Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: frozensalmon on February 26, 2012, 06:53:04 PM

Title: stave river steelhead
Post by: frozensalmon on February 26, 2012, 06:53:04 PM
Hello there

I talked to a mission local tackle shop owner a few days ago about steelheads and apparently they have a hatchery program already
he told me these fish normally show up later than vedder ones coz it's different system, and it's normally around March
Since I don't really wanna drive all the way to vedder river I think it's a close river I can give it a shot , i have been eager to go fishing steelhead for so long

did anyone have any success these near years around March or any experience to share?

Thanks for your infomaiton



EDIT: and I also don't know if that steelhead show up later rumor is true or not lol maybe he is trying to get me to buy stuff gear up for fishing lol
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: typhoon on February 26, 2012, 07:00:55 PM
Later means mid-end January. The Stave gets a small run (I heard it was around 400 fish). Most are caught as bycatch from those fishing for cutties.
If you actually want to catch a steelhead go to the Vedder.
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: Blackgivesway2blue on February 26, 2012, 07:07:39 PM
if you dont want to drive to the vedder than why bother steelheading? go fish the vedder, your highest chance of getting a fish is there
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: frozensalmon on February 26, 2012, 07:10:22 PM
I will make a trip to vedder maybe next week weekdays and see how it goes, gonna get up like 5am    :P

edit: any info about stave will be much appreciated too!
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: DanJohn on February 26, 2012, 07:31:07 PM
I was at the stave today. Was a gorgeous day! Watching my girlfriend learn to cast (Fly), and not do horribly, through a layer of snow while the sun warms your face. It felt magical really.
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: cohoaaron on February 26, 2012, 07:58:19 PM
I heard that the stave is getting a very good return of steelhead this year......
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: Rodney on February 26, 2012, 10:24:43 PM
For background information on Stave River's winter steelhead fishery, take a look at these five videos by Chris. Bederko on the forum is the one in the video so he can answer more questions if there is any.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIB9M9cUFk0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jTCBd6z3HM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbeJPiZCsfs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO3cp-wQslk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WI-9DXx-gs
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: frozensalmon on February 26, 2012, 10:28:54 PM
thx for the video rodney
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: silver ghost on February 27, 2012, 01:57:01 AM
frozensalmon you haven't posted in a while eh? must have been in the freezer  ;D
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: bigblue on February 27, 2012, 07:41:05 AM
Frozensalmon, if a river has a hatchery program and open to steelhead retention, it's worthwhile to give them a shot as they could face less fishing pressure than Vedder.
So go out and explore! :)
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: typhoon on February 27, 2012, 08:27:38 AM
I wouldn't say that the Stave doens't get much pressure. I tried it one day when the Vedder was blown and in a 200 yard stretch there were 9 guys fishing. People fishing per fish is way higher on the Stave.
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: Brian the fisherman on February 27, 2012, 10:55:25 AM
you better get up earlier than 5 am. I am a local. i get up at 545 sometimes 6 and im on the river by 610Am. There are a number of anglers in the hotspots at that time already.
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: Sandman on February 27, 2012, 08:43:33 PM
The difficulty with the Stave is the fact it is a VERY short river so the high numbers of anglers are crowded onto the few fishable runs that are accessible to wading.  It is a little better if you have a boat to access the islands.  On the Chilliwack/Vedder, while the number of anglers is high, especially at the prime runs, it is a much longer river so you can usually still find runs with little or no pressure if you are willing to hike a bit.  I spent a Saturday morning last week on the Chilliwack with over a kilometer of river above Borden all to myself.  Of course last Sunday it was obscene with no less than 6 anglers fishing a small run I enjoy above Allison Canyon that is barley big enough for 2, but I was able to find a couple of runs Mid and Lower River with only one other angler fishing each.
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: hue-nut on February 27, 2012, 09:20:09 PM
I will make a trip to vedder maybe next week weekdays and see how it goes, gonna get up like 5am    :P

edit: any info about stave will be much appreciated too!


hmmmm Frozen Salmon, with all these guys trying to convince you to not fish the Stave, I'd say it probably is worth your while to hit it, sounds like people are getting into fish
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: SS Fintastic on February 27, 2012, 09:21:03 PM
I'd stay away from the the Stave if I were you. Tamahi is the place to be
Title: Re: stave river steelhead
Post by: Sandman on February 27, 2012, 10:02:35 PM

hmmmm Frozen Salmon, with all these guys trying to convince you to not fish the Stave, I'd say it probably is worth your while to hit it, sounds like people are getting into fish

I am equally impotent on the Stave as I am on the Vedder this year.  I am hoping the fly fishing picks up with the temperature in March.