Tell me about it, Its insane. My buddy who lived the last 20 years here and the last 2 yeras in Alberta had to pay 80 bucks to fish the Vedder for 1 DAY, last weekend. Worst part was it was his birthday, and I felt guilty for the high exspense and too cheap to pay it...
As for trout fishing the Vedder the guys at freds said you must have both a Freshwater license and a steelhead tag, even if you arnt fishing steelhead.... I personally would just buy him the freshwater license and go fishing without the steelhead tag, as you most likely will never incounter a CO, and If you got caught wouldnt end up in as much trouble I would think.
As for trout fishing the Vedder at this time of year? Its not too productive, maybe a little better then targetting steelhead right now. I find the trout are more abundant in the upper sections of the river at this time. The best places to find them are around structure, like log jams, large rocks, and slots. Fish any water that slows inbehind rocks and bolders, between the fast water and not to far out from shore, these are also very good places to find the little guys, we call this slot water.
Good luck, I hope so with the pocket your buddys gonna have to empty.