Weekly Fraser Valley Sport fishing column, April 27 to May 4, 2015


Last week we spoke of Theodatus Garlick who introduced fish culturing to the US in 1853. Of the many who caught Garlicks vision, the most noteworthy was a Charlestown preacher, named Livingston Stone.

Stone was fascinated with the new science,

??the thrill of pleasing excitement that tingled to our fingers ends when we first saw the little black specks in the unhatched embryo which told us our egg was alive.?

Stone experimented with his new found passion for a few years before resigning his pastorate, in 1868.

?for some time past, owing to various causes, it has seemed to me that is was not for the best interests of this society, that I should retain any longer my connection with it as Pastor.?

After resigning; Stone dedicated himself to fish farming, lecturing, and selling his hatchery starter kits (one hundred eggs along with a hatching trough). Stone was so successful at what he did and publicizing it, that he almost put himself out of business. The market was soon flooded with competitors, which removed much of the profit out of his enterprise, at the same time as he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. What looked like dark days for Stone were actually a turn of the page. As providence would have it; a bill passed Senate opening the door for the US Fish Commission to commence fish culturing, June 10, 1872. With this new bill in place, the head of the US Fish Commission, Spencer Fullerton Baird, recruited Livingston Stone for the job of establishing and operating a government salmon hatchery in the dryer climate of California.

Stone in California next week.





The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is very good. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Bloodworm, Chironomid, Wooly Bugger, Doc Spratley, Halfback, Micro Leach, Six Pack, Souboo, American Coachman, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry (floating) fly fishing try: Lady McConnell, Big Ugly, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith Gnat, or Royal Coachman. 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.

Fishing on our interior lakes is good. For wet fly fishing try: Bloodworm, Chironomid, Big Black, 52 Buick, Dragon Nymph, Halfback, Butler?s Bug, Doc Spratley, Green or Red Spratley, Green Carey, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry fly fishing try: Tom Thumb, Double Hackled Peacock, Elk hair Caddis, Goddard Caddis, Royal Wulff, or Irresistible.

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.