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[KingOfEastVan]

Hey gang. I have been hitting the north arm of the fraser from portside park to McDonald beach all pink season with no success. In fact, I haven't seen any salmon in the water at all. I have explored the banks and found a lot of quiet spots to fish from, aside from a few pike minnow fishermen (who do quite well!) I am all alone. I have seen a few reports about north arm success, but I wanna talk about a few things and get your thoughts.

- I see fish jump & rise in the south arm often, but not north arm, ever. Suspicious.

- I never see any other salmon fishermen on the north arm. Am I the only idiot wasting my time here?

- I never see any fishing boats in the north arm, but plenty in the south arm. Interesting... fish boats usually hang out where fish are. What dos that bell ringing in my brain mean?

- When I google earth the north arm of the river I see it's ocean access is extremely limited either by the massive jetty along the log boom grounds or expansive mud flats along Iona. Not really much of a welcome mat.

The north arm is also highly industrial, urban / noisy, and I imaging as such, polluted. I am hoping someone out there could share some anecdotal evidence of any kind of worthwhile salmon fishery on the north arm, and if this situation is pink specific, or do other salmon species avoid it as well. Or maybe it's just me? I thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts!

[bbronswyk2000]

I have found that the north arm has a very steep drop off unlike the south arm. More water means fish are down further and less likely to rise. It also means in order for you to be successful you have to have your lure exactly in the part of the water column where the fish are. Here in Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows lots of guys fish a couple spots. They are not all that successful because of what I just mentioned. The fish are there but hard to get. I have caught fish from the Haney dock in years past. I no longer fish this side of the river ( unless its the Harrison )

[markyboy]

I used to fish the North arm of the Fraser regularly a few years back and did well but there always seemed to be more fish going through the south arm. There's a couple of sand bars on the south side of the river along river road (on the north arm) that used to produce. Funnily enough when I got skunked fishing at Deas today ( no fish rising at all today) I was thinking of trying out my old spots on the North Arm. If I do, I will let you know how it goes.

[Ambassador]

I'd love to know also as I have hit a couple spots on it recently (hoping to find a fairly productive place without the crowds) with no luck or signs of Salmon. Did see a seal I assumed was following a school - but I'm no biologist so who knows. It's hard to think that they would only come up the South Arm.

[Easywater]

I recall one year there was a large percentage of pinks that went up the North Arm.
I think Rod mentioned it in one of the reports he posted.

No fishing boats there probably because there is a fair amount of river traffic and the river is relatively narrow.

[brownmancheng]

Opening night there were tons of pinks coming through. (None took my lure).
But since it has been quite dead with little to no surface action.

[Shawn6o4]

I fish around the knight street bridge area, on the vancouver side there is a small pier directly under the bridge, if you explore you will find other spots and maybe even myself, strange I foul hooked a 3 or 4 inch bass there this morning first one from the fraser and I've been fishing that area over 15 years

[finishingwithian]

Went to north arm at Angus street and no salmon at all. But hooked a dolly from the mouth right thru the eye. Can't save it so took it home. Is it okay to do that in that particular scenario?
 

[Rodney]

Is it okay to do that in that particular scenario?

No.

[finishingwithian]

Hi Rod,

I hear you but that fish was dying and if I released it then it will die anyway.

[Every Day]

Hi Rod,

I hear you but that fish was dying and if I released it then it will die anyway.

It's not based on morals or ethics, it's just illegal.
You can do whatever you see fit, but if you get caught with it, you'll get fined and possibly lose gear + licence privileges.
The CO's won't care whether or not the fish was dying or not, I can tell you that for sure.

[finishingwithian]

Good to know that. Thanks Rod and Every Day for the info!

[Rodney]

Anglers are required to release a fish which is closed to retention regardless it is alive or dead. This is designed so it discourages people from mishandling by-catches and lowering their survival, then justifying the illegal retention by saying it is going to die anyway. The same process also applies to commercial fisheries, just at a larger scale. All by-caught fish in a commercial fishery are required to be released, even dead.

A dead fish in the watershed is not a waste because all nutrients are returned to the system.

[RiverRunner]

Anglers are required to release a fish which is closed to retention regardless it is alive or dead. This is designed so it discourages people from mishandling by-catches and lowering their survival, then justifying the illegal retention by saying it is going to die anyway. The same process also applies to commercial fisheries, just at a larger scale. All by-caught fish in a commercial fishery are required to be released, even dead.

A dead fish in the watershed is not a waste because all nutrients are returned to the system.

Or if it does die, its some tasty food for an eagle... so its not going to waste.