Weekly Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Column, May 18 to 25, 2015


This week we are stepping away from our current series, to address two often over looked issues:

Skin cancer: It?s out there friends. If you are thinking it can?t happen to you, think again. I use to be one of those who believed that it was all pharmaceutical company propaganda, aimed at selling more product. Well, after receiving a minor basal cell carcinoma of my own, I can tell you it?s not all hot air. Not a big issue, three simple medical procedures and it was gone. The point is; it?s out there and we need to protect ourselves. I am not going to tell all the things you can or need to do, there are more than enough people doing that already. Just beware; Mister Sun has a mean bite, so protect yourself.

Ticks: These pesky little hitch hikers like to hang in trees and high grass. It is bad enough that they think everybody?s circulator system is their smorgasbord; but they aren?t even nice about it. Some of them like to leave calling cards, like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or other infections. If you find one of these unwanted guests tying to put the dig in you or someone else; it is easily removed with Vaseline. These pests breath through their back end so if you cover them and the area of contact with a thick layer of Vaseline, they quickly vacate. Keep an eye on effected area; if a target ring appears, see your doctor.

The Great outdoors are great, but we do need to keep our eyes open. We will return to our look at the history of North American Sport fishing, next week.


The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes remains good. The local lakes are warming up; time to start thinking about summer tactics. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Bloodworm, Chironomid, Wooly Bugger, Doc Spratley, Red Spratley, Halfback, Micro Leach, Six Pack, Souboo, Pumpkinhead, Damsel Nymph, American Coachman, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry (floating) fly fishing try: Lady McConnell, Big Ugly, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith Gnat, Irresistible, or Royal Coachman. For kokanee try: Bloodworm, San Juan Worm, Red Spratley, Red Ibis, Double Trude, or small Red Zonker.

Our local bass and panfish waters are AAA at the moment. Hot and getting hotter. One local hot spot was registering 24 degrees on Saturday; top waters is on line boys. For bass try: Foam Frog, Poppers, Chernobyl Ant, Stimulator, Adult Damsel, Adult Dragon, Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Dragon Nymph, Pumpkinhead, Dolly Whacker, Lefty?s Deceiver, or Clouser?s Deep Minnow. For Panfish try Bloodworm, Chironomid, Micro Leach, Pumpkinhead, Popper, Black Gnat, Trico, Mosquito, or Royal Coachman.

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, Pumpkinhead, Green Carey, Damsel Nymph, Dragon Nymph, 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, Stonefly Nymph, American Coachman, Zulu, Mosquito, Elk Hair Caddis, Irresistible, or Micro Leach.