Deans Dino Blog

Fishing Report for Chilliwack to Vancouver – March 16, 2017

Posted by:

Fishing Report for Chilliwack to Vancouver – March 16, 2017

Hi and welcome to the GRFA fishing report updated on the  16th of March  2017.

MarchtWinter rains continue to play havoc on water conditions through out the Fraser Valley.The last few days have taken our  pristine clear running streams and rivers and turned them the color of cement. Every system has peaked dramatically, even the Fraser has come up hard. Prior to this insurgence of water the fishing was really getting going for steelies in the Vedder/Chilliwack, especially for the fly guy’s,  and the backwaters of the Fraser for cutt’s.  It will be a few days before these systems come back down to a fish able level.

Please allow me to take a moment and thank all the Volunteers and general public that braved the inclement-ant weather and showed up to the All About Fishing event this last Saturday! It was a huge success with over 1600 attending from 9 am to 3 pm!! It is great to see such enthusiasm for the sport that we all hold so dear. Seeing the fostering and mentoring of the volunteers as they projected the sport to so many kids made me feel secure that our sport is in good hands with the next generation. Thanks again and Kudos to the staff and volunteers!!  Special Thanks go out to Rod Hsu from Fishing With Rod for organizing this amazing event, as well as Tourism ChilliwackGo Fish BC and Fraser Valley Salmon Society for all of their support

STURGEON:March 12
Sturgeon fishing has remained solid all through this weather and in fact has been quite good. Our charters last week had some fantastic
action with multiple double and triple headers reported. No giants but some respectable fish, see pic attached.

Fishing has been particularly good in the lower river below the confluence of the Vedder all the way through to the mouth in Richmond. The river is up and colored and there is debris floating around, not much, but still keep an eye out for floating logs if running the river. As usual concentrate your efforts around the tide changes and don’t be afraid to fish a little shallower than usual, particularly for the big ones. These fish will come to an array of bait at this time of year. Dew worms coupled with lamprey pieces are an excellent place to start.

What better way is there to spend a clear winter day than sitting in a comfortable covered jet boat waiting on another bite from the almighty sturgeon.  With limited fishing pressure on the river this is a great time of year to get out and experience these dinosaurs of the deep. We offer half and full day outing’s via jet boat with nothing but the finest in guides and tackle. We pride ourselves in ensuring your day is as comfortable, safe and enjoyable as possible. Whatever your speed, we will cater to your needs. Call or email today.

STEELHEAD:
As I write this all systems that hold steelhead are very high and muddy, with the exception of the Stave which is high and clean because of the dam. Do not despair, what goes up must come down. Fishing had improved on the Vedder just prior to the influx of water and when it comes  down there should be a good bump of fisMarch 11 Steelh in the system. Some of the smaller systems, like the Chehalis, will drop back into shape quickly as long we get a few decent weather days in.

As we move through March we can expect to see fewer hatchery fish and more wild strain, please ensure that when handling these special fish you are doing everything in your power to release them unharmed, they are the corner stone of our fishery.

Steelhead are a fabled fish with plenty of lore and mystery surrounding them. These chrome bullets will not only strain tackle to the limits but will test the stamina and determination of the angler pursuing them. Let us help you knock this one off your bucket list. Currently we are offering very affordable half/full day walk and wade expeditions with either drift gear or fly/spey. Also, there are some limited full day jet boat trips available for the angler looking to get away from hustle and bustle.

From novice to expert, our guides are extremely well versed in steelheading.  Whether you’re  looking to catch your first ever steelhead or want the added challenge of taking one with a spey or fly rod, we have the right guides as well as the best gear waiting  for you. We pride ourselves in ensuring your day is as comfortable, safe and enjoyable as possible. Whatever your speed, we will cater to your needs. Call or email today.

 

Cutthroat TroutCutt
The Harrison and Stave Rivers remain clear and high and have picked up as we are seeing salmon alvien and fry starting their spring awakening. Fish should start nosing around for these minnows as the salmon life cycle begin a fresh. Best fishing has been at day break but they can keep biting all day with a little cloud cover, which we’ve had plenty of lately. Watch for fish crashing minnows close to shore and move to them.

The rains have muddied the main stem Fraser and with the higher water most if not all the backwaters have color now too. There’s still might be a few that are far enough back from the main stem that remain clear and are still fishing but you will have to explore.  Any warm afternoon can trigger a winter stonefly hatch, we seen some last week. These little bugs are best represented with small leaches or swimming style nymph patterns in 12’s to 16’s.

Most anglers are targeting cuties with light fly gear. This time of year stick with small leach style patterns or small free swimming style nymph patterns like pheasant tails in the Fraser and minnow patterns in the Harrison and Stave. Long leaders on floating lines with a very slow presentation being the norm. Look for fish rising, cutthroat are very schooly and even if you just see one riser there is a very good chance that there are a few more with it.  Also cutthroat are very light sensitive creatures and you would be best to concentrate your efforts to low cloud covered days.

Searun Cutthroat with stand, and stay active, in the coldest condition of any known trout. This makes them the ideal mid-winter cure for cabin fever. Novice to expert we can help you dial these little battlers in. We offer half and full day excursions via jet boat or walk in’s for these ghosts of the coast. Drop us a line and we’ll be happy to fill you in.

NEWS:

riverkeeperGRFA will be lending time and elbow grease to the Fraser Riverkeeper scheduled for THIS Saturday the 18th of March at the end of Gill. Start time is 8 am so please give back to the fishing community and come help keep our river pristine and debris free. With approximately 600 volunteers this is the single largest river cleanup in all of BC and 2nd in Canada.

Since 2007, Fraser Riverkeeps annual Fraser River clean-up, organized with the help of Woodtone, the late Andy Rotzetter of Rotz Disposal, and our partners in the Fraser Valley Illegal Dumping Alliance has netted a whopping 88 tonnes of illegally dumped garbage from wilderness areas and salmon habitat. This year we’re making it our mission to mark the clean-up’s 10th anniversary by bringing our 10-year total to more than 100 tonnes. With your help, we can do it!

Come celebrate with us at Clean-up HQ, located at the end of Gill Rd in Chillwack, BC, on March 18th while we roll up our sleeves together and give back to the beautiful rivers and back country where we all love to swim, drink, and fish.

You can check out Fraser Riverkeepers web site at http://www.fraserriverkeeper.ca/ and check them out on face book at https://www.facebook.com/fraserrivkeeper/

That’s all for now, until next time: tight lines and scream’n reels.

Comments

comments

0
              Social Chat Live NOW! Subscribe Send us a note
 
Thank you for subscribing!
 
Thank you! Your message has been submitted to us.