MacDonald Beach Boat Launch
Q: Have you ever fished off the 2 piers at the McDonald Beach Boat Launch near the YVR airport? I was there today and it seemed like a very nice fishing spot complete with a small protected harbor and public amenities.
What kind of fish would reside there and what fishing techiques would you recommend?
Many thanks!
Brian
A: Hi Brian, I have never fished the two piers at the boat launch but I have fished most of the beaches at MacDonald Beach Park. The beaches at this park are one of the few places suitable for fly fishing in the Tidal Fraser River because of its gradual depth change. Between fall and spring, you should be able to catch bull trout and coastal cutthroat trout near submerged structures (rocks, logs), where they feed and hide. For trout and char, either fly fishing or spin casting work but my preference is fly fishing, which allows me to retrieve my presentation more slowly without snagging up in the shallow water. Summer months are great for smaller fish species such as peamouth chub and northern pikeminnow like all other areas in the Tidal Fraser River. As for salmon, I have had minimal success but it is mostly due to a lack of trying. I am quite confident that at the right time/tide, you will find migrating salmon travelling by, perhaps in the deeper part of the river, further out from the beaches.
Good luck!
Rodney Hsu
Webmaster of Fishing with Rod and Public Advisor of Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
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