Weekly Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Column, Sept 21 to 28, 2015


In North America of the 1890?s, anglers were drawing lines between regions, species, and methods. A catalyst was needed to bring the brotherhood together again. Out of the jumble, came a legend; much has been written about him, and many overly embellished claims have been made. The man was Theodore Gordon. Theodore Gordon the legend, is the father of: North American entomology, North American dry fly fishing, North American nymphing, and the inventor of streamer flies. Theodore Gordon the man, was an eccentric recluse, who had been raised by his mother, had contracted tuberculosis, was an analytical dry fly fisherman, an expert fly tier, and an exceptional writer. As a writer, Gordon was a paradox; with not one book to his name, all his written works were published in magazines and of those the majority were published in Britain.

?One Can never learn all that there is in fly fishing. Only men of limited experience think that they know it all.?

I believe Gordon?s greatest asset was his analytical mind. In his time, Gordon watched the disappearing native brook trout, being replaced with European browns. Unsatisfied with the mediocre results of North American methods in catching the European imports; Gordon broke the accepted conventions and sought the wisdom of British experts such as Halford and Skues.

?? Everybody fishes for something,.. the puzzle is to provide sport for many, not more rods for the fish??


The Report

Our lower mainland lakes are fishing well. 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 fishing very well. 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 Fraser River is good for pink and spring. For pink try: Pink Eve, Cathy?s Coat, hot pink Wooly Bugger, or Happy Hooker. For spring try: Big Black, GP, Flat Black, Squamish Poacher, Popsicle, or Kauffman?s black Stone.

The Harrison River is fair to good for cutthroat and pink. For cutthroat try: Rolled Muddler, American Coachman, Tied Down Minnow, Stone Nymph, Eggo, Cased Caddis, Czech Nymph, Hares Ear Nymph, or Irresistible.

The Vedder River is good for: Pink and the odd spring.

The Thompson River is fair to good for spring, jack, and rainbow. For spring and jack try: try the spring patterns suggested above along with Kauffman's Golden Stone. Try: California Blond, Rolled Muddler, Kaufmanns Stone, Stimulator, Joe?s Hopper, Tom Thumb, Irresistible, or Elk Hair Caddis.