Weekly Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Column, Aug 24 to 31, 2015


North America of the 1880?s was a place of contrast. The east had industry, streetcars, and all the trappings of progress, while the west, and in particular the North West still offered fishermen and hunters, all the adventure of the wild frontier.

On such legendary figure of this time was Canada?s own Kootenay Brown: Cariboo Miner, Rocky Mountain Ranger, and guide of legend.

?Mr. J G Brown, of Kootenay lakes, brought to town on Saturday last a trout weighing thirty pounds, which he caught in one of the lakes. Some people may think this is a fishy story, but we have seen the trout and can vouch for its truth.?
Fort Macleod Gazette, April 4, 1883.

Another man made just for this place in time was Dr James Alexander Henshall. Who?s adventures went from; a printer, to medical doctor in Civil War Kentucky, to holding down various positions in the US Department of Fisheries, all the while a fly fisherman and one of North America?s strongest bass advocates. Henshall?s book, ?Book of the Black Bass,? published in 1881, earned him the title for Apostle of black bass. His prowess with the fly rod and his strong work as a conservationist earned him a second title the dean of American anglers. So keen was his interest in the sport for fly casting; that he was elected as one the judges for the first, World Open Fly Casting Championship, held at the 1893 World?s Fair, in Chicago.

?A friend in Texas, to whom I sent a bass-fly (an Abbey), and who had never seen a fly before, enthusiastically declared it to be a fish-hook poetized, and though that a black bass should take it through a love of the beautiful, if nothing else.?
James Henshall, Book of the Black Bass.



The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is slow. For better success try fishing early mornings and late evenings, concentrating on shadowed areas. 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 fair to 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 slow to fair; concentrate on spring fed areas for better success. 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 fair to good for rainbow. Try: California Blond, Rolled Muddler, Kaufmann Stone, Stimulator, Joe?s Hopper, Tom Thumb, Irresistible, or Elk Hair Caddis.