Sport fishing column for Feb 18 to 25, 2013

This week I'm going to open with my one and only attempt at Cowboy Poetry.

Answering The Brag

Days went by as we flailed our flies, but he just watched with his all knowing eyes.

We asked the old timer when he'd give it a try; he smiled and answered without batting an eye.

There's a cold front coming in, so the air is too thin, and that waters to cold for the fish to be bold.

Then there's the moon; it ain't sittin right for the big fish to bite.

The old man chided us with riddles and rhymes, and told us tales of great fish caught in past times.

He'd fished pike in the Athabasca and springs in Alaska, done the Babine and Stikine too.

Been to the Clark Fork, and plucked a marabou stork.

Read all the great books, and thrown many fly hook at those giant Labrador brooks.

Well, the storm came and went, and full moon was gone from the sky, when we saw him at dawn with his polaroids on, and his hat pulled low to eyes.

His rod arm now ready, he stood stiff and steady, while something out there held his stare.

Then he crouched with intent, as his rod arm came and went, throwing a line straight and true.

Fish circled round, as his fly gently touched down.

Then a ring appeared as his fly disappeared.

There are times you just know you are going to eat crow, cause when his line he snapped tight, a huge fish took flight.

Well, that fish was the size of a novices lies the like you seldom see, what humbled us all at the end of it all he set that leviathan free.

So don't drag to loud to your buddies friend, don't tell those tails too tall, cause even the best are put to the test when a master makes his call.


Everyone likes to match wits with a trophy fish, and most people like to see a picture of the prize; but do we have to brag so much. I wonder? Did the trophy succumb to the knowledge and skill of the anglers? Or was that catch due to a moment of indiscretion on the part of the fish? One truly never knows for sure.


The Report

Our lower mainland lakes are fishing well. Try a slow troll or retrieve, close to shore, mid morning through mid afternoon, with: Bloodworm, Chironomid, Zulu, Wooly Bugger, Wooly Worm, Big Black, Doc Spratley, or Baggy Shrimp.

The Fraser River sloughs and backwaters are good for cutthroat and dolly varden. For cutthroat Try: Rolled Muddler, Professor, Anderson Stone, Black Stone, Zulu, American Coachman, Flesh Fly, or Chez Nymph. For dolly varden try large (size #4 to 2) Eggo, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Tied Down Minnow, Roller Muddler, Dolly Whacker, Big Black, Kaufmann Stone, or Flesh Fly.

The Harrison River is good for cutthroat and rainbow. For rainbow try: Kaufmann Stone, Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Black Gnat, Souboo, Zulu, or Renegade.

The Chehalis River is fair to slow for steelhead, and rainbow. For steelhead try: Steelhead Nightmare, Kaufmann Stone, Polar Shrimp, GP, Popsicle, Squamish Poacher, Big Black, Flat Black, or Steelhead Spratley.

The Vedder River is good for steelhead, rainbow, dolly varden, and cutthroat.