While a big chunk of the Lower Mainland population decides to escape from the city on this long weekend, we took advantage by staying behind and enjoying good quality salmon fishing just minutes away from our doorsteps. This portion of the Fraser River is often overlooked. I enjoy it tremendously because of the vast amount of casting space and the freshness of newly arrived salmon from the ocean.
This year's Fraser River pink salmon season has been, well, challenging. The big mass of fish that usually arrives in the tidal portion of the Fraser River during the incoming tide has not showed itself. Small scattered schools have been creeping into the river so fish can be caught if one puts in the time. The water clarity has not helped either. With one foot or less of visibility, it is rather impossible to entice a bite unless the lure just happens to be in front of a fish. That being said, I was quite pleased to see the water clarity today, which was much better than a few days ago.
Mark/fishersak, Carlo/chrome mykiss and I decided to give it a shot this afternoon during the weak incoming tide. The tidal change was only 7 feet, but I expected to see some fish nevertheless. The morning incoming push was more favourable, but the bed was simply too comfortable.
I started at 4:00pm, the other two showed up an hour later. The odd fish showed themselves on the surface, but overall the river was awfully quiet as usual. By 6:00pm, Mark was getting rather bored and started changing lures. Finally at 7:00pm, I first connected with a rather small fish, which turned out to be a chinook jack with a nasty seal bite on its tail. This was followed by a feisty male pink salmon that towed Carlo's light gear around until it tired itself out and swam into the net. I matched the chrome male with a female that was just as fresh ten minutes later. Both fish were estimated to be only 4lb. We seem to be encountering many small fish this year.
A semi-productive day indeed, but one cannot ask for more when the fishing is done so close to home.
Photographs
A skinny and rather coloured chinook jack, notice the scar just above its tail.
Mark performing a beautiful net job on Carlo's prized catch.
Bleeding the fish immediately can retain its freshness.
A chrome pink salmon's tail. The spots are usually much more visible.
My female pink salmon.
For those who are interested and did not see this, you can find information on the Fraser River pink salmon fishery at:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=15540.0Good luck.
Author
Topic: Tidal Fraser River September 1st, 2007 (Read 3839 times)