Newsman's sport fishing column & report

Sport fishing column for March 28 to April 4, 2011

Spring is finally here. I for one hope the resent warm weather is not another false start to the season and fishing we have been waiting for.

Now is the time to give the boat and motor a once over, and while you are at it check the axel bearing on that boat trailer. When is the last time you cleaned and lubed your reels, or checked the eyelets on your rods for ware? A small amount of preventative maintenance now could save disappointment when you have that trophy on the line. How is the tackle supply, there are some good sales out there right now.

It is also time to renew that fishing license, which means we are looking at the best weekend of the year to go steelheading. Here's an inside tip; many anglers don't bother to renew there license and tags until the May long weekend, leaving our rivers less congested until freshet.

Spring is also to start thinking about local fishing derbies and family related sport fishing activities. Mark your calendars for: The Greg Clark Memorial, Cultis Lake Family Fishing Derby, on Fathers day weekend. A tentative date of June 11, for another Alouette Lake Annual Fishing Derby. The West Coast Bass Anglers open tournament April 16, at the Marsh. Details at West Coast Bass Anglers Free Forum. The Maple Ridge, Outdoor Life Styles and Adventure Show, April 29, 30, and May 1, at Planet Ice, Maple Ridge.

The report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is good. Late mornings through mid afternoons are best. Try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Big Black, Woolly Bugger, Micro Leach, Sixpack, Dragonfly Nymph, Halfback, Doc Spratley, Baggy shrimp, or Zulu.

The Fraser River and soughs are good for cutthroat and dolly varden. For cutthroat try: Rolled Muddler, Mickey Finn, Eggo, Tied Down Minnow, Epoxy Minnow, Flesh Fly, Professor, Lioness, Coachman, Zulu, Chez Nymph. For dolly Varden try: Large (#4 to #1) Eggo, Dolly Whacker, Bucktail, Epoxy Minnow, Big Black, Muddler, or Zonker.

The Vedder River is good for steelhead, dolly varden and rainbow, by the weekend. For steelhead try: big Black, Popsicle, Steelhead Nightmare, Polar shrimp, GP, Thor, Squamish Poacher, Kaufmann Stone, Purple Peril, or Eggo. For rainbow try: Rolled Muddler, Eggo, Flesh Fly, Kaufmann Black Stone, Zulu, Chez Nymph, Big Black, or Renegade.

The Stave River is fair to good for rainbow and cutthroat.

The Chehalis River is good for steelhead and cutthroat.

The Harrison River is good for cutthroat, and rainbow.

Hatch Match'r Fly and tackle is hosting fishing seminars for anglers of every strip this spring, call 604-467-7118 for details.


You can find more at "The Reel Life Press" by Jeff Weltz