but all means take the comparatively short drive to the lower Fraser and catch some nice fish with the rest of us Metro Van denizens.

I won't even look at the exit west on highway 1 from Chilliwack unless I'm going to Costco or some absolute unavoidable neccessity that I have to go west.
The drive to the lower Fraser and back would cancel out any stress relief I got from a days fishing.

I think your disdain of DFO has affected your memory of events...

In 2023, tidal and non-tidal waters of the Fraser opened on Sept 1

In 2021, tidal Fraser opened Sept 3, and to your point non-tidal opened on Sept 11

The Fraser was closed in 2017 and 2019

In 2015, the tidal and non tidal Fraser both opened on Sept 5.

In 2013, the tidal and non tidal opened Aug 30 and Aug 31 respectively.

So as far as I can tell, going back to 2013, the non-tidal Fraser has opened well before Sept 10 (except 2021)  and mostly concurrent with the lower Fraser.

If the non-tidal Fraser is opened later this year, but all means take the comparatively short drive to the lower Fraser and catch some nice fish with the rest of us Metro Van denizens.

So what you are actually saying is that we have been open for Pinks 1 time in the last 12 years on Sept 1st? Not too much different than what I said.

Finally something might be done.  What has occurred there over the last few years is disgusting.  In the past coho would move to the upper river in large numbers, allowing anglers to avoid the crowds if willing to put in some work. There were many lovely runs that held fish.  The runs are still there but hardly any fish return there.   The last three years gigantic deep pools were dug with very little flow. This has resulted in coho becoming disoriented and remaining in the pools, with very few fish moving up the system. 

Any predictions on when the pinks will arrive around the cap or steveston?

first if you haven't,look over the previous discussion here:

https://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=45428.0

this record return isn't money in the bank and DFO forecasts are often well off the mark for reasons discussed in that link.

There are 3 major runs locally; in addition to the Fraser, there is the Squamish & Indian River up Indian Arm via Burrard Inlet. These 2 time a month or more earlier than the Fraser. Neither is included in the DFO pre-season Forecast. The Indian River fish will often be caught off the North Shore beaches in late July and early August though. Fraser runs will usually be in  numbers by late August though  timings can vary up to plus or minus 10 days.

Watch for DFO in season forecasts and for the prognostications of the armchair fisheries scientists who will post here once the 1st test fishery results become available in July.

If they do what they usually do and don't let us in the river until Sept 10th, there can be 200 million pinks for all I care. The fish are pretty much inedible by then. Even with the roe by that date, a lot of the skeins are turning into loose eggs by then.

I think your disdain of DFO has affected your memory of events...

In 2023, tidal and non-tidal waters of the Fraser opened on Sept 1

In 2021, tidal Fraser opened Sept 3, and to your point non-tidal opened on Sept 11

The Fraser was closed in 2017 and 2019

In 2015, the tidal and non tidal Fraser both opened on Sept 5.

In 2013, the tidal and non tidal opened Aug 30 and Aug 31 respectively.

So as far as I can tell, going back to 2013, the non-tidal Fraser has opened well before Sept 10 (except 2021)  and mostly concurrent with the lower Fraser.

If the non-tidal Fraser is opened later this year, but all means take the comparatively short drive to the lower Fraser and catch some nice fish with the rest of us Metro Van denizens.

Any predictions on when the pinks will arrive around the cap or steveston?

starting to show on the east coast of the Island. Know a guy with his first earlier this week. Soon fury creek will be happening like 10-14 days.

I caught like 5 just off jericho beach in a kayak 2 yrs ago. So if there are more this year I'm in for a treat 

With the numbers they are projecting to return in the Lower Mainland, the Fraser River should be awesome this year. Lots of areas in the tidal portion of the Fraser that should fish well. Had great results 2 years ago and the return was nothing near what they are expecting to return this year. Can't wait.

If they do what they usually do and don't let us in the river until Sept 10th, there can be 200 million pinks for all I care. The fish are pretty much inedible by then. Even with the roe by that date, a lot of the skeins are turning into loose eggs by then.