Jeff?s Weekly Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Column Report for May 2 to 9, 2016

Lee Wulff had established himself as an eccentric in the early 30s, in his Greenwich Village days. By the 1940s, Wulff had moved from trout in the Adirondacks to heralding the Atlantic Salmon of Newfoundland Labrador. Wulff had a passion for experimentation and doing what others said could not be done. It is said that Wulff was the initiator of the short rod fad that swept through fly fishing in the late 40 through to the 1960s.

??As a pioneer in the use of extra light tackle for salmon, by 1940 I had come down to a seven foot, two and a half ounce fly rod, and since then have rarely used anything heavier. In 1943, in order to demonstrate to the most confirmed doubter, I eliminated the rod entirely from my tackle. Casting some thirty odd feet by hand, I hooked a ten pound salmon and played it by holding the reel in my right hand, and reeling with my left, until I could finally reach down and tail it with my own hand, ten minutes later. Witnesses were present and pictures were taken to prove that a salmon rod many be as light as one wishes, even to the point of none at all?? Lee Wulff, Field and Stream, 1958.

The report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is good. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, black or green Wooly Bugger, Red Spratley, Sixpack, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Micro Leach, Pumpkinhead, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry (floating) fly fishing try: Lady McConnel, Tom Thumb, Elk Hair Caddis, Double Hackled Peacock, Black Gnat, Giffith Gnat, or Irresistible. For Kokanee try: Red Ibis, San Juan Worm, Red Spratley, or red Zonker.

Our lower mainland bass and crappie waters are good. For bass try: Clouser?s Deep Minnow, Left?s Deceiver, Dolly Whacker, Big Black, Gomphus Bug, Frog, Wooly Bugger, adult Damsel, or Popping Bug. For crappie try: Tied Minnow, Clouser?s Deep Minnow, Bloodworm, Chironomid, Damsel Nymph, and Wooly Bugger.
Fishing on our interior lakes is good. For wet fly fishing try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Red Spratley, Halfback, Big Black, black or green Wooly Bugger, Dragonfly Nymph, Butler?s Bug, Damsel Nymph, Pumpkinhead, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry fly fishing try: Tom Thumb, Renegade, Lady McConnel, Goddard Sedge, Elk Hair Caddis, Black Gnat, Big Ugly, Double Trued, Adams, or Irresistible.

The Fraser River along with its backwaters is high and dirty. To achieve better success concentrate on the cleaner water in and around inlet streams. For cutthroat and rainbows try: Rolled Meddler, Czech Nymph, Professor, Silver Doctor, Cased Caddis, Tied Down Minnow, standard Coachman, Zulu, or Micro Leach.

The Harrison River is high, rating fair to good for cutthroat and rainbow.

The Vedder River is high and slow.