Decided to make the trip to Squamish to get away from the maddening crowds that have decended on the North side. It turned out to be a gorgeous day, very unexpected as the weather report was calling for mixed precipitation and temps of just 3 C. The tides were favourable for the afternoon as the high tide was at 1pm ish. The drive up was easy and scenic, the mountains were covered with a fresh coat of snow that extended down to the top third of the local mountains. Took my time to enjoy the drive with 3-4 sightings of highway patrol cars made any thoughts of driving much over the posted speed limiit a no brainer.
Got out to the river around 9:30 and water conditions were near perfect. Visibility was 98% clear to the bottom, the water had a tinge of colour and the water level was a hair on the high side but very fishable. But to my dismay as I looked up and down the shore line I could see an unusual amount of rods for the non retention status that I had last known. Later I found out that it was changed to a 1 Chum retention status below the power llines. Hence the crowded conditions, crowded for the Squamish I mean. There was a fairly even balance of flyfishers to drift fishers today. As I took a few minutes to read the water as it revealed the river's bottom structure I saw three chums show thermselves as they moved upstream. My confidence level just jumped up 10 notches as I now know that fish are there and their travel route upstream was exposed. I saw a couple of seals bob up ther heads as they worked the river, another good sign.
I chose a spot to fish above another flyfisher and as I moved into position a couple of guys below me hooked up. For the next couple of hours fish sightings and hook ups were sporadic. It wasn't until the tide began to go out that the action really started to heat up. When the river offered up a clear pane of view I could see one fish then groups of them swim past me. I saw more fish rise and hook ups began to increase for all. The Chums came through in small waves of chromers,slightly coloured and full spawning bars and stripes. For me the hook ups came at a steady pace, not the one hook up ever third or fourth cast , just enough to keep it interesting. By the time it came to call it a day ,4:30 ,the action had slowed conciderably. For the day I was into well over doubled digit hook ups with two thirds of them landed.
Allmost all were covered with fresh sea lice, the Squamish Chums trade mark.
It was a great day on the river.