Weekly Fraser Valley Sport fishing column; May 19 to 26, 2014

In honor of the beginning a new freshwater angling year; let?s do some basic angling 101.

Much of the skill of catching fish is being at the right place at the right time. This applies to the time of day, as well as the time of year. A significant amount of our angling lore has been passed down from our agrarian for fathers, and being farmers they only had time to fish during their down time. As a result, much of what they passed down is out of balance. Each season, spring, summer, fall, and winter has its own set of criteria for successful angling. One constant is the sun and its warming effect. This warming effect determines the amount of available oxygen (warmer water hold more oxygen), food sources (each food source begins and cycles through its life cycle at specific temperatures), and a fish?s metabolism, (the metabolism of each fish regulates how active or lethargic that fish will be, it also regulates that fish?s need to feed through determining the speed at which all food sources are digested).

During spring in our northern hemisphere; from March through May, the trajectory of the sun?s rays on water surfaces, are such that sun?s penetration and it?s warming effect, is almost nonexistent before 9:00 AM. During this early season, good sun penetration can be achieved between the hours of 9:00 AM through 1:00 PM, but it is often irregular and unreliable. Prime time is most often between the hours of 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM; when the sun is at its highest allowing for maximum sun penetration. During these afternoon hours, air temperatures are also at their warmest, which further helps in heating the water surface. Fish tend to move closer to the surface and shore lines during these warming periods, to take advantage of: increased oxygen levels, a more abundant food supply, and a boost to their metabolism.

More basic angling 101 next week.


The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is very good. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Chironomid, Wooly Bugger, Zulu, Baggy Shrimp, Dragonfly Nymph, Doc Spratley, or Halfback Nymph. For dry (floating) fly fishing try: Griffith Gnat, Renegade, or Elk hair Caddis. For kokanee try: Bloodworm, San Juan Worm, Red Ibis, Red Spratley, or Kokanee killer.

The bass and pan fish are doing well also. For bass try: Big Black, Clouser?s Deep Minnow, Lefty?s Deceiver, Dolly Whacker, Wooly Bugger, Pumpkinhead, Gomphus Bug, Popin Bug, Foam Frog, Chernobyl Ant, or Stimulator. For Pan fish try: Wooly Bugger, Bloodworm, Chironomid, Micro Leach, Halfback, Pumpkinhead, Dolly Whacker, Tied Down Minnow, Popin Bug, or Chernobyl Ant.

Our interior lakes are fishing fair to good. Try: Bloodworm, Chironomid, Pumpkinhead, Big Black, Micro Leach, 52 Buick, Sixpack, Butlers Bug, Dragon Nymph, Green Spratley, or Baggy Shrimp, for fishing wet. For dry fly action try: Lady McConnel, Big Ugly, Black Gnat, Ton Thumb, or Irresistible.

Our lower mainland creeks and sloughs are fishing very well. For cutthroat and rainbow try: Professor, American Coachman, Mickey Finn, Tied Down Minnow, Rolled Muddler, Borden?s Special, Dolly Whacker, Czech Nymph, Stone Nymph, Big Black, Zulu, Soubou, Hares Ear Nymph, Stimulator, or Irresistible.