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[roeman]

I moved back to the area in 2019 but since then always fished the Harrison River with a boat in the fall.  Just sold my boat an thought lets give the Vedder a shot.  I have heard about it but I thought I can find a little run and make a few casts.  People crowded on from Yarrow down to Keith Wilson bridge so walked the shore line crossing in the shallows and amazed at the crowds.  Found a small slot against the bank between two crowded areas and started casting in the early morning.  Hooked a hatchery coho with in the first couple minutes then another soon after.  Landing the fish I noticed 4 guys walking down from the overcrowded bar above.  While dealing with the fish and securing both in the gravel with a stick, I go to return to casting and there are 4 guys standing in a small area and crowded me out.  Stood between the four and thought to myself they will move on in a couple minutes.  Could see the coho going by and they would rip the float two or three times every drift.  Two of guys that were right below me actually ran up above the other two and cast at the fish that had swam thru.  Hooked one more and left after only fishing for 45 minutes.  I realize its a busy river but I chose to find a small area away from everyone and to have a good time.  Could not take it anymore, while cleaning the three fish I picked up as many baseball size rocks I could put in my vest, went back to the run and stood in from of the four guys and thru at least 20 rocks into the run.  Smiled and walked away.  When did it become acceptable for this type of behavior, People were actually walking into areas carrying lawn chairs. 

[Fish Assassin]

Getting worse every year.

[psd1179]

"picked up as many baseball size rocks I could put in my vest, went back to the run and stood in from of the four guys and thru at least 20 rocks into the run.  Smiled and walked away. "

 

[RalphH]

Solutions to all of this are obvious but few would surrender their turn at the hog trough. It's our 'right' as Canadians after all.

[wildmanyeah]

I don't no if its different this year but I've seen comments like the OP almost daily on social media.

Vedder is a meat fishery tho IMO, if your looking for peace and tranquility there is other flows, with better and less people. Just might not walk home with a fish and certainly not three.

Q rods photos' of him fishing up river with no one around and a beach full of fish lol

[wildmanyeah]

It's our 'right' as Canadians after all.

lol I just AI'ed this, it was not conclusive but generally leaning towards the Canadian public does not have an inherent right to fish.  That common law and Magna Carta does not protect public fishing rights although many courts still cite to it in discussions of the public right to fish.

I also went does the rabbit hole of inherent rights of first nations vs citizens of Canada.  I think I broke AI

it ended with

"this is one of the most complex and contested areas of Canadian law"

"The tension you perceive is at the heart of reconciliation efforts in Canada. On one hand, the government recognizes that Indigenous rights are inherent, pre-dating the state. On the other, the state maintains that inherent rights are not absolute and must be implemented within the Canadian constitutional framework, including being subject to justifiable infringement. For many Indigenous peoples, the fact that their inherent rights must be continually proven in a colonial legal system is the very contradiction at the root of the struggle"

"Your question highlights the central paradox of the relationship between the Canadian state and First Nations: The inherent rights of Indigenous peoples are affirmed within a legal system that was imposed upon them by a colonizing power"

"In short, your observation captures the core issue: A system based on rights granted by the state has had to figure out how to incorporate pre-existing, inherent rights. The result is a complex legal and political reality where First Nations exercise authority, but are still ultimately nested within the Canadian constitutional order:

[SuperBobby]

lol I just AI'ed this, it was not conclusive but generally leaning towards the Canadian public does not have an inherent right to fish.  That common law and Magna Carta does not protect public fishing rights although many courts still cite to it in discussions of the public right to fish.

I also went does the rabbit hole of inherent rights of first nations vs citizens of Canada.  I think I broke AI

it ended with

"this is one of the most complex and contested areas of Canadian law"

"The tension you perceive is at the heart of reconciliation efforts in Canada. On one hand, the government recognizes that Indigenous rights are inherent, pre-dating the state. On the other, the state maintains that inherent rights are not absolute and must be implemented within the Canadian constitutional framework, including being subject to justifiable infringement. For many Indigenous peoples, the fact that their inherent rights must be continually proven in a colonial legal system is the very contradiction at the root of the struggle"

"Your question highlights the central paradox of the relationship between the Canadian state and First Nations: The inherent rights of Indigenous peoples are affirmed within a legal system that was imposed upon them by a colonizing power"

"In short, your observation captures the core issue: A system based on rights granted by the state has had to figure out how to incorporate pre-existing, inherent rights. The result is a complex legal and political reality where First Nations exercise authority, but are still ultimately nested within the Canadian constitutional order:

Lol.... even AI can see the stupidity and lack of any common sense or logic in the socialistic BS Canadian policies of how we negotiate with the First Nations. Oh wait.... I forgot  the governments of Canada don't actually negotiate with them. They just rob Canadian taxpayers and give the First Nations everything they ask for on a silver platter. 

[RalphH]

lol I just AI'ed this, it was not conclusive but generally leaning towards the Canadian public does not have an inherent right to fish.  That common law and Magna Carta does not protect public fishing rights although many courts still cite to it in discussions of the public right to fish.

oh yeah and so I included the 'right' in quotes. Unlike the UK where common law originated, Canada has for the most part (Quebec excepted and some Maritime Provinces to an extent), held the resources of fish, game and gathering as part of the commons like air and water and so with, some limitations (ie licensing) are available to everyone. Certainly makes sense when population was low and many people lived hand and mouth lives in the wilderness or at least far away from the resources available in cities. It's getting sort of different now with high population and industrial enhancement of wild fish populations but people are still very attached to it and see it as part of the country's heritage.

[Plshelpnoobhere]

Fished the Vedder only once and swore I'd never go back there again. I don't care that that's the best chance to hit the fish limit, etc. I hate the crowds and the rudeness. Much rather hike into a remote river, catch one or even none, and go home.

We need way more enforcement + licencing exams. People have gone crazy. Obviously, the food prices have also gone way up, which doesn't help

[RalphH]

Fished the Vedder only once and swore I'd never go back there again. I don't care that that's the best chance to hit the fish limit, etc. I hate the crowds and the rudeness. Much rather hike into a remote river, catch one or even none, and go home.

We need way more enforcement + licencing exams. People have gone crazy. Obviously, the food prices have also gone way up, which doesn't help

that's too bad and you shouldn't write off the river because of a bad experience or 2. I have had some great experiences on the river. Some of the places that take some walking can often provide you with the elbow room you desire. Another approach is to fish the should seasons - the start or the end of the run. Chum and coho can be available into late November and even December. By then the crowds have long migrated to other river with later runs and even hung their tackle up for the year. Expect fewer fish and  mostly wild ones but you'll learn a lot about the river and how to fish it whatever your tackle choice.

[fic]

Fish later in the season when their freezers are full. 

[MetalAndFeathers]

Huge uptick in angler effort in the last 3 years since a lot of Asian fishing communities have formed new anglers within them, I’m Asian so I know what’s going on. These groups are super hungry for fish. I used to be able to fish some shady early Cap coho spots almost always alone, now there’s 5-10 new rods on any given day. They are turned into fishermen by their friends and find spots by word of mouth so all the social media doesn’t have much effect.

[clarki]

Fished the Vedder only once and swore I'd never go back there again. I don't care that that's the best chance to hit the fish limit, etc. I hate the crowds and the rudeness. Much rather hike into a remote river, catch one or even none, and go home.

The vast majority of CV salmon anglers are drifting fishing with floats and tend to congregate in predictable places. It's almost a herd mentality. They only know how to fish one way and feel comfortable (even safe) going where everyone else is. 

I would even say that many of the anglers lack an understanding of fish behaviour, lack the  skills to read the water and to adapt, and lack the confidence to venture beyond those predictable places.

Heck, many of us have been there. That certainly described me early on too.

The trick is to explore the river, be prepared to walk, and fish different techniques in water that drift fishers tend to overlook. Doing that can produce outstanding results in relative solitude in some pretty places. Above Vedder Crossing bridge, there is no Rotary trail and the river strays away from the paved road providing good opportunity to get away from the herd and find your own water.

And, have others have mentioned, once the initial coho fever subsides and the weather is cold and wet, and the crowds migrate to other systems north of the Fraser, the crowds on the CV will thin out  and there can still be excellent fishing into late November,

[Jamier]

I have just retired, and have looked forward to now flexibility of fishing through the week.  I have always fished away from the crowds for the last 30 years and for the most part have been able to fish with alot of good fisherman.  This last coupe of weeks I thought i would head down to the canal to just explore and see what was really happening in that part of the system.

My findings are nothing but upsetting.  The amount of people dragging fish across the rocks, sticking hands in gills, fish being passed around for a hero shot only to be realeased because the fish is not a hatchery or they simply don't want the fish is staggering.

People I feel are not getting the message or simply just don't care. I feel at times it's the latter.  I must mention, I did have many conversations with many of the people, and many of them just don't really seem to care.

The question I have is what can be done?  Education, people who Indentify with some authority other than Conservation of Fishery officers.
I know we can just ignore the problem and go fish somewhere else, but I don't feel that is the solution.  Alot of good people have put countless hours into our salmon habitat to see it go to waste is so frustrating.

How bad will this be in the next 10 years if change doesn't happen soon?

Just my rant.  I know change is hard.

Rodney thanks for all you do and all your hard work on getting the message out there, I just wish more could be done.

Take care     

[Aki]

‘Combat fishing’ on the Vedder is about the same as the Kenai river in Alaska. The difference is in Alaska there are also some food fishing opportunities. Treble hooks and dip nets are part of the process. I don’t think the Kenai is included at least during prime sockeye season. Considering the Vedder River system is mostly ’stocked’ with white springs and hatchery cohos perhaps a ‘food’ fishery especially for the springs is worth testing out. There could be a knowledge test as part of that license that also teaches sport fishing etiquette.