Sockeye Fishing on the Fraser River is something that many British Columbia residents look forward to every year and often becomes a major family event. Numerous gravel bars and islands are available to walk/drive/boat to. The walk/drive gravel bars can be a testy place to fish as anglers use a bottom bouncing technique and the shoulder to shoulder casting and crossing of lines can often make tempers flare among the "uncourteous".
For the rest who use fishing etiquette, the opportunity to limit out on 2 sockeye per day provides for familyadventures and feasts that are second to none! An excellent way to get on the river, catch lots of salmon and have a scenic boat ride is to launch at Barrowtown Pump station.
For the rest who use fishing etiquette, the opportunity to limit out on 2 sockeye per day provides for familyadventures and feasts that are second to none! An excellent way to get on the river, catch lots of salmon and have a scenic boat ride is to launch at Barrowtown Pump station.
Access via the Barrowtown boat launch is a scenic but sometimes tricky endeavor for boat operators especially those with propellers. There is usually reasonable parking at the launch and the overflow areas along the road. To get there, take the #3 Road exit off the Trans Canada Hwy which lies between Watcom Rd and the Vedder River Crossing. Head west to North Parallel Rd. and head north to the boat launch a few km north.
Launching in the pump house canal be aware of shallows and dead head logs. The one in the picture is only one of many and this one is just at the junction of the Sumas Canal and the Vedder Canal. The situation always becomes more severe in August and September as the Fraser River drops rapidly and all major tributaries drop as well. Even though this section is 100 km upstream of salt water, the tidal surge still affects the river by up to a foot or more. So an easy passage done in the morning during a high tide may suddenly be a foot or more lower 6 hours later and constant alertness by the boat operator is a must. One of the most tricky spots is where the pump house canal meets the Vedder River Canal. The channel is only a few meters wide and there is a constant changing of deadheads to hit with your prop. Recommend slow and careful from the pumphouse till you get into the Vedder Canal.
The Vedder Canal is part of the famous Vedder River which heats up for salmon fishing in September-October-November. Steelhead slide in from December to April. The ride down the canal is scenic with blue green clear water some steep mountain slopes and a train bridge. There are lots of dead heads along the way and when you see a gentle slope on the shore line move to the other side of the river so as not to ground out.
Where the Vedder meets the Fraser there is the line of blue green water that meets the muddy brown. This spot is great for early June-July spring salmon fishing, sturgeon fishing almost year round and later fall coho-spring-chum-pink salmon fishing. Sockeye salmon which enter the Vedder River to head up to Cultus or Chilliwack Lake are catch and release only.
A hard right takes you from 5 to 9 feet of water into 30 to 50 feet of water for about 1.0 km. You may see fishing nets on the right and submerged or partially submerged (boat prop eating) gravel bars on the left. The left center of the river is good only for jet boats over shallow gravel bars. Proceed with extreme care as the gravel bars are only 1.0 to 6.0 feet below the surface and with tidal fluctuations of a foot or more have stranded many a boat and destroyed many propellers. Once you make it into the main channel, there are many places to anchor and fish or pull the boat into shallows and stand on gravel bars. The mountain/river vista is classic coastal British Columbia. Wildlife sightings are frequent for eagles, California condors and seals and lots of geese and ducks and occasional for black bear, deer, river otters and mink.
Many families have their favourite gravel bars and here are some scenes from a typical day on the river. Today was girls day out on the river and they really wanted to show their stuff. The fish were big and feisty and there were some royal tug of wars to be had!
Some good memories to be taken back to Alberta along with some very fine Sockeye Fillets! For a video of Tillie's Tilt CLICK HERE
Some good memories to be taken back to Alberta along with some very fine Sockeye Fillets! For a video of Tillie's Tilt CLICK HERE
Of course this is summer fishing at its finest on the Fraser River and it's not all work and no chillin out. Recess isn't just for kids. You have to take time for a snack,perhaps a tall cool one and catch some rays!
The trip back is just as scenic and always keep a camera in hand as you just don't know what scenic opportunity may pop up while you are out here fishing in Beautiful British Columbia!
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