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[dennisK]

Ok. This is a bit convoluted but I'll try.

I went exploring Deas Island today and saw a few jumpers about 50 ft from shore and 3 commercial or indian fishing boats. The boats were in the middle drift net fishing.

I went home and looked up my old favourite book on bar fishing by Hugh Heighton and he omitted the entire south side of the north arm in this area. He didn't mention the south side until Annacis. But he mentioned several spots on the north side of the river including No 5 road bar...which is right across from....you guessed it Deas isle.

So I'm thinking what if Deas Isle regional park was created after 1989 (the year he published his book)? I googled everywhere but for the life of I could not find the creation date of the park (hello Metro Van Parks you need to update your website). I did however discover great info on John Deas who was a freed slave and owned the 2nd largest cannery in BC in the 1870s.

So I got to wonder. Did Heighton neglect the south side of the fraser because the fishing sucked or did he write the book before the park was opened. Or are the north arm fish just bonkers for the north side?

ps; is Heighton still alive? Be great to get his feedback.

[chardeemacdenis]

Thats a great old book and rare. I looked it up at the Vancouver library when I was studying in town.

[iblly]

My dad had that book I don’t know where it ended up though. I see it can be purchased on Amazon. There’s a few bars on north arm he didn’t include in the book. Also one bar on the middle arm that was very popular and productive that he didn’t include in the book.

[RalphH]

I have that book as well. I have fished or at least visited most of the bars listed. While some are still good places others have pretty much disappeared after the river was dredged extensively in 2007 and later. Others he listed were pretty muddy and not pleasant to fish.

Re: the south shore of the north arm. There isn't much to fish from from what he called the Tree Bar to the Knight street bridge. The shore is mostly private, muddy and has limited space. MacDonald Beach Park has some nice sandy bars but that's an active area. People take their dogs there and send them for a swim. I have never seen anyone fishing there.

I'd don't know the South shore of the south arm well. Deas island slough was once known for it's cutthroat and bull trout fishing at times. There was a lovely sandy bar called the Savage bar in the Tilbury Island area but I think it is long gone. He didn't include Sunbury Cedar west of the Alex Fraser on River Road. Not sure if those bars are still accessible

Some of the bars listed are no longer accessible - the Gypsum Bar being one though there is Surrey Public wharf at the north end of 130th which provides provides fishing access. I also doubt that the Ritchie Bar is accessible as the Patullo Bridge replacement is under construction at that location.

I think the place name of the Middle Arm is Annacis Channel. I don't know if the Cadet Bar or Annacis Island Bars are still accessible. The later was over 10 years ago when I checked it out. That was the place to be in the 70s. Last time I was there it was very muddy & I became mired in it just trying to reach the water.

[iblly]

The true middle arm is between sea island and Richmond. Proper name is Morey Channel but nobody calls it that. Annacis channel has a few different names. Annacis slough, BC Mann slough. Annacis channel being the proper name.

[RalphH]

OHHH KAY! I stand CORRREKTED!

[redside1]

With a title of “Bar Fishing” I would wonder if lure casting spots would be listed. A place like Deas Island really wasn’t much of a “bar” fishing spot.

[RalphH]

A lot of the fishing spots in the book don't meet the definition of the term bar (as in river bar). A few of them are riprap dike slopes. The book was published in 1989 which means the info was gathered at least a few years before that. Not many people lure fished the river. I think Rodney is almost singularly responsible for popularizing it.

[dennisK]

riprap dike slopes

Yes; I noticed that at Deas. There was access but it was on big comfy rocks. Not ideal as a bar but for sure do-able.

One thing I thought about was the current there. Seagulls and driftwood were actually floating up stream. I thought it was weird since my only other exposure to fraser bars was up near Hope bottom bouncing. I'd cast out and the betty would bounce downstream along with the current.

Here at Deas it almost looked like if cast anything out it would take your lure upstream. Or even bar rig if it was not heavy enough on the bottom.

So is this the case with fraser fishing near the mouth in general. You can cast out and your bar rig can go upstream or downstream depending on the current?

[clarki]

So is this the case with fraser fishing near the mouth in general. You can cast out and your bar rig can go upstream or downstream depending on the current?

Depending on the tide, yes, your gear can drift upstream with the current. Admittedly, it is a little weird at first to see things floating upstream!

I read somewhere that because saltwater is denser than freshwater, there is a tidal “plug” of saltwater, beneath the top layer of freshwater, that extends as far upstream as Port Mann.

Since it appears you are new to fishing the lower Fraser, a word of caution about tug boats  as they can kick up an enormous wake. If one goes by, it’s wise to get back from the water’s edge. If you are standing on rip rap, in or near the water, and get hit by such a wake, you could get knocked down and injured.

[RalphH]

Yes it's normal but the extent of the tidal flow varies with the magnitude of the tide changes. There have been changes of about 4m at Sandheads so the water will race plus drop or rise quickly. If you are still fishing bait in the classic bar style, Increase the size of your weight so your weight so the rig rests on the bottom after maybe a bounce or 2. While i never fished near the mouth much, I believe weights of 3 or 4 ounces or more are common when there is a lot of current. Farther up river where the tide changes aren't as pronounced it's common to use less in the fall and we'd use 1.5 to 2 ounces and sometimes an 1.25.

[Darko]

Since it appears you are new to fishing the lower Fraser, a word of caution about tug boats  as they can kick up an enormous wake. If one goes by, it’s wise to get back from the water’s edge. If you are standing on rip rap, in or near the water, and get hit by such a wake, you could get knocked down and injured.

This sounds a bit extreme, yes when those big boats come by shortly after it produces some sizeable waves but nothing more than something that would get you wet and we all just move back a bit. By the time they get to shore they have much less energy

[iblly]

Hi there Darko. Just a word of caution. I work on a tugboat in the Fraser. A large tug with a full load of fuel and water doing ten plus knots running light will throw a swell that will take your feet right out from under you and toss you on the rocks and into the river. I have seen it happen. Always best to pay attention.

[clarki]

This sounds a bit extreme, yes when those big boats come by shortly after it produces some sizeable waves but nothing more than something that would get you wet and we all just move back a bit. By the time they get to shore they have much less energy

My experience varies, and not extreme at all.

Listen to ibilly, not me.

[Darko]

Hi there Darko. Just a word of caution. I work on a tugboat in the Fraser. A large tug with a full load of fuel and water doing ten plus knots running light will throw a swell that will take your feet right out from under you and toss you on the rocks and into the river. I have seen it happen. Always best to pay attention.

I'll pay closer attention then, hopefully we'll be out there soon to see it!