Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: fishman254 on October 12, 2017, 05:32:08 AM

Title: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: fishman254 on October 12, 2017, 05:32:08 AM
Looking for water levels (or flow level), for boating, at or below Ruskin dam on Stave River. Not interested in Stave River above the dam, arguably. Anybody know where that info is available?
Thanks!

FYI: I see Harrison River levels, etc., but not Stave at or below Ruskin dam, here:
https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/report/real_time_e.html?stn=08MG014
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: typhoon on October 12, 2017, 08:41:52 AM
Stave River doesn't have a hydrometer. The water level is mostly dependent on the Fraser River level since it backs up all the way to the dam at high tide.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: RalphH on October 12, 2017, 09:13:24 AM
they used make the expected cubic meter per second water releases available though I can't find anything on their Ruskin websites
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: typhoon on October 12, 2017, 09:18:28 AM
they used make the expected cubic meter per second water releases available though I can't find anything on their Ruskin websites
Yes, finding coho is often more dependent on flow than water level so it would be nice to understand that.
If all you care about is running up to the toilet bowl then staying in the channel on the east side is almost always possible.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: mcallagan on October 12, 2017, 01:46:31 PM
The water levels have changed since the same time last year.
Was up there on Oct. 6th and was really surprised by how much.
Going up to the Toilet Bowl was really shallow especially on the West side of the run, use to be really deep along there in the last of the run.
I would say, IMHO, that once you go up past the pylons stay to the West of the run.
I didn't go up or down the West side of the river, I stayed out of the hoard's way.

If you have a prop just go slow and keep a good eye out for the bottom.
River is very clear so there should be no problem seeing it.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: GordJ on October 12, 2017, 02:29:43 PM
With the Fraser as low as it is I would hesitate to go over to the trailer court area. I was cruising by for a look and the sounder was reading between 1 and 2 feet. Of course tides will change depths but it is very low right now.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: Blood_Orange on October 12, 2017, 05:55:28 PM
I went out over the weekend and walked right across the river in waders... water level didn't get much higher than a couple inches above my knees. Went all the way over to take a look at the old pilings on the SE side of the river. Crossed two main channels on foot. Strange to see it so low. The channel on the far East side looked like it's still got enough water in it for boats... probably  :P
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: fishman254 on October 18, 2017, 09:23:43 AM
Great info, guys!
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: bbronswyk2000 on October 18, 2017, 04:28:19 PM
Water level is much higher now. I would say its up an average of about 3 feet.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: Sinergy on October 18, 2017, 07:18:39 PM
Hey all sorry it's a bit off topic of the post but somewhat related. My friends went there like Monday and they were only catching spawned chum. They said it's because the low water they couldn't get up before. So with the water rising. Are fresh ones gonna come in for the weekend or is chum fishing there for freshies over?
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: Blood_Orange on October 18, 2017, 07:18:59 PM
Is the Stave fishable after a lot of rain? I'm hoping to fish somewhere on Friday after work but assume that most rivers will be blown out by the weather this week. Hoping the dam will prevent the visibility on the Stave from going to hell?
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: TimL on October 18, 2017, 07:29:27 PM
Hey all sorry it's a bit off topic of the post but somewhat related. My friends went there like Monday and they were only catching spawned chum. They said it's because the low water they couldn't get up before. So with the water rising. Are fresh ones gonna come in for the weekend or is chum fishing there for freshies over?
Last season we were catching fresh ones in early-mid November (around Remembrance day weekend I think) so it's probably not over yet, assuming we are gonna get a good return  ;).
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: wildmanyeah on October 18, 2017, 07:36:37 PM
Is the Stave fishable after a lot of rain? I'm hoping to fish somewhere on Friday after work but assume that most rivers will be blown out by the weather this week. Hoping the dam will prevent the visibility on the Stave from going to hell?

We are at peak run, next two weeks will be great
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: halcyonguitars on October 18, 2017, 07:40:19 PM
I thînk the water level is dam controlled, unaffected by the rains...I think.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: clarki on October 18, 2017, 09:22:29 PM
Is the Stave fishable after a lot of rain? I'm hoping to fish somewhere on Friday after work but assume that most rivers will be blown out by the weather this week. Hoping the dam will prevent the visibility on the Stave from going to hell?
The Stave is very fishable after heavy rains. The water will be high, in the trees and grass, but it will be clear (ish) and fishable.

I thînk the water level is dam controlled, unaffected by the rains...I think.
True, not affected by rains like freestone streams that get high and dirty after a freshet, but they will spill water over the dam in periods of heavy rain. However the excess water that they spill is not dirty or murky and the tailwater below will remain fishable, albeit high.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: sbc hris on October 18, 2017, 09:47:49 PM
There have been years where slides above the dam have caused Hayward lake to dirty right up (and thus Stave River) but 95% of the time, the Stave remains clear when it comes up.
Also, there is a late run component of chum in there (and other rivers) that come in November, and are usually cleaner than the early run fish for some reason.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: fishman254 on October 19, 2017, 05:42:05 AM
I thînk the water level is dam controlled, unaffected by the rains...I think.
This has been my experience, as well.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: fishman254 on October 19, 2017, 05:44:34 AM
There have been years where slides above the dam have caused Hayward lake to dirty right up (and thus Stave River) but 95% of the time, the Stave remains clear when it comes up.
Also, there is a late run component of chum in there (and other rivers) that come in November, and are usually cleaner than the early run fish for some reason.
I've found that fishing super-fast water gets OLDER fish, as does fishing real shallow water. The sweet-spot is about 7' deep in moderate current. Not all will be good fighters, but ENOUGH will be to make it fun. Hehe, I put the boat out in faster water, cast to the moderate-fast water, and that way when I'm playing the fish they can use the faster current below me to FIGHT BETTER.  Tipping your jig with a small amount of coon-stripe shrimp is a key.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: fishman254 on October 19, 2017, 05:47:28 AM
Water level is much higher now. I would say its up an average of about 3 feet.
Same thing on the Harrison.
https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/report/real_time_e.html?stn=08MG014 (https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/report/real_time_e.html?stn=08MG014)
(http://)
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: fishman254 on October 19, 2017, 05:49:57 AM
We are at peak run, next two weeks will be great
From past experience (especially since this is, er, at least was, a low-water year), more chums will be in around early November, but not nearly as fresh of fish. It begins NOW - new water should bring in some chrome!
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: fishman254 on October 19, 2017, 05:53:10 AM
Keep this in mind, however: http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=41492.0 (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=41492.0)
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: Blood_Orange on October 19, 2017, 06:57:49 AM
Keep this in mind, however: http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=41492.0 (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=41492.0)
The construction sounds really cool. If anyone takes video of the helicopter lifting the cable over the river, please send me the Youtube link.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: Hohummm on October 20, 2017, 08:51:58 AM
From past experience (especially since this is, er, at least was, a low-water year), more chums will be in around early November, but not nearly as fresh of fish. It begins NOW - new water should bring in some chrome!

Lots of bright fish moving up on the incoming tide last night.
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: Blood_Orange on October 20, 2017, 08:09:02 PM
Fished Stave today from 3:00 - 6:00pm on the East side. Started north of the toilet bowl then moved to south of the bowl. Caught fish in both locations... they were fresher than what was in the river last week but still nothing silver enough to be worth keeping. Didn't see others catch anything fresh either. Maybe the fish were lower in the river or were intercepted by the gill nets that were out today. Lots more fish in the system though!
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: scouterjames on October 21, 2017, 03:50:21 PM
Where is everybody parking? (a PM is fine if it's some big secret LOL). It's a fairly long drive for me, and don't fancy turning around when I get there (or getting towed!).

TIA!
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: Blood_Orange on October 21, 2017, 04:11:33 PM
Where is everybody parking? (a PM is fine if it's some big secret LOL). It's a fairly long drive for me, and don't fancy turning around when I get there (or getting towed!).
PM'd although it's not a secret: keep going until you find one million illegally parked cars on the side of the road. Then you'll know you've found the spot  ::)
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: scouterjames on October 21, 2017, 05:15:31 PM
PM'd although it's not a secret: keep going until you find one million illegally parked cars on the side of the road. Then you'll know you've found the spot  ::)

thanks B_O!
Title: Re: Stave River water levels below Ruskin dam.
Post by: blaydRnr on October 21, 2017, 09:55:44 PM
PM'd although it's not a secret: keep going until you find one million illegally parked cars on the side of the road. Then you'll know you've found the spot  ::)

I don't think they're enforcing any parking regulations considering most of the construction workers are parked along the same stretch.