So a trip to the north coast off Prince Rupert was intended to be a happy Chinook salmon fishing trip.  Timing is everything and we timed it perfectly for 35 to 45 knot winds and heavy seas.  Fishing on our intended grounds was out of the question and we couldn't get to the halibut waters so we hung out in sheltered waters and went for some of the excellent ground fish,  and yes one Chinook that sacrificed itself for the cause.  

The Chinook run normally peaks in mid to late June but it seems this is an off year and the fish are late.  Rupert is within sight of the Alaska Panhandle and some of the boats coming back from Alaska were rumored to have done well for Chinook.  The commercial boats were out on an early fishery for sockeye on the Skeena and then the Nass rivers.  The allowance of an early season fishery bodes well for the upcoming Fraser River run though time will tell as they will start showing up in about three weeks.

Chinook numbers are building in the Fraser and hopefully enough will make their way into the Vedder River which should open in July, so local fishing that is accessible without a boat will start in earnest.

Anyways, the groundfish provided great fillets and when lightly seasoned and fried in butter for several minutes turned into a tasty dish fit for the finest seafood house!

Turning Groundfish into crabs and prawns is a bit of fishing magic and its good advice to use the left overs after filleting and set out a few traps at the start of the next fishing day.  
Crabs were found in 15 to 40 feet and the prawns were down at over 200 feet.  I did find out the very hard way just how strong the pincers are on a large Dungeness crab when it grabbed the finger on my left hand and there was no way to get it off.  (Excessive yelling and jumping about the boat did not help.)  A cooler head searched for the wire cutters and  eventually cut the pincer in half and it dropped off into the hold for later processing.  My finger is still attached and recovering!

So, after all that hard work, a feast of baked potatoes, a good cider, crabs and prawns dipped in butter made for some fine days on the British Columbia Coast!  Tight lines.

Gabe took the easy hike into Cheakamus Lake where the trout competed with the bats to pick up the small sedge and emerging chironomid patterns.  Hiking in packing a belly boat is the best way to get around and pick up some feisty rainbows and cutthroat trout. 
Water levels in the rivers have been relatively steady to declining on the north shore.  There are some coho entering the Capilano on the rising tides.  As usual, you have to find the deep holes and get your lure down deep.  Fly fishing with streamers is a good bet as with the decreasing current speeds you can get your sink tip and weighted streamer down deep.  Watch out for the big rocks though, they tend to gobble up flies and lures.

Need a belated Fathers Day Present, Early Mothers Day Present, Christmas Present or just a fishing present for a friend or yourself?  Don't forget to book a sturgeon trip.  The Fraser River hit its freshet peak on May 30th, which is about 9 days earlier than average. Barring any really hot spells or severe rain it should be starting a steady decline.  This means less debris, tempering of the currents and a pick up in sturgeon fishing.  If you forgot to give dear old dad a present, booking a sturgeon trip is a nice way to make it up to him.  There are some big fish around.  Also, the forecast for sockeye fishing is still good for the end of July and early Augst.  The early red Chinook are starting to enter the Fraser River so getting out on the water this summer and fall will hopefully have millions of good reasons.

With the great weather it's nice to book a trip and take in the scenery in Indian Arm.  The water falls are still in fine shape but warm enough for a shower or a dip in the pools.

Take a trip up the Squamish and Elaho valley and see the sights, the flowers, and maybe a bear.  The upper Elaho still had some great beaches for fly casting but there was not much co-operation with the fish.  On this trip we bumped into two cinnamon bears who saw us first and hightailed it back into the treeline.  The snow was melting and the waterfalls were just rippin!

June is the month heading to the longest day of the year and the weather has been very pleasant so getting out and testing the waters is still possible for a few hours even after work.  The waters of the Capilano were high a few days ago when the weather was still wet but in less than a week it has dropped at least three feet.  The water is clear and the lower level means a streamer will sink and swing very nicely.......All you have to do is put it in front of one of those elusive early coho!  Tight lines.