Sport fishing column for Oct 8 to 15, 2012
“When I asked Nehring why this was a problem ? he nodded his head toward some anglers on the other side of the river, a group I’d been eyeing since I arrived. Every one of them, it seemed, had a personal guide, but I hadn’t seen anyone catch anything yet. Nehring estimated that every one of them had paid two or three thousand dollars for three days on the river, and he seemed to think that if they could afford that, they probably had careers that prevented them from spending every day fishing.” Passage from An Entirely Synthetic Fish, author Anders Halverson.
This passed week I received a report from a colleague, who is in the business of providing lodging for tourists and anglers wanting to enjoy the beauty of the Thompson and Nicola River valleys. A party of European tourist/anglers arrived last week wanting to catch some steelhead and view the local sights of interest. With luggage, tackle, money to spend, and all appropriate licenses in hand, they inquired about fishing the famous Thompson. Upon hearing that the river is closed to fishing until further notice, the European guest left for the US. After hearing this one has to ask: “How often does this happen and are we open for business or not? We say we are the greatest place on earth; I wonder if that group of guests would agree?”
Over the last few weeks I have made my point, on the state of salmon and steelhead management in our province. That being done, I believe it is time for me to let this one rest, for now.
The Report
Our lower mainland lakes are fishing well. For wet (sinking) fly trout fishing try: Coachman, Zulu, Wooly Bugger, Dragonfly Nymph, Damsel Nymph, Sixpack, Doc Spratley, Pumpkinhead, or Baggy Shrimp. For evening dry (floating) fly trout fishing try: Tom Thumb, Irresistible, Royal Coachman, Renegade, Elk hair Caddis, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, or Lady McConnel.
Fishing on our interior lakes remains good. For wet fly fishing try: Chironomid, Halfback, 52 Buick, Pumpkinhead, Big Black, Micro Leach, Coachman, Green Spratley, Damsel nymph, Dragon nymph, Carey Special, Souboo, Sixpack, or Baggy Shrimp. For Dry fly fishing try: Lady McConnel, Black Gnat, Double Hackled Peacock, Griffith Gnat, Black Gnat, Elk Haired Caddis, Irresistible, Sofa Pillow, or Tom Thumb.
The Fraser is fishing well for coho, chum, spring, and cutthroat. For coho try: Eggo, Coho Blue, Christmas Tree, olive Wooly Bugger, or Bite Me, Rolled Muddler. For chum try: Christmas Tree, Big Black, Flat Black, Bunny Leach, Holliman, dark green Wooly Bugger, or Mat Green. For spring try: Eggo, Big Black, Flat Black, Wooly Bugger, Kaufmann Stone, Squamish Poacher, or Popsicle. For cutthroat try: Rolled Muddler, Professor, Anderson Stone, Zulu, American Coachman, Renegade, Tom Thumb, Black Gnat, Chez Nymph, and Irresistible.
The Harrison is good for coho, chum, spring and cutthroat.
The Vedder is good for coho, chum, spring, rainbow, and cutthroat. For rainbow try: Kaufmann Stone, Big Black, Black Gnat, Souboo, Zulu, Renegade, Tom Thumb, Chernobyl Ant, Foam Hopper, or Irresistible.