Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: fishingbuddha on November 25, 2006, 09:49:01 PM
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headed up to the thompson for the day. roads were pretty bad this morning at about 4am but managed to get to the thompson. very very cold weather. took a first timer up there today and he hooked into a 15 lb steely. nothing beats watching a buddy hook his first steelhead.
all in all a very cold and slow day. one 2lb rainbow and one 15 lb steelhead
both caught using shrimp, corkie and wool.
ran into another buddy who had caught two steelhead today.
sorry no pics. the battery ran out. managed to get some of my buddy playing the fish but not the actual fish.
best part of the trip was the fact that my buddy had a birds nest and his weight was stuck on a rock. when he finally untangled the nest and tried to pull the weight out a steelhead starting tugging back.
this has happened to me many times on the thompson.
fishingbuddha
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Where's the Thopson River?
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Glad to hear your buddy got one!!, thanks for the report
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Where's the Thopson River?
^ THOMPSON VALLEY
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I'd consider the thompson more of a graduate fishery, very harsh conditions... My dad came close to being hit by a semi through the canyon due to black ice, and has never gone back.
Think twice before you consider a river like that, and have chains on hand for the freak snow storms that come up... Many people have died on the stretch of highway.
And be prepared for windshield damage, rocks all over the highway...
Cheers,
Nicole
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Agreed!
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"Where's the Thopson River?"
I would suggest having a look around Spences Bridge to start with.
As others have said do your homework, it can be quite dangerous. Both the driving and the wading.
I have heard many people on the T describe the rocks as being like watermelons covered in grease, and I would agree. The only time I wade at the T is to land fish and that is done very carefully.
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I have to agree with the etiquette part. Don't ever beek in below someone who's working a run.
Black ice is indeed bad up there but the worst thing driving thru the canyon was the fog.
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Another note for any newbies, there are no hatchery fish to kill on the Thompson, it's all catch and release at this time of year...
And that's 1 of two rivers I have fallen in on, the rocks are punishing and the most slippery I've ever enountered... No joking!
To really respect the nature and fight of a Thompson fish, I think you should catch at least 20 local steelhead first...
Consider it a badge of honor and something to graduate into... That way it's the most rewarding.
Cheers,
Nicole
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"Where's the Thopson River?"
I would suggest having a look around Spences Bridge to start with.
As others have said do your homework, it can be quite dangerous. Both the driving and the wading.
I have heard many people on the T describe the rocks as being like watermelons covered in grease, and I would agree. The only time I wade at the T is to land fish and that is done very carefully.
Definately slick cleats are a good idea when ever you fish the Thom. I have also found a wading staff to be a big help when walking on those rocks both in and out of the water.
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i should mention that the newbie that came with me possibly ended up with frost bite in the hands.
this place is extremely cold. in fact so cold that my beverages have become frozen in the car.
i don't fish the vedder for steelhead but if its anything like salmon fishing the vedder then the thompson is not like that at all. in fact i only fish holes where no else is within eye shot.
by the way, take the advice of others. the road is extremely dangerous.
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I would imagine if i were to go fishing to the tompson river not a good idea to fish alone or what? This river is on my (TO FISH LIST) this season of steel.thanx!
C.K.
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In my own opinion, never fish a flow along where not many people are around. It's dangerous. If some unforseen situation happens, there's no one around to land a helping hand.
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Wow, you guys are making this sound like a intense crazy river of death ;D Never fished it, but want to in the coming seasons, sounds like good advice from everyone.
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Standard reading for the Thompson.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a391/troutbreath/eCover_Will.jpg)
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"Wow, you guys are making this sound like a intense crazy river of death Never fished it, but want to in the coming seasons, sounds like good advice from everyone."
I have never had any trouble at the T, as I said the only time I enter the water is to release fish.
The advice about cleats was very good if you are planning on wading alot, I don't bother though.
As for the road, it would be a nightmare right now but when it warms up a bit it will be all good and safe enough for anyone who is smart and patient enough to adjust their driving to the conditions.
The most important part of the etiquette for the river IMO is how the fish are treated. This is a threatened run your C+R skills must be top notch (not out of the water for more than a couple seconds, keep them off the rocks etc, etc). Be happy with one fish a day, don't try to C+R too many alot of people will call it a day if they are lucky enough to land 2 or 3.
The most important thing to remember is that you are on hallowed ground up there, enjoy it, it is world class! I have fished quite a few rivers for steel and the T is unique, the fish are superb!
If you do go respect and enjoy it! Talk to other guys about the etiquette required, if you want to fish a run where some guys are already fishing just go talk to them in a friendly manner! Most of all respect the fish they are some of the finest this planet has to offer and are in big trouble!
PS check the regs as they are extensive for this river and it is a classified water!
Here is a pic of my first ever fish from the T ( I rarely take pics when I am fishing alone but I made an exception for this event ; ;D )
(http://gallery.flybc.ca/albums/album18/tfish.jpg)
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For one the rocks are slippery like they're covered in ice, two u have the wind howling so u can freeze to death, three u fall in ur dead! I still go every year! ;D No its a good river, very big and powerful. Respect ur limits and the rivers and u might come out ok! If u dont well then deal with god, and mother nature and see what they have planned for u!
ITs a really good producer for steelhead, but no one really fishes it for the springs in the summer! They are a blast! I still want to catch my first thompson steely!
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I have to agree with the comments above... I've rafted the thompson and crawled around on those rocks a fair bit, they are indeed extremely slippery, this time of year with conditions at hand i would consider spiked wading boots a mandatory item. I see by the comments here that most avid steelheaders , regardless of skill, will view these comments as a ploy to keep folks away from the river, beleieve me guys and gals, it's no ploy. I would recommend that anyone who wishes to fish this river, get a copy of the freshwater regulations, listed in the first bunch of pages is an article on fishing edicit, commonly encountered on "classified waters". One will benefit greatly by being familiar with and practicing the recommendations in that article. For those who are also new, a classified waters liscence is required along with your standard liscence and steelhead tag. It is a catch and release fishery only. By this time of year, if your new, i would think twice about planning a trip, from what i hear, things are winding down anyways. The dire hard guys that know the river well may still pull the odd fish so if you have a chance to tag along with one, try it out.