From our office staff… Leanne, Alyssa, Dean and Rick… and the rest of the Great River Fishing Team… We truly wish you a Safe, Healthy and Happy Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year!
This time of year finds us winding down from another fish filled season. We would like to take a moment and reflect on the memories and stories of the 2025 fishing season. It’s these stories that make our jobs so rewarding as we feel privileged and blessed to be able to be a part of them and share in the inevitable excitement. From mile stone fish; like your largest sturgeon, to epic firsts; like a steelhead on the fly, what we take for granted so often can be seen in the faces and emotions of the people we get to fish with. It is for this that we thank you and invite you to come along on the season that was.
Have an outdoor enthusiast on your list? Make it easy on yourself and get them what they really want…
Wrap a Great River Fishing Adventure
for that Special Someone or Group!
Great River Gift Certificates are the perfect gift for any outdoorsman, available in any denomination and applicable to all things Great River, it doesn’t get any easier than that. Let them decide their ADVENTURE of a LIFETIME.
Contact us today and knock the fishermen off your list
604-792-3544 or info@greatriverfishing.com
YEAR END IN REVIEW
STURGEON:
Last winter found our neck of the woods seeing a little more water than normal on the Fraser River. This was mostly due to a much easier winter in the interior of the province which kept the waters up. This made for some outstanding winter sturgeon fishing as the big fish really didn’t go into their typical dormant state. Couple that with the typical array of smaller fish the action was fast and furious.
As we moved into spring the water levels remained slightly above average which in turn kept the water temperatures slightly above average as well. With a noticeable lack of anglers on the water, the sturgeon remained fairly uneducated and often the bites were stunning as many fish simply devoured our offerings. This seemed to go on and on as we really didn’t experience many, if any, true lulls in the action during the early spring.
Freshet was very easy this year and we did not experience the typical late May through June flash floods that can make for tougher fishing conditions. The waters rose slowly and crested early in June peaking at just over 8 meters and then slowly subsided. This made for some fantastic early summer fishing conditions as the water stayed at prime levels and river debris was at a minimal. The fish were ultra-active and put up spectacular aerial fights.
A low snow pack was a serious concern for us, however late June and early July were cooler than normal which helped significantly with keeping water temperatures cool. The Fraser Canyon portion of the river was particularly good as the levels remained at an ideal state for almost the entire duration of the summer. Those luckily enough to get out on this special piece of water made some serious memories as the fishing was epic. Big numbers and bigger fish were the norm most everyday. If you haven’t fished this area its truly a bucket list experience and we encourage you to drop us a line and find out more about one of the best secrets on the river.
River levels stayed fairly low for the earlier part of the fall and then bumped up nicely right in October and stayed prime right through November. Of note, the fishing at the beginning of September was simply unreal as over 10 million pink salmon packed the river and the sturgeon went off devouring these fatty fish. Typically the fishing will go a little sour after such an opportunity, however this year was not that bad at all as the other salmon species started to flood in right on time. With higher than anticipated salmon returns the fishing stayed consistent right through October and November.
Currently the fish have packed up in their wintering holes and the fishing remains very good. There is still an abundance of feed in the form of spawned out salmon carcasses and sturgeon are really trying to stack up the weight as winter threatens. The river is fairly devoid of anglers and the fish are really on the bite… drop us a line, it’s not too late to catch a few more sturgeon…
What better way is there to spend a winters 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.info@greatriverfishing.com
SALMONOID YEAR IN REVIEW:
We started the season out on Steelhead fishing by rafting the Vedder River and plying its water with both, the tried and true float fishing method as well as fly and spey fishing. As usual Water levels fluctuated with the winter rains. Having said that, the Vedder is very stable system and would not stay high for more than a day or two. This Yo-Yo effect on the water really pushed in a lot of fish and after each surge and we had some fantastic action on fresh fish whenever the river was on the drop.
This season is quickly approaching as we start our steelhead trips sometime in February. Fish will be in the system at the end of the month and will really start to run hard sometime late January and peaking towards the end of March. If you’ve ever wanted to knock the steelhead out of your bucket list floating the river with our professional steelhead bums is your best opportunity. Contact us for more info.
Also during the winter months we spent some time up the much beloved and stunning Lillooet River. With a mixed bag of Bull, Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout coming to hand on every trip and, of course an excellent chance at a wild Steelhead, it truly is a sportsman’s paradise. This fishery is also right around the corner and if a remote unspoiled fishing experience is something that might interest you, drop us a line for some info and we’ll get you hooked up.
May rolled around and we started our annual Pitt River Bull Trout fishery. This system typically needs higher water not only to bring the fish in but also allows for us to run the jet boats further upstream, accessing more fish lies. The early summer saw the big trout roll in and even with the higher water they continued to push in and move around the river right up until mid-July. This is when we saw the first salmon, which was earlier than anticipated, and they held on until late August.
Mother nature came through for us and the late summer Sockeye Salmon numbers went through the roof!! With so many fish in the river DFO was able to open a retention fishery on these incredible fish and the response was amazing. Considering that this was not the high in the 4 year cycle most anglers were stunned as we had not had an opening since 2018. This bodes very well for what the future has in store for this outstanding fishery.
Right behind the bonanza of Sockeye the Pink Salmon started entering the system on mass, to the tune of over 15 million!! The largest return we’ve seen in over a decade! DFO kept the river open and we had an incredible time plying the perfect long bars of Fraser River mainstem. The fishing was fast and furious as these little scrappers are great fun on light tackle. Pinks only return every other and we can’t wait to see what 2027 has in store for this fishery…
Coho Salmon came in on time, about mid September, and the fishing was exceptional right through October. Again, this was due to the much higher than anticipated numbers. Sprinkled in with the Coho were Chinook Salmon and they too came in very decent numbers.
Chum Salmon were a surprise as numbers were slightly lower than anticipated… and then they showed up on mass towards the end of October! With the early low numbers the kill fishery was curtailed which left the river fairly devoid of anglers, and full of fish. Waters level on the Harrison River were the best we’d seen in a few years and stayed ideal right into November making for an epic season.
“GRFA has decades and decades worth of knowledge when it comes to targeting salmon in the Fraser Valley. If you would like to learn more about this fishery or simply want to get out on the river for some salmon fishing we can help. Please contact us at info@greatriverfishing.com and let us help you experience the thrill of salmon on the rod.”
COMING UP! WINTER & SPRING 2026
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 sheer 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 info@greatriverfishing.com
COMING UP! WINTER & SPRING 2026
We will also, once again, be offering River Raft Float Adventures on the Vedder/Chilliwack River this winter for the elusive Steelhead!! This is in an effort to enhance the fishing experience and open up water that is difficult to access any other way. These adventures will start the first of February and run until the end of April. Want to knock old square tail of the bucket list? This is your best opportunity…
Steelhead will start to enter the Vedder about the middle of December and are typically there in catchable numbers by the first week of January. Peak of the run is towards the end of February and holds on well into April. We will be primarily float and/or fly fishing for the chrome beauties and will use the raft primarily to offer ease of access to the water and most fishing will be still be done from shore. Also, for those with a time constraint or just wanting to learn the in and outs of steelheading, we will be offering Walk and Wade opportunities. If this is something that interest you please drop us a quick email for more info.info@greatriverfishing.com
FRASER CANYON RIVERSIDE DOMES
The Domes are now closed for the season and we would like to Thank all of you that took advantage of these beautiful accommodations. Having said that this is the time to book your 2026 vacation and avoid missing out on all that the stunning Fraser Canyon has to offer! Whether it be a fishing trip of a lifetime or perhaps just a cozy weekend get away, now is the time to drop us a line and avoid disappointment, you’ll be glad you did. info@greatriverfishing.com
These 2 Geodesic Domes are the ultimate headquarters to your Fraser Canyon outdoor adventure! Nestled onto an amazing piece of property right on the banks of the mighty Fraser River near Yale BC, it is ideally situated for the outdoor enthusiast, anglers and nature lover looking to get away and enjoy what the Fraser Canyon has to offer. Boasting over a thousand feet of riverfront your guide will pick and drop you off via jet boat for an amazing day up the highly scenic Fraser Canyon chasing some of the largest sturgeon in the world. Check out a short video about the Fraser Canyon Riverside Domes.
These state of the art geodesic domes represent the new standard for all things “glamping”. Handsomely appointed and offering all the luxuries of home these structures and surrounding property will leave you breathless. Stargaze from inside your dome and enjoy 550 square feet of living space heated with a propane fireplace, as well as air conditioned to achieve your maximum comfort level. Enjoy the wood burning cedar hot tub next to the river and take full advantage of the massive deck with a unique fire table and BBQ to enjoy your favorite cuisine. Then end your day next to a cozy fire in the beautifully created pit with wood provided (not in fire season). For more info or to find out availability please reach out to Alyssa at info@greatriverfishing.com
RASER RIVER LODGE
From large corporate events to single person stays, the lodge can handle all your needs. Combining Great River Fishing Adventures’ exceptional team and professional guiding services with Fraser River Lodge’s commitment to providing an extraordinary and memorable stay, promises an unmatched fishing retreat. Together, we look forward to welcoming fishing enthusiasts and corporate groups from near and far to continue to explore the diverse fishing opportunities our region has to offer.
Drop us a line for more information on this enhanced fishing experiences and to book your next adventure. info@greatriverfishing.com
That’s it for now. Conserve our waters and here’s to great fishing, forever…
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