Weekly Fraser Valley Sport fishing column, April 13 to 20, 2015


As the railroads pushed passed the continental divide to the pacific, numerous east coast and mid western anglers, dreamed of cashing in on the bounty of large salmon and seagoing rainbow trout (steelhead), which frequent our west coast rivers. Many of these same anglers who made the journey west found disappointment, when applying their eastern methods and tackle on our genetically different west coast salmon. Author, James Swan testified of this in his book, ?The North West Coast,?

?? flies were of no account??

Of the many dissatisfied anglers, none were as historically significant as a group of officers in the Queens navy, stationed aboard the Man of War Modeste, patrolling the area near Fort Astoria (Fort George), at the mouth of the Columbia River. As the story goes a group of officers enthralled by the abundance of salmon in the river decided to seek sport amongst the hoard of returning fish. Meeting without the slightest measure of success, Captain Gordon wrote home of his contempt for the uncooperative fish and the entire southern portion of the Hudson Bay territory.
The earliest documented account of Captain?s legendary letter, is a follows, and was published, in The Spirit of the Times, in July 1852.

?After reaching fresh water, the salmon of the Columbia no longer feeds, as is the case with European salmon, and no persuasion will ever persuade it to rise to the fly, a circumstance perhaps, were indebted to the peaceful settlement of the boundary question; for it is said that officers of the British Man Of War Modeste, which was sent at about that time to look around, became highly disgusted, and that Capt. Gordon wrote home to Lord Aberdeen that the dammed country wasn?t worth having, for the salmon would not bite.?

It is believed that this letter was one of the determining factors in establishing the western boundary between Canada and the US, at the 49th parallel.

More interesting sport fishing history next week.




The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is good. For wet fly fishing try: Bloodworm, Chironomid, Wooly Bugger, Doc Spratley, Halfback, Micro Leach, Six Pack, Souboo, or Baggy Shrimp. For kokanee try: Bloodworm, San Juan Worm, Red Spratley, Red Ibis, Double Trude, or small red Zonker.

Our lower mainland bass and panfish waters are fishing well also. For bass try: Wooly Bugger, Big Black, Dolly Whacker, Clouser?s Deep Minnow, Lefty?s Deceiver, Dragon Nymph, Foam Frog, Chernobyl Ant, or Popper. For panfish try: Micro Leach, Bloodworm, Chironomid, Wooly Bugger, Dolly Whacker, Tied Down Minnow, Black Gnat, or Tom Thumb.

The Fraser River backwaters and sloughs are fishing well for cutthroat and rainbow. For either species try: Rolled Muddler, Eggo, Chez Nymph, Big Black, black Stonefly Nymph, American Coachman, Zulu, Chez Nymph, Mosquito, Elk Hair Caddis, Irresistible, or Micro Leach.

The Vedder River is fair to good rainbow and steelhead. For steelhead try: GP, Squamish Poacher, Polar Shrimp, Popsicle, Big Black, Flat Black, Eggo, or Black Stonefly Nymph.

The Harrison River is good for rainbow, and cutthroat. For rainbow try: Rolled Muddler, Zulu, Eggo, Chez Nymph, Big Black, Black Stone Nymph, Micro Leach.