Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rodney on July 23, 2021, 06:59:50 PM

Title: First ever salmon
Post by: Rodney on July 23, 2021, 06:59:50 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/BdDLCqe.jpg)

I spent a few hours yesterday morning checking out what
Sumas First Nation's stock assessment team was doing so I could learn more about it. We’ll save that discussion for another day because that’s not what this post is about.

When I arrived, a couple of kids were quite excited to see me as they watch Fishing with Rod’s videos. I also had a brief chat with their dad Shariq who told me that he had just started fishing here last year.

While filming the stock assessment team, Shariq’s daughter Shanzay got into a fish and with her dad’s guidance she brought it in pretty quickly. It turned out to be her first ever salmon and what a bright looking chinook salmon it was! I’m glad that I was there to capture the moment.

Anyway, Shariq and I had a long conversation afterward and I found out that they have only been in BC for less than a couple of years. Me being an immigrant from 25+ years ago and him being a new immigrant, the conversation quickly shifted to what we think about this place and we both agree that you couldn’t really ask for a safer country to settle in than Canada. Where else could we drive our vehicles to a FREE parking lot and walk a short distance down to the river bank, and catch fresh salmon in clean water, by simply purchasing a fishing licence which costs around $50 per year? 🤯

Anyway, despite of enduring through over a year of pandemic, facing challenges in our fisheries and struggling with wildfires in this province, we are pretty lucky to be stuck in this little corner of the world. Have a great weekend.
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: bj23 on July 23, 2021, 08:07:41 PM
Great story, Rod - every which way. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: Blood_Orange on July 23, 2021, 08:28:24 PM
Thanks for this feel-good post! She looks very pleased :D
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: RalphH on July 23, 2021, 08:37:20 PM
A sea bright fish on the bank and not another angler in the sight! thanks Rod.
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: Rodney on July 23, 2021, 08:38:43 PM
A sea bright fish on the bank and not another angler in the sight! thanks Rod.

Well... I should post a photo of what was going on behind me too.... haha... ;D

Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: cutthroat22 on July 23, 2021, 09:33:08 PM
That's a super day for that family and they will remember that moment forever.  Good stuff!
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: RalphH on July 23, 2021, 09:46:50 PM
Well... I should post a photo of what was going on behind me too.... haha... ;D

your enormous production crew?
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: Rodney on July 23, 2021, 09:56:16 PM
your enormous production crew?

(https://i.imgur.com/bkp7nZE.jpg)
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: Fish Assassin on July 23, 2021, 10:53:22 PM
Good grief :o
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: RalphH on July 24, 2021, 07:26:25 AM
that certainly looks like a sustainable fishery to me!
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: Aki on July 24, 2021, 08:56:14 AM
Excellent post….Every time I go fishing, no matter the weather, or crowds or lack thereof, it is a blessing to be living here…I have lost a rod and reel to a chinook (tripped), lost a camera and lens to a coho (camera fell in the water when putting the coho in a protected area and got wet), lost a cell phone to a slammed trunk lid, but considering everything gained from fishing in the lower mainland, a small price to pay! I have met many fishers over the years, some of whose names I even remember from year to year! I started fishing with my son when he graduated from school, finding something to do when all the school sports were done, and never looked back. Been a member of this forum for a very long time (remember when there was an annual fee?)…keep up the good work Rod….
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: wildmanyeah on July 24, 2021, 12:13:56 PM
Heard there has been a lot caught this year. I’m sure the fact that there has been no rain for the last 30 days helps.
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: Dave on July 24, 2021, 01:40:45 PM
Heard there has been a lot caught this year. I’m sure the fact that there has been no rain for the last 30 days helps.
The fish this year are holding up, somewhat abnormal behavior for this stock. Low water could very well be a factor.
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: firstlight on July 24, 2021, 05:48:25 PM
Now if that doesnt make you smile...... :)
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: avid angler on July 24, 2021, 05:52:06 PM
Heard there has been a lot caught this year. I’m sure the fact that there has been no rain for the last 30 days helps.
I kind of disagree. If anything the fish have started moving more since the waters been getting lower. They were even more condensed earlier in the month when the water was still high. What’s happening in the lower river this season is an anomaly and I would be very surprised if we see the fish behave like this more then once every few seasons
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: wildmanyeah on July 25, 2021, 10:26:39 AM
To me it’s not about the water levels as much as it it’s about low pressure with low lying clouds and rain. We usually get some July days like that and it just has not happened this year.

I hope a 40C heat dome does not become the norm I never want to live though that again.

Funny though a couple weeks ago was workin on the boat in the driveway nabour drives by and says don’t bother fishing in the ocean, we’re slaying them on the vedder!!!

It’s good to see this hatchery stock getting used.

Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: clarki on July 26, 2021, 09:46:44 AM
Great story, Rod.

I see that the young lady holding the salmon has taken a page from KK's Book of Fish Handling...

Rule #1: always hold a silver salmon with hands that have bright fingernail polish.   
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: CohoJake on July 26, 2021, 11:00:12 AM
This picture is a good opportunity to ask - does anyone know with some certainty what the marks are on the side of the fish?  I have consistently seen that pattern on other fish - 2 overlapping arcs. Seal bite?
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: psd1179 on July 26, 2021, 11:34:03 AM
This picture is a good opportunity to ask - does anyone know with some certainty what the marks are on the side of the fish?  I have consistently seen that pattern on other fish - 2 overlapping arcs. Seal bite?

More likely is the gill net marking
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: armytruck on July 26, 2021, 12:10:55 PM
lingcod bight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaHZYOKmgmU
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: clarki on July 26, 2021, 01:22:38 PM
This picture is a good opportunity to ask - does anyone know with some certainty what the marks are on the side of the fish?  I have consistently seen that pattern on other fish - 2 overlapping arcs. Seal bite?
Several years ago I posted this pic of a late November coho from the C/V with similar markings. In the case of my fish, the marking were just a bit forward on the body than the salmon pic in the OP, were orange'ish in colour and were on both sides of the body.
(https://i.imgur.com/6VU2GX8.jpg)
Members speculated a seal bite or eagle talons. I can't say with some certainty, but my opinion was (and is) net marks
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: Rodney on July 26, 2021, 09:08:57 PM
Great story, Rod.

I see that the young lady holding the salmon has taken a page from KK's Book of Fish Handling...

Rule #1: always hold a silver salmon with hands that have bright fingernail polish.   

;D
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: wildmanyeah on July 27, 2021, 09:29:21 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqjn23AD5A
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: armytruck on July 27, 2021, 12:12:50 PM
Several years ago I posted this pic of a late November coho from the C/V with similar markings. In the case of my fish, the marking were just a bit forward on the body than the salmon pic in the OP, were orange'ish in colour and were on both sides of the body.
(https://i.imgur.com/6VU2GX8.jpg)
Members speculated a seal bite or eagle talons. I can't say with some certainty, but my opinion was (and is) net marks
Hmm.
Not sure I've ever seen a net squeeze the belly of a fish , upper shoulders of a fish , yes .Or nets marks from top to bottom from being strangled from nets. You must be thinking of the belly snatcher gillnets they're testing now  ;D ;D ;D ;) . 
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: clarki on July 27, 2021, 12:48:14 PM
Well, it’s a more plausible explanation than a lingcod bite 😀
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: RalphH on August 03, 2021, 08:15:50 AM
those marks look to close together to be from a seal. Seal strikes or bites usually leave a gaping wound. Those look too superficial to me - likely the fish has rubbed it itself against something or perhaps a bite from another fish such as a member of the school it's traveling with. Count me as skeptical of the missed seal strike hypothesis. Ditto for eagles.
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: CohoJake on August 03, 2021, 09:30:33 AM
those marks look to close together to be from a seal. Seal strikes or bites usually leave a gaping wound. Those look too superficial to me - likely the fish has rubbed it itself against something or perhaps a bite from another fish such as a member of the school it's traveling with. Count me as skeptical of the missed seal strike hypothesis. Ditto for eagles.
A bite from another salmon had not occurred to me, but I believe that fits both the shape of the bite and the size.  Certainly they bite each other quite a bit out of dominance, we see the scars later in the season especially on the tail.
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: bkk on August 03, 2021, 04:08:45 PM
 Have seen that mark on countless salmon over the years.  Seals have very sharp claws on the end of there flippers and I believe those are claw marks from when the seal tried to grab the salmon before it could sink it's teeth in.
Title: Re: First ever salmon
Post by: iblly on August 08, 2021, 10:03:05 AM
Friend sent me a picture of a chinook caught yesterday in Shuswap lake with the exact same marks as that young girls fish only much farther back. Overlapping arcs. My guess is another chinook did the biting.