By Rodney Hsu

Stave River, one of the major Fraser Valley rivers, has become a popular river for anglers of all ages due to its easy access and high productivity. Between the months of September and November, this river is often crowded with fishing enthusiasts who are looking for some salmon action. Unfortunately, as fishing pressure increases, there seems to be a gold rush effect, resulting in ignorant and unethical fishing practices such as fishing without a license, improper catch and release, exceeding the daily quota and attempting to snag fish. However, the angling community has quickly recognized this trend and education has gradually improved the fishing ethics in the Stave River. Hopefully one day it will return to the way it used to be. For now, Stave River is a great place for a day of family outings. It is an ideal river for first timers to learn the correct methods of salmon fishing without going home empty handed.

Stave River is located several kilometers west of City of Mission. The river is unusually wide and short in comparison to other rivers in the Lower Mainland. There are many islands in this system and having a boat is an advantage because these islands can be excellent fishing spots if one wants to stay away from the crowded main channels. The water level fluctuates greatly sometimes as the BC Hydro dam may release excess water after rain storms. Tide effect also applies in this system and it can change the water level several feet within hours. For these reasons, it is important to be cautious when one decides to wade while fishing. To get there from Vancouver, simply drive along Hwy 7 east. Turn left onto Wilson Road just before the bridge that crosses the river. Wilson Road will take you along the west side of the river and many fishing spots can be seen. As you drive up the hill, cross the single lane road that stretches across the dam. Once you have crossed the dam, continue down the hill for 30 seconds and you will find yourself next to the BC Hydro picnic/parking area. You may park here and trek along the river bank and look for some fishing locations in this area. Parking in the BC Hydro picnic area is free of charge but it is limited and a spot can be hard to find during peak salmon season. The parking lot opens between dawn and dusk, the gate will be closed once it gets dark. Public washrooms can also be found in the picnic area. Shops and restaurants are not within walking distance so be sure to pack a good lunch and water if you decide to stay for the entire day.

The Stave River is well known for the return of its chum salmon. Starting around early October, chum salmon can be found in good numbers throughout the entire system. By late October to early November, it is impossible not to hook a chum salmon when fishing in this river. They can be found in thousands, and they are easy to catch. The only downside about chum salmon fishing is that most of these fish will be quite old and close to spawning unless they have just arrived in the river. Fishing for chum or dog salmon can be done by drifting a float, bottom bouncing, flyfishing or spinning with lures and spinners. For more information on chum salmon fishing techniques, please read "Doc, I need an arm transplant!"

Chum salmon is not the only species that anglers target in this river. Coho salmon are also abundant between August and early December. However, they are hard to catch unless one looks for them specifically. Unlike the chum salmon that can be easily caught in fast flowing channels of Stave River, coho salmon prefer the calmer, quiet backwaters. These waters are often not noticed by anglers but they can be surprisingly productive. Next time when fishing in the Stave, spend a couple of hours trekking around the entire system and look for possible coho hideouts, you will be pleasantly surprised. For gear anglers, spinning with silver or copper spoons and spinners can be very productive. As mentioned earlier, having a boat can be an advantage when looking for these waters.

While fishing in the Stave River maybe productive, it can often get extremely crowded. Anglers need to be tolerant and remember to treat their fellow fishers the way they would want to be treated. Being polite, respectful and helpful to others can only make everyone's fishing day a pleasant one. When you see a newcomer who seems to be having trouble landing a fish or controlling his or her fishing gears, try to lend a hand. It is important that every angler learn about ethical fishing practices if we want the general public to support sportfishing. If you witness any mistreatment of unwanted fish, be sure to explain to the mistreater why these practices are not acceptable in a pleasant manner. When leaving, be sure to pick up the garbage around you so others can also enjoy what this river may offer in the future. The Stave River fishery has been good, and it can get even better when all anglers are aware of the importance of fishing ethics. Let's care about the future of fishing and more importantly the future of our precious fish.

For questions regarding regulations of Stave River or reports of violations, please contact FOC Mission office at 604-814-1055.