Weekly Fraser Valley Sport fishing column for Oct 7 to 14, 2013


This week we are profiling Oncorhynchus keta, chum salmon. Running an average of 8 to 15 pounds, with the world and BC record standing at 42 pounds, these tough scrappers are responsible for more broken rods than any other of our stream traveling species.

Though disrespected by some, chum offer it all; they run, jump and fight like a junkyard dog. Given the slang name, dog salmon, because of the dog like teeth they grow, these aggressive fish offer continuous action on the right color combination of your jig or fly.

While not noted for their dinner quality, chum is one of our best salmon for smoking. The key is to start with a fresh fish. To find a quality fish, look at the belly under the gills and apply this rhyme; white is right, light grey is okay, but if it's black put it back.

Chum salmon; if you have the stuff to stand up to muscling in thirty or more of these brutes in a day, my hats off to you.



The Report

Our lower mainland lake fishing is fair to good. 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 active. 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 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.