Hi and welcome to the GRFA fishing report updated on the 25th of July 2019.
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.
Sturgeon:
The last few weeks has seen an incredible number of big fish!! The big boy’s are definitely on the feed and the water temperatures are perfect for epic battles. 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. It’s definitely time to go “hog” hunting, 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.
The waters have finally to start to come down after the flooding in the Chilcotin brought them up quick 2 weeks ago. Water clarity is back to normal and the debris in the river from the Big Bar slide and flooding has subsided. All in all were back on track! Water that was too fast to fish a few weeks ago is starting to slow down and become fishable. 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 continues to produce both numbers and size. It’s dropping fast and the fishing is getting faster, it has been ultra-steady with good numbers of above average 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 Rick a line and he’ll be more than happy to help organize one of our Ultimate Fraser Canyon Sturgeon trips with you. rstahl@greatriverfishing.com
We are once again offering shore fishing excursions up the Fraser Canyon for the almighty white sturgeon. GRFA has acquired some access to beach’s and banks in the Fraser Canyon where one can cast to the likely haunts of some massive fish from dry land. This puts a whole new twist on fishing for these living dinosaurs. Imagine sitting next to a cozy fire on a beautiful sandy beach or exploring a rocky shoreline all the while awaiting the telltale tug of a sturgeon. It’s like having a fabulous picnic with the anticipation of some great fishing action. If this interests you please contact us for more information at 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.
Pitt River:
The river has been very up and down in terms of water levels. Lately it has been very low and become tough to run with a jet boat, this is not the place for novice jet boaters!! Because the Pitt is glacier fed, water levels have still been fluctuating with any warm weather bumping the river up and cool days bringing it down fast. If you are interested in trying out this river for the first time please keep in mind that is boat access only and the river can be treacherous to run for a novice jet boater, especially now.
Watch your back cast! Curious onlooker checks out fly caster…
Fishing seems to be day to day with new bunch’s of fish pushing in every few days. The fish have been scattered and it’s been best to keep moving. Some salmon have been reported in the river but not huge numbers as of yet. This bought of warm weather that we are in for should help bring up water levels and in doing so, push some more salmon up the river. 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. Having said that it, it is hard to be the almighty spoon and spin combo which is absolutely deadly this time of year.
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: The river came up with the rains last week and brought a few more fish in, however, water has dropped and were back to low water conditions. We have seen both Chinook and Sockeye through out 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.
GRFA is once again offering Raft Fishing Adventures on the Vedder / Chilliwack River. This is an awesome way to fish the river with no hiking required as you silently drift along with the current all the while having all the amenities you could need right in the boat. Relaxing and peaceful these trips are one the best ways to access miles of river that otherwise would require long hikes and opens up water that is typically tough, if not impossible to get on. For more info drop Rick an email rstahl@greatriverfishing.com
That’s it for now. Conserve our waters and here’s to great fishing, forever…
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