Went out to the Fraser below Hope today. My Dad and I hoped that it would be a quiet day as the sockeye were not yet open. Went out to our favourite walk in bar, and were surprised to see only one other car at the parking lot when we arrived. We brought both bar and bb gear as we were unsure what approach we would try.
There were about 6 guys at the bar, with some arriving by boat, and all were BB, so we did the same. Within 10 minutes my Dad has a spring on, but after it showed itself in one big swirl it was gone. After that it was quiet for a while. Very windy conditions made things a bit challenging. I was getting a bit fustrated with the wind and snags and had just suggested we think about changing to bar fishing when FISH ON

- I had on a spring. After a longer than usual battle had it to the beach. About a 25 pound red. Bottom bounce a bit more, and my Dad had a sockeye on briefly. Doesn't seem to be that many sockeye around yet.
We then went for a walk to another location and there found a half dozen guys all bar fishing. We set up the bar gear so we could relax with some lunch. Within minutes I had a hit on my rod. Ran to set the hook and ... nothing. Was it really a fish or did my gear just drift? Settle down with lunch and my Dads bell starts to ring. He sets the hook and fish on!

One of the other guys bar fishing ran over with a net and hands it to me. I thank him, then start to wonder how to use it? I've netted plenty in the salt but none in the river - should I do it head first? I decided to take the cautious route and ask for advice. The guy who loaned me the net educates me a bit - bring the net up behind the fish, then the guy with the rod can drop the fish in. I tried it and it worked out great. This spring was nearly the same size, but turned out to be a white.
All in all the day was windy, hot and great. We enjoyed both types of fishing but I must say the bar fishing was very relaxing, and got us our fish faster. In general I did not see a lot of fish hooked by others, and not very many sockeye.