Weekly Fraser Valley Sport fishing column for Sept 30 to Oct 6, 2013


Lake Trout, actually char not trout, are another misunderstood Cascadian game fish. Often thought of as sluggish lunkers of the deep; these fish put up surprisingly tuff battles under the right conditions. Liking temperatures of forty eight to fifty two degrees, these predators prowl the shallows during our colder months.

To hunt these fish you will have to put on your woolies and have your boat in the water when most anglers have theirs under wraps for the winter; but the reward is often worth the challenge, for lunkers that can reach weights in access of twenty pounds. Targeting these predators with minnow imitations and light tackle in shallow water is incredible. Sight fishing them in clear lakes after ice off is spellbinding.

Lake trout; they aren't for everyone; but for the angler who seeks a challenge, landing one of this char is sure to render that sense of accomplishment.


The Report

Our lower mainland lakes have moved into their fall fishing mode. For better success, try to catch the upward swing in barometric pressure, between storm fronts. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: 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, or Elk Hair Caddis.

Our lower Mainland bass and panfish waters are fishing active again. For Bass try: Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Pumpkinhead, Gomphus Bug, Dragon Nymph, Crayfish, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Lefty's Deceiver, Dolly Whacker, Bucktail, Hair Frog, Poppers, (adult) Dragonfly, Chernobyl Ant, Optic, or Stimulator. For Panfish try smaller (size 10 to 16) versions of the above.

Fishing on our interior lakes is very good. For wet fly fishing try: Chironomid, Halfback Nymph, Baggy Shrimp, Pumpkin Head, Wooly Bugger, Big Black, Dragon Nymph, Sixpack, 52 Buick, Souboo, or Doc Spratley. For dry fly fishing try: Lady McConnel, Tom Thumb, Adams, Irresistible, Renegade, Black Gnat, or Elk Hair Caddis.

The Fraser River is fishing well for springs, chum, pinks, and coho. For spring try: Popsicle, Squamish Poacher, Big Black, Black Stone, Flat black, Eggo, black GP, or dark Bunny Leach. For pink try: Pink Eve, Cathy's Coat, Happy Hooker, or pink Bunny Leach. For chum try: Eggo, Christmas Tree, Met Green, Holliman, Dec 25th, or pink & purple Bunny Leach. For coho try: Eggo, Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Coho Blue, Bite Me, Christmas Tree, green Wooly Bugger, Egg Sucking Leach, or Big Black.

The Vedder River is good for rainbow, pink, and spring. For rainbow try: Czech nymph, Kaufmann Stone, Hares Ear, Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Zulu, Souboo, Irresistible, Elk Hair Caddis, Tom Thumb, Black Gnat, or Renegade.

The Harrison River is fair to good for cutthroat, pink, and spring. We have heard rumors of springs. Try: Professor, Anderson Stone, American Coachman, Rolled Muddler, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, Zulu, Hares Ear, Renegade, or Irresistible.

The Thompson River is closed until the Steelhead count is achieved.