Sport fishing column for April 29 to May 6, 2013

May is finally on the radar, and sport fishing will be shifting into high gear. Is your boat and motor ready for the season? I am going to move a bit to the left of the subject we have been covering over the past weeks and spend some time on the age old question; why do we fish? Let me say first off; it is not to save money, since it cheaper to buy fish at the grocery store. Recreation is a valid answer, but I know it goes much deeper than that. If you ask a group of anglers why they fish, I think you would find each one giving you a different answer. I am referring of course to when you get past the superficial because I like it.

I have come to believe that the style and species of fish a person gravitates toward says something about them as a person. No, I will not be quoting from "Pavlov's Trout, " or "Zen in the Art of Flyfishing," since I have yet to read either of those books. Most of us start out fishing in the manner and form of the one who introduced us to the sport. As time goes on we see others fishing differently than ourselves and we question. I'll leave it there until next week.


The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is good. Try working the warmer waters in the north east section of your favorite lake for better success. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Bloodworm, Chironomid, Nations Black, Zulu, Wooly Bugger, Wooly Worm, Pumpkin Head, Big Black, Doc Spratley, Halfback, Sixpack, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry (floating) fly action try: Lady McConnel, Tom Thumb, Irresistible, Double Hackled Peacock, Royal Coachman, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, Black Ant, or Elk Hair Caddis. For kokanee try: Scarlet Ibis, San Juan Worm, Double Trude, Blood Worm, Kokanee Thriller, Kokanee Zonker or Red Spratley.

Our lower Mainland bass and panfish fishing well too. For Bass try: Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Gomphus Bug, Crayfish, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Lefties Deceiver, Dolly Whacker, Bucktail, Hair Frog, Poppers, Chernobyl Ant, or Stimulator. For Panfish try smaller (size 12 to 16) versions of the above.

Most low to mid elevation interior lakes are ice free. Try early season tactics with Chironomid, Bloodworm, Halfback Nymph, Baggy Shrimp, Pumpkin Head, Wooly Bugger, Dragon Nymph, Water Boatman, 52 Buick, or Doc Spratley.

The Fraser River is fair for cutthroat and dolly varden. Try fishing the clearer water at the outflow of Fraser's feeder streams. 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 cutthroat try Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Professor, Anderson Stone, American Coachman, Flash Fly, or Czech Nymph. For rainbow try: Kaufmann Stone, Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Black Gnat, Souboo, Zulu, or Renegade.

The Vedder River is good for steelhead, rainbow, dolly varden, and cutthroat. For steelhead try; Steelhead Nightmare, Kaufmann Stone, Polar Shrimp, GP, Popsicle, Squamish Poacher, Big Black, or Flat Black.

Note the section of the Vedder River above the Vedder Crossing Bridge closes to sport fishing May 1st.