On Friday, I gave the lower Capilano a try as the river has started into freshet and was rising a bit. The odd early run coho are also in the river and there might be some latent Steelhead as well. As it turned out my weighted fluorescent green fly tagged a nice Steelhead and I was feeling inspired as dusk settled in.
So for Saturday, Gabe and I looked at the continuing cool weather which has been helping ease the start of the freshet in the Squamish River and we decided to take a crew up Howe Sound to land of the Sasquatch. The Squamish had had good reports of Steelhead and bull trout on Wednesday so with the forecast of rain for the evening we felt it was a good bet to get there before the weather changed. As we headed up the upper levels highway we could see the Fraser freshet plume heading around Point Grey into Burrard Inlet so we were hoping the Squamish wouldn't be coloring up Howe Sound.
So for Saturday, Gabe and I looked at the continuing cool weather which has been helping ease the start of the freshet in the Squamish River and we decided to take a crew up Howe Sound to land of the Sasquatch. The Squamish had had good reports of Steelhead and bull trout on Wednesday so with the forecast of rain for the evening we felt it was a good bet to get there before the weather changed. As we headed up the upper levels highway we could see the Fraser freshet plume heading around Point Grey into Burrard Inlet so we were hoping the Squamish wouldn't be coloring up Howe Sound.
Turned out to be a good choice as the mouth of the Squamish was still clear and the river level had stayed stable with a very slight tea color though the wading to the first hole was just a little tricky. However once on the little island the back eddy looked good. Gabe was into the first bull trout of the day and I headed down a little further to toss my new fluorescent fly in behind some rocks. This fly had worked very well for late season Coho and I wanted to test it out on Bull Trout. The bulls are hiding in runs that are two to three feet deep along shore lines waiting to ambush the minnows that are slipping into the main river.
Looking for areas with sandy bottoms is a good idea as the sand settles in slacker current, which is where minnows congregate to rest and bulls lie in wait on the bottom. I tagged a nice bull trout (see the video) and then decided I had earned a lunch break.
I had waded back across and just wanted to sit down when Gabe gave the battle cry and I looked just in time to see his rod pound down and a silver bar erupt from the water.
I had waded back across and just wanted to sit down when Gabe gave the battle cry and I looked just in time to see his rod pound down and a silver bar erupt from the water.
He had been drifting our new minnow pattern several different times down a slick when a chrome "iron head" just nailed it. So I hauled my butt and the camera back across the river trying to wade and film at the same time. (Click here ) The battle ensued and the power of this fish caused some blistering runs and a few nice leaps. (Click here) After I took the camera shots I realized that the fish was so bright that it was actually difficult to see in the pictures because of the glare coming off it. (Click here) It was just a stellar example of the quality of the Steelhead that are in the Squamish River and that only a day or two before were in salt water. This is why careful catch and release is necessary to preserve this late spring run of fish. ( I later found the guts of a poached fish!)
We headed further upriver between KM13Up and KM14UP and tried out one last pool and run. I picked up three more bull trout in a sandy bottomed run a few feet from shore and Gabe tied into another nice one in the last deep run of the day. (Click Here) We headed out and I got a shot of some of the fresh spring flowers glistening with the dampness of the rain forest. Another great day, and remember, if you're heading to the rivers and wading, especially in freshet, wear a floater jacket, have a great day and come home safe! And oh ya....Tight Lines!
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