Foot note: Coho and Springs; The Thanksgiving day rains have brought much needed flow to local rivers and the Vedder River was on fire today as the hordes of coho holding in the Fraser at the mouth began a mad rush upstream. The backs of coho could be seen as newly formed rivulets crossed once dry gravel beds. Coho were hitting spoons and flies. Time to get out there!
Chum migrations are very strong with the test fisheries showing some very strong numbers. The current estimate is between 750,000 to 1,300,000 fish. So if you want some reel ripping, knuckle busting, arm bending battles that will test your endurance head to the Vedder or the Harrison rivers.
2014-10-16 Thanksgiving rains on the lower Mainland are indeed a blessing as the freshet clouded and then raised the water levels of tributary rivers to the Fraser. The large pods of coho schooling at the mouth of the Vedder began a mad rush up river after the first rainfall this week end and blue backs could be seen scurrying up new rivulets formed by the rising water. Coho were hitting spoons and flies in the Vedder and the long awaited Coho, Spring and Chum run is now underway. Friday's heavy rain will bring in more fish and the alternating days and cloudier weather and water will make it much easier to tie into multiple salmon.
I've been on the water when it was running like chocolate milk and the un-informed were leaving the river in droves dejectedly dragging their rods behind them. This is the time to drift the lures two to five feet away from the shore as the salmon, especially the Springs and Chum hug the shoreline. We have had days of multiple hook ups of large Springs that take you rocketing down the gravel banks playing steeplechase with logs and rocks. Occaisionaly one of us literally got yanked off our feet by a steam rolling spring heading down to the rapids. Tufts of brightly coloured wool not much bigger than a salmon egg dead drifted with the current under a pencil float and lead will often do the trick. Get out there and get fishing!
As the day warmed and the sun manages to break through some October Caddis are able to hatch and the swirl and gulp of hungry Cutties can be seen. I tied on a foam caddis imitation and with the first cast the battle was on!