Weekly Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Column

Sport fishing column for May 3 to 10, 2010

It is finally May, the traditional beginning of our province wide trout fishing season. May, might not mean as much today as it did back in the 60's and 70's, but the May long weekend is still one of the most celebrated vacation weekend of the year. This launch toward high season and better weather also means it is time to think about the annual spring Fishing Derbies. The Alouette Lake and Greg Clark Memorial for instance. The May long weekend fishing trip and family oriented fishing derbies, have been making heroes out of Dad's for longer than I can remember. Next Sunday is Mother's day; how about taking Mom fishing? It may seem unorthodox, but you didn't hesitate taking your daughters. The Sun Valley Trout Park offers three hours of good catch and release trout fishing for $25, along with nice picnic facilities. Think about it three hours of quality fishing and a barbeque, for less than you spend on a trip to the tackle shop.

I can speak from experience when I say; "if you will take the family fishing, the time will come when the family takes you."

The report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes is slow, due the continuing unsettled weather. Watch the barometer and concentrate on the upward movements in pressure. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Big Black, Micro Leach, Red Spratley, Baggy Shrimp, Coachman, Cased Caddis, Halfback, Dragon Nymph, Zulu, or Doc Spratley. For dry (floating) fly fishing try: Tom Thumb, Renegade, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, Royal Coachman, or Elk Hair Caddis. For kokanee try: Red Abbis, Red Spratley, Bloodworm, Royal Coachman, San Juan Worm, or red Micro Leach.

Local bass and crappie fishing is slow. Try: Wooly Bugger, Big Black, Matuka, Crayfish, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Deceiver, Dolly Whacker, or Bucktail.

The fishing on our interior lakes has started. Early season tactics are the key. Focus on the warmer water close to shore, in and around the northeast sections of your chosen lake. For wet fly fishing try: Chironomid, Pumpkinhead, 52 Buick, Bloodworm, Wooly Bugger, olive Matuka, Butler's Bug, Halfback, Baggy Shrimp, Sooboo, or Green Spratley, For dry fly fishing try: Lady McConnel, Irresistible, Big Ugly, Double Hackled Peacock, Tom Thumb, Royal Wulff, or Elk Hair Caddis.

The Fraser River is in freshet. Success under these conditions can be found in the cleaner water in and around the convergence of its many feeder streams. For cutthroat and rainbow try: Rolled Muddler, Mickey Finn, Tied Down Minnow, Professor, Lioness, Kaufmann Stone, Coachman, Zulu, Chez Nymph, Black Gnat, Sooboo, Irresistible, Elk Hair Caddis, or Stimulator. For dolly varden try: large (#4 to #20 Eggo, Flesh Fly, Rolled Muddler, Zonker, Clouser's Deep Minnow, black Popsicle, or Big Black.

The Stave River is good for cutthroat and rainbow.

The Harrison River is good for cutthroat, and rainbow.

We are teaching our fly fishing classes at Hatch Match'r Fly & Tackle this year. Our first session will run on two consecutive Saturdays, May 8 & 15. If you want a primer for the long weekend, this is it. We have limited seating to 12, so call 1-604-820-4099 or 604-467-7118 today.

Wild pacific salmon or part of our heritage, say no the foreign national companies and their farmed fish.