British Columbia Fishing Blog

When you bring home that prized catch, do you fillet your fish and throw away the rest? The bones usually carry a few more hundred grams of meat, depending on how well the fish is filleted. Although it does not seem much, it could be precious waste especially when the current salmon and steelhead stocks are not what they used to be.

I usually prefer to save the leftovers after filleting. They are then cut into pieces and pan fried after being seasoned with salt and pepper. The meat can be removed from the bones quite easily and make a good meal or two when mixed with rice or pasta.

Once I get in the habit of getting up early, especially in the steelhead season, I just cannot not sleep in so today was no different. Besides I like to be able to report the river conditions the best I can for those that may wish to make a trip to the Vedder. I understand many have to drive a fair distance before they can make their first cast so I believe it helps to some degree. Of course with the ongoing clay bank slides the conditions can color up in a hurry if more clay falls in.

I was in no hurry to get to the river so I got bit of a late start and took the time to put coffee in my Maple Leaf travel mug before I made the 5 minute trip to the river. Daylight had broken when I headed to the river and if there was any angler fishing the run where I was heading, I would go elsewhere. As I saw the run was vacant, I continued on. On the way, I saw two rods walking by it, heading to their hot spot I guess.

I put on some steelhead bait with the usual bit of pink wool, slipped off my back pack and put the coffee mug down too; I was planning to make this a leisurely trip as well as a short one.

I worked through the run once, twice, working the run carefully before stopping to finish off the now luke warm coffee. A run above had been vacant so I headed for a few casts there too but like the starting run no bites, so back downstream I went, starting at the head of the run once again.

I had about 10 or 12 anglers in view, all intend to coax a steelhead to grab their offerings, to give them the thrill of a lifetime, maybe with a 20 pound bit of chrome.

I still had the original piece of bait on looking a bit pale and worse for wear. As I neared the tail out I was just thinking, should put on a pro-cured cooked ghost shrimp when the Maple Leaf Drennan dipped; I striked but did not feel anything solid. Was it bottom? No, with the depth I was fishing it should not be, unless it was a cut-off branch from a beaver or snag that had drifted into the run overnight. One never knows for sure though. A couple of cast later the same scenario, I checked the bait, its looked like it was pulled down some. Next cast down went the MLD again, I solidly set the hook and the possible snag had now turned into a head shaking steelhead. Once this fish felt the resistance and restraining order of my Sage rod off it went. It felt strong and larger than the 4 others that have come to hands so far this year. Line peeled quickly and smoothly off the drum of the well worn and roe covered Grice and Young reel, which was bought by my dad in England in the 80’s.

It used the current to its advantage and headed to the other side of the run, maybe seeking for a snag overhanging the bank so it could wrap around it and snap the 8 pound test leader. I wonder at times how they know where these obstacles are. I kept it under control and in the run for maybe 5 minutes. I was getting it close to shore but another run took it below the tail out. I had no choice but to let it have its way by keeping the tension as tight as I dare as it easily swam through the ripples. I saw its whole body for the first time, definitely the biggest I have tangled with this season. My spine tingled.

I knew what laid below, a nice place to land the fish in, was the advantage now mine? Another angler who had been working this spot even before I reached the river pulled in his line. We chatted as I continued playing the fish, “missed two here so far, need a hand?”, he says. “No that’s OK.”, I said. The fish was co-operating at first by staying in this deeper bit of water but it was swimming back and forth for 3 or 4 minutes. I was gaining and bringing the steelhead in close enough to see it was a hatchery buck that I estimated to be close to 14lb. The fish now felt the gravel on its stomach, in the shallows of the one foot deep backwater area and took off again for a couple of times. I started to wonder, as it twisted and turned, if the bought barbless hook will hold and I thought back to the posts on the forum about this subject last night.

I knew the fish was tired and it once again tried to use the current to its advantage but I maybe applying  more pressure than I should but a possible disaster laid below. A cut bank of sorts that could make a smooth landing difficult. I was testing the strength of the leader I know. My urging successfully brought the fish up to the backwater area once again and I now easily slid the tired buck ashore. On the gradual slope, I reached down to grab the wrist of the fish’s tail, the steelhead now left the confines of the water.

With the license marked, I was off to get an official weight at Fred’s Custome Tackle and it came in a bit over 13lb. I think it was 13.17 when converted from the metric scales to imperial measurement.

This ended an eventful week of steelhead fishing on the Vedder River with another week, another journal lays ahead, what it holds, who knows.

I do know how lucky we are to have such a great steelhead producing river practically at our doorsteps. Enjoy all what it all has to offer, to those that like to pursue this mighty seagoing rainbow trout.

An international petition against salmon farming has recently been set up. As most readers already know, open-pen salmon farming in British Columbia has been linked to the sharp decline of wild pacific salmon due to the explosion of sealice population and other factors. In addition, farming predatory fish simply is not sustainable due to the amount of food that is being extracted from the ocean to feed farmed fish. Citizens of many countries around the world that have experienced this also voice the same concerns. Perhaps these voiced concerns can be united at last and make a difference.

Visit Our Global Ocean for more information!

 

After going without a bite yesterday and putting in the most time on the river for one day this season, I thought I should be able to change that today.

A bit of frost greeted me and the other early anglers who were on the river at first light, which was coming a little earlier, by 3 minutes each couple of days. Hopefully winter is slowly slipping away, lets hope so as we have seen enough snow this year.

I settled in with another angler who I know at the scene of some other action this week, we were pleased to see the water in good shape once again today. We felt there would be a fish waiting for us as the run looked so promising once again. I was hoping that it would be a wild fish for the tube.

The other angler had the first chance but on the strike he came up empty. A few minutes later it was my turn as the Maple Leaf Drennan dipped. On the strike, I made contact but for the 4th time out of the last 6 hookups, the fish was only on for a head shake and a splash before it was gone.

We worked the run and were joined by other anglers in this and the surrounding spots but I saw nothing on for the two hours when I stayed in the area. There were a dozen or so anglers most of the time.

I decided that it was time to do some exploring and checked out some new areas but that would be after a visit to Tims for some refreshment and a snack. I also checked in with The Master and he had released a hatchery and heard of one wild landed but not tubed as no one was around to do that honour.

After a leisurly break, I was back at the river a bit before noon and I ended up walking over a mile of river. I found some nice spots but the only opportunity I had was when not looking at my float. Instead I was watching my footing while walking down river in the middle of the drift and I felt a good tug, but the float was above water when I looked up. I did not even see it going down. It would not give me a second chance.

I fished for another 30 minutes down river and then returned back to the mentioned spot again and to see if the fish had forgotton about the feel of the hook but it would not or had moved up river. It was near the end of tubing time, three o’clock and the rain started falling. I was tired too and I had another mile to walk back to the Leaf Mobil.

My day started with an opportunity and ended with another chance when for the only time during the whole trip I was not watching my float.

It shows once again in sports angling things can happen when you least expect it.

“Should have been here” were the first four words that started each phone call from Chris in the last several mornings.

Although taunting, reports of fish catches are music to an angler’s ears. It loosened the tension while slaving away by the computer desk, but it motivated me enough to bring out the drift rod and tie some roe bags for the first 2009 trip to the Chilliwack River.

5:00am the alarm sounded off. It was so tempting to tuck under the blanket and forget about the one hour plus drive, but visualization of a chrome bullet in my hands won the tug o’ war. There were still over two hours until daylight, but Chris said we needed to be at the run first. Someone obviously has the steelhead bug.

I pulled up to the parking area at 7:00am, the blue Leaf Mobil was already there and the occupant was no where to be found. I quickly dressed up and trekked out to the river. It has been three months since I last visited the Vedder, which has of course changed. I wondered if I could find Chris in the dark without tripping over newly formed side channels. It took a slight detour but I managed to reach the destination. We stood and chatted in the cold for ten minutes before the game began.

Chris directed me to the “Hot Spot”. “Cast into that slot, that’s where they were biting yesterday.”

Sure, free guiding is always welcome. Knowing where they were biting is an advantage, but I had to remind myself that steelhead are always on the move. They maybe here one day and gone on the next.

It only took about a dozen casts before the float went for its first burial. It was definitely not a snag, as the float depth was set very short and past drifts went through freely. I set the hook and the entire rig with a ripped sac at the end flew over my head. It was a disappointment, but perhaps it was a sign of a great day to come. I shook as the anticipation and cold hands took over the body.

A great day, or morning, it was not. The first float burial turned out to be the only one for a few hours. Chris and I fished up and down with no success. The icy rain did not make it that much more enjoyable. By 10:30am, the steelhead bug was starting to wear off. The brain started turning with ideas.

“Have I missed the bites by a day as usual? Kind of hungry… Hmm, deluxe classic burger, farmer sausage, sunny side up… Cookies Grill…”, I thought. I suggested the idea to Chris, he agreed too.

Meanwhile, I looked upstream and a familiar figure was making his way down to us. It turned out to be Marco, who apparently just arrived on the river! He casually walked and casted, as if he couldn’t care less if he would not catch a fish. We chatted briefly, suggested Cookies Grill to him. “I just got here! I need to fish!”, he said.

We decided to do a few more casts with him and worked the slots where I initially had a hit. While chatting away, I watched Marco’s float took a sudden dive but there was a short delay at the other end of the rod. The hook came up empty.

It seemed like a change of presentation did the trick again. Marco had a box of freshly pumped ghost shrimp, which can be so deadly for steelhead.

Its effectiveness was confirmed a few casts later, when the float took another dive in the faster slot. This time, the fish stood no chance. Marco set the hook precisely and the soft rod bent to the cork immediately. Seeing the kicks on the rod rejuvenated our spirit. Sometimes it is just good to see someone has a fish on when you cannot find one yourself.

The chrome doe took several sporatic runs before surrendering herself in the shallow water. The absence of the adipose fin confirmed that it was a hatchery fish, which Marco wanted to keep. What happened after that is probably the funniest misplay of 2009, and January is not even over yet.

The fish flipped gently in the shallow water by the beach. Marco was ready to bring her up to dry land and I was ready to say, “Looks like someone is coming to breakfast…”. Suddenly the hook popped out! Marco panicked and began kicking the water like a peewee soccer player, attempting to keep it in the shallow water.

The fish bounced once against the nearby rocks and back in the shallow water, made a short burst toward Chris, who began kicking the water like a peewee soccer player too! Why both of them did not bend down and use their arms still baffles me to this minute. The whole fiasco took 15 seconds and the steelhead managed to find a light in the tunnel. She used one more burst of her energy and shot herself back into the run. The three of us stood motionlessly and were speechless. Did that just happen? Laughter then bursted out from all corners, but the fish obviously had the last laugh.

Yep, now it was time for breakfast.

The fries, coffee, burger and sausages sure hit the spot. Sometimes a short break is needed, otherwise it is too mentally tiring.

We returned to the hot spot at 1:00pm. Perhaps things would heat up in the afternoon. Instead of roe sacs, I decided to switch up to a Jensen egg and wool combo. I used a combo that has produced fish for me in the past – orange egg and chartreus wool.

Marco flogged the same slot with more fresh ghost shrimps with no takers. Chris went through it with his big roe sacs. I wedged in between them, threw the combo out. After a couple of drifts, the float did a short dip. It did not completely sink and popped back up before I even reacted. I looked upstream at Chris, who was retying. I looked downstream at Marco, who was focusing on his float. What was that? A fish perhaps? Or a snag that we had hooked up before. I whipped the combo out once again to just above the same spot. It only took a second to drift down and the float was once again pulled down. This time it was a decisive pull. I yanked the rod back as hard as possible, thinking that it was most likely a snag. A silver flash appeared under the float. I looked in disbelief but was absolutely excited at the same time. “Fish on!” and my neighbouring anglers brought in their rigs and watched the show. It was not a very big fish, which rolled and rolled without doing a single leap. I carefully slid the fish into the same shallow spot where people had been playing soccer earlier. Marco reached down and did a fine job tailing the fish. It was another hatchery fish, so I decided to keep it to end my day of searching. I let out a sigh of relief. This was in fact the first steelhead that I have ever kept, as all my previous fish were wild.

I watched the gang fishing some more, but no more fish were interested in the offerings. Meanwhile Dion made his way down to our run. We exchanged information and it seemed to be a slow day overall. I was one of the few lucky ones who managed to tangle with metal head. The trip ended at 3:00pm, the cut-off time for hatchery to pick up broodstocks. For me, this was an excellent start for the 2009 steelhead season. Hopefully more trips will resemble this one in the next several months.

Good luck to all who are heading out this weekend. It should be a fantastic one.