BC freshwater sportfishing guide

BC freshwater regulation supplement

Fish smart

Freshwater regulation updates

Sportfishing institute of BC

BC stewardship centre

Chilliwack/Vedder River Cleanup Coalition

Outdoor recreation council of BC

River works

Streamkeepers

By Rodney Hsu

Each year between September and November, large adult spawning salmon congregate in rivers of the Pacific Northwest to complete their lifecycle. This is also the time when anglers gather around the rivers by the hundreds. Popular Lower Mainland rivers such as the Stave, Vedder, Harrison and Chehalis often receive excessive number of anglers. When fishing pressure increases during the peak of the season, it often brings out the worst of anglers without knowing it. It is a norm to see violations taking place as FOC enforcement has been cut back in recent years. Furthermore, disagreements and even fights sometimes emerge as there isn't a set of written rules of the dos and don'ts in river angling. I hope this article can serve as a general guideline that can be used by all river anglers to improve everyone's fishing day.

Respect your neighbours

Like driving, everyone has a comfort space when fishing. When that personal space is taken up, one would often feel violated and tension begins to build up. This usually causes unpleasant interactions, especially when lines are tangled as a result. When arriving at a river section that is already occupied by other anglers, it is only courteous to greet and ask for permission before beginning to fish. It is also wise to observe other anglers' techniques first so you are able to judge how much personal space should be given.

Whenever fishing is good, we have a tendency to forget most of the aspects of fishing except keeping our offering in the water as much time as possible. Our surroundings become the dark space of a tunnel as the only thing that we focus on is either the float that is drifting down the river or the rod tip. This is a common occurrence, but we need to be reminded to watch for other anglers' actions as well as our own. Taking the extra three seconds to check behind you before casting can prevent many accidents that take place each season. Watch for other lines in the water before casting, and if there is a hookup in the water, give the angler some room before the fish is landed.

Fishing in a crowded river is never anyone's perfect outing, but with some common sense and manners, the day can still be relaxing and joyful even if you go home empty handed. The rule is simple, treat others like the way you would prefer to be treated. Finally, a smile on the face is the universal sign of friendliness.

Keep it clean

In a popular river system that is used by thousands each week, it is not hard to notice that garbage often becomes a major problem. Although anglers may not be responsible for all the garbage produced at recreational sites, they are still part of the problem. Several items that are commonly left on river banks by anglers include fishing line, styrofoam coffee cups and plastic bags. All of these items are not biodegradable, therefore they remain in the environment if not picked up. Fishing line with hooks attached to them can be devastating to the wildlife. Birds and other little critters can easily be strangled to death by it. Leaded weights can contaminate the water, killing aquatic lives. Unwanted monofilament line can be a hassle to carry, especially on a rainy day. However, wouldn't it be selfish to tamper the place where you enjoy to be by avoiding this inconvenience? Carry a small bag for the litter next time, it will be beneficial to you, other anglers and the river that you love.

Walking is part of fishing

Fishing is a wonderful medicine that we use to eliminate our mental stress that builds up in our urban lifestyle, yet it is hard to capture this concept for some. We often rely on our cars too much, and believe that we are immobile without them. In popular fishing spots where they are readily accessible by automobiles, it is not uncommon to see anglers driving onto a river bar so they can fish beside their beloved machine. Exposed river banks are known as riparian zone, which is extremely vital to a river's ecosystem. In this zone, small shrubs and trees thrive. Their function is to prevent erosion by stabilizing the ground with roots. As the river fluctuates throughout the year, this zone often becomes a refuge for juvenile fish and other aquatic insects. This sensitive area can easily be damaged by driving a car across it. Tire tracks may induce the rate of erosion and destroy all plant lives. Oil and antifreeze that leak from cars can seep into the gravel, and slowly dispersed when the area is submerged. It does not take a trained biologist to understand the impacts that oil has on juvenile fish and other lives. By damaging the water quality, such action can easily degrade future fishing quality indirectly. Next time, please park the cars on the road, and walk to your favorite river bank instead. Hiking is just part of the relaxing component of fishing, which makes it much more enjoyable when an angler catches a fish.

Handle with care

British Columbians are fortunate to have this privilege to use the unique resource that is not found in many other parts of the world, yet often we take it for granted. The frustration of not being able to catch one when there are thousands of salmon swimming in a pool can lead anglers to perform regretful actions. Snagging a fish intentionally is not only illegal, but also damaging to the fish that we treasure so much. The objective of snagging is to hook a fish's body part instead of tricking a fish to bite. This usually increases the number of hookups as the river is paved with fish. The result is damaged fins and skin on surviving fish. Open wounds can lead to infections, causing the fish to die before spawning. Getting a fish to bite is challenging, yet rewarding when it happens.

Catch and release is done often by anglers who fish for salmon, because there are daily quotas imposed in our fishery and we only look for desirable fish when we decide to harvest. The technique of releasing a fish is crucial. When done incorrectly, a death sentence is given to the fish. Our salmon are strong beings that can usually make it to their spawning ground even when damaged, however let's not reduce that chance by handling the fish incorrectly. Click here to find out more on techniques of catch and release.

With some compromising, understanding and awareness, all of us can improve the quality of this popular recreational activity by several magnitudes. For more information, please take a look at the code of conduct written by the Sport Fishing Institute of BC.