Newsman's sport fishing column & report

Sport fishing column for May 14 to 21, 2012

Picking up from where we left off last week, lets look at the PFD (personal floatation device), or as it is often referred to the life jacket.

We all know that it is important to wear one in the boat, if for no other reason than to set a good example for the kids. Right? I know; they are bulky, awkward, and a general nuisance, when it comes to the freedom of movement we need as fisherman. That excuse is not accepted anymore since the advent of inflatable belts and collars.

One area where the use of the PFD is sorely lacking is in wading. Every year the newspapers carry the stories of anglers who pushed the envelope too far and drowned as a result. Wading can be a hazardous practice when not done properly. As one who stumbled into the pitfalls of unsafe wading, due to the lack of safety training on this subject, I am a strong advocate of safe wading. Use your PFD and wading belt! Never over estimate your ability to wade safely or under estimate the force of water. Pay attention to the stability of the bottom you intend to walk on. Rock and banks can be undermined and give way when you commit your weight to them. Quicksand; yes quicksand, it is out there lurking under the surface in some steams and can grip you like a vice. If you don't know to deal with it you can end up stuck for hours if not days. Tides; many coastal streams rise and fall with the tide. If you don't watch this one you can find yourself stranded midstream, waiting for the tide change.



The Report

Our lower mainland lakes look great for fishing this long weekend. For wet (sinking) fly trout fishing try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Red Spratley, Coachman, Zulu, American Coachman, Professor, Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Dragonfly Nymph, Sixpack, Doc Spratley, Pumpkinhead, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry (floating) fly trout fishing try: Tom Thumb, Irresistible, Royal Coachman, Renegade, Elk hair Caddis, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, or Lady McConnel. For kokanee try: Red Ibis, Double Trued, Blood Worm, San Juan Worm, Red Spratley, or Red Carey. For bass try: Zonker, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Lefty's Deceiver, Dolly Whacker, Big Black, Wooly bugger, or Crayfish. For panfish try: Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Bucktail, Dolly Whacker, Bloodworm, Chironomid.

Fishing on most of our interior lakes is good. For wet fly fishing try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Halfback, 52 Buick, Pumpkinhead, Big Black, Micro Leach, Coachman, Green Spratley, Carey Special, Souboo, or Baggy Shrimp. For Dry fly fishing on those warm afternoons, try: Lady McConnel, Black Gnat, Double Hackled Peacock, Griffith Gnat, Elk Haired Caddis, Irresistible, Sofa Pillow, or Tom Thumb.

The Fraser River is fishing fair in the cleaner water around its feeder streams. For cutthroat try: Eggo, Egg & Eye Alevin, Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Mickey Finn, Stonefly Nymph, Czech Nymph, or American Coachman. For dolly varden try: large (Size 4 to 1) Zonker, Eggo, Big Black, Dolly Whacker, Mickey Finn, or Clouser's Deep Minnow.

The Harrison River is high but fishable for cutthroat and rainbow. For rainbow try: Big black, Kaufmann Stone, Sixpack, Irresistible, Czech Nymph, Zulu, olive Wooly Bugger, Souboo, or Renegade.

Hey Jeff just wanted to say keep up the great work ôn your fishing report and thank you for posting them on here