As winter gives way to spring we are getting out of the cave more often. This winter was a wet one and it seemed that every time I had a chance to fish there were monsoon conditions. Recently I fished a Fraser Valley lake, a little early mind you. The fish were there, down deep. I managed a couple of strikes but no takers. Since then a couple of trips to the squamish river were in order. I was pretty confident with our chances this year. The water conditions were perfect. The river was on the drop and low enough that alot of spots usually reserved for floats could be reached by hiking. I fished some new areas and worked my new Simms boots pretty hard but no luck. I expected to at least hook a Bull trout but it wasn’t in the cards. Maybe next year. Here are a few of the pictures.
Watch for falling rock
Wow! It’s been a while since my last post. It’s been an unusual winter aside from the unseasonably warm conditions. I haven’t had as much time to fish as I usually do. Most times when I have had some time the rivers have been blown out and on one weekend my back was blown out. One of my favourite little steelhead streams just South of the border should be hot right now but with the Olympics in town I’m staying as far from the border crossings as possible. My second choice of river, the Squamish, would require a drive through the belly of the beast. We’ll probably try and take in some of the festivities and pick up with the search for chrome in a few weeks. We have managed a few days on the water in the valley and Washington as well, but no hook ups to show for it. But, I guess that’s winter Steelheading………..
Every second year the lower mainland gets a return of millions of Pink Salmon. It seems as if just as many fishermen head out to the rivers to intercept them on their way to the spawning grounds. What’s the big deal with Pinks, you ask. I’ve often wondered that myself. They don’t fight well for their size. They are notoriously easy to hook. Nothing fancy to look at. I don’t care how good you are with a smoker, the aren’t the best table fare. I guess it’s good, fast fishing for kids newbies and regulars who value numbers at the end of a day.
One thing can never be taken away from the Pinks though: they contribute a $hitload of biomass to the local ecology every two years. Their flesh and eggs provide good eats for more prized species of fish such as cutties and char. The nutrients they leave behind fertilizes not only the river itself but also the streamside vegetation. Even trees further back from the river bank benefit from carcasses dragged into the bush by bears, birds, cayotes, and fishermen. Plus they make great Sturgeon bat. So I guess in the end…………LONG LIVE THE PINKS
