Weekly Fraser Valley Sport fishing column for May 6 to 13, 2013

Do you remember bar fishing? If you began angling before the mid eighties, you most likely do. Before the popularity of drift fishing (bottom bouncing), you could tell when there was a run of fish in our Fraser River by the line of lawn chairs strategically placed along the Fraser's banks. Bar fishing has lost its appeal to many in this day and age; but there is still a loyal following who faithfully plant their rod and holder in the river bank and recline in their lawn chair to watch and weight. While some frown on this style of angling as too slow, it has its pluses. It is definitely relaxed, often quiet, and can be communal with the same anglers coming to the same spot, week after week, year after year. Bar fishing requires patience, the long suffering kind, which says something about the character of these anglers. Patience is a commodity that could serve all anglers well; as it does the Great Blue Heron. Have you ever taken the time to watch these birds' fish? There is a lesson to be learned here. Is your harried and frantic lifestyle gaining you anything more than stress? Think about it and we will delve deeper into this pool of fishing, fishermen, and life; 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, Nations Black, Zulu, Wooly Bugger, Wooly Worm, Pumpkin Head, Micro Leach, 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 of our interior lakes are fishing well. For wet fly fishing try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Halfback Nymph, Baggy Shrimp, Pumpkin Head, Wooly Bugger, Big Black, Dragon Nymph, Sixpack, 52 Buick, or Doc Spratley. For dry fly fishing try: Lady McConnel, Tom Thumb, Black Ant, Water Boatman, Adams, Irresistible, Renegade, or Elk Hair Caddis.

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.