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Regional Report for Coastal BC - April
Vokey
Originally Published in
August / October 2007 Issue
Well, it's that time again. Following the odd year of 2007,
comes a run of salmon that causes a mass frenzy of anglers.
It's a pink year. That's right, every second year, these
numerous, petite salmon pour through our Fraser River system
and fill the local tributaries with both fish, and fishers.
Alas, this may mean that you'll have to put up with a little
less space in your favorite run, nevertheless, it’s a
spectacular fishery.
It is
anticipated that 2007 will be an average year for pinks, with
an estimated return of 19 million.
There
are two main locations for taking pinks on the fly during the
spawning run: beaches on most lower mainland inlets, and the
rivers themselves, particularly the Fraser, Harrison, Squamish
and their tributaries.
Beaches
More and
more I hear of anglers wishing to experience the pull of a
salmon while standing waist deep in the ocean under the
warming sun. Therefore, here are a few techniques and
strategies that will assist you in achieving a successful day
at the beach.
Your fly
rod/reel setup is crucial when it comes to wetting a line in
the saltchuck. Ensure that your reel has a good drag system
as well as a corrosion resistant coating, such as an anodized
aluminum. This will help to protect it from the harsh
brutalities of the salt and grit in the water. ALWAYS
remember to rinse and thoroughly wash your gear in freshwater
to clean away any corrosive salt build-up immediately
following a day of ocean fishing. A floating line with a
slightly weighted fly on a long leader, or a sink tip line
(with the tip being five to ten feet) will get you through the
day. However, it is always handy to have a slime line on hand
for fishing the shallows for the spookier fish.
Nine or
ten feet is an ideal length for a rod, as this offers you more
comfort when casting all day than a longer one. The weight of
the rod really comes down to preference. While some anglers
swear by a six weight setup, others prefer a seven or an eight
weight.
A
high-riding chest pack is an important accessory, as wearing
one will enable you to avoid playing the unpleasant role of
sea sponge, soaking up saltwater and ruining flies and gear.
Small
streamer flies tied on long-shanked, stainless steel hooks
with sparse pink and silver materials are extremely
productive, though there are numerous other flies that have
proven to be just as effective for pinks.
Lastly,
don’t forget to check your local marine charts and tide guides
to ensure you're fishing during 'peak' hours.
August
is the premier month for beach fishing.
Rivers
The
Fraser, Vedder, Harrison, Pitt, Stave and Squamish are the
major systems that produce multi-species runs of salmon. The
Fraser valley supports all five species, all of which can be
pursued with a fly. In October and November, the Squamish has
a particularly exciting run of fierce, fresh, bright chum
salmon, which make the heart pound as they strip off backing
to the spool.
Unfortunately, I do have an upsetting report which I'm sure
will be no surprise to any of the anglers who have spent
countless unrewarding days in search of our steadily
decreasing runs of coho. Again, as a result of intensive
harvesting from prior seasons, this year's outlook on
returning schools across the region is mixed, with poor
returns expected for the Fraser watershed and the Strait of
Georgia particularly.
Resident Species
For the
trout bums, tricky little rainbows will be following the
salmon upstream, feasting on loose and drifting eggs. They
are certainly hungry and can be targeted by dead drifting Glo
Bugs where spawning salmon are found. Attach a #14 or #15 egg
pattern to a short leader and floating line, and adjust its
length under an indicator. Ensure that your fly is close to
the river bottom by using a small split shot, and pack lots of
flies, as you can be certain that you will lose a few.
This
spring brought us some phenomenal lake fishing for rainbows!
Don't fret, as the season is most definitely not over. The
triploids in our interior lakes are fast growing and are
reaching unbelievable sizes! The approach of winter stirs
these fish into a feeding frenzy as they attempt to build up
their fat reserves. Chironomids, leeches, water boatman and
shrimp will all readily take fish. Layer up on what you wear,
though! You're bound to get cold.
Some of
our more remote rivers can be certain to reward us with trout
on the dry fly. Check with your local tackle shop for more
information about these systems.
Finally,
don’t forget that Sunday, September 30th is the annual B.C.
Rivers Day. A variety of activities have been organized,
including river cleanups, educational sessions, and nature
walks. Find out what events are taking place in your area and
do your part to help keep our rivers beautiful. For more
information, E-mail www.riversday.bcit.ca
April Vokey's Bio
April lives in Chilliwack, B.C., where she spends most of her
days on the local rivers hunting for wild steelhead, Spey rod
in hand. Also an avid fly-tyer, April’s passion lies with
classic and modern Atlantic salmon patterns and techniques.
Aside from her passion for fly fishing and fly tying, April is
a first year Biology student and hopes to some day pursue a
future in fisheries.
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