Thought I would start with the numbers for Springs in the Fraser. As the graph shows, there is still a very strong run entering the Fraser. These fish will now be headed for the Harrison and the Vedder Rivers and the numbers are still very strong. As late as this weekend, boats on the tidal waters around the Fraser were still pulling them in. Most automatically commented on how great it has been in the last few weeks, especially end of August. Now the big whites are heading into the system and if there are any more rains to help with water levels, then increasing numbers should be building in the Vedder and Harrison system along with increasing numbers of coho.
This last weekend the Capilano River took a big jump rising well over two feet with the weekend rains but surprisingly stayed very clear. This is because the hyper dry water shed was mostly absorbing the rain and moistening the soils but enough was finding its way into the reservoir that the spill over provided a much needed freshet to allow the coho, pinks and springs to fire up river and start filling the multiple pools. In two adjacent pools I observed 5 springs being landed, the smallest being about 10 pounds and the other four in the 15 to 20+ lb range. One fisher claimed he saw a 45 pounder pulled out further upstream. The biggest problem is that most of these fisherman were ignoring the bait ban which runs from Aug. 1, to October 31.......some DFO officers are bound to catch onto that very soon if you know what I mean!
My roundest catch of the day was this great Spalding basket ball! Would take pretty long to cook and need a lot of seasoning but hey, beggars can't be choosers
While I was under the watchful eye of a great blue heron, I also managed to drift a fly slowly through one of the deep pools and was rewarded with a nice tilt from a wild coho which agreed to pose for a photo before I sent it on its way upriver.
What is really nice to see is how the pinks are making good use of the many small streams along the West Vancouver Shore line. With a premium in spawning space, these two were carving out a new Redd among some of the priciest pieces of real estate between West Vancouver water front homes.
As this photo from the shores of the Vedder/Sumas river system taken this evening shows, the rising abundance of salmon and salmon carcasses are attracting fishers of all types. Best to be ware of your surroundings as a mother with cubs can literally wreck your day....and your waders among other body parts if you are not careful.......Tight lines!
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