Did another salvage operation on Friday. This one a bit smaller in scope but we still netted several thousand coho, umpteen sunfish, some large sculpins, lots of stickleback, and this 17 cm cutthroat trout.


The haul...

Great work
Always happy to see this little productive river get some more help.
Always happy to talk about the Little Campbell
The Chinook you rescued might have been from the hatchery
That section of river has several disjointed water sources including a catchment pond controlled by the city and runoff from nearby Latimer lake, this being replenished by a pump station opposite the Tim Norton's on 192 .
Of course the other flow comes from Langley under neath 200th ST.
Both local governments should take a more serious approach trying to maintain the water flow .

I don't think the chinook fry was from the hatchery. It wasn't clipped and was salvaged 4-5 km above the hatchery.

But you're right about maintaining water flow. In Surrey, the city pumps groundwater into Elgin Creek (via the existing stormwater system) at 30 litres/second to augment low seasonal flows. I wonder if something similar would be feasible on the LC.

Interestingly, the Township of Langley, in their Fernridge Neighbourhood plan (the LC runs right through the Fernridge area), has adopted larger setbacks along the river. This is great news for the river but not so great news for landowners. One landowner we know has had his property devalued significantly because his home sits within the new setback distance.

Conversely, the City of Surrey is decreasing setbacks

Absolutely on the mark. These are points I have tried to make for years. In river it is a September fishery with a major peak mid month.

FWIW if you look at previous years test fisheries and hydroacoustic data it's pretty consistent that the first ones will show up in the Fraser sometime mid-august but not many. I dont have it in front of me, but I ran some numbers in previous years based on test fishery data and I recall that something like 10-15% of the run returns in Aug and the vast majority won't be until the first three weeks of september

Unless I'm mis-remembering, the largest 7-day rolling return period in the Fraser test fisheries is usually in the second week of September (ie Sep 7-14 +/-  a few days). It's not unusual to see 40%+ of the total test fishery sampled during that peak week. By the last week of Sep, the run is basically done in the lower Fraser.

Based on this, if there is an opening it seems that it's typically early enough in Sep that there will still be plenty of time for you all to hit the bulk of the run. Plenty of fresh ones to be had, especially if you are able to hit the lower Fraser or the salt.

 I used to own a 5 acre parcel on 2nd ave and 212th in south Langley 25 years ago with a tributary of the Little Campbell on my property. Coho and cutthroat trout used to come through my property and spawn. Enjoyed showing that to my kids when they were small. Unfortunately someone bought the property in front of mine to put a large greenhouse and they dug out the creek for property drainage that was the end of the coho and cutthroat as there was a 8' foot drop in elevation from my property to where they dug out the creek. It took quite a few years for the land to erode away to allow the cutthroat to return but the coho never did.  It's sad what is happening to smaller lower mainland streams.

Great work
Always happy to see this little productive river get some more help.
Always happy to talk about the Little Campbell
The Chinook you rescued might have been from the hatchery
That section of river has several disjointed water sources including a catchment pond controlled by the city and runoff from nearby Latimer lake, this being replenished by a pump station opposite the Tim Norton's on 192 .
Of course the other flow comes from Langley under neath 200th ST.
Both local governments should take a more serious approach trying to maintain the water flow .

The earlier opening is about the opportunity not the success. Some like to get out early before the crowds of people show up even if chance to catch one is low.

Opening Pinks early in the lower Fraser, where bycatch is minimal, is a sensible approach in a year when the forecasts predict high numbers.

However, as I mentioned, it has become excessively political. Therefore, spare yourself the mental strain and check in after the long weekend in September.

FWIW if you look at previous years test fisheries and hydroacoustic data it's pretty consistent that the first ones will show up in the Fraser sometime mid-august but not many. I dont have it in front of me, but I ran some numbers in previous years based on test fishery data and I recall that something like 10-15% of the run returns in Aug and the vast majority won't be until the first three weeks of september

Unless I'm mis-remembering, the largest 7-day rolling return period in the Fraser test fisheries is usually in the second week of September (ie Sep 7-14 +/-  a few days). It's not unusual to see 40%+ of the total test fishery sampled during that peak week. By the last week of Sep, the run is basically done in the lower Fraser.

In 2023, tidal and non-tidal waters of the Fraser opened on Sept 1

In 2021, tidal Fraser opened Sept 3, and to your point non-tidal opened on Sept 11

The Fraser was closed in 2017 and 2019

In 2015, the tidal and non tidal Fraser both opened on Sept 5.

In 2013, the tidal and non tidal opened Aug 30 and Aug 31 respectively.

Based on this, if there is an opening it seems that it's typically early enough in Sep that there will still be plenty of time for you all to hit the bulk of the run. Plenty of fresh ones to be had, especially if you are able to hit the lower Fraser or the salt.

Changed my mind.

looking at my notes from 2023 august 12 I caught some nice brights ones off bowen island, west van trolling the usual pink hootiches.   

Fraser the numbers don't matter only the politics do.  So save yourself a brain aneurysm and don't look at the test fisheries.

I would suggest Pitt Marsh out near Grant Narrows. Lots of access

Kudos, gonna check this one off my bucket list(probably next weekend)