Fishing Report in British Columbia
Sturgeon  Steelhead  Coho  Chinook  Sockeye  Pink  Chum  Salmon

  Cascade Fishing Adventures                                        Fraser Valley  Fishing Report 

 

 

 

What's   New?   Jan. 2010   Happy New Year to everyone!

We've updated our website to include some newer photos and information.  Some new photos by Colin Pacitti are to be found on our site and on this newsletter.

                                      
Current Conditions
 
It is winter time again here in the Fraser Valley.  Some small accumulations of snow have occurred, and are followed up by the usual rain and warming trend.  The purchase of a snow blower has been a strong deterrent in allowing snow to hang around.  If I never have to start that thing up this winter, it was money well spent!
 
It seems so far this winter is milder than the last couple winters we have had.  I am hoping for normal snow accumulations in the Fraser river basin - we can then hope for the weather to cooperate and provide normal water levels and temperatures to assist the fish in their migratory runs up the river.
 
Sturgeon
 
Winter brings cold water and low river flows.  Its a good time to let the sturgeon lie in peace and quiet, as their activity levels really start to dwindle at this time of year.  By mid March we start seeing the Fraser warm and color up from snowmelt, and this brings the sturgeon out of the deep in their search for food.
 
2009 was as good as I've ever seen when it comes to sturgeon, the numbers hooked and the overall size of the fish encountered.  From May onwards, the sturgeon were active and fairly consistent.  The slowest part of the season seemed to occur in October this year.  And, with the upgraded pink salmon run that entered the Fraser River, it was no surprise that the sturgeon were contentedly full.  Approximately 20 million pink salmon entered the Fraser River in September.  Take an average of 5 pounds per fish and you have a serious biomass accumulation!
 
In 2009, the provincial Ministry of Environment finally put an end to roping sturgeon.  This means that our sturgeon are not subjected to tail ropes or any devices that grab them around the pectoral area.  This is good news for the sturgeon and we applaud the Ministry for taking on this issue.  For years we have been advocating the banning of ropes on sturgeon, and we are happy to see noosing become history.
 
Below you will see some pictures of sturgeon and some salmon that we caught during the season. Some photos are new and some photos you may have seen in earlier 2009 reports, but are worth mentioning again.
 
 
The early season sturgeon fishery started off a little slower due to winter hanging around a bit longer in 2009.  By the early part of May, things started to move along and the sturgeon picked up the pace. The fish above was taken in June and tested the grip of these two anglers!  This beautiful fish taped out at 10'1" and over 550lbs.  Just look at the marvelous color of this fish, and check out that gigantic and near perfect tail!  What a great start to a season.
 
 
Ron D. brings his son and son's friends for a day of sun and sturgeon.  This sturgeon provided some arm aches for the three young guns and Dad, and showed a never quit attitude right to the end!  There are no harder fighting fish in North America than a summer sturgeon, especially when they are over 8 feet and exceed 300lbs, like this one!
 
 
 
 
Garth, Travis and Bruce headed over for a few days of July sturgeon fishing.  We averaged 6 fish per day, and several were beauties like this one above.  Garth, in the center, shows his second 8 footer of the trip.
 
 
 
 
 
When you come out fishing for one day, you are hoping for some "piscatorial cooperation".  The guides make a call based on previous days' fishing, and make their play, hoping consistency rules the day.  This day was no exception and this group land a 9'3" and this 8'4" fish a couple hours apart from each other. 
 
 
 
 
A shadowy picture of the 9'3" fish mentioned above, but still worth seeing.  This fish had a 45" girth, with an estimated weight of 460#.
 
 
 
 
Colin (center) and Marg (right) come out regularly to enjoy the challenge of sturgeon fishing, see the river and its wildlife and also take a few pictures.  Colin regularly contributes photos of wildlife and fish for us to use on our website - this is graciously appreciated.  Here is a nice 7 footer guided by CEJ.  I would have to suspect it is Marg that landed it - she generally has the "lady luck" and uses it to her advantage every time out.  Marg has a 9 foot plus fish to her credit - she is no stranger to the hard work it takes to land these incredible fish.
 
 
 
You are correct.  Marg strikes again.  Nothing new to report here - fish bites, Marg sets the hook and fights fish - fish has no chance and rolls over...  This is the script and the smart money is on Marg to land big fish regularly - "bank" on it.
 
 
 
 
A unique photo taken by Colin.  The beauty of this shot is it includes some perspective; the angler, bend in the rod, scenery in the background and a fish over 7 feet leaping in the air - all in focus. 
 
 
 
 
How hot did it get this summer?  I read 40 degrees Celcius on my thermometer!  A lunch time swim was mandatory.  The wash down sprayer in the boat was also heavily used to cool off with.  Those were the days!
 
 
 
 
Here is Craig S. (far right) with his largest sturgeon to date - a 9'1" fish at 44" girth estimated at 430lbs.  This fish is a reminder of how we like to do things in the boat when it comes to taking turns.  No matter how you decide the order of anglers, once you have established the turn, don't mess with fate.  Eric (in blue beside Craig) was first on rods that morning - it was his turn.  As the rod bounced for the first bite of the day, he opted to bow out and let Craig hook the fish, thus changing the order.  The fish was a small one, as Eric suspected, and he didn't want to use his turn up on a small fish.  The trip had been like that for Eric for the previous two days - he was first up both mornings, he would land a smaller fish, and the next turn or two would yield a larger fish. Eventually on this day, Eric's turn came and so did a small fish.  The third angler, "Flash" as he's known (not shown here as he's taking the photo) had his turn and landed a nice fish.  So, we've got three fish landed and we're back to Craig.  Picture this -  end of day, one last crack at another spot, the rod bounces and Craig leans into the bite and all goes solid.  Imagine this fish flying out of the water a few times in front of you!  The fish was expertly played and off to shore we went for a photo and a release.  What a dandy!
 
Everybody already knew what had just happened, but only Eric mentioned it - that would've been his fish!
 
 
 
 
Photo by Allan.  This is why we fish for sturgeon...
 
 
 
 
 
Steven (L) and his father Peter, enjoyed some good fishing, particularly on their last day.  It seemed the fish were a little fickle for the first part of the week, but eventually the sturgeon decided to give a good showing.  Here is a photo of Steven's 7'7" fish of roughly 250lbs. It is great to see father and son teams out fishing and watching the Dads  join in the excitement when their sons (and even daughters - remember, Marg started somewhere!!) land the big ones.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bill is a longtime guest who has seen and fished the Fraser river in all its phases, including the big water of June 2007 (it was near flood levels).  This year Bill wanted to try a later fall trip to take advantage of some salmon fly fishing and perhaps do a bit of sturgeon.  We picked a day to fish for sturgeon - it was unusually cool for late October, and damp, but onwards we went.  We chose our spot, set up and quickly hooked and released a five foot fish.  We re-rigged and threw the baits out and ended up waiting for another 30 minutes without a touch.  I was thinking of moving on but then the rod bounced.  Bill grabbed the rod and I grabbed his camera to attempt to capture some jump shots.  Bill set the hook.  I was looking through the camera and got a glimpse of the rolling fish and pressed the shutter a few times.  Job done, fish hooked pictures were taken.  My impression of the size of this fish was just over 7 feet long - this impression was through the lens of a digital camera.  Bill - who is 70 years young I might add, is leaning hard on this fish.  After 30 minutes or so, I'm expecting this fish to come around the boat a little more with the kind of effort Bill is putting out.  But it doesn't so I have to (of course) lean on Bill a little bit...  Bill, is sweating - his hands are starting to get a little tired, and I would imagine his arms ache and his neck, which he kinked horribly earlier in the week, is probably giving him grief under his neck brace as well.  We weighed the options and decided it was best to pull anchor and try to get over this fish a little more.  Upon feeling the change in the fight, the fish promptly decides he's going to Vancouver.  Another 30 minutes later with the  boat on idle and on the drift, and seeing two more jumps from the fish, the boat sputters and quits.  No problem, I"ll switch tanks.  I "switch" tanks but can't get the boat to start.  I look at the switches again, I"ve got them turned right, and I just filled the tank.  Still no go.  After some time of cursing ( it was all me doing the cursing, trust me on this) and some hard paddling,  Bill brings the fish to the stern of the boat and all I can say from my helpless position is "Bill, that fish is close to 10".  I am not very pleased with our predicament at this time - we're in the middle of the river and drifting to the wrong side.  I grab the paddle and bear down with as much digging as I can muster to paddle us away from a snaggy shoreline to the other side of the river.  At least the other side has a better beach and we stand a chance at landing this fish.  Bill is understandably beat, but he is a patient and determined man.  It doesn't take too much longer and we tow the fish to the opposite shoreline.  Bill landed his fish - it taped out at 10'2" and weighed nearly 600lbs! Well done, Bill!  After a bit of a rest, and a chance to dry off, the boat started wonderfully as if nothing ever happened and we headed for home.  Sometimes, these things just happen....
 
Steelhead and Trout
 
Steelhead and trout season are currently upon us.  From now until late April is steelhead season.  Early indications are a good season will unfold and we are looking forward to getting out and trying our hand.  We will have more information on the steelhead season later this month or early February for those interested.
 
Salmon
 
2009 showed some good chinook salmon numbers during the summer.  Poorer than average water clarity made for difficult barfishing, but that is the way it goes with fishing and Mother Nature.  Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.  Many anglers would simply start bottom bouncing or flossing, however that is just not our style.    And, to add,  any guide who is leading the charge to go bottom bouncing, or leaving it up to the their guests to determine the fate of our fisheries by letting them decide if they wish to bar fish or bottom bounce, needs to sit back and think about what they are "promoting" and perhaps why they are even guiding.
 
Everybody knows about the sockeye salmon issue and how disastrous that was.  We don't fish for sockeye for a variety of good reasons, but it is an alarming situation when 10 million sockeye are expected to show up and nearly 90% of the run does not materialize.  The federal fisheries branch, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, can list a number of reasons for them not to show up, including the all encompassing black hole of "marine survival" but nobody knows for certain, because there is no information!  However we have the technology and ability to know so much more (the Pacific Ocean Shelf Tracking program - POST - is one program that can answer a lot questions).  The bottom line is that this effort costs money, but our government (and they are ALL the same) will not put fish into any priority for funding.  The fact that Canada and British Columbia prides and sells itself on the beauty of our vast wilderness and the abundant wildlife that inhabit our region and that people from all over the world come here to see it, should provide some push to our governments to look after our resources a whole lot better than it does.  Sadly, this is not the case.  It seems it's about numbers of voters.  However, just because one does not fish, it does not mean that you don't benefit from the fish and wildlife that inhabit and share the country.  Living here means you are part of Canadian culture, and our fish and wildlife are as much a part of our culture as the maple leaf flag. 
 
As for our sockeye, our federal government has announced another inquiry into the missing fish.  Yes, they will ask the questions, but will or can anyone actually answer them?  This seems to be the case for all our government investigations when it come to fish, and Brian Mulroney.
 
 
 
 
Garth with a nice Fraser coho.  Once the rain began, the fish really started to move in.
 
 
 
 
 
 
A closer look at the fish above.  This wild coho is worth the wait and standing in the river during those damp and chilly fall mornings.
 
 
 
 
Another wild Fraser river coho.
 
 
 
 
The chum salmon appeared, but perhaps a little on the late side.  Our late October and early November chum arrive in very good condition.  Picking out the nice clean fish produces excellent fish for the table and for smoking. Pictured above is Bo from Denmark with a nice doe.
 
 
 
 
 
Chum are very aggressive and will take a fly, jig, spoon, blade.....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bill shows one of the many chum he landed.  These fish are not only aggressive, but they pull hard too!  Bill, who had just the day before landed his 10 footer, was happy to relax with some chum salmon.
 
We hope you enjoyed the pictures and some of the stories that went with them. 
 
We thank all those who fished with us and supported us in 2009.  We wish you all good luck, health and prosperity in 2010 and look forward to seeing you again!
 
Our very best to you all,
Cascade Fishing Adventures - Marc, Maggie, Jessie, CEJ, Big Walt, Dave, and Rob
 
 
We wish you all the best in your fishing adventures!!
 
Marc and Maggie