Weekly Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Column and Report

[fishingnewsman]

Weekly Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Column, June 15 to 22, 2015




Our official, registered, North American angling clubs can trace their roots north, south, and east, to Philadelphia; to before the American Revolution. At that time there was no Canada or United States; we, with exception of the first nations people, were colonists of one monarchy or another. As I mentioned earlier in this series, the church?s at the time, the church being a major political force during this period in our history, pushed a doctrine (belief) that both pleasure and leisure were sins. The disapproval of the masses forced anglers to seek fellowship in covert surroundings. Local taverns welcomed such individuals with open arms, and often selling tackle to encourage a greater clientele. Men of position and stature not wanting to carry the stigma of the tavern goer, gravitated toward the Gentlemen?s or Sportsmen?s Club; which could be found in most cities throughout North America by 1850.

Up to the 1860?s members of these sportsmen?s clubs fished by whichever method best suited the individual. During this period the comradely of food and drink were often more popular than the actual fishing. Change came on the eve of the American Civil War, when the New York State Sportsmen?s Club, hosted the first national fly casting tournament. For the next sixty years casting competitions, became a focal point of activities in the of the sportsman?s clubs. Tackle dealers and rod makers sponsored casting champions, and focused on these on these competitions as place to showcase their wares.


?The fact is that people nowdays realize in some small measure the importance of the sport of the field and water, and have come to understand something of the benefits to be derived from a reasonable and reasoning indulgence in them. Now they are applauded-not too enthusiastically, but still applauded-a very few years ago they were barely tolerated, and a short time before that a man who went gunning or fishing, lost caste among respectable people just about in the same way that one did who got drunk.?

Teddy Roosevelt, July, 1885

The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is good; evenings and mornings are best. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Chironomid, Wooly Bugger, Doc 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 good. 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: Chironomid, Big Black, 52 Buick, Dragon Nymph, Halfback, Butler?s Bug, Doc Spratley, Green 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 Thompson River is high but fishable. Reports are good. Try: Rolled Muddler, Kaufmann Stone, Stimulator, Joe?s Hopper, Tom Thumb, Irresistible, or Elk Hair Caddis.