Sport fishing column for Jan 30 to Feb 6, 2012

Strange as it may be to conceive; on and off up to 1865, thanks to the influence of the Puritans, fishing for any other reason than food was frowned on in much of North America. This changed by the mid 1860's when wealthy; old world, adventures began publishing books, such as John Keast Lord's "At Home in the Wilderness."

While wealthy Brits were exploring our British Columbian waters, wealthy Americans were exploring the North Woods of the Eastern US. By the 1880's the railroads were taking full advantage of cash flush business men, looking for adventure at the end of the line. The trains of the day offered the comforts of meals and lodging, while transporting anglers to new and lightly fish waters. Many rail lines published guidebooks detailing the quality of fishing at streams, lakes, and resorts along their right of ways. Some were also known to offer cash prizes for the biggest fish weighed in a given year.

As time went on names such as Carnegie, Morgan, Vanderbilt, ECT became synonymous with American Fly Fishing. Like their British counter parts, being an angler was symbol of status, meaning you had time for leisure and the extra money to buy expensive equipment.

During the 1880's Dr George Miller Beard, from New York, diagnosed neurasthenia, an emotional disorder he believed to be an affliction of the wealthy, characterized by a "lack of nerve." News of this affliction encouraged anglers to become more outdoors oriented. I answer to this need camping and fishing in the most remote locations became the order of the day. Enter Teddy Roosevelt and his claim, "Sport requires; energy, resolution, manliness, self-reliance, and a capacity for self help."

By 1890 the North American Church had caught on to what Dame Juliana had tried to express when she penned her, "A Treatyse of fysshynge wyth an Angle," four hundred years before. Deists while at odds with the contemporary church, could agree on the virtues of fishing ascribed by Dame Juliana, and became convinced that nature offered the best place to connect with God. It was from these roots that the well known image of a barefoot boy, with his straw hat and cane pole evolved.

Over one hundred years later, pristine waters and woods are still referred to as "God's Country."



The report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is slow. Try a slow troll or retrieve with: Coachman, Zulu, American Coachman, Professor, Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Sixpack, Dragonfly Nymph, Halfback, Doc Spratley or Baggy Shrimp.

The Fraser River back waters are fishing fair to good for cutthroat. For cutthroat try: Eggo, Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Mickey Finn, Stonefly Nymph, Chez Nymph, or American Coachman.

The Stave River is good for steelhead and cutthroat. For steelhead try: Polar Shrimp, Squamish Poacher, Big Black, Flat Black, Popsicle, Kaufmann Black Stone, Eggo, Thor, or Steelhead Spratley.

The Harrison River is fair for cutthroat.

The Chehalis River is good for steelhead and cutthroat.

The Vedder is good for steelhead.