Deans Dino Blog

Hi and welcome to the GRFA fishing report updated on the  15th of July 2023.

The weather has turned and promises to be incredible up the Fraser Valley in the coming days. Warm days, great company and BIG fish; this is what we live for. Anyone heading out on the water these days better not forget the sunscreen and some cool drinks it’s going to be hot.

Currently the Fraser is still dropping and already well below the average for this time of year. We expect the river to slow its decent and level off in the next week or so. With the water crashing the fishing has remained very steady as a dropping river is ideal for most every west coast fishery.  Couple that with near perfect water temperatures and its time to go HOG hunting. With water temps sitting in the mid to upper 60’s (Fahrenheit) it’s rare at the moment to catch a sturgeon that does not launch out of the water, in fact most fish are jumping repeatedly and the runs they are taking are blistering. If you want a chance at a trophy sturgeon the time is now…  only word of advice is to make sure you have a few people on board to switch up on the rods as once one these behemoths is hooked it’s fairly uncommon for the initial angler to finish off on them and most are having to be chased with the boats.

As the water drops more and more fishing grounds open up and the “holes” are getting more fishable and larger. What this means to the angler is to keep moving around as the fish will spread out more with more slack water around. Even 100 feet can make the difference.  Keep in mind that with the dropping water many gravel bars are starting to appear and one needs to be more careful when running the river, especially with a prop propelled boat.

The river also has a good number of salmon in it now and the Sturgeon are starting to switch their attention to salmon parts and Roe. Having said that do not forsake the tried and true summer baits, like Lampreys, dew worms and coarse fish, as every day seems to be different.

The Canyon has been phenomenal as of late and is producing both numbers and size.  It’s dropping fast and the fishing is getting faster, it has been ultra-steady with good numbers of fish coming on every charter. If you are thinking of running this special piece of water keep in mind that is very “heavy” water and not for the timid or unexperienced jet boater. Please be very careful!! The canyon is a high water fishery and the sturgeon haunts are not always obvious as the water levels tend to hide the really good spots. If you’re interested in trying your hand at biggest of the big in one of the most spectacular venue’s in the world drop us a line and we’ll be more than happy to help organize one of our Ultimate Fraser Canyon Sturgeon trips with you. info@greatriverfishing.com

What better way is there to spend a warm summer 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.

UPPER PITT RIVER:

The Pitt has been a roller coaster ride in terms of water levels this late spring and early summer, with fluctuating temperature bouncing the river up down between extremes. Because the Pitt is glacier fed, water levels have been fluctuating with any warm weather bumping the river up and cool days bringing it down fast. Keep in mind it takes a whole lot of rain to even move the river level a little at this time of year, in fact, rain typically means the river will be on the drop. Having said that, rain can put some color into the water which is better for the fishing than crystal clear conditions.

The fish have been scattered and it’s best to keep moving. Fly fishing is the choice of most anglers and a fast sink tip with different colored leach style streamer patterns in different color schemes are the norm. With the water fluctuating try smaller patterns when its clear and larger robust patterns when its colored up.

Coming soon! The timing on the salmon runs up the Pitt River is from mid-July through mid-August. These free rising fish are super charged chromers that love to smash a lure or fly. This is the height of the season for the river and we are filling up fast. If you are interested in trying this incredible fishery don’t delay, contact us today.

If you are interested in trying out this river for the first time it is boat access only and the river can be treacherous to run for a novice jet boater, be careful and play safe. Great River Fishing Adventures guides have many years’ experience fishing the Upper Pitt River watershed and are knowledgeable about the area and effective techniques to target all species. As Jet Boats and experienced boat handling skills are required to access and fish this river, you rarely see other anglers, and more importantly this area is not over fished. It is truly an adventure that is easily accessible within a day from Vancouver. For a free personalized quote please drop Rick an email at rstahl@greatriverfishing.com

Vedder River:

We have seen both Chinook and Sockeye throughout the system now with some concentrations in the middle stretch below the crossing. Keep in mind that the sockeye are a non-targeted species and should not be removed from the water! If you do happen to catch one please release them carefully and unharmed. They are a species of concern and we need to do our part to ensure that they will be able to thrive as they once did.

If you see chinook rolling and showing themselves stick it out, they can turn-on at the drop of a hat. Sockeye will also show themselves a lot but are typically much smaller and just boil where as chinook will sometimes leap clear of the water or at least get their heads out and their obviously a much larger fish… We have heard of Chinook being taken on jenssen eggs, wool and roe, and the odd one on the fly. Fish are biting best during low light conditions. Concentrate your efforts to first and last light or cloudy days.

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