Rod: | 9' to 10'6" baitcasting or centerpin rod, rated between 8 and 20lb |
Reel: | Small baitcasting reels or centerpin reels |
Main line: | 12 to 15lb test |
Leader: | 6 to 10lb test |
Hook: | Size 4 to 2/0 |
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_chinook01.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/chinook01.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_chinook02.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/chinook02.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_chinook03.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/chinook03.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_chinook04.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/chinook04.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_chinook05.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/chinook05.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_chinook06.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/chinook06.jpg) |
Adult chinook (over 62cm) | Adult chinook (over 62cm) | Jack chinook (under 62cm) | Jack chinook (under 62cm) | Black gum with white jaw edge | Small spots across both upper and lower parts of tail |
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_coho01.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/coho01.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_coho02.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/coho02.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_coho03.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/coho03.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_coho04.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/coho04.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_coho05.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/coho05.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_coho06.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/coho06.jpg) |
Wild adult coho (with adipose fin) | Hatchery adult coho (without adipose fin) | Hatchery jack coho (without adipose fin) | Absence of adipose fin with healed scar on hatchery coho | White gum | Small spots on top portion of tail |
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_chum01.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/chum01.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_chum02.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/chum02.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_chum03.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/chum03.jpg) |
Female chum salmon | Male chum salmon with teeth | Striped back |
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_sockeye01.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/sockeye01.jpg) | (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/th_sockeye02.jpg) (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/forum/sockeye02.jpg) |
adult sockeye in spawning colour | adult sockeye prior to spawning stage |
Fish species
There arefourthree salmon species that anglers can target and retain.
Chinook salmon (mid September - mid October)
Coho salmon (early September - early November)
Chum salmon (early October - late November)
You guys don't think pink salmon will recover enough next year to support a fishery on the Vedder?
Something else to add for newbies starting out, when you approach a run, make sure you storm out until your at least crotch deep, this accomplishes two things. First it establishes dominance amongst other anglers as a passive claim to a spot, also it makes distance a lot shorter because casting across the C/V all day gets tiresome and sore on the arms/shoulders.
Something else to add for newbies starting out, when you approach a run, make sure you storm out until your at least crotch deep, this accomplishes two things. First it establishes dominance amongst other anglers as a passive claim to a spot, also it makes distance a lot shorter because casting across the C/V all day gets tiresome and sore on the arms/shoulders.
All seriousness, anyone else have a chuckle/shake their head/grimace when some guy proceeds to grizzly bear it out to the middle of the river? Extenuating circumstances aside, I just don't understand the mentality there, just because you can wade out to your berries doesn't mean you have to.
River was low and clear as of 4:30, a little rain fell but not enough to do anything to the levels.
was that you just down and across from me weds? watched a guy wade well over halfway across the river right into the traveling lane then casted to the other shore and hung up.
Lower and mid river has been very inconsistent. I saw a few Coho and Spring landed but the fish seem to be pushing through very fast, despite the low water. Best bet is to cover lots of water if you want to find pods of Coho, but that's the opposite of what most people are doing lolI dont think so either. Last year i caught a steelhead behind a spey guy who was waist deep. He almost fell in when it jumped. Lol
Speaking of people wading out too far...I saw two guys fishing a run in the Canal a few days ago. The one guy had a spey rod and was standing about mid river and pounding the water every cast. After about an hour he finally gave up. Within 5 minutes after he left, the other guy starting hooking into coho. I don't think that was a coincidence...
Cycled through my Canal/Pillings/Hopedale circuit again today with the double hander . Water is Gin Clear and low. With a downsized sparse fly and 8lb flouro tippet I managed to Kill a hatchery dime-bright coho. 1st Hatchery of the season.
Beautiful day today but it will be great to have a nice big dump of rain to open things up abit. *awesome news to hear that Kev is staying put at his spot. Thats great for all!
I also managed to get 2 hatchery Coho on the single hander :) Lost 2 as well....
One on a green California Neil and one on an olive Muddler with gold bead head.
Spooked, not spooky....
Spooky fish - Fish that are scary...
Spooked fish - Fish that are scared easily...
spooky
[spoo-kee]
See more synonyms for spooky on Thesaurus.com
adjective, spook·i·er, spook·i·est. Informal.
1 like or befitting a spook or ghost; suggestive of spooks.
2 eerie; scary.
3 (especially of horses) nervous; skittish.
They were booking it through the lower this afternoon and hammering twitched jigs on the way. Thinking this storm is going to load up the river with the fresh fish. Lots of aggressive fish if you look hard enough for em. Key for me today was reapplying scent every 10 casts or so.try tying up very small prawn bags to tip hook with. Works excellent.
try tying up very small prawn bags to tip hook with. Works excellent.
I’m always skeptical putting anything on a twitched jig that isn’t solid only because it always seems to fall off when it’s bouncing around the rocks. Just been costing my curly tail’s with that oily scent.Short floated jigs tipped with small raw prawn bag is my go to for steelhead. Initially just used raw prawn but it fell off easily and gummed up marabou. The bags definitely stay on much longer and dont gum up marabou. I will take a normal size mesh and cut it in quarters to tie bags. 1 prawn is good for several bags
Would definitely be up for trying it with a floated jig though. Are you just using a raw prawn or cured? Have tipped things with prawns but never made bags before.....
I found a good back eddy this year and will actually try getting a few ho from there
any reports on what the river is looking like today?Great color as of 11:30, but there seem to be far fewer fish around than last weekend. Maybe we just quit too soon and they are showing up now.
any reports on what the river is looking like today?Hey Roy, Tad and I are having a lunch break at the Tractor grease. The morning was tough, but he managed one nice hatchery coho and a spring jack. I landed a monster size chum and lost a coho.
casting spoons in native land lakes>>>> lol I found a good back eddy this year and will actually try getting a few ho from thereThe native land lake is almost gone......5 casts covers it.
Everyone. Make sure u shame those float rippers otherwise u will never get a biting fish, that completely freaks fish out and makes them very very wary from anything looking like bait or weights ,,, tell them enough is enough. I’m here to fish not snag!X 2
Everyone. Make sure u shame those float rippers otherwise u will never get a biting fish, that completely freaks fish out and makes them very very wary from anything looking like bait or weights ,,, tell them enough is enough. I’m here to fish not snag!
This is the worst possible thing to do.This is right up there with those goofball pocket flossers up at tamahi lol . oh well.
What is float ripping?
What is float ripping?
"Setting the hook" at the end of every drift.
First light was active and then quieted down; lower river. River is dropping and very clear.Glad to hear there is a first light bite again. Yesterday there didn't appear to be one at all - I didn't hook a fish until 11am yesterday. And where did all the springs go? Here one week - gone the next.
.......at least a half dozen river weasels scurrying along the shore around Allison's sight flossing for fish along the edge yesterday...Nothing new - they've been doing it as long as I've been fishing this river - at least 25 years. At first I thought you were referring to the actual weasels that appear to be common on the lower river this year. There are a couple at Vedder Crossing and I saw one at Hopedale as well. They look link minks to me. Cute little buggers, but I bed they'd try to steal your fish if your back was turned.
Nothing new - they've been doing it as long as I've been fishing this river - at least 25 years. At first I thought you were referring to the actual weasels that appear to be common on the lower river this year. There are a couple at Vedder Crossing and I saw one at Hopedale as well. They look link minks to me. Cute little buggers, but I bed they'd try to steal your fish if your back was turned.
Rod. If you find a spot and are doing well , why should u leave? I’ve had it happen many times where your doing well and “fall fisherman” show up after they see the splashing and Next thing you know whish whish whish and biting fish “f” off! When u prefer drift fishing vs casting in pools for salmon your going to see this behaviour and it’s not ethical and it will ruin the bite! Just running away from this doesn’t cure the problem. Shame these baristas
BBarley
maybe u bought some counterfeit line !
I hope the bulk spool at Fred’s isn’t counterfeit...... It’s a complete mystery to me. It makes absolutely no sense why it would simply unfray/disintegrate at the arbor with 30lb when it should come apart at the braid to mono knot or the jig knot :o
I'd go back to freds
Not to derail this thread but wondering if anyone has been having any issues with running braid (in this case #30lb Powerpro) off their spinning reels? I’ve been popping the line at my reel arbor on several hookups/snags while twitching jigs........ Back in the day this stuff would saw through your finger five years after you spooled it up, can’t for the life of me figure out why it would snap where it makes the 90 coming off the arbor. Brand new line and not buried in the spool as far as I can tell.Have you noticed any nicks or fraying in the line? I wonder if there is a bur on the arbor or it is somehow malfunctioning. Also check that your guides are intact - if they are the kind with ceramic rings, one chip in the ring can cause lots of break-offs and shredded line.
That’s fine rod. I know it’s tiring but you can’t say on this forum “ just leave” or go to other places, you didn’t do that before right?( video above), so I am advocating shaming these people so we all have “ non tiring fishing days” where we enjoy our day ! I’d rather say the fish beat me vs the “river baristas”did. Peace
That’s fine rod. I know it’s tiring but you can’t say on this forum “ just leave” or go to other places, you didn’t do that before right?( video above), so I am advocating shaming these people so we all have “ non tiring fishing days” where we enjoy our day ! I’d rather say the fish beat me vs the “river baristas”did. Peace
Have you noticed any nicks or fraying in the line? I wonder if there is a bur on the arbor or it is somehow malfunctioning. Also check that your guides are intact - if they are the kind with ceramic rings, one chip in the ring can cause lots of break-offs and shredded line.
My opinion I have expressed here before. Lots disagreed. But it is ignorant to run a fishing website and respond in that way. Acknowledge the issue and promote change in response as has been done before.Start your own fishing site and run it how ever you please.
^^^^^^ translate please^^^^^^
I've caught 6 chum already ... 1st one was 2 weeks agoSeems right on time to me. I normally get my first spring by the second weekend of September, and this year it was the 16th, so right on time there. I remember 20 years ago there being plenty of coho in the river early September, so that seems right on time as well. September 12, 2001, I was camping in Allison Pool with my wife (right after 9/11, so I remember vividly) and the river was full of coho. I hope this is the beginning of another great season.
Am I wrong in thinking that the timing of all the runs, Springs, Coho and Chum...seems a bit off this year?
Coho seem early
Springs were on for a bit then off
Chum seem really early .... although not huge numbers..
BTW - curious to hear other's experiences, but we just at the first of my coho from the vedder tonight for dinner, and the consensus was it tasted better than the Fraser sockeye we have been eating. Relatively firm texture (for a coho), great flavor, good fat content, even the crispy skin was delicious. What are others finding? The past few years I have found the quality to be really hit or miss.
Capilano sockeye ??
No coho love for me but the old fella next to me schooled us all with 3 big ones and a spring by 8am.Must have been buck, he's an old guy ;D
They have done that with steelhead in the past haven't they?Yeah, happened for a short while. I agree Ralph, the cost would be prohibitive to truck hatchery coho back downstream. If anglers want less hatchery fish at the hatchery, they should not be hoping for rain. Any jump in water height gets these hatchery clones on the move immediately.
Hatchery fish are meant for consumption and I think anglers and the river need them more than some industry, sure a good “reward “for the marathon to be put into totes if you use your logic Sumas?? No?
Umm... I’ll like to keep my money and spend it on dim sum thank you very much.
Enough is enough, lets get back to what this thread is about, fishing and water conditions.
Enough is enough, lets get back to what this thread is about, fishing and water conditions.
I really need to know now if you can find dim sum in Chilliwack
where?Dude, don’t make me answer that! :)
Am I missing something in the canal??? Every time I pass over the KWB/1 I see what looks like pilings stacked close together. Couldn't believe it today when I passed over, looked like sockeye season out there :P
saw the first chum of the season caught today. fully equipped with teeth and battle stripes. in my books thats an early chum for the vedder.I saw half a dozen up at the slab today, including a couple landed, the rest just cruising by.
I saw half a dozen up at the slab today, including a couple landed, the rest just cruising by.I caught a chum ten days ago. Huge, toothy and wearing their signature stripes. Friend of mine caught one a few days before me. The chum recon squad enters the Vedder early to mid September.
Just for interests sake you should head down one day there just observe, you'll see why. The anglers are clustered around the choke points where the fish gather and hang out.
It would actually be a really good place to fish if it wasnt for all the people. I havent seen very many arguments on the Vedder, but when I do it's almost always in the canal, particularly directly under KWB. No fish is worth that stress when there are many other productive spots.
Why do you assume everyone fishing the canal is a flosser/snagger? Last time I fished along with 10 other guys - all friendly and respectful, shortfloating roe and having a good time. Not a single snagged fish to see that day and everyone had a good time.X2
Why do you assume everyone fishing the canal is a flosser/snagger? Last time I fished along with 10 other guys - all friendly and respectful, shortfloating roe and having a good time. Not a single snagged fish to see that day and everyone had a good time.
I feel like you have given me enough to go off that not being around that particular area is in my best interest. Guys standing side by side flossing out the salmon in the ugly ol canal probably won't lead to any revolutionary discoveries that will enhance my fishing experience/knowledge moving forward.
That is strange. Chilliwack is not showing any rain but river rising at the crossing.Hopefully it is raining up in the Chilliwack Lake watershed - giving the lake a good recharge that will cause the river to drop more slowly.
Hopefully it is raining up in the Chilliwack Lake watershed - giving the lake a good recharge that will cause the river to drop more slowly.
Conditions are excellent this morning, it is dropping nicely...
That is strange. Chilliwack is not showing any rain but river rising at the crossing.It will be strange if you drink and pee at the same time.
Water is dropping and clearing up fast again. Plenty of fish on the move this morning.Not in area where I was fishing:'(. Didn't see single fish rolling. Was very slow. Still managed to get one hatchery on roe.
Not in area where I was fishing:'(. Didn't see single fish rolling. Was very slow. Still managed to get one hatchery on roe.
That makes two of us, fished mid-river from 10 to 5 saw a few big springs and got a follow from a jack spring on an olive green jig other than that didn't see anything moving. think some colour in the water is needed.Yep, it cleared up VERY quickly after this last rain - I think because it is so cold up in the hills. Surprisingly slow on the lower river this morning as well.
Conditions are pretty much the same as yesterday as expected, maybe a bit lower. Fish are not moving as much, but still plenty around. A quick morning session yielded three wild coho, a couple of chinook jacks, one chum salmon and lost another coho before returning home for breakfast.Hope you left me a few as was away on the Wild Salmon Caravan for a week and then hunting for a week. I donot need many more fish as caught a good numbe,r you know where.lol Run was very strong again this year and adults too.
Plenty of fish for you this year. ;DThe last 2 grouse I bagged last week were bigger. Went out to wet a line for the first time this AM but too many anglers, not what I was used to this year. Instead I did a small river cleanup which on the bars whas not too bad, all I caught besides the garbage was one Maple Leaf DNE and a few beer tins all empty except sand filled. ;D
Water continues to drop and clear. Fish are still moving fast IMO. One day here, next day gone. We snuck out for a couple of hours tonight while everyone else was having Thxgiving dinner, two hatchery coho around 4lb each.
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/43573230_10155970694037712_8614232278555426816_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&oh=d5a90d0840fe647d036d7734826d26fa&oe=5C613B6A)
Filmed a short river conditions report video for those wondering what a holiday Monday brings to this urban fishery.Wow, that was today? Seemed like far fewer people than Saturday and Sunday. I'm surprised. The last couple Thanksgiving Monday's I have bothered to fish I regretted as soon as I got to the river because there wasn't a rock to stand on. Maybe the weather is keeping the crowds away?
https://youtu.be/kd3p3AwJes0 (https://youtu.be/kd3p3AwJes0)
Saw a few chum salmon caught and one CO. One chap landed two chum and dragged them up onto the sand before guiding them back into the water with his feet, when will they learn!!!Chum is the red-headed step child of the fishing world. So sad :'(
Chum is the red-headed step child of the fishing world. So sad :'(
Fished the canal (my first time) on Monday morning from 6:30am to 10am (downstream from the KWB). Was the only person chucking spoons and spinners, and trying to twitch jigs in slower/still waters. Tried everything in my bag of tricks, but didn't get a single bite. Watched some folks drifting roe shoulder-to-shoulder get into some fish, and helped a young guy net a really nice spring.Don't give up, I was out this AM and fished some new water, good water too, on the flood tde and nothing. Saw fish being landed next run up, maybe flossing too. Saw 4 jump in the run I was fishing but were not holding I guess and did not have a pull down. Rodney is guiding me tonight so success is a sure thing. ;D
It was my first time there, so naturally I was attracted to the calls of "fish on" from just below the bridge. I watched a few guys pull up some nice chums, but quickly realized that they were flossing. I tossed spoons and spinners all around them, as obviously there were fish stacking in that area, but no luck.
Might go back next weekend and try an area further upriver. Should I keep deploying spoons and spinners, or switch to drifting roe, jigs and blades?
Don't give up, I was out this AM and fished some new water, good water too, on the flood tde and nothing. Saw fish being landed next run up, maybe flossing too. Saw 4 jump in the run I was fishing but were not holding I guess and did not have a pull down. Rodney is guiding me tonight so success is a sure thing. ;D
Nothing wrong with changing your gear but a lot of seasoned anglers stick with roe at this time of years but Jigs are deadly on chum salmon if you want to tussle with them and they are not bad table fair when they are a fresh run fish. I saw a chap get two on a jig yesterday. Good luck and glad you recognize flossing when you see it.
Will check out the flossing run tomorrow. :-\ :o
When i called him out on it he said SPEAK NO ENGLISH.
Someone jinxed our trip yesterday before we even went by expecting to fill the cooler... ;DYep, nothing jinxes a trip like putting ice in the cooler.
Time to take a brief break before the fishing picks up again.
Yep, nothing jinxes a trip like putting ice in the cooler.
Last week and today one thing that struck me is that compared to other years, chum are all but absent. DFO has already noted that returns are lower than expected. Any word if they will close retention?
Hits few spots in the lower yesterday.. nothin'.
Then Mid river in the afternoon. I fished my freshly cured Spring roe and caught 2 big Spring and a Jack ... One was clean, the other and the Jack were a bit coloured but not too bad... I let 'em all go as my quarry was Coho..
At around 4pm Caught 3 Wild Coho...then finally, just as I was about to call it a day, got 2 hatchery Coho... a 4lb doe and a 6.5lb buck. Made my day ;D
Guys on either side of me were getting nothing but Chum after Chum ... I think they were giving me the stink eye when I was landing my Coho's
River sure dropping fast .. No rain in the forecast at all...
Chinook taste much better than Coho IMO
The fish or the roe... ;D I prefer to eat Coho .... maybe the fish prefer to eat Chinook eggs..
Had coho for dinner tonight ... crispy skin pan fried filet with roast potatoes and fire grilled Fennel and Tomatoes it was yum.. :)
I would like to keep chinook than coho. Coho has a kind of fish smell. Especially after curing so many coho eggs, whenever I bite a coho flash, I feel a full mouth of bait.If you haven't kept a Chilliwack coho this year I encourage you to give it a try. They are better tasting this year than I have had in a long time. Of course, the springs have been very tasty this year as well, with a high ratio of very red marble flesh.
If you haven't kept a Chilliwack coho this year I encourage you to give it a try. They are better tasting this year than I have had in a long time. Of course, the springs have been very tasty this year as well, with a high ratio of very red marble flesh.
With no rain in the forecast, this is gonna primarily be a first light fishery for awhile.
Nice to see how the experienced ones are keeping mum about how good the fishing has been lately throughout the day and not just first light. ::)
It seems that the uber popular spots that attract the masses like flies to dung keep the pressure off the more secluded locations where top rods are nailing coho day in and day out. ;D
Last week and today one thing that struck me is that compared to other years, chum are all but absent. DFO has already noted that returns are lower than expected. Any word if they will close retention?While doing a cleanup in the Canal today where I picked up a fair amount of line and a bucket of garbage. ::) A chap said there wasa lot of chum caught yesterday, saw a few either caught when I or already on the beach.
Nice to see how the experienced ones are keeping mum about how good the fishing has been lately throughout the day and not just first light. ::)
It seems that the uber popular spots that attract the masses like flies to dung keep the pressure off the more secluded locations where top rods are nailing coho day in and day out. ;D
For the past 10 years or so give or take a year or three the Chum numbers have been overall terrible.
Never thought id see the day that Chum numbers were questionable.
I also never thought id see the day that Eulichons were endangered in the Fraser either.
Scary times we live in and even scarier are those that make the big decisions on the different fisheries.
The biggest problem with the chum beach seine fishery is location. They should not be allowed to beach seine in the river where the fish are spawing. They do a set catch say 10 females that are already discharging single eggs they dont want her so thrown up onto the beach she goes so as not to be caught again. So she doesnt get to spawn her eggs taken out of the equation.Then they drag the nets through the fresh reds and disturb all those eggs. Thats why the returns each year are getting progressively worse. Thousands of eggs destroyed every day.
Following Firstlight's comments. Chum fisheries declined in most rivers up and down the coast. It started up north a year or 2 before it hit the Fraser Valley. While there was some increase in numbers in the last 5 years based on my observations there are certainly no where near what they where 10 to 15 years ago. The Chilliwack, Stave didn't suffer to the extent of some other rivers. The Harrison really seemed to be heavily hit. It once had a huge return of chum around Remembrance Day and that has close to disappeared. All these rivers have considerable enhancement. I pretty strongly thinkthere is not one single cause of this that can be removed to fix the issuesand you have to consider it in context of the decline of many runs across 6 species of salmon (including steelhead). The roe fishery is nothing new and has been around for many years. If it is a major cause perhaps we need to end the use of roe as bait? One problem with all our salmon is it makes little to no sense to maintain high levels of exploitation by all user groups when it seems clear that whatever is happening in their freshwater and marine environments, these fish are facing serious trouble.This is starting to stray pretty far from the thread topic, but are all of our memories of huge chum returns in the Vedder and the Harrison related to the previous hatchery production in the Chilliwack and Chehalis hatcheries? There were plenty of chum in the lower river pool I was fishing on the Vedder this morning - probably twice as many as yesterday. They are almost too thick for my liking - more than this and it gets hard to fish for coho without constantly hooking chum. Does anyone know where to find hatchery production from these systems in the 1990s?
Popped out again this evening for a quickie. No love for me despite of standing in front of a few hundred coho salmon, but Nina was able to connect with several fish with a spoon and kept a nice hatchery coho. ;D
Following Firstlight's comments. Chum fisheries declined in most rivers up and down the coast. It started up north a year or 2 before it hit the Fraser Valley. While there was some increase in numbers in the last 5 years based on my observations there are certainly no where near what they where 10 to 15 years ago. The Chilliwack, Stave didn't suffer to the extent of some other rivers. The Harrison really seemed to be heavily hit. It once had a huge return of chum around Remembrance Day and that has close to disappeared. All these rivers have considerable enhancement. I pretty strongly thinkthere is not one single cause of this that can be removed to fix the issuesand you have to consider it in context of the decline of many runs across 6 species of salmon (including steelhead). The roe fishery is nothing new and has been around for many years. If it is a major cause perhaps we need to end the use of roe as bait? One problem with all our salmon is it makes little to no sense to maintain high levels of exploitation by all user groups when it seems clear that whatever is happening in their freshwater and marine environments, these fish are facing serious trouble.
Hundred coho? Were you fishing in the hatchery channel?
You are so dumb. The Harrison chum and chinook are collapsing because their the biggest victim of the beach seine fishery. Not from people using roe as bait. The roe harvested in that fishery are going overseas.
Yes I still think your a intelligent and respectable human being.
Discrimination isn't always a bad thing and sometimes it's downright justified.
You need to read more of his posts.
Anyone who spews trash like this and believes it is not a respectable or intelligent person.
Water is still dropping, fish are still coming in, I think there are more fish than water now.
Another quick evening outing today, yielded one beautiful hatchery fish around 7~8lb, first one of the season for Dad after 5 or 6 outings.
The Chilliwack/Vedder River is seeing a very good return of coho salmon this year. All indications suggest it is a much larger run with much bigger fish too. The reduction of gill net fisheries downstream from the Lower Fraser River may just be a contributing factor this year.
I didn’t write that. Either moderators edited my post or you can’t say you think someone is blah blah blahThat's too bad that you didn't write that. That last line made me think more highly of you because it showed you could disagree with somebody but still appreciate their humanity. Oh well ::)
I didn’t write that. Either moderators edited my post or you can’t say you think someone is a
m o r o n which is what I wrote
Went out for the evening, as others have stated the water is very low and clear. Found a nice little slot that was holding coho. Went through my progression of lures with abolsutely nothing working, finally went to my Stellako rig only under a Cleardrift instead of on the fly rod (mottled steelhead bead) and had 3 coho as the daylight faded. Plenty of dogs milling about below the coho which was nice to see. Really interesting to see how close the fish will come in to shore even under the bright sun in ultra low water when there’s nobody standing knee deep justifying their waders ;D
In the lower below the crossing today, the water went quite turbid around noon. Vis went from gin clear down to ~3-ish ft but started to clear up a bit a couple hours later. Must have been a slide or something upstream?I wonder - were you below Hopedale rd? Could it have come from the heavy equipment working streamside? Was this late action on roe? :)
Oddly the first light bite did not really happen where I was at last couple days, but was decently spotty from ~8-1pm. We'd get several float downs and hit a couple in the space of 10-15 mins then nothing for an hour (or more), then a new pod moves in and you get some furious action before it goes dead again. It kind of payed off to fence-post as you'd never know when the next batch would cruise on by. Decent size to them this year. The smallest was 4.7lb and the largest was 7.2 according to the digital scale.
:o :P :-X Forget about getting a spot today as we drove by the Canal 2 hours ago, going for a coffee and the headlights were already glowing at some of the favorite spots.
Typical Ralph solution. We should probably open up a ceremonial fishery on the vedder as well.
Why not. Most government run hatcheries end up being food banks for some FN bands one way or another. Us too.
Was this late action on roe? :)
enough bad behavior visible on the V-C for some to say sport angling for salmon there should be shut down.There's enough bad actors in every sector, for every fishery to be shut down, based on this logic.
Graphs are seeing sharp and dramatic growth dynamics in water levels as I type.
It seems that way until you check the scale on the y axis and you'll see that it's only increased by .025 m or 2.5 cm.That's why I am saying "dynamics" :). I want to believe!
You get a better perspective of the relative increase if you adjust the date parameters to span a period of time greater than the past 7 days.
mini fish in. ha great description.
Not gangbusters, but enough action to keep it interesting for everyone and incomparable company. 10/10 would fish with again.
Intermittent rain throughout the day, but the lower remained low and clear. Pretty decent first light bite, spotty until mid-day then quite slow in the early afternoon. Floated roe, casted flies, and twitched jigs all were seen to produce today.
Hey... Where was I? :(
It was like a mini fish in. Hope to see you guys on the flow again.Wish I was there Doug. Leave FFM at home next time and pick me up instead. I'll show you my secret "Lake" hole.
Wish I was there Doug. Leave FFM at home next time and pick me up instead. I'll show you my secret "Lake" hole.
got summoned back home to take the kid to school because it's raining too much to walk. ::)
How old is your kid? To the best of my knowledge, kids don't melt in the rain....My mom would of laughed and kicked my butt out the door if I asked for a ride to school because of rain.....how times have changed....Maybe it’s the wife! 😯
5 Coho for me today... all on the fly and all wild!!
You are really good. I fished vedder crossing, nothing. Fished loooooog way upper river, nothing either.
Fished canal later afternoon, caught one wild coho and a hatchery jack coho. I did not see many fish today. All the fish must go to the hatchery already.
You are really good. I fished vedder crossing, nothing. Fished loooooog way upper river, nothing either.
Fished canal later afternoon, caught one wild coho and a hatchery jack coho. I did not see many fish today. All the fish must go to the hatchery already.
You are really good. I fished vedder crossing, nothing. Fished loooooog way upper river, nothing either.
Fished canal later afternoon, caught one wild coho and a hatchery jack coho. I did not see many fish today. All the fish must go to the hatchery already.
Haha ... thanks ...
Nah ... right place right time. My casting still sucks though... I prob need a lesson or 2 with this Switch/Skagit setup... my river left casts are good but river right is still hard for me.
Lots still in the lower ... I got there today at 11am .. no bites at all until noon. All of a sudden the bite was on! Got 2 fish 2 casts in a row with an olive muddler. Slowed down for a bit then I swapped flies (chartreuse muddler) and got into quite a few ... I also lost four other fish!!
I tried roe for a bit and tried jigs too... nothing. Fly ruled today!
Was there any clarity at all? 6 inches to a foot?My friend just called me to tell me it's chocolate brown. He's heading to one of the northern tribs.
k.
I drive over the crossing bridge and there's 3 "new Canadians" fishing ( and I use that term loosely) fishing in total mud just above the bridge.
.... It costs them money for gas to drive out from Richmond or Vancouver so they not willing to turn around and go home because the river is unfishable so they use whatever means possible to catch fish regardless of ethics.
Any chance the river will have a few more inches od vis by the morning? I dont know the system well.Checked it out at dark on my way back from Vancouver after the weekend badminton tournament and it is still very muddy.
Caught 1 wild coho, 1 chum, and 1 bull trout all released. Nothing but a bunch of pocket flossers on the river today. Hooking fish in the belly and everything... :( The river is still too high right now.Asians, no doubt. Because we all know only "new Canadians" engage in unethical behavior
Asians, no doubt. Because we all know only "new Canadians" engage in unethical behavior
Asians, no doubt. Because we all know only "new Canadians" engage in unethical behavior
Yep Asians for sure. Hey wait, I’m Asian!😁
Where were you rod?
I imagine it's somewhere between the Keith Wilson Bridge and the Limit hole.
I found the river in good shape too but only tangled with 3 chum and retained a fresh run doe which we will have for supper tonight. Others were finding them too and one coho, a wild landed.
Season's over! ;D ;D ;DYes you are right, I forgot to get that out there too. :D
River is not fishable this morning...but as Chris says it is probably still flossable.LOL, Visibility was around 1 foot 2 hours ago, I would guess less now with the rain, time to go after web feet.
Also I was glad to hear the Chum salmon run is now looking good too so I feel better now Dave and others that knocked me for taking a chum yesterday
Are the eggs in danger of being swept away at 3.2 Meters? Wasn't it in 2006 the flood washed away a lot of eggs and they had to close the chum retention when that generation came back to spawn?There hasn't been a lot of spawning yet so that won't be an issue, but if this was Dec 2 there might have been a problem.
Here you go.https://youtu.be/DYCn87NEIC4Did you manage to retrieve that float Chris?
go for a drive up to the slab today and see what's going on!
you guys can tell me if you think that's ethical fishing?
So something I'm not getting....
When I look at the Chilliwack River hydrometric data graph with the default date setting of 8 days, it shows a current level of 3.1 m and a discharge of 260 m3/s
When I change the date range to be over 11 months, it shows a current level of 2.7 m and a discharge of 210.
Why the difference?
So something I'm not getting....It could be that it switches to a weekly measure with the larger range...
When I look at the Chilliwack River hydrometric data graph with the default date setting of 8 days, it shows a current level of 3.1 m and a discharge of 260 m3/s
When I change the date range to be over 11 months, it shows a current level of 2.7 m and a discharge of 210.
Why the difference?
Did you manage to retrieve that float Chris?50 of them plus a lot of garbage too.
50 of them plus a lot of garbage too.
River has dropped 2 feet but will still be unfishable except for the dippers.
When I look at the Chilliwack River hydrometric data graph with the default date setting of 8 days, it shows a current level of 3.1 m and a discharge of 260 m3/s
When I change the date range to be over 11 months, it shows a current level of 2.7 m and a discharge of 210.
Why the difference?
I really love those little Dipper Birds and they are a joy to watch. Some of then around Allison are almost tame. I wish you would stop saying terrible things about these sweet little creatures:Right on, lets call them human dippers. :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyFEbuy8RUg
Did you manage to retrieve that float Chris?Another 45 today and some garbage off the log jams before I went to the Gill Road Cleanup. Pictures of the cleanup on The FVSS FB page.
You're clearly getting ready for the used fishing tackle sale... ;)Yes I may need two tables as I have a few hundred now maybe over a thousand or more. I did not find the 2 Maple Leaf Drennan's I lost last week, heading out a first light to continue to look for them.lol
TB flow , Friday,FOC staff said they have had 16,000 plus coho so far.
Meant to post Yesterday ...
https://youtu.be/FjVZb58Y9Vc
Went for a drive up the Hatchery, chum and they looked like Jack chinook , not very big , but lots of them .
I don't think there was too many cohos …..
Season's over! ;D ;D ;DYes you are correct as the river will take a while to clear up now and the coho salmon will all be in the hatchery. It also looks like some clay slides have opened up which would be bad news.
38 more floats for Rodney's Used Tackle Sale. ;D ;D ;DHow come people lose so many floats?
How come people lose so many floats?
What are leaders for? Among other things, to break THEM off and NOT the main line when you foul hook a big fish or hit a snag.
Good for you Chris. I hope you find the missing Maple Leaf Drennan.
snagged the bottom
FOC staff said they have had 16,000 plus coho so far.I'm assuming these are already processed and that the majority of the run is done.
How come people lose so many floats?I seldom break off and lose a float but did last week twice, as my main line was too old, was too lazy to change it. I usually use 10 pound nain and 8 pound test leader.
What are leaders for? Among other things, to break THEM off and NOT the main line when you foul hook a big fish or hit a snag.
Good for you Chris. I hope you find the missing Maple Leaf Drennan.
I seldom break off and lose a float but did last week twice, as my main line was too old, was too lazy to change it. I usually use 10 pound nain and 8 pound test leader.
Many broke everything because the sinker set too deep. not only hook snagged the bottom. the weight also stucked between rocks or branches.But are you getting em?
I use 40lb braid main, 12lb -15lb leader. Rarely lose anything.
I know the river is still high but does anyone know what the visibility is like?Sorry I had hoped to check but was on the North side of the river today, fishing very slow only hooked one chum, conditions were very good but a lack of coho it seems. A reminder chum are closed over there.
Does anyone have any idea of the current water conditions ? Thanks in advance.
Morty and I came across aprox 25 chum that had become stranded in a side channel when the water receded. Using a net, and a times our bare hands, we captured them and released them into the main river. Does that mean we had a 25 fish day?
Why even tell us this? it did make me laugh at how unnecessary a comment ;D.. I bet the river changed a lot. I told my friend where the hop spot is so :P to everyone on the forums xDI put that in especially for you as I felt you needed a laugh. :D Fishing is a hobby and so we must not to take things too serious. Also when when you get to my age it does not really matter.lol.
Haha.. glad to hear it! I had an awesome day myself.. on another system :). Hopefully get another shot out there some time.. if not, well, steels not far away now is it :)Can you tell us the "Hot Spot"? lol
Many of us know these spots especially us old guys that have fished there before you were born.lol
No.. but I can say it was SUPER HOT, and I even told a bud on here where it was ;). Hahaha. Hows the Vedders Coho run doing? Are there typically many late Coho through November?
Saw this hoar frost in the upper river valley today; almost hairy/feathery in appearance. Never seen anything like it before. Very cool, literally and figuratively :)
(https://i.imgur.com/dy1w2Ri.jpg)
Morty and I came across aprox 25 chum that had become stranded in a side channel when the water receded. Using a net, and a times our bare hands, we captured them and released them into the main river. Does that mean we had a 25 fish day?
It's called a "Frost Flower"Fascinating...thank you for the explanation.
Dead wood soaks up the water but when it starts to freeze it forces the water out of the cracks as the wood starts to contract into freeze (below zero) type temps and builds on itself.
I've seen them a foot or more high.
I actually search them out in the upper if I'm up there early enough.
Depending on the temps they don't last long.
Saw a chap get 4 Coho salmon in the lower two days ago 3 on jigs and one on a blade. I went and bought a $4 jig but have not tried it yet.
The deductible is just as much as a side window smashed. Whats the point of the claim? Leave no valuable items. Take out registration paper. Leave unlocked. Put a club onnwheel if parking in a high risk area. I have even heard people write signs stating go ahead waste your time. Door unlocked with no valuables inside. U leave even a nickle in sight smashy smashy especially on roads and hidden areas on the river. Cops dont care but reporting it to the non emergency line may draw some attention.
Another beauty day on the Chilliwack/Vedder River. It started out a bit cold but things were good once the sun poked through. Lots of nice looking chum salmon were caught in the lower river once again, with the odd coho mixed in between. Water clarity was better than the weekend. This rain in the forecast for tomorrow may change things.That is a nice one after speaking to you I made my first duck/ goose hunting trip for this season. 3 shots and one mallard and a 12 pound goose. Back fishing tomorrow, no rain yet here in the Valley so will be good tomorrow AM. I think I will try your hot spot, may even try a jig. :-\
Is it common to struggle this much when first starting out here? It's incredibly frustrating, especially when I'm bringing my son and trying to keep him interested in fishing here.
Was out yesterday and fished mostly mid/upper. Took a while but, in the late afternoon, I did come across a small school of Coho at a run that was void of people!
I've been fishing mostly with Centerpin and Fly rod, but I also brought along a spin rod that was setup with a twitching Jig ( Chartreuse/Pink ). I hate carrying too much gear with me, but I have heard so much about Coho/Jig fishing being a very successful technique, I decided to give it a go. My wife has a small telescopic spinning rod so I took it along as it easily fit in my pack.
When I got to this spot, I could see fish finning/rising/jumping in the soft water section near the end of the run, so I started out with the Jig. Lo and behold .....3 casts in and wham, got a chrome beauty 6lb Hatchery buck! Within the next few casts I got another....I let it go as this one was a wild buck. Things slowed a little after that... I did get 2 more fish on, but lost 'em during their aerial acrobatics! After that ...nothin', did not see any more fish. I think I just lucked out and found a small pod at rest.
Was a great day to be out, I did not see very many people at all on the river. The wife was happy that I at least brought home 1 fish that I caught on her little rod!
In the right water, twitching Jigs just plain work!
This is my first season fishing this river. Been there six or seven times now, not a single bite. Watched every video and read every bit of info I could find (thanks for the videos Rod!). Roe, yarn, spinners, flies, I've tried everything I've been told would work and have been skunked every time.
Nice. What is the weight of the jigs? I tied some, but they don't sink well. after a few twitching, it is alway stay just below surface.
Unless you are fishing micro jigs like 1/8 or 1/16, or fishing real heavy water, I suspect what you described is caused by technique not jig weight.
@ ribolovac02, clarki, and standalone: thanks for the response!
I realized after that I've probably not been fishing deep enough in the water, which is probably part of my problem. Nearly every time I've been out, I've been the only one in the area I'm fishing to have NOT caught a fish, which only adds to the frustration.
@ ribolovac02, clarki, and standalone: thanks for the response!
Not new to fishing, grew up fishing the okanagan and interior lakes and streams for trout. Mainly fly fishing. This is my first real attempt at salmon fishing though. My son is nearly 12 and got the bug for fishing this summer and it got me back into it as well.
Most everyone I've met at the river have been really helpful and a tackle shop near work (First Light in Burnaby) have been really great with info also. One older guy was showing me this last weekend how he was catching fish and even gave me a chunk of the yarn he's been using and helped me set up my gear like his. I realized after that I've probably not been fishing deep enough in the water, which is probably part of my problem. Nearly every time I've been out, I've been the only one in the area I'm fishing to have NOT caught a fish, which only adds to the frustration. So I guess if you want to catch fish, come fishing with me?
Not much rain overnight, water should be good.
@ ribolovac02, clarki, and standalone: thanks for the response!
Not new to fishing, grew up fishing the okanagan and interior lakes and streams for trout. Mainly fly fishing. This is my first real attempt at salmon fishing though. My son is nearly 12 and got the bug for fishing this summer and it got me back into it as well.
Most everyone I've met at the river have been really helpful and a tackle shop near work (First Light in Burnaby) have been really great with info also. One older guy was showing me this last weekend how he was catching fish and even gave me a chunk of the yarn he's been using and helped me set up my gear like his. I realized after that I've probably not been fishing deep enough in the water, which is probably part of my problem. Nearly every time I've been out, I've been the only one in the area I'm fishing to have NOT caught a fish, which only adds to the frustration. So I guess if you want to catch fish, come fishing with me?
I think my advice going into next season...
But where is the hot spot? ;DLips are sealed on this one but could guide yo4 on Monday, like 2001 but no upside down reels..lol
3 years ago during a Steelhead trip up north I was chatting with a local way up on the copper and he commented on the signs which I had in my camper van windows. He seemed offended that I had them up and said something along the lines of "people up here wont mess with your vehicle like that" I told him I was from the lower mainland and I'm used to fishing the C/V. He chuckled with some sympathy as it all became clear and made perfect sense to him.
From Friday:
(http://i.imgur.com/YB0090m.jpg) (https://imgur.com/YB0090m)
I think the best of the CO season is over.....I am done for the year coho wise
Beautiful dog “bigsnag “, he will enjoy those for surethanks
Slipped out after a duck hunt this morning and found the water with a little color in it, but was surprised to have 2 coho jacks on and missed a few, darn circle hooks, off they go now.
I didn't realize there were fishermen out there that actually use circle hooks.
The water level chart does not show significant rise after the rain.Was colored when out tonight+, vis about 1 foot in the Lower, maybe a little more than that but is cool so may come back in tomorrow, I had no bites.
Oh yah, this is definitely the annual "big blowout".Dropping now but very high, not as much as a few weeks ago. This signals the official end of the coho salmon fishery, bring on the Iron heads. Don't forget to enter the Wally Hall Jr Memorial Steelhead Derby, tickets only $20 and funds raised go to an excellent cause. I think I will win it this year as I feel lucky.
Dropping now but very high, not as much as a few weeks ago. This signals the official end of the coho salmon fishery, bring on the Iron heads. Don't forget to enter the Wally Hall Jr Memorial Steelhead Derby, tickets only $20 and funds raised go to an excellent cause. I think I will win it this year as I feel lucky.Like
Why do I say that? At badminton last night I returned the shuttlecock from the other side of my body, back hanses shot if you know what I mean a shot that is really only luck. Maybe I have done it 3 or 4 times in 70 years of playing and the first time we ended up getting the point. I should not boast. :o :D