Hot News from Cascade Fishing Adventures

Early season can be very rewarding. As an example, our largest fish landed by a client was caught on April 8 a few years back, and was 10 feet long fork length with an estimated weight of 550 lbs. My favorite time is in the summer from June through August – you beat the crowds as most anglers are concentrating on the sockeye fishing, there’s lots of water to move around in and to get away from the more well known fishing spots, and the fight of the sturgeon is certainly the best of the year. September and October are very popular months with good fishing for sturgeon and salmon and some great weather while November is a month that can’t be beat if you are looking to catch some of the highest numbers of fish per day. November weather can be damp and cool, but there is some good numbers of fish to be had.

Salmon fishing – Chinooks are open now till late October. The early runs are in fishable numbers, but I find the good fishing starts after the first week of June. We will float fish, cast spoons or bar fish for chinooks, depending on water conditions. We will not bottom bounce (floss) for chinooks as this is an unethical fishing practice for such a grand fish that is known for its agressive and sporting reputation. Some of the best bar fishing will happen in July, August, September and early to mid – October. Coho and chum salmon will start in early to mid – September and be in various systems till well into November. Coho and chum can be taken on a variety of methods including fly fishing, spin casting and bar fishing. There are no pink salmon this year – we will see them next September 2007. The controversial sockeye salmon will start entering the system next month in June. Recreational anglers usually get an opportunity in August, but that is never a certainty. A quality table fish, the opening of the sockeye brings large numbers of anglers to the river. We do not target this fish and will only do so if our guests have been informed of the methodology involved (basically snagging), as they are not prone to biting in the Fraser river. As I said, a controversial fishery indeed, and one we definitely do not need to keep our business in operation.

Steelhead and Cutthroat Trout – last season’s steelhead numbers were very good and anglers experienced excellent fishing, particularly early in the season (December to early February). Once mid-February rolled around, the local rivers stayed low and clear, which kept a lot of fish holding in the large deep runs. Fishing is much better when the water is higher – this spreads a lot of fish around, which spreads the anglers around as well. This type of fishing is best enjoyed by the experienced angler looking for the challenge of hooking a very strong and exciting sport fish. The reward of landing a steelhead is well worth the effort. My hands still shake from catching and losing steelhead, 25 years after hooking my very first one (which, incidentally, I did not land!). My favorite month to guide steelhead would be March, however, there are good opportunities earlier in the season, particularly with some good weather. Cutthroat trout fishing was difficult this year and I have to wonder what kind of return there was on these pretty fish. Cutthroats are nomadic creatures which can make them tough to find even when they are in numbers, but even some of the usual haunts produced very few cutthroat during our winter season.

Current Conditions

Current weather conditions have been mixed. We’ve had some beautiful sunny skies, but with very strong east and west winds. Other days have been damp and cool. Its typical spring weather conditions. The Fraser is rising as I write this, with a 16 inch rise in the last 48 hours. This was a result of a couple days of warm weather we had last week, plus the fact that the interior of BC is having some warm weather of late. I enjoy fishing higher water, and look forward to seeing the river in its high stages. You are "hunting" sturgeon and will find them in some unusual places that can be quite exciting to fish. Many anglers are uncomfortable fishing during high water, but I find it challenging, rewarding, and certainly worth the effort.

Depending on weather patterns, we will see a continuing rise in the river, with the peak around third week of June. After this, the river will hold up for a while, and then start to drop.

Sturgeon

Sturgeon fishing has been inconsistent the last two weeks, but with some hard work and persistence, you will be rewarded with some good sized sturgeon. There really hasn’t been a top bait as we’ve been catching them on everything – some days there are bait preferences, but the next day the preferred bait will be something different.
Roe, eels and eulachons have all been successful baits to use.

The sturgeon in April and May are in beautiful condition. There is nothing like the clean silvery sides and white bellies of a spring and summer sturgeon. The turbid water of the Fraser keeps them in MINT condition, and I can’t stop marvelling at the beauty of their color and condition during the first half of the season. You will note as the season wears on, and the river becomes clearer, that the sturgeon will adapt and become more grey in color and darken up to match the conditions. Most fish in clear water are very dark brown or olive in color compared to our Fraser river fish.

Steelhead

The Chilliwack/Vedder river is open to fly angling only from the Vedder Crossing bridge to the Sumas canal from May 1 – May 31. Some cool weather will keep the river lower and clean enough to fly fish, plus leave a few beaches exposed to fish from. There are steelhead in the system, and there will be some fresh fish still arriving.
Salmon Fishing

Chinook salmon are open as of May 1st. The best bet to target these fish are at river confluences and casting spoons or fishing bait under a float. It is early, but there are fish in the system and it is generally worthwhile to spend a few hours giving it a try. High tide will improve your chances.

Archival Information

Our very own B&B called Chilliwack Mountain Bed and Breakfast was opened last year with excellent success. We have finally added it on to our website at www.BCsturgeon.com Simply click on the "Accommodations" link, or scroll down to the bottom of the front page and you will find a text link that will take you to the B&B webpage. If you wish to stay at our B&B as an angler or as a non-fishing visitor, please contact us at info@BCsturgeon.com