Sport fishing column for Sept 12 to 19, 2011

I am sure many of you reading this week, are enjoying another abundant salmon return. It has long been my belief that the pacific salmon is a significant part of both our west coast heritage and culture. Beginning with our first nations people, life here revolved around the salmon runs. Many of our early pioneers followed the leading of our original residents and early industry had to follow as well needing to structure work time around the labour force. Even the decision to set our border with the US at the 49th parallel, instead of the Columbia River was influenced by our pacific salmon; as noted in the following passage from John Boddam-Whetham's book, "Western Wanderings", copy written in 1874.

"In a story told? a certain naval officer who at the time of the dispute was stationed on the pacific coast; and who wrote home to his brother, the then Prime Minister, that the salmon in the Columbia wouldn't take a fly, and that the country was not worth making a fuss about?"

Let us hope that our two levels of government would continue to recognize and work toward preserving the fish all fisherman of BC value so highly.

The report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is fair. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: 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.

Our Lower mainland bass and panfish are active again. For bass try Wooly Bugger, Big Black, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Zonker, Bucktail, Dolly Whacker, Frog, Popping Bug, or Crayfish in sizes 8 to 4. For Crappie or Pumpkinseed try: Wooly Bugger, Big Black, Micro Leach, Bucktail, Dolly whacker, Clouser's deep minnow, or Popping Bug.

Fishing on our interior lakes is good. For better success try early mornings and evenings with, Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Egg Sucking Leach, Pumpkinhead, Dragonfly Nymph, Halfback Nymph, 52 Buick, Doc Spratley, Green Spratley, Souboo, or Baggy Shrimp for wet fly fishing. For dry fly try: Irresistible, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, Tom Thumb, Renegade, Double Hackled Peacock, Goddard Caddis, or Elk Hair Caddis.

The Fraser River is fishing well for sockeye, spring, and pink salmon, with some cutthroat, and dolly Varden in the mix. For spring try: Popsicle, Big Black, Stonefly Nymph, Squamish Poacher, or Eggo. For sockeye try: patterns in lime green or Chartreuse. For pink try: Happy Hooker, pink Bunny Leach, Pink Eve, or Cathy's Coat. For cutthroat try: Eggo, Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Mickey Finn, Stonefly Nymph, or American Coachman. For dolly Varden try: Zonker, Eggo, Clouser's Deep Minnow, dolly Whacker, or Bucktail.

The Stave River is fair for rainbow and cutthroat. For rainbow try: Elk Hair Caddis, Tom Thumb, Golden Stonefly Nymph, Irresistible, Stimulator, Coachman, Zulu, or Lioness.

The Vedder River is good for Spring and pink.

The Harrison River is good for sockeye, spring, pink, cutthroat, and rainbow.

The Thompson and Nicola Rivers are good for sockeye, rainbow and spring.