Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: Sterling C on July 01, 2005, 11:29:39 AM

Title: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Sterling C on July 01, 2005, 11:29:39 AM
So, lets hear everyones opening day reports.

My day went something like this, went to bed last night at 2 after I got home from hockey. Got up at 5, was on the river by 6. Figured I would fish the meat holes before the crowdes got there. WRONG. Of course its full of people by the time I get there. Luckliy for me, they were ignoring the prime holding water at the top end of the pool. Fished it fruitlessly for a while with no sucess. Moved along and found some decent water around from the crowds. A couple drifts through the pool and my float goes shooting down. @##$ I missed it. Next cast through the same area, and the float goes down again. Wham! fish on. I get it close to shore to see that its a smaller fish either a dolly or a jack. Unfortunatly it comes unbuttoned right by shore and I never get a good look. Later on I went down to check out lickman/peach, lots of people, no fish. I hope the rest of you guys had better luck.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: johnny on July 01, 2005, 11:42:07 AM
At least you felt a tug! Thanks for the report, looking forward to more..
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Fish Assassin on July 01, 2005, 01:19:16 PM
At 2:00 AM I was still watching television ;D
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: steelieman on July 01, 2005, 04:20:50 PM
Got to Lickman around 7:00 a.m and fished all the way down but did not see anything. Got a small whitefish and that was it. SPoke to a few people and nothing to report either.

Maybe next week!!!
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Gooey on July 01, 2005, 04:29:18 PM
Bug Pumper, my dad and I hit all our favorite spots from last year.  Traffic was fairly light on the river in the areas we fished.  Despite the lack of pressure, we did not see or hear of any fish being caught. 

Stopped at freds...those guys are clowns.  Told us there are fish in the river, people get them every year omn opening day.  Asked if he knew what #'s were in the hatchery: 1!  1 spring in the hatchery and nothing weighed in...looks like the vedder reds are late too.

Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Fish Assassin on July 01, 2005, 04:39:56 PM
Wait for couple of weeks.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: mooch on July 01, 2005, 08:06:49 PM
The reds are right on time. People who work at Freds are not clowns. I know the people who work there and they have always been helpful.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Gooey on July 01, 2005, 09:26:21 PM
"The reds are right on time"....What are you saying mooch...are the reds there are not?!?

Numerous people on this board have complained how freds exagerates the productivety of the river for a number of different species....today was no exception.  As others reported when they visitted Freds NOTHING had been weighed in...but "they in the river"....ya right.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: miketheflyguy on July 01, 2005, 10:11:13 PM
hmmmmm.... whats going on with the Springs this year?
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: allwaysfishin on July 01, 2005, 11:12:09 PM
now now, let's not knock the valley folk too hard  ;D
this run of reds is NOT to be expected to be the size of the fall runs, never has been. most days you gotta work for these reds. a million guys on the river in all the "meat holes" will spook fish into not biting. They are there, talked to two good friends from abby, 8lbs jack taken in the upper within 2 km of hatchery at first light. caught on procure roe and 18 inch leader under a float. 2nd fish reported was a 21 lb'er taken from same run 1/2 hour later, taken on a float drifted 50/50 T spoon of all things. These are confirmed kills and tomorrow i'll be having vedder red spring on the barbee thanks to a couple good valley folk.
also, natives were observed netting in the extreme lower canal in the past week, probably not a good thing for opening day success.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Toprod on July 02, 2005, 08:10:26 AM
 In my experience sometimes there are a few fish around on opening day, but normally about July 7th to the 15th is when they really start coming through. Also, the guys at Freds aren't clowns. Even though I don't know them personally, they have always been helpful and have given me a few tips that has helped increase my catch rate.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: chris gadsden on July 02, 2005, 08:18:12 AM
While conducting my CVRCC river patrols yesterday morning I noticed one group of anglers catching and retaining some of the steelhead smolts. I did not stay long enought to see if the went over their 4 fish a day limit. Usually the CO's are out checking the anglers on the oprning weekend checking compliance.

I question the taking of these smolts and there was some talk a while back of cancelling. Some say they are residual fish but I am not sure on that. Not to hyjack this thread was is your opinion on it. Maybe if you wish to answer I will start another thread under general discussion.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Gooey on July 02, 2005, 10:17:35 AM
I don't want to bash the guys at freds but they always seem to exaggerate the numbers.  I am not expecting huge numbers of reds but for the last 5 years I have alway had success through out the river.

Yesterday morning, we hit the most productive 2 holes we found for reds over the last 2 season.  The first hole was empty when we arrived ad first light.  My dad bug pumper and I fish blades, wool, and some great coho and spring roe.  That hole produced nothing that moring...I am sure there where no fish in that run.  We saw the same results at 4 or 5 other spots and heard the same results from other fishermen.  As of 4pm Freds had not weigh ins.  And we have now heard of 2 confirmed kills thru this board.  That is very skimpy considering the number of fishermen we saw.  So my question is why would the guy at freds say they are in???  did he snorkel the river and see the fish, as it was opening day there couldnt be previous activity reports, and the hatchery reported a single red in its possesion.  I just would like to hear them call it as it is for once! 

I am running out now, but I think there should be another thread started re the rainbow/steelie smolt limits...I heard some interesting info that I dont have time to post now...later gang.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: allwaysfishin on July 02, 2005, 07:05:29 PM
solid report from some good friends today, landed a 14 lbs vedder spring in the lower river. not gonna go into too many details other than that. they really ARE there  ;)
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: allwaysfishin on July 02, 2005, 09:07:30 PM
one day they will learn  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: pepsitrev on July 02, 2005, 10:13:29 PM
yep sounds like the day we had too but we were on the fraser. fished the hope area and nothing much happening . wind blew like a banshee and saw a few sturgeon rising. tried drifting and tossing spoons but no luck. should pick up soon just like the vedder will. as for freds i also find they stretch the fish stories a bit i think so they sell more tackle. good luck and see ya on the river soon. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: summersteel on July 03, 2005, 02:56:15 PM
I wasn't really too surprised by the days results, its usually the best from mid to end of the month. Its just funny when a guy says " they're in there" ( Ya.. no kidding pal, all six of them) I find freds guys to be pretty helpfull myself.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: allwaysfishin on July 03, 2005, 05:49:44 PM
i wonder, maybe if all the real floatfishers got together and scared off the freakin morons who line up at the gauntlet under kieth wilson bridge bottom bouncing with thier 4 to 10 ft leaders, maybe some more fish will feel safe enough to swim up river past them all. my god, i saw some digitil pics today of the antics and gear set ups and the sheer number of guys on both sides of the river at the bridge, my friends counted 5 floatfishers and 30 or so snaggers.
there's a lotta clowns out there who shouldn't have fishing liscences.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Fish Assassin on July 03, 2005, 06:23:31 PM
What is it about the Keith Wilson bridge that attracts the flossers ? Accessibility ? Holding area ?
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: summersteel on July 03, 2005, 07:12:06 PM
I think the bridge is the first good holding spot for them, so a number of them will build up there.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Bantam_50 on July 03, 2005, 07:12:58 PM
What is it about the Keith Wilson bridge that attracts the flossers ? Accessibility ? Holding area ?

Lets  just say ..."birds of a feather flock together."  ::)
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: mark on July 03, 2005, 07:39:05 PM
This is the thing guys we need to start a collition on getting the fisheries to make people take a small test before receiving a fishing license. For example; fish identification and so on and so on. Just as you need to if you want to go hunting. Its not a big deal it is about ignorance is no excuse point blank. If people go fishing and don't know what the hell they are doing according to the regulations set in place then they have no business on the water. If people had a little knowledge about fish and how to even handle them it would make it that much better. ;)
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: BwiBwi on July 03, 2005, 08:43:57 PM
Ouch I got out of school years ago I wouldn't want to memorize a whole lot of fish names.
But I do think DFO should take the time to publish a book with local fish identification photos.
And make it mendatory for all anglers to get the book.  ;)
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Fish Assassin on July 03, 2005, 08:52:22 PM
Just pick up a Freshwater and Saltwater regulations at your local tackle shop. They have pictures and identification of the fish in them.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Sterling C on July 03, 2005, 10:33:42 PM
I think you missed a little something called sarcasm ;)
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: BwiBwi on July 04, 2005, 03:34:03 AM
Ya but the regulation only have a limited number of photos for identification. Compare the photos to the page listing catch limits, it's kind of short.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Fish Assassin on July 04, 2005, 09:39:22 PM
Before everyone slams Fred's for their report, it is worthwhile to note that all fishermen weigh their fish in at Fred's
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: allwaysfishin on July 04, 2005, 11:35:35 PM
i have personally weighed one fish after a vedder trip and that was at on the way store, 10 or so years ago. 54 lbs dressed white spring. almost no one i fish with bothers to wiegh in fish at fred's or elsewere for that matter. But as a guy who has been updating a very popular local fishing report for a while now, i can say that you can't always blame the reporter, sometimes reports from fishermen are exagerated as well. like the guys who reported last week to me that the skagit was high and dirty and 2 weeks from being fishable. Total baloney!!! It's perfect up therre now. And the guys that said a certain interior lake was fishing awesome and i already knew that it had been appocalyptically winter killed. So , go easy on the poor valley folk  ;D
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: Rodney on July 05, 2005, 10:17:30 AM
Ouch I got out of school years ago I wouldn't want to memorize a whole lot of fish names.
But I do think DFO should take the time to publish a book with local fish identification photos.
And make it mendatory for all anglers to get the book.  ;)

BwiBwi, I forgot to answer this the other day. If you want, DFO and Freshwater Fisheries Society publish fish id cards that can be carried when fishing. The cards feature a picture of the fish on the front, and its information on the back. They are free but usually only available at events such as the one that I just put on recently.

The cards available are: 6 pacific salmon species, 4 local trout species, 4 rockfish species. I also have a A4 size waterproof groundfish id sheet. If you want, or if anyone is interested, you are welcome to come over to pick these up. Just let me know.
Title: Re: Opening day on the vedder
Post by: BwiBwi on July 05, 2005, 01:19:58 PM
Thank you, I got those ;D.
We published weekly magazine 'Nature and Living' some years back and still has the research material for BC wildlife and plants  ;)