Hi and welcome to the GRFA fishing report updated on the 3rd of March.
Days are getting longer and warmer weather is right around the corner. It’s time to dust off your fishing tackle and get ready as Spring is in the air and with it fishing opportunities!! 
STURGEON:
Fishing has been very good for sturgeon on the Fraser lately. Good numbers of smaller fish are the norm, however we are seeing some very decent fish as of late with the largest stretching the tape to 9 foot 5 inches!! . The saltwater portion of the Fraser has been producing huge numbers of fish but you are hard pressed to find any over 5 feet in length. From Chilliwack to Mission has also been very good for numbers with some decent 6 to 7 footers sprinkled in with the smaller fish.
Sturgeon are still in their typical cold weather haunts and have switched to the usual cold weather baits. Look for fish in the deeper wintering holes. Once you find them, stay close as they tend to stack up real in the winter and often ones does not have move much to get into consistent action. At this time of year a plethora of different baits can work on any given and it wise to have more of an assortment than during the salmon runs. Baits of choice are lamprey, coarse fish, single eggs, dew worms and roe.
The river is low!! Be vigilant when cruising the river, particularly upstream of the mouth of the Vedder River as there are many exposed and slightly submerged gravel bars that become hazards especially for those that run prop driven motors on their boats.
What better way is there to spend a 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. rstahl@greatriverfishing.com
STEELHEAD:
The rivers have been on a bit of a YO-YO ride lately. Going from swollen and high to Low and clear which they are for the most part right now.
The Vedder River was on the drop all of last week and the fishing was some of the best that we have seen this winter so far. The March return of fish is definitely pushing in. Although they are mostly wild there are still many hatchery fish sprinkled in for those that want to take a fish home. Please handle all the wild fish with the utmost of care!! They are our lifeblood and without them our rivers are in big trouble.
Last week saw the majority of the fish coming from the lower river which is typical of low water. With the low water look towards smaller offerings such as trout beads, Jensen eggs and wool combo’s, especially during mid-day.. Also, the river is in prime shape for the fly, swing heavy sink tips with the typical winter offerings such as popsicles and small intruders.
On the north side of the Fraser reports from the Stave River have been decent of late for steelhead however we are not hearing of many fish coming out of the Chehalis. Also, some of the lesser known tributary’s should have a few fish around at the moment as well.
GRFA has acquired a 15 foot raft is offering float trips on the Vedder/Chilliwack River NOW!! This is in an effort to enhance the fishing experience and open up water that is difficult to access any other way. Want to knock old square tail of the bucket list? This is your best opportunity…
The peak of the run for numbers and size is through the month of March. We are primarily float and/or fly fishing for the chrome beauties and are using the raft primarily to offer ease of access to the water and most fishing will be still be done from shore. If this is something that interest you please drop Rick a quick email for more info. rstahl@greatriverfishing.com
LILLOOET RIVER TROUT & STEELHEAD:
This is the time to get out on the Lillooet and get in some early season trout fishing. The Lillooet River is a gem of a winter fishery for Bull Trout and a great opportunity at some steelhead, cutthroat and rainbow trout as well. This is one of our premier trips and when you get there you will see why. This is a remote fishery that gets very little pressure and requires a skilled jet boater to reach the best waters. The shear beauty and majestic scenery coupled with miles of perfect fishing water makes this one of those bucket list kind of rivers… want to get it out of your bucket? Contact Rick for more info rstahl@greatriverfishing.com
That’s it for now. Conserve our waters and here’s to great fishing, forever…
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