| Fall Salmon Fishery
Peter MacPherson
Fred's Custom Tackle
The Chilliwack/Vedder River is the most heavily fished system
in the province judging by the number of anglers lining its banks
on the Thanksgiving weekend and the week prior there must only be
a few anglers who have not wet a line in its waters. The long
weekend crowd was nothing short of amazing. Almost every
conceivable form of fishing-rod and tackle was used and almost
every one at least hooked a fish. The coho and chinook had poured
into the River, triggered by a rain just prior. From top to
bottom, every pool or deep run had fish in it. Some truly
magnificent coho have been caught, weighing between 12 and 17
pounds. Spring salmon tip the scale past 40 pounds on a regular
basis and lost of "chromers.@ The chums have started to move
in now with lots of tackle busting aggression.
As mentioned, fish have been caught on pretty near anything,
with huge numbers of fish around, success is just a matter of
time. To short step the process, here is a suggestion for
increasing the odds.
For Coho:
Generally when fishing coho, you will always gave greater success
with light mainline and leader, 12# and 8# respectively.
Using florocarbon or fine diameter leader will work even
better, however, line abrasion and knot strength will be a
problem. Change your leader after every fish and make sure you wet
your knots before tightening and do so slowly.
Sharp, smaller hooks will set easier which is essential when
fishing light line. Using smaller items of attraction, whether it
is a lure such as a corkies, jensen egg, or spin'n'glo or be it
wool or bait, will always out fish "big stuff." Don't
wait for your float to go down, if you feel something other than a
rock, set the hook. Use fairly long leaders, 28" to 40"
in pools and runs, about 20" in fast water. Note, in fast
water use heavier leader (10# - 12#) as fish in these waters have
little time to decide about your lure, it's either yes or no and
besides, with light leader, a break off is most likely. Fishing
the slower water along the edge of pools or runs and also in the
tail outs will produce the most coho. The heavier flow of water
will most likely be occupied by the bigger, bullying chinook.
Spoons and spinners will provoke otherwise uninterested fish into
attack mode. These are best used in big, deeper pools, runs and in
slow moving backwaters.
The "Koho" spoon in size 35 and 45 is among the most
popular with either green or blue scale finish. An "Aglia"
or "Vibrax" spinner in size #2 or #3 with either silver
or brass finishes have been long time favorites.
Whichever fishing situation you choose to apply this info
towards, it is likely you will do better at catching your share of
coho.
For Chinook:
The more aggressive and dominating nature of these fish makes them
a much easier catch, or at least a hooked encounter. They are
readily caught on any coho gear but the lighter rigging is usually
torn apart in short order. Mainline and leader should be at least
15# and 12# respectively. Larger hooks between 1/0 and 3/0 will
give you a firm grip on the fish and allow you to put the heavier
line to use. One of the most determining factors in successfully
sattling a big chinook is staying in some sort of control.
Immediately upon hooking one of these whoppers you have to at
least try and show it you are in charge. Easily said, but doing
it? As long as you can keep its head from turning you can stay in
control. Once turned into the current, the fish is in control. If
there is not enough tension on the fish, it will only take
advantage of it and build speed in its departure, most often
downstream and cross River. As far as the lure used to catch one
of these biggies, wool is the most popular choice. This is mostly
due to the fact that wool can be used in heavy and fast water
without tangling as some lures such as spin'n'glos' tend to. Bait
is very effective but is "high maintenance" in fast
flows. Egg sacks are a good solution in fast water, they look
great, last long and best of all . . . no mess. As well, wool has
a wide variety of colors, which provide lots of combinations.
"Shrimp Pink" and "Bubble Gum" are good
choices and can be combined with white or "Blood Red" to
provide contrast. "Flame" and "Peach" are also
good choices. "Black" or "Purple" and also
"Blue" or "Lime" are good change-up colors for
those fish, including coho, which have been exposed to heavy
fishing pressure. Using scent oils will always give you an added
advantage with "shrimp" or "egg" formulas
being the best.
With the majority of the coho and chinook salmon run returning
in mid to late October it would be recommended to get out and get
fishing while the fishing is good. The Chilliwack/Vedder will
continue to have runs of coho, chinook and chum throughout October
and into late November.
The timing on the salmon runs in the Chehalis River are
slightly later than those of the Chilliwack/Vedder. All of the
information on the Chilliwack applies to the Chehalis. At present,
the water levels in the Chehalis have been and are low. A good
rain is needed here. The absence of rain will delay the run and
will also cause those returning fish to use the Harrison River as
a staging area. The Harrison River, being quite large, is best
accessed by boat although if you are willing to do some walking
there are some good areas upstream from Hwy #7. There are two main
methods of fishing on this system . . . fly fishing and spinning.
The fly fisherman can apply his skills on the expansive shoreline.
A slow sinking, slow sunk- tip or floating line will be used
depending on water speed and depth. The rolled muddler is by far
the "best" fly. Sizes #10 up to #6 in gold or silver are
most popular and can be enhanced with either Pearle scent or
holographic fibers. The chum salmon in this system are super
abundant. By using larger and brighter patterns you can be assured
of hooking into one of these tough fighters. Hot Pink, Orange,
Red, Green and Purple are all popular as color choices. The main
factor in success is simply whether or not there are fish present,
if they are then you will catch them.
For the spin fisherman, the best bet is a spoon, ranging
between 1/4 and 5/8 ounces. The choice will vary with water depth,
1/4 ounce will fish shallow, 5/8 ounce will fish deep. A 1/4 ounce
will have slow action. The type of spoon varies. The most popular
are: Koho, Crocodiles, Ironheads and Ultra's. The finish is as
varied as the angler. I prefer a hammered brass or copper finish.
Silver plate, green scale and blue scale are common choices and
produce well. Color finishes of Chartreuse or Fire Orange will at
times out perform everything else yet will also be virtually
ignored by others.
The Harrison River is a main body of water having the Chehalis,
Weaver Creek, Cogburn Creek, Big Silver, Birkenhead and Lillooet
Rivers in its watershed. These tributaries as well as others of
lesser note have wild and some hatchery runs of coho salmon. Most
of these runs have an October thru November return. With this in
mind, it can be somewhat ensured that until late November there
will be some opportunity on the Harrison. Being prone to gusty
winds at any time, once we enter late fall the chill in the air
when combined with wind will chill most anglers quickly. It is
usually the elements which brings this fishery to an end rather
than the lack of fish.
We still have a few weeks left in our fall salmon fishery. So
far, the fishing has been great and with the weather, thing
couldn't be more inspiring. Get out and have some fishin' fun.
Back
to the Steelheader
Steelheader
Archives
|
