachman, American Coachman, Professor, Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Sixpack, Dragonfly Nymph, Halfback, Doc Spratley, Baggy Shrimp, or Zulu. For dry (floating) fly action try: Tom Thumb, Irresistible, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, Royal Coachman, or Renegade. For Kokanee try: Red Abbis, Bloodworm, Red Spratley, San Juan Worm, Red Quill, or Double Trude.

Our lower mainland bass and panfish are finally active. For these alternate BC game fish try: Wooly bugger, Big Black, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Zonker, Tied Down Minnow, Bucktail, Dolly Whacker, or Crayfish.

The ice is off most lake under 3500 feet. Since spring is three to four weeks behind this years early spring tactics or in order. For long weekend success, try: Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Egg Sucking Leach, Chironomid, Bloodworm, Pumpkinhead, Dragonfly Nymph, Halfback Nymph, Doc Spratley, or Baggy Shrimp.


The Fraser River is getting high and brown. Try working the color change around the confluence its feeder streams. For cutthroat try: Rolled Muddler, Mickey Finn, Eggo, Tied Down Minnow, Epoxy Minnow, Professor, Lioness, Coachman, Zulu, Chez Nymph. For dolly Varden try: Large (#4 to #1) Eggo, Dolly Whacker, Bucktail, Epoxy Minnow, Big Black, Muddler, or Zonker.

The Vedder River is still open to fly fishing below the crossing, but the water is coming up; be careful. For steelhead try: big Black, Popsicle, Steelhead Nightmare, Polar shrimp, GP, Thor, Squamish Poacher, Kaufmann Stone, Purple Peril, or Eggo. For rainbow try: Eggo, Kaufmann Stone (black or tan), Zulu, Sixpack, Tom Thumb, Irresistible, Chez Nymph, Big Black, or Renegade.

The Stave River is good for rainbow and cutthroat.

The Harrison River is fair to good for cutthroat, and rainbow.

Our fly fishing school is running Saturdays May 28 and June 4, at Hatch Matchr's Fly & Tackle in Maple Ridge, call 604-467-7118 or 1-604-820-4099 for further details.

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