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[Bernie]

Hi folks,

Great site and forum.  As a newcomer to BC from the UK living on the edge or Richmond any suggestions for good fishing places fairly close by for this time of year? I guess I am too late for Salmon, but would love to do some fishing for Salmon or trout here, over the winter. Tidal river fishing or fly fishing would be ideal.

Cheers
Bernie

[MetalAndFeathers]

Try the capilano.By know or after it rains it should be realy good for cohos because the bait ban lifted a couple days ago.


trout

[zap brannigan]

Cast some spinners and spoons on the Fraser on incoming tides, coho and chum to be had.

[Rodney]

Welcome to BC Bernie. Here in Vancouver you can find fishing opportunities year round, as long as you don't mind the rain in the winter months. Salmon fishing is not over yet, there is another month of it left in the Lower Mainland. In fact, I was able to catch a coho salmon just a couple of days ago in Steveston at the Fraser River mouth after trying for a short while. As others have pointed out, coho and chum salmon are available right now. Beside catching them in the Tidal Fraser River near Vancouver, you can also head toward the Fraser Valley and fish for them in tributaries of the Lower Fraser River.

After the salmon season, you have the opportunity of catch both anadromous cutthroat trout and bull trout, which will either be feeding on eggs in salmon natal streams, or in the Fraser River estuary for a variety of baitfish. You can also catch herring in local saltwater fishing spots throughout the winter months. For a bigger challenge, winter steelhead fishing can be done between December and April. Once we approach March and April, local lakes will be restocked so trout fishing is readily available.

Here are some links from the website to get you started:

Tidal Fraser River fishing opportunities and spots: http://www.fishingwithrod.com/articles/region_two/tidal_fraser_river.html
Lake fishing spots around Vancouver: http://www.fishingwithrod.com/articles/region_two/lake.html
River fishing spots around Vancouver: http://www.fishingwithrod.com/articles/region_two/river.html

Tidal Fraser River's trout and char fishery:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/articles/estuary_fishing/tidal_fraser_river_light_spincasting.html
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/articles/fly_fishing/fly_fishing_for_tidal_fraser_trout_and_char.html

Fraser Valley's cutthroat trout fishery:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/articles/river_fishing/fraser_valley_cutthroat_trout_fishery.html

Vancouver's catchable rainbow trout fishery:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/articles/lake_fishing/its_trout_season_in_vancouver.html

Good luck!

[Kever]

Try the capilano.By know or after it rains it should be realy good for cohos because the bait ban lifted a couple days ago.


trout

The capilano is the toughest fishery I have ever fished. It may be enough to turn a newbie off the sport because of the amount of days you get skunked (which is more often than not). I like the Squamish system and it's tributaries, try there. It's only a 45 min drive from vancouver. Vedder and other valley systems are at least a 1.5 hour drive.

[Suther]

The capilano is the toughest fishery I have ever fished. It may be enough to turn a newbie off the sport because of the amount of days you get skunked (which is more often than not). I like the Squamish system and it's tributaries, try there. It's only a 45 min drive from vancouver. Vedder and other valley systems are at least a 1.5 hour drive.

He said he lives on the edge of Richmond, not Vancouver proper. That could easily make the squamish a full hour to get to, depending on which edge of Richmond.

Also, if you live in, say, East Van, near highway 1, the cheddar is only an hour away.

[HamidSeshadri]

The capilano is the toughest fishery I have ever fished.

x2
its 15 min away from me, but i'd rather fish any other river.
and the bad fishing techniques you see going on there are an even bigger turn off.

squamish and cheddar are by far the better choices

[Knnn]

Hi folks,

Great site and forum.  As a newcomer to BC from the UK living on the edge or Richmond any suggestions for good fishing places fairly close by for this time of year? I guess I am too late for Salmon, but would love to do some fishing for Salmon or trout here, over the winter. Tidal river fishing or fly fishing would be ideal.

Cheers
Bernie

Hi Bernie,

As an escapee from the UK, I know how you feel, so many locations, so many different species, it's almost overwhelming.  Also they let you fish anywhere for FREE! [Well except for a license, obviously.]

You are a little late to the party for salmon, but you still have the tail end of coho and 2-3 weeks a decent chum fishing.  Then relax of Xmas and prepare yourself for Steelhead season, whoop (Jan-April)!

Over then next 1-2 weeks, fishing for for Coho/Chum, your best bet is probably anywhere between Kieth Wilson Bridge and Railway Bridge on the Vedder.  Use Google maps to check it out.  J ust park yourself close to the river and look for the crowds.  Mid week will be slightly less busy, expect shoulder to shoulder at some locations over the weekend.  There are lots of other sections, but this is a good place to start.  I doubt you have the right weight rods to fly fish so probably best to stick with float fishing.

The stave has a lot of chum, but is a bit of a pain to get into unless you have been before.

Good luck and tight lines.

[Bernie]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and excellent suggestions.

Interesting varying opinions on Capilano! In any case I am closer to Delta, so may try Steveston to start and then give the Squamish area rivers a shot. The Vedder looks interesting, but at a 1 1/2 hour drive probably not practical for me currently! I hope to give spinning with a spoon or Silver Fox at Steveston a shot this weekend. I am well used to the rain in the UK

Can you eat chum (I am reminded of a UK brand of dog food)!

Lastly, what do most folks do about licences, seems I will need 2 (a tidal and a freshwater one) to fish locally and in the rivers. I am thinking it might be easier just to buy one for the area I most fish, and day licence for the other?

Thanks again
Bernie

[Fish Assassin]

Yes you can definitely eat chum despite varying opinions to the contrary. Keep the chrome ones and you should be fine

[Rodney]

Hi Bernie, here is a list of past blog posts on the bull trout fishery at Garry Point Park which may help/motivate you some more before heading out.

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/blog/2008/11/09/a-very-wet-battle/

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/blog/2008/11/09/shallow-chasers/

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/blog/2008/10/26/stare-at-the-water/

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/blog/2008/10/24/followers-and-ambushers/

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/blog/2009/11/01/the-magic-hour/

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/blog/2009/02/19/rewarded-after-two-sniff-less-weeks/

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/blog/2009/02/20/definitely-spoiled/

Regarding fishing licenses, most of us simply purchase the annual one for both fresh and saltwater because we always end up fishing at least a few days per year in both. If you buy a few one-day licenses, the total cost is already more expensive than the annual one. Just keep in mind that all licenses always expire on March 31st regardless when you purchase them, so if you feel that you won't be doing much river fishing between now and the end of March, perhaps one-day licenses are better.

Chum salmon are not as good as other salmon species for eating, but it's still very good when fresh. Battered and fried in small pieces, smoked, are just a couple of common ways of preparing it. Coho salmon is the preferred species for eating during this time of the year. They make excellent gravlax, which I will have a video of in a couple of weeks from now.

[MoeJKU]

Welcome to the site and van. I would start off by making a trip to the vedder  it is the easiest one for a noobie to learn to fish.

I would say the mot important thing to do is familiarize yourself with the regulations so you know exactly what they are for that river system off your head before you head out. Also look up on here how to short float its probably the easiest and very productive way of fishing.

No doubt you will see people out there fishing unethically and some even breaking the law. Learn  how to recognize these mistakes so you don't get cause up in it, and end up with a fine.

Other than that go have some fun and catch some coho, they are good eating and a feisty battle.
any questions feel free to ask on the forum we will help you out.
Tight lines,
Moe

[Suther]

Regarding fishing licenses, most of us simply purchase the annual one for both fresh and saltwater because we always end up fishing at least a few days per year in both. If you buy a few one-day licenses, the total cost is already more expensive than the annual one. Just keep in mind that all licenses always expire on March 31st regardless when you purchase them, so if you feel that you won't be doing much river fishing between now and the end of March, perhaps one-day licenses are better.

How long do you have to be in BC before you count as a resident? Because its pretty cheap to buy the license as a resident, but its quite the opposite if your a non-resident alien...

[Knnn]

Interesting varying opinions on Capilano! In any case I am closer to Delta, so may try Steveston to start and then give the Squamish area rivers a shot. The Vedder looks interesting, but at a 1 1/2 hour drive probably not practical for me currently! I hope to give spinning with a spoon or Silver Fox at Steveston a shot this weekend. I am well used to the rain in the UK

Can you eat chum (I am reminded of a UK brand of dog food)!

LOL Pedigree Chum, remember it well.  Very silver good to eat straight, not so silver still good to smoke.

Based on Google maps, it would only take you about 1 hour to get to the Keith Wilson road or No. 3 road from Richmond/Delta, whereas it would be more like 1 hour 20 minutes to Squamish.  Also the Squamish is a lot more difficult to learn and access compared to the Vedder.  One added advantage of the the Vedder is that the crowds (strange way to look at it as an advantage) is that they tell you where you can make a start.  Start up some friendly conversations and most people will be more than willing to help.  I really think the Vedder is the best place to start - lots of fish, easy multiple access points and plenty of anglers to point the way and help you out.

Good luck.

[ALBA CHIEFISH]

Hi Bernie.

I am also original from the UK. if you want some pointers or a fishing bud give us a shout 778 879 1803.

colin