Weekly Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Column, Sept 28 to Oct 5, 2015


According to Horace A Vachell, when it came to fishing in North America of the 1890?s through the early 1900?s, there was: the East, the West, and the South, outside these locations was only a great void of unknowns. While Theodore Gordon was the legend of the day in East; Sir Richard Musgrave, was the legend of the West, who drew all eyes toward British Columbia.

?From the day I read in the Field Sir Richard Musgrave?s article, ?A seventy-pound salmon with rod and line.? and located the river as the Campbell River. I determined that should the opportunity arise. I too, would try my luck in those waters.? Sir John Rogers; from his book, Sport in Vancouver and Newfoundland, 1912.

?If time is no object to the angler, I should advise him to travel straight to Victoria in Vancouver?s Island, and on to the rivers north of this pleasant town he will find,.. sport so good that? he runs the risk of becoming glutted with it.? Horace Annesley Vachell; from his book, Life and Sport on the Pacific Slope, 1900.



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.

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 Coho, spring, and pink. For coho try: Coho Blue, Christmas Tree, olive or black Wooly Bugger, Bite Me, or Rolled Muddler. 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: Coho, spring and pink.