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Author Topic: Tidal Fraser River, September 21st 2009  (Read 1965 times)

mastercaster

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Tidal Fraser River, September 21st 2009
« on: September 22, 2009, 07:02:32 AM »

Went out yesterday afternoon about 3:30 in my boat...launched at Brownsville.   Very low tide.  In fact if it wasn't for the fact that it's a 10' flatbottom boat that we could carry down to the water they weren't allowing people to launch.  Went above the Patullo Bridge to have a look and saw nothing.  Figured we'd be beter off going lower down to meet the fish coming up with the tide change so we went a short ways below the bridge.

We never did encounter any large schools coming up but a few smaller schools came abetween 5 and 6:30.  Nothing in the last hour of light despite the tide was still coming in.  Thought for sure there'd be more fish on their way!  We definitely had the feeling that the fishery was coming to an end.

Despite the lack of fish showing themselves we still managed to hook fish, all on the fly.  I had 6 hits and landed them all.  My friend had 2 to the net and one other hit that he missed.  All fish were females.  I thought we did pretty well considering so few heading up unless they were subsurface the whole time.
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funpig

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Re: Tidal Fraser River, September 21st 2009
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2009, 12:03:52 PM »

Fishing was still very good for me and others on Sept 15, 17 and 19 in the Richmond area.  However, the last two days have been very quiet in the same spots and same tidal conditions. 
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fishseeker

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Re: Tidal Fraser River, September 21st 2009
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2009, 01:03:19 PM »

Agreed, there was a definite slow down of activity yesterday.  There were some fishing rising but maybe not enough to induce a bite, I was skunked along with many others.

Maybe it is coming to an end as one would expect but I did experience equally slack periods when the run was supposed to be at its peak.
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Double Underhooks

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Re: Tidal Fraser River, September 21st 2009
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2009, 02:23:12 PM »

I've experienced the same as funpig on the 15-19th and found that the pinks came through after the afternoon peak tide at S.Arm. Perhaps they are coming through Richmond when its dark since peaktide is after 8pm now.

The commercial openings may also be the explanation. Pinks were pretty hard to find the first weekend they were netting.

The run is supposed be last 3 weeks right? This is only the third week since Labour day...

Keeping fingers crossed for one more week of fishing ;)
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Dr. Backlash

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Re: Tidal Fraser River, September 21st 2009
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2009, 03:43:50 PM »

I too have definitely been noticing less fish....this past weekend I hooked into 3 fish and didn't land any of them...my wife hooked and landed a nice big female on Sunday though...yesterday I got out for the last 2 hours of daylight and only saw 1 fish jump, but I hooked into either a Coho or Steelhead and battled it for about 2 minutes...it must have leaped out of the water at least 4 times, crazy head shakes, and then as I was guiding it to shore, it got spooked and did one final leap and the hook popped out...I definitely rushed it to fast and should have played it out a little longer - I guess I was getting anxious as I haven't landed a fish since last Thursday...man can those coho and/or steelhead fight hard!!  It sucks that the high tide is so late in the evening as it makes fishing a little more difficult this week; but I'm heading out now to try my luck anyway...can't wait for the Coho and Chum to start coming in larger numbers!
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mastercaster

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Re: Tidal Fraser River, September 21st 2009
« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2009, 04:41:03 PM »

It sucks that the high tide is so late in the evening as it makes fishing a little more difficult this week; but I'm heading out now to try my luck anyway...can't wait for the Coho and Chum to start coming in larger numbers!

Ya, for the 8-5:00 working man the tides are definitely not in our favour for after work tidal fishing this week so I guess that's all she wrote for this pink year for me because the next two weekends I'll be up at my cabin to get in the last of the lake fishing.  It was fun while it lasted!
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bbronswyk2000

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Re: Tidal Fraser River, September 21st 2009
« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2009, 05:31:11 PM »

mastercaster how was it taking your 10 footer on the Fraser? I ask because I have a 10' Spratley and have been considering taking it out on the tidal Fraser. Do you run a short shaft small outboard on it? How many horse if you do? How do you find it when the tide is ripping? Its so tempting but I just wonder for safety concerns.
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mastercaster

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Re: Tidal Fraser River, September 21st 2009
« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2009, 09:28:28 PM »

I remember in a recent post saying how much you missed your river boat and knowing that you had a Spratley I was thinking...so what's the problem?  Your boat will stack up just fine on the Fraser and not just the lower!  Before I got my 10' welded 4 years ago I used a Flyfisher on the upper Fraser anywhere from Herrling Is. to Hunter Creek over 40 times and my 10' welded aluminum which is far more skookum about the same number.  Once you know the river and how to read currents which I'm sure you do it's a cake walk.  Your welded boat will have no problem handling any torque placed on it. 

My 9.9 Mariner which may be beefed out to a 15 is a short shaft motor.  With 2 people in the boat it flies even during freshet like waters.  I could make good headway in the upper even with three people in the Flyfisher but with the heavier welded 10'er it sucks so I'd rather make two trips in those rare cases when there are 3 of us.  When you're fly fishing out of the boat 2 is maximum anyway. You have a 10 horsepower... right?  In the lower Fraser that's plenty!

The best part is you can make a gazillon trips on one 5 gallon tank of gas.  One thing though....if you're going to run the boat with just you in it you need weight in the front to make it plane quickly.   My big white igloo cooler sufficed nicely.
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bbronswyk2000

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Re: Tidal Fraser River, September 21st 2009
« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2009, 09:59:47 PM »

I remember in a recent post saying how much you missed your river boat and knowing that you had a Spratley I was thinking...so what's the problem?  Your boat will stack up just fine on the Fraser and not just the lower!  Before I got my 10' welded 4 years ago I used a Flyfisher on the upper Fraser anywhere from Herrling Is. to Hunter Creek over 40 times and my 10' welded aluminum which is far more skookum about the same number.  Once you know the river and how to read currents which I'm sure you do it's a cake walk.  Your welded boat will have no problem handling any torque placed on it. 

My 9.9 Mariner which may be beefed out to a 15 is a short shaft motor.  With 2 people in the boat it flies even during freshet like waters.  I could make good headway in the upper even with three people in the Flyfisher but with the heavier welded 10'er it sucks so I'd rather make two trips in those rare cases when there are 3 of us.  When you're fly fishing out of the boat 2 is maximum anyway. You have a 10 horsepower... right?  In the lower Fraser that's plenty!

The best part is you can make a gazillon trips on one 5 gallon tank of gas.  One thing though....if you're going to run the boat with just you in it you need weight in the front to make it plane quickly.   My big white igloo cooler sufficed nicely.

Thanks for the info. Guess the Harrison is another place you take yours? I sold my small outboard with my bigger boat :( So very soon I will be on the lookout for another one. Probably a 9.9 short shaft. If I wait I can get a 4 stroke but the only problem with that is more weight at the back. Dilemma Dilemma
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mastercaster

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Re: Tidal Fraser River, September 21st 2009
« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2009, 07:03:56 AM »

Those 4 stroke motors are little pigs or should I say big pigs.  Much better for the environment, though.  If you were going to go 4 stroke you could put your gas tank up in the front and any other heavier items to alleviate some of the weight or you might consider jimmy rigging a longer tiller arm so you could run the motor from the middle seat.  Guys use this setup all the time in the larger lakes while standing up in their boat looking for cruising fish on the shoals.

Of course if you diet down to a competition 165 lbs. it won't be a problem. ;D

Haven't done the Harrison for a long long time.  Definitely should start going back up there now that fishing opportunities in the other areas I would normally fish at the same time are getting more and more limited.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2009, 07:08:43 AM by mastercaster »
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