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[KarateKick]

I have a couple of questions about helping kids catch fish during this time of year:

1. If they don't care what kind of fish they catch, is it a easier to target pikeminnow than trout in the lower Fraser?  Is there anything easier than pikeminnow or trout?

2. How should I target either species?

3. During what months does freshet make the water too muddy to catch anything?

4. Is fish better at smelling or hearing, i.e., when freshet reduces visibility, is it better to use bait or to use spinners?

5. Can I get better visibility by going closer to the sea, or do I have to stay away from the river altogether?  Where are good spots at local beaches?

6. Where in Steveston is a good spot for casting lures, like this?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4-3lKmroo8

7. Would it help to go to a smaller local river such as the Capilano?

8. Do you have any other advice for a dumb parent and sad kid who haven't caught anything for a long time?

Thank you.

[crab]

Pikeminnows are everywhere in the Lower Fraser from May to Sept. It's probably easier to fish them using bait because of the water visibility.
They will take any bait, like shrimps, worms, flour dough etc. Fishing is usually better around high tide, and the fish are usually at the bottom in shallow water near the shore.

[Rodney]

Between now and the end of July, your best chance of catching pikeminnows in the Lower Fraser River is by using bait. Water visibility is zero regardless where you go in this system. Dew worm, dough balls, salmon eggs, krill, shrimp all work well. You are unlikely to encounter cutthroat trout, but you might bump into the odd bull trout if you are using salmon eggs. These have to be released with care like all wild trout and char. Pikeminnows caught during this time of the year in the Fraser are actually not that big. You are more likely to encounter big ones in August and September.

The video on spincasting for pikeminnow was filmed in September, when water clarity is quite good. That type of fishing does not really start until the first or second week of August, when freshet starts tapering off.

There are a few places in the Fraser Valley where you are more likely to catch bigger pikeminnow right now. Cultus Lake in Chilliwack, Harrison River around Kilby Beach, Stave River are all excellent spots. The water is clear, the fish are actively feeding and the scenery is better.

[Archer]

It sounds like your in the Richmond area. Dump Bar is kid friendly and when i took my young girls there last summer we were catching fish all day. Sculpins, Peamouth Chub, and a Bull Trout. Using a bar rig with worms.  Dump Bar is off of Triangle RD. off 6rd at the end. You take Triangle and go East till it turns into dirt road along the river (watch out for dirtbikers) and there is a turn off down to a small beach...google map is useful before you go.

I took the kids to Cultis last weekend, main beach dock. Nice clear water. Fished for a few hours floating worm, or power bait single egg. Only thing we caught was a Cultis Sculpin when I bottom fished with a worm. We saw a good 4 pound pikeminnow swim by...so there in there

[Rodney]

It is still a bit early for Cultus Lake if you are fishing from shore but it's not impossible. A week ago when Chris and I were there, we were able to find lots of bites under the float simply by casting from the dock.

Dump Bar is a good option. Other options include London's Landing, No. 1 Road Pier. Information can be found at:

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/articles/region_two/tidal_fraser_river.html

[KarateKick]

Rod, I am looking at this:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/blog/2010/05/07/the-muddy-fraser-produced/

I guess that was in Steveston?  Can you provide more details of the bait and rig you used?

[Rodney]

This was at Dump Bar, but you can pretty much do the same type of fishing anywhere along the Tidal Fraser River.

The rig used is explained in this video:

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/video/how_to_fish/tidal_fraser_bottom_setup.html

The bait used is cured salmon roe.

[Archer]

Barry's shop is just up the road from dump bar.  They will set you up with the inexpensive gear you need (T-bar set up, cured roe or worms, led). buy a bell, good to have, and maybe a rod holder but there are tree stumps you can use to rest your rods.   

[Knnn]

Have you thought of trying to fish a small stocked lake (like Hasting, LaFarge, Rice, Como Green Timbers etc), especially after it has recently been stocked. 

Where, when and what can be found here.

http://www.gofishbc.com/fish-stocking-reports.aspx

Last week I was at rice lake, where  I caught a couple of fish on a sinking fly but I also watched a couple of guys catch their limit simply by casting some "power bait" out into the middle of the lake on a sliding lead weight.

Simple and effective, just like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o52PCl2Xg68

I would not recommend the Cap, tough river to fish and difficult to access.

Hope this helps, you are doing an awesome thing getting your kid(s) out fishing.

[KarateKick]

This one made my jaw drop:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/video/video_blog/2010/07-07-summer-fishing-in-vancouver.html

He was catching one after another, in early July.  I am catching nothing in the same river at the same time of year!

[barklee]

Truthfully it is easier to catch pickeminnow, peamouth chub and sculpin in freshet Fraser river than trout in lakes I find. After a few minutes with bottom rig and bait like dew worms you will get a bite garaunteed. More bites closer to high tide than low tide but still possible. In July the temps at lake are warmer so fishing for trout early morning or sundown.

You can fish for them anywhere on river. There are a lot of docks on richmond side and some on vancouver side even queensborough and new west. Sattelite google map and pick a dock.

[Shawn6o4]

I can't imagine your tossing out our set up and not catching anything. It's just the most simple fishing in my opinion.  Ive been fishing the fraser for chubs since I could remember and have used some pretty random setups but still managed to catch fish.

If you still have my email, email me. Or message me on here, if you want to meet somewhere along the fraser in vancouver and I can show you. It seems everyone is giving.you proper info some info I never received,  but maybe you need to be shown how to set things up!

If your interested contact me! Ps; I'm no serial killer

This one made my jaw drop:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/video/video_blog/2010/07-07-summer-fishing-in-vancouver.html

He was catching one after another, in early July.  I am catching nothing in the same river at the same time of year!