Two years ago, almost to the day, the pinks were running so thick in Squamish that it was common to hook 8 or more fish per hour with a two fish per person per day limit.  This year has been significantly slower and we hope that the run will still pick up.  Today it took about five hours to hook 8 fish but that is an improvement over a few days ago so let's hope the trend keeps going in the right direction.

Today Dave decided was a good day to go out so we did and both of us will be enjoying some fresh barbecued pink salmon very soon.  The key to fishing the lower Squamish is to be there at least an hour before the peak tide arrives at the mouth and then fish for a few hours around the peak tide.  It does take the fish some time to move upriver but they can scoot along pretty fast and with the lower numbers, you will see a burst of fish hit the bar and a few lucky fishers hook into some and then the wave is past.  This means standing and doing a lot of casting and focusing on mending the line so you have a straight view down your rod tip, along the line to where your fly should be drifting.  Too much slack or bow in the line and these rarer opportunities can pass un-noticed.

There were several times when the fish did not surface and one would end up on the line, but generally, if you saw surfacing fish you could look forward to a possible bit and extremely spirited tussle on the end of your line.

Again, the fish will come in very close to shore so if possible, stand in only 8 to 10 inches of water as cast out 20 or 30 feet and a fish just might take your fly between the 11 o'clock to 9 o'clock portion of your drift.  A quickly jerked retrieve might enhance the chance of a strike, so be prepared to adjust drift depth, retrieve rates and flies......when things are slow you have to try all the angles!

Dave shows of our limit of chrome pinks.  Don't be surprised if you see teeth marks (like just above the tail on the fish on the right, as the seals are continuously prowling for fish.  The seals can be pretty brave and frequently come within casting distance and since they can swim quite far without surfacing you won't necessarily see them till they either grab your fish or rise and feel the bite of your hook.  All fishing hazards aside, you don't catch any fish sitting on your couch so get out there and enjoy one of the blessings of summer.....fishing for chrome sided pink salmon.

​Tight lines!

It's a HOT summer sunny day with smoky skies from all the fires and the August B.C. long week end, so where can you find some fishing?  Some have found it in the very highest lakes and the other consistent option is the Fraser River for sturgeon. (Unfortunatly the Fraser is temporarily closed to salmon fishing to protect the fragile sockey run)

This is more the season for floating in an inner tube than in a belly boat but the ardent fisher never gives up.  It is the time when smaller, colder obscure rivers also give a chance for fishing, especially for trout and a few early salmon.  We have been making the trip to Squamish as this is an odd year and the pink salmon started to show up about ten days ago.  It was very sparse on some days, and on others if you hit an early run of fish, the casting might be profitable for a few minutes.   However, now that we are officially in August, the run is finally starting to build to where you still have to invest in your casting time, but fish are visible when they are on their rush upstream.  Fortunately or unfortunately, the Mamquam River was shut down about a week after it opened but the Squamish is open from the mouth up to the 9 mile power-line crossing.  

There were virtually no fish visible until about this Wednesday this week, so erring on the side of caution was worth while and spending lots of time casting and changing sink rates and lures was the order of the day.  

On Thursday, the patron saint of fishing finally smiled and the fish started to move in. With the double high tides the shore fishing in salt water near Furry Cr. and Britannia Beach was sparse but those that ventured from there up to the Squamish sometimes found what they were looking for.

At the river, the key was to stand back as close to shore as possible as the fish were cruising by sometimes in a foot to foot and a half of water.  Eventually, my friends Paul and Steve each heard their reels sing while the soft mouths of the pinks and a broken leader kept the landed numbers down.  The current early season regulation only allows one keeper per person per day.  However, virtually all fish were feisty chrome bullets as they were barely an hour out of salt water.

Today, Tillie and Charlotte decided to add the female finesse to fishing and as the days tides consisted of a high high followed by a high low, the fish were relatively constant from daybreak till it was time to find a patio deck and look at all the photos.  The fish being so chrome and firm of flesh will be headed straight for the barbecue tonight!

We decided to celebrate at the Watershed Grill thewatershedgrill.com/which is perched on the bank of the Squamish River a few km upstream.  Given the smoky haze clouded up the view it also toned down the intensity of the sun so the breeze on the deck was perfect and while this may sound like a beer commercial, the Okanagen Springs 1516 German Pale Ale was on tap and went perfect with the burger and the view.  

Actually the winds didn't come up as strong as they typically do in Squamish (which means big wind by the way) but we decided to take a side trip that is well worth it just to see fit men and women do some monstrous things with wind surfers and kite boards.  

We followed the river to the mouth to the kite boarding spit and watched as some of the boarders put their gear through its paces.  This day the wind vane was at the low to moderate, but on days when it hits extreme, you can watch boarders hit 20 feet of air! It's worth taking the camera for some colorful shots of athleticism.   Anyways, as fishing days go, this was a pretty good one,  and after all, enjoying the great outdoors and having a relaxing time is what it is all about......tight lines!