Tips on bar fishing the Fraser River
Contributions by Tom Blauw
Steelheader Archives
  Belly to the bar in this town means pack the fishing gear and head for the Fraser River.
  A heavy weight 10 - 11' rod with 30lb. mainline is recommended for bar fishing on the Fraser. Anglers use heavy rods to cast the tremendous fishing weights they use in order to get that bar rig to the river bottom.
  During opening season, spring runoff, the river can run fast and high therefore many anglers use 16 - 20 oz. of weight. During lower water conditions anglers often use a 12oz. weight. By far the most common lure used by anglers is the spin n glow, sizes 2 & 0. Two recommended colours are silver/green and red/yellow (clown).
  During coloured water conditions use a dark spin n glow, during light water conditions use a light colour.
  The bar rig consists of a T-Bar on the mainline, leader attached to the T-Bar with a snap swivel, and a weight attached to the end of the mainline.
 

When you thread the mainline through the T-Bar attach a small red bead above and below it. The T Bar should rest approximately one foot above the bar weight attached to the end of the line. Stick a toothpick into the hole of the bottom red bead thus jamming the bead and mainline to anchor the T-Bar.
  The leader should be 3 - 4' long and 40lb. test in strength. When you attach the spin n glow to the leader first tie on a #6 or #7 hook then two red beads to act as a bearing for the rotating spin n glow - thread the spin n glow onto the mainline. Attach a snap swivel to the leader and fix the rigged leader to the T-Bar.
  Use a good solid snap swivel on the end of the mainline to attach the bar weight.
  Spin n glows are the only lure you'll need for chinook fishing from the bar. Make sure you take plenty of extras to the river with you. You'll also need a rod holder - available at your local tackle shop. Click here for photos of lures and guides
  When casting your rig cast upriver, as far out as possible. The moment the rig settles on the river bottom tighten your line so that it extends straight out in front of you; avoid slack and loops in the mainline, keep it taut. Rest your rod in the rod holder and attach a bell to the tip of the rod, now sit back and wait for a bite. [Take a Radio]
  When you get a bite strike the rod hard to set the hook. During the opening on the Fraser, anglers expect to nail Red Chinook (Springs) salmon up to 40lbs. in size.
 To ensure a pleasant outing, consider taking along a large umbrella, food, liquids, a lawn chair and an extra rod holder to hold the umbrella.
  Fraser River access at Chilliwack: Island 22, end of Gill Road, end of McSween Road (Peg Legs) and the Rosedale Bridge.
  From the archives: Interview with Chilliwack angler Tom Blauw. Picture of a Pacific Tyee Salmon courtesy of www.shearwater.ca Instructional diagrams Credit to Chilliwack Dart and Tackle and Hub Sports. Lower Fraser R. Webpage (DFO)

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