Sport fishing column for May 7 to 14, 2012

Now that most of our interior lakes are ice free and everyone is gearing up for the season, I think it is time to say a few words about health and safety. I know some would think this subject does not need coverage. Personally, I don't agree. So in this column and the next I am listing some thing to watch out for.

Lime disease; this ailment is both under reported and under diagnosed in our province. You get it from tick bites and it becomes a real nuisance if left untreated. When dealt with early, it just takes a few antibiotics and you're done. Watch for that telltale bull's-eye rash.

Giardia; commonly known as Beavery or Beaver Fever. This one is an intestinal parasite you get from ingesting untreated water. So if you don't want to begin a long term relationship with the big white throne, treat your water by filtering, boiling, or with water purification tables.

Hypothermia; happens when a persons body core temperature drops below what is required to maintain ones normal metabolism. This one can catch you unaware at this time of year. It often happens on what looks to be a warm sunny day. You head out on the lake without a coat, once away from shore you notice the wind is a bit chilly, but you think the sun is warm and it will be okay. An hour or three later you find you have the shivers and your coordination is not what it should be. Hypothermia has begun; from here it goes down hill, unless you head back to some place warm and stay there until the shaking stops.



The Report

Our lower mainland lakes are fishing well again thanks to Old Saul. For wet (sinking) fly trout fishing try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Red Spratley, Coachman, Zulu, American Coachman, Professor, Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Dragonfly Nymph, Sixpack, Doc Spratley, Pumpkinhead, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry (floating) fly trout fishing try: Tom Thumb, Irresistible, Royal Coachman, Renegade, Elk hair Caddis, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, or Lady McConnel. For kokanee try: Red Ibis, Double Trued, Blood Worm, San Juan Worm, Red Spratley, or Red Carey. For bass try: Zonker, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Lefty's Deceiver, Dolly Whacker, Big Black, Wooly bugger, or Crayfish. For panfish try: Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Bucktail, Dolly Whacker, Bloodworm, Chironomid.

Our low to mid elevation lakes are coming on strong; early season tactics are the key. For wet fly fishing try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Halfback, 52 Buick, Pumpkinhead, Big Black, Micro Leach, Coachman, Green Spratley, Carey Special, Souboo, or Baggy Shrimp. For Dry fly fishing on those warm afternoons, try: Lady McConnel, Black Gnat, Double Hackled Peacock, Griffith Gnat, Elk Haired Caddis, Irresistible, Sofa Pillow, or Tom Thumb.

The Fraser River is fishing fair in the cleaner water around its feeder streams. For cutthroat try: Eggo, Egg & Eye Alevin, Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Mickey Finn, Stonefly Nymph, Czech Nymph, or American Coachman. For dolly varden try: large (Size 4 to 1) Zonker, Eggo, Big Black, Dolly Whacker, Mickey Finn, or Clouser's Deep Minnow.

The Harrison River is good for cutthroat and rainbow. For rainbow try: Big black, Kaufmann Stone, Sixpack, Irresistible, Czech Nymph, Zulu, olive Wooly Bugger, Souboo, or Renegade.