Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: RG on August 27, 2011, 08:54:52 PM
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Anybody been to Squamish river lately?
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was there today with my buddy. The water visibility was poor. Had three hook-ups and landed one...Flyfishing worked better than gear...
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Did you concentrate on the mainstem?
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I fished it yesterday, the main stream, Vis was poor in the morning and improved during the day. Fly fishing was great. Chrome fish with sea lice are still pushing wave after wave.
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Water vis isn't great but there are still a lot of pinks around, I would say it is starting to taper of though, however.
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I'd agree with the above note - it's tapering off. The fishing was superb the the last week of July and the first couple of weeks of August. Although there are currently fish still in the system, they're colouring up, pushing into the upper reaches and spawning.
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What's "poor", "improved" and "isn't great" numerically? 6 inches? 1 foot? 2 feet?
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Less than a foot for most of the times i've been out
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Visibility today at the lower river was somewhere in between 6 and 12 inches.
Still lots of fish pushing up but fishing is a lot slower than before the rain due primarily to poor visibility problem.
Average size of fish smaller and portion of chrome fish lower than earlier in the month.
Unless you swing it right in their nose, they can't see it and many strikes were off-target leading to poor hookup ratio.
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Visibility today at the lower river was somewhere in between 6 and 12 inches.
Still lots of fish pushing up but fishing is a lot slower than before the rain due primarily to poor visibility problem.
Average size of fish smaller and portion of chrome fish lower than earlier in the month.
Unless you swing it right in their nose, they can't see it and many strikes were off-target leading to poor hookup ratio.
x2
I'll just add that if you are willing to wait for a new push of fresh fish to swim by, you will be rewarded.
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Was up there in the afternoon from about 2-7 pm. Water level was good but visibility was maybe 1.5 feet max. Managed to land a half dozen on the rising tide, though none could be considered absolutely chrome. Still a good time to be had up there, but clearly slower than even just last weekend. Its definitely winding down up there so go soon if you want one last shot at some Squamish pinks.
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Spent a few hours there on Saturday morning, and enjoyed fairly regular action when I figured out the depth etc. Visibility 8-10" I would guess. Fish are starting to colour up a bit, but still some freshies. I saw a couple of nice dolly varden caught too.
D$
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I was out today for the first time this year. Managed to hook 4 fresh salmon on the rising tide. I would put visibility under a foot. Even though lots of anglers were out, everyone seemed respectful of fellow anglers space.
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I went out there today. They were definitely getting caught but not as many as 1-2 weeks ago (and seemed to be more colored).
Finally I had the right setup and landed some!!! Good fun!
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/markv1986/IMG_0055.jpg)
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/markv1986/IMG_0064.jpg)
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/markv1986/IMG_0067.jpg)
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People eat pinks that look like that?
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I've asked a couple of guys on the vedder before about eatn Pinks that have been in pretty rough shape an all they said was " There great in the smoker"
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Haha well I don't know any better so had to try it... It's edible but definitely not as good as the chrome ones.
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People eat pinks that look like that?
my thoughts x2
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Everyone has to start from somewhere. You learn and know better as you go along. I have pictures of my kept chum salmon so coloured that no features in the Photoshop can save them.
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I agree, Mark- those fish are pretty far gone, but props to you for eating them and not wasting them once you decided to bonk them. I wish I had a picture of the first chum I ever retained. I thought it was the most beautiful fish in the universe, but knowing what I know now, it was well past it's "best-before" date :) It stank up the whole house when I cooked it, lesson learned :)
D$
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Pinks and Chum turn colour very quickly once entering freshwater so you need to use more than that to judge the quality of the meat. Those pink look fine as the belly flesh is still quite white. When the bellies darken, especially for chum, then they should not be bonked as the meat quality will be low. I have cooked both chrome chum and pink and slightly coloured ones and the difference is slim.
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I started-out years ago keeping "brown-betties." Now I'm such a snob I threw back Pinks 2 weeks ago that only had a couple of sea lice as opposed to 9 or so. I suppose if people eat them it's no harm no foul. I also think the fish has earned the right to spawn once it gets higher in the river... Past the gauntlet of predation f/ birth to spawning it has endured. That smoker thing makes me crazy as stated below...
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I started-out years ago keeping "brown-betties." Now I'm such a snob I threw back Pinks 2 weeks ago that only had a couple of sea lice as opposed to 9 or so. I suppose if people eat them it's no harm no foul. I also think the fish has earned the right to spawn once it gets higher in the river... Past the gauntlet of predation f/ birth to spawning it has endured. That smoker thing makes me crazy as stated below...
I agree...why would you waste your quota hahaha
Haha well I don't know any better so had to try it... It's edible but definitely not as good as the chrome ones.
Thats the spirit!! Next time count the lice ;)
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I was slaying them so I had the luxury ;D
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I started-out years ago keeping "brown-betties." Now I'm such a snob I threw back Pinks 2 weeks ago that only had a couple of sea lice as opposed to 9 or so.
The number of lice is no indicator of freshness. The presence of the tail in the louse IS.
I have caught pinks in the Fraser and the Squamish with tailed lice on them. How's that for fresh? ;D
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Louse? Is that singular for lice? Anyhou, that's what I meant, of course ;D
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Louse? Is that singular for lice?
aYup!
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Those pink look fine as the belly flesh is still quite white.
We will have to agree to disagree on that. Call me a meat snob but those are well past good table fare. As for your theory about this and that with chum and pinks you are right that both species turn fast in fresh water and even start to turn out in the salt. To me that just means get them fresh or don't kill them. There is no other way of doing it through my eyes I guess but to each there own. There are a few ways to tell if your fish is going to be decent other than the obvious. If you have the fish you want to retain at the shore first off keep it in the water. You can gently press behin the head on the shoulders, if the meat is firm and the skin doesn't feel like a slug it's an indication of freshness. Also the further along a fish get the scales dissolve into the skin starting from the top of the fish down to the belly. Scales to the top can be a good tell tale as well. White bellies is pretty species specific as you can see by those pinks, chum it's a sure way to tell though. The biggest thing is if you are really questioning it it's probably better off left to do it's thing...
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The number of lice is no indicator of freshness. The presence of the tail in the louse IS.
I had no idea Milo, sweet fact.
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Imo pinks are only good for catch and release. I would never kill one for myself. Sure if smoked properly they would be good but why bother if you have other species ( sockeye,springs,coho) I think all the hype about pink fishing is funny, in 3 weeks they will just be in the way and a pain in the arse
This is a terrible way of looking at things. Its reeks of being spoiled. Pinks are great fun on the fly or light weight tackle. When caught fresh and smoked they taste great and just the perfect size.
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This is a terrible way of looking at things. Its reeks of being spoiled. Pinks are great fun on the fly or light weight tackle. When caught fresh and smoked they taste great and just the perfect size.
Agreed, amazing table fare if caught and taken to a BBQ. Never however freeze a pink, pate after that.
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I thought the fresh ones I ate the other day tasted great! And catching them on my little trout rod with 8lb line is a lot of fun.
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This is a terrible way of looking at things. Its reeks of being spoiled. Pinks are great fun on the fly or light weight tackle. When caught fresh and smoked they taste great and just the perfect size.
Could not agree more, they are delicious BBQed and they won't dry out because they are slightly more oily than the others. This is also why you don't want to freeze them. Try them with a sprinkle of brown sugar, coarse salt, and a sprinkle of terriaki sauce or soy.
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This is a terrible way of looking at things. Its reeks of being spoiled. Pinks are great fun on the fly or light weight tackle. When caught fresh and smoked they taste great and just the perfect size.
I think pinks are wonderful table far but my wife hates them and has banned me bringing any home :'(
Its too bad because I have only ever brought back the brightest and best fish straight out of the tidal sections. I guess I will just have to bring them back for myself.
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my wife has banned me bringing any home :'(
You married guys!
I think everyone should get married once, though.
Gives you a glimpse of hell before you die.
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I think everyone should get married once, though.
Gives you a glimpse of hell before you die.
Hey..at least we don't have any little kids but it has to be said marriage does limit my ability to fish whenever I like. Fortunately she does give it a go with me when she thinks there is a chance of catching a sockeye or a coho - just the pinks she objects to for some odd reason. [..sometimes she does better than me..its not *THAT* bad]
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I also use to release all pinks as I never got to appreciate their mild flavour.
Nowadays I do retain pinks if they are chrome, doe and over 5 lbs in size.
The bigger does seems to have a delicate flavour and make excellent table fare.
The pink I caught today had peachy coloured flesh and was delicious cooked in Japanese style with soya souce and vegetables. Yummm.... :)
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Is it still worth making a trip down to Squamish for a fish or are they pretty much done now?
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Just a note that Squamish River pink salmon retention is now closed.
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=view_notice&lang=en&DOC_ID=135153&ID=recreational
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Just a note that Squamish River pink salmon retention is now closed.
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=view_notice&lang=en&DOC_ID=135153&ID=recreational
I was going to ask if the Squamish River was ever open above the confluence with the Chek as that notice you posted says the Squamish and tribs are now closed but the Chek, Mam, and Squamish (below the Chek) remain open. However, I see that they posted another update that clarifies that they are all closed.
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=view_notice&lang=en&DOC_ID=135861&ID=recreational
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Pinks are done, hit the Fraser!!
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Damn! Spent a lot of money on gear and a licence for two very humpy fish! Haha
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Was the BB fisherman using a rod holder? I have seen a sturgeon caught a Brownsville, but only from people bar fishing with roe. Bottom Bouncing (BB) is impossible at brownsville bar. The current is way too slow. I think the poster does not know the difference between bar fishing and BB. Its easy for newbs to get their terms mixed up.