Sport fishing column for Feb 20 to 27, 2012
A forty year run of seldom matched fishing, beginning in the 1890’s, put British Columbia on the bucket list of anglers around the world.
Writer H W Seton-Karr spent much of 1890 and 1891 exploring British Columbia and Alaska for his book; “Bear Hunting in the White Mountains or Alaska and British Columbia Revisited.” During his time here he wrote of "capital trout fishing,’ at Adams Lake, Seton Creek, near Lillooet, the Thompson River, at Spences Bridge, and the Coquihalla River near Hope.
In 1891 Sir Richard Musgrave focused eyes on the area of Campbell River with his later published catch of a 70 lb Tyee (Chinook Salmon over 30 lb), while fishing from a dugout canoe. Fifteen years later a college, J H Wrigley would right;
“The trout fishing higher up river is excellent, and one or two remarkable baskets were brought in by American anglers, who combined a day of exploration work with a few hours use of the fly rod.”
The Coquihalla River was mentioned again by Dr T W Lambert when he wrote of his experiences fishing it in 1892. Of the many locations Lambert was able to fish and write about, while serving as surgeon to the CPR’s Western Division; most notable was 1897 record of 1700 trout caught in four days, at Fish Lake (Lac Le Jeune).
Not wanting to be out done, for a take of the revenue generated by adventuring anglers, communities from all over British Columbia began publishing the record catches from their local waters. Hoping to capitalize on a new industry, the region of the B C interior plateau began planting Kamloops Trout in previously barren lakes. The first of these plantings were in Paul and Pinatan Lakes in 1908. The experiment would turn out to be a resounding success, spawning further fish plantings in every accessible lake. Within ten years we would enter the golden age of BC sport fishing.
The report
Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is fair to good. Try the early season trick of fishing close to shore along the north to north east sections of your favorite lake. Under these early season conditions, the shallower water in the areas which receive the most sunlight hold greater amounts of oxygen. In these areas of higher oxygen trout can be found congregating in as little as two feet of water. Recommended flies: Chironomid, bloodworm, Coachman, Zulu, American Coachman, Professor, Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Sixpack, Dragonfly Nymph, Halfback, Doc Spratley or Baggy Shrimp.
The Fraser River back waters are fishing to good for cutthroat. For cutthroat try: Eggo, Egg & Eye Alevin, Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Mickey Finn, Stonefly Nymph, Chez Nymph, or American Coachman.
The Stave River is good for steelhead and cutthroat. For steelhead try: Polar Shrimp, Squamish Poacher, Big Black, Flat Black, Popsicle, Kaufmann Black Stone, Eggo, Thor, or Steelhead Spratley.
The Harrison River is good for cutthroat.
The Chehalis River is good for steelhead and cutthroat.
The Vedder is good for steelhead.