Weekly Fraser Valley Sport fishing column; Feb 24 to March 3, 2014

The barrier between fish and fisherman are many and significant. We share the same world, but limit ourselves to different parts of it. We breathe, move, feed, sleep and, no doubt think quite differently? The Fisherman?s brain and power of reasoning give him an advantage in all of this, but is limited by the? barrier of the surface film of river or lake? Only rarely are we able to see? what a fish does in his natural environment? Most of us subscribe happily to the idea that we are just naturally good at this sort of thing? better than a fish? so the illusion of impending success is happily sustained. We cheerfully accept the terms and go forth again and again, expecting to solve the unseen and unknown by some new and ingenious change in our attitude towards the matter. The fish doesn?t change very much. He doesn?t need to. More wise input from Roderick Haig-Brown, in his book ?Fisherman?s Fall.?

The rudiments of successful fishing have not changed over the centuries, though some would like us to think they have. From the studies of Claudius Aelianus in 230 AD, to the volumes of information available today, a few factors for successful angling remain constant. Namely: water temperature, weather patterns, the genetic age of the species pursued, and the position of the moon. As for the fish themselves, Haig-Brown hit the nail on the head, their life is a simple cycle of: consuming more calories then expended, avoiding predators, propagating more of their species, and a constant search for an ample supply of oxygen. Sound easy? Ha! If it were that easy we would win this game every time, and then we would quit due to boredom.


The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is slow. So much for last weekend?s fishing. Who would have thought that winter would draw a wild card for the weekend, and set our lake fishing back to dead slow. The weather is expected to improve this week which will put fishing back on track. When things stabilize try working the north east sections of you favorite lake close to shore with: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Wooly Bugger, Big Black, Micro Leach, Baggy Shrimp, Dragonfly Nymph, or Halfback Nymph.

The Fraser River back waters and sloughs are fishing fair to good for cutthroat, rainbow, and Dolly Varden. For Cutthroat try: Alevin, Professor, Eggo, Flesh Fly, Anderson Stone, American Coachman, Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, Zulu, Hares Ear, Renegade, or Irresistible. For Dolly Varden try: Zonker, Flat Black, Big Black, Eggo, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Bucktail, and Lefty's Deceiver.

The Vedder River is good for Dolly Varden, rainbow, and steelhead. For rainbow try: Czech nymph, Kaufmann Stone, Hares Ear, Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Eggo, Zulu, Soubou, Irresistible, Elk Hair Caddis, Tom Thumb, Black Gnat, or Renegade. For steelhead try: Steelhead Nightmare, Flat Black, GP, Kaufman Stone, Rolled Muddler, Steelhead Bee, Steelhead Spratley, Irresistible, October Caddis, or Stimulator.

The Harrison River is fair to good for cutthroat.