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[mykisscrazy]

Was invited up to Wigwam Inn for the Weekend. After settling in and going for a hike with the family, put my waders on and began the slog through a lot of tidal mud flat to the Indian River. If I had another hour would have been able to make it above the tidal influence....next time! Fished a few tidal runs which were quite deep and had lots of cover. Unfortunately nothing for me. Did not see any fry at all, but the amount of Mergansers and other diving ducks around tells me fishing will pick up soon..

[Sandhead]

Such a beautiful river...

fish it alot during the pink run.... never been for the chum

This time of year i'm hitting other flows.... or if i'm on the salt i'm prawning

love to see the photos. did you hike up the logging road or hike up the actual tidal area?
last year i got my 18 foot lund stuck in the river
This year i'll use the dock and hike the road with the dog in pursuit of shooting some elk with my camera

[Big Rob]

fished the Indian a lot in the late 6os and thrrough out the 70s. Weldwood logged the area then and we would quite often get a ride up to four mile and then fish downto the logging camp.The steelhead inthe Indian river were big fish. my largest was about 19 lb. my dad had a one over 20 and other fishermen we knew landed fish over 20 lbs, The river has  a nice run of summer cutthroat. Released one about 6lbs in the early 80s. Have not fished the Indian for about 20 years. No where to  leave a boat  I heard fishermen were not welcome on the road. Fished the upper Pitt a lot in the 70s never caught a steel head over 11 lb.  Indian has the same flow as the alouette  whilethe pitt is at least three times the flow. Lots of good trips to the Indian river in my past

[troutbreath]

By the 80s the logging had wiped out most runs there. Probably still lots of junk left behind from them. I drove down from Squamish a few times.

[mykisscrazy]

Did not make it to the road, the only way to the Indian from Wigwam is via the tidal mud flat. The walk around to the tidal section of the river took around 45 min. It was around 4:30pm when I finally started to fish. As I mentioned before if I only had another hour I would have been able to make it to above the tidal influence.
It was great to hear that once upon a time it was a great place to fish. One of my old professors had a place up there that he used in the 60's and 70's and he had nothing but good things to say about the river...and nothing but bad things to say about Weldwood...
Can one still drive to the Indian from Squamish? I heard that a bridge is out and there is no plans to fix it...
Does anyone know if there were or is Summer Steelhead there? Once upon a time the Cap and the Seymour had a good number, I would imagine the Indian would be the same.
All I know I can hardly wait to be invited back!

[jetboatjim]

If you are caught up there by natives you will be kicked out, they have been given all rights to access (meaning we were sold out again). I have a few friends that were chased out (not the friendly way). some fellows from the seymore hatchery were kicked out recently, perhaps you can check with them.........Dont really care, just sayin'

[spey]

,

[mykisscrazy]

Hello Jet Boat Jim

Thanks for the info. I will get in touch with the Hatchery and see which band to get in touch with. I heard the Seymour Hatchery couldn't get in because the road was out, as well there was some sort of misunderstanding between DFO and the Squamish First Nations.

[steeleagle]

it's not the Squamish first nations land up there, it's the burrard reserve up off of dollarton hwy. The band office is off of Sleil-Waututh rd half way up the hill. I've done lots of work for them and there real nice people, some older gentmen were telling me about the battles between squamish people and there own, the Idian river and burrard inlet is what they got out of the deal. Meanwhile Squamish band owns land along the north shore right up to the second narrows, is the richest reserve. Go up to the office and let them know what your doing and where your going and they should be able to help you out by bouncing radio signals up to there crew logging,  but you never know who your going to run into up there so be on the look out.

[mykisscrazy]

Phoned Seymour River Hatchery to find out how to go about accessing the Indian River.
Yes it is all private, but as long as one contacts the band as mentioned by Steeleagle there shouldn't be a problem.
But as Steeleagle mentioned you never know who one will run into.

[cutthroat22]

The last time I was up there, i believe it was 2 summers ago, we ran into a Native gentleman on a mountain bike.  He was more then friendly and was happy to share some information about the area.  Although the road is not scheduled to be repaired by the government he told us it WILL be repaired by private companies.  He also said there would be more logging up there and possibly some ecotourism with a lodge located where there is currently an abandoned shed (not far form the mouth of the Indian river).  There have also been Elk transplanted up there which he said would be the reason the Government would use for not repairing the road even though it's not really the reason.  

Basically what I got out of this conversation is the area would be closed to the public but open to industry and the wealthy who would stay at the new lodge.

There is an official sign posted at the gate that states that no vehicles are allowed past the gate.

I have also heard through the grapevine that the bridge that was completely out has been repaired with a brand new bridge but cannot confirm that.

[VAGAbond]

Scratch another access location!

In my lifetime (I'm getting old.) this province has gone from wide open access to severely restricted access in the southern parts.   So far there has always been another location so we have been OK but I am getting very concerned.   Every time I go out, somewhere we used to go is newly closed.    On my recent trip to the Stamp, access to the Money pool is blocked with a great freakin mansion.   True there are bypass routes but these too are at risk.

I predict that within 10 years, access will be largely gone except for some restricted park routes.  Think of the recent dispute over Furry Creek foreshore where private owners try to block public access and probably will get away with it.

It is becoming urgent to convince governments of all levels, tourist associations and private owners that access is a public good.   In parts of Europe, private owners cannot close off traditional trails.    We need that in law here.

[troutbreath]

So true, all rec users are starting to feel the pinch. A major change in promoting the outdoors here as a healthy lifestile is needed. Needs a collaborative responce from all rec users to be affective.

[jimmywits]

Scratch another access location!

In my lifetime (I'm getting old.) this province has gone from wide open access to severely restricted access in the southern parts.   So far there has always been another location so we have been OK but I am getting very concerned.   Every time I go out, somewhere we used to go is newly closed.    On my recent trip to the Stamp, access to the Money pool is blocked with a great freakin mansion.   True there are bypass routes but these too are at risk.

I predict that within 10 years, access will be largely gone except for some restricted park routes.  Think of the recent dispute over Furry Creek foreshore where private owners try to block public access and probably will get away with it.

It is becoming urgent to convince governments of all levels, tourist associations and private owners that access is a public good.   In parts of Europe, private owners cannot close off traditional trails.    We need that in law here.

I could not agree with you more, and I wrote a letter on this subject and sent it in to BC Outdoors magazine and got absolutely no response, not even acknowledgment of receipt. This is a very real and increasingly serious problem, and it is good to read a thread on it. It really Irks me when every season another one of our access roads or 4x4 trails is blocked off with a gate or huge pile of rocks etc.. Most full time working, tax paying anglers do not get the time to set off on long treks before they get to the (in my case lakes) water-body they want to fish, only to have to hike all the way back out after-wards. Many times I may only have half a day to go fishing, so access is important.
The urban lakes while better than nothing are not the same experience as a lake in the woods!

[jetboatjim]

even if you travel up there by jet boat the Natives will ask you to leave...