with this being the 4th year, the possibility of a sockeye opening on the river, does anyone have projected run size information? I hope to get down to Hope for some fishing in august
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with this being the 4th year, the possibility of a sockeye opening on the river, does anyone have projected run size information? I hope to get down to Hope for some fishing in august
Well, first we have to see if they open it.
My understanding is that the runs south of the border have been pretty decent so far.
So, I can’t say what the return projection are, but we should see an opening from what I have been hearing.
But then again, it’s the liberals running the shoe with the dfo so who knows.
I am not even sure if the opening for chinook has been announced on the east side of the island come July 15 th???
Granted, I have been neck deep in personal matters so maybe it was announced.
Call down to Pacific Anglers, as someone there might have some deeper insight on the Fraser that is current.
thanks, it seems that this year the information is hidden, years past I could google and find the projected numbers
It’s been a nightmare for many of those that guide for salmon around the LM of places like Nanaimo.
The DFO says they will release the info on such and such date bug then don’t.
They keep everyone waiting.
I know it’s not fair to those that run thise charters and need to know, not the night before.
But the DFO and the Libs have been brutal for some years now and only getting worse it seems.
My guide friend suspects it wont open due to bycatch thats at risk..Im still crossing my fingers. Its been 4 years since I was able to dine on copious amounts of sockeye sashimi lol
If you want to read 602 pages of the IFMP (Integrated Fisheries Management Plan) go ahead, but the short of it is that the run forecast is for just short of 10M returning sockeye. The Fraser between Mission and Hope will not open before July 29th. As for protecting other species, coho and steelhead, the rolling window closure starts on September 22 for the recreational fishery.
Thanks guys….
It might have been August 4 years ago as well.
can’t remember but I hope there is an opening
My only sockeye are from Costco …not bad, fresh and filleted …they only open sooke for rec fishing after the fish have gone through
It opened early august in 2018. It was a Friday. I remember because I realized that sockeye might open and checked the notice. It had been released that day saying it would be open for the following Monday. So I went to the local tackle shop and when I asked for the bouncing betties, the owner smiled and said I was the first guy to come in for sockeye tackle. It was a great august for me in 2018 . Hoping to get my kids and some friends in to some sockeye this summer
Given the current greenie minister and her draconian actions of late, I would not be holding my breath that it will open for the recreational sector. In fact, I've already heard some pretty concerning rumors / news regarding commercial openings this year as well...
Time will tell...
Nog
I recall now that I was off to Merritt for a week of fishing at a lake when it opened that day 4 years ago on the Fraser.
I also recall how much open room there was due to it being a weekday vs a weekend.
I also recall my buddy went up with his son in that first week and they limited out in under 2 hours and I think he also got a Chinook.
I went near the last week on a weekend.
A gong show but had a great time with all the folks that are at that spot.
Not like the horror stories I hear from the past.
I was lucky and got my limit and fairly quickly.
But most people had a hell of a time and the guys on jet boats and able to hit private sandbars etc were having a shitty time.
By thst point the nets across the river were all over the place.
So, it was slow and it was the end of the run, BUT, the Sockeye for still pretty fresh and all still had the sea lice.
So, they are fine on the lower Fraser for sure for however you want to prepare them.
I had to teach my fishing buddy the trick of throwing them on ice as soon as they are caught...an absolute must for pinks but any fish put on ice right away will be closer to its prime....
Stun them, don’t kill them, cut the gills, let the heart pump to bleed them out, put them on ice in cooler, gut if you want, but best to rinse out at home rather than on river.
Good to go, imo.
I read one release that said there is a one in four chance of there being less than 4 million sockeye and a one in four chance there may be more than 20 million sockeye. Hopefully we get a bit of notice if they do open the river. I'm hoping to haul my trailer down from kamloops but I'm not sure if there's much for free riverside camping these days. I think herrling Island is closed to access. Anyone know if gill rd is still open? It was a bit of a shit show last time I was there.
Gill road was closed due to hi water , not sure when they will re open it. It is always a shit show down there. There is a first Nations site in agasiz on the river, have to pay but I bet it is a lot more peaceful than Gill.
Got a text last night from a fellow I know in Town.
Did I want to buy some nice fresh, deboned Sockeye??
Politely declined.
I guess there's some "openings" for some "groups". :mad:
I don't think we will see another sockeye opening ever.
I think the fraser will open for sockeye this year, maybe a shorter opening but we may get some.
Skeena just opened for Sockeye (limit 1) then the next day opened for limit 2 per day. North coast has some pretty good openings as well. Good to see a strong Skeena run.
Pockets/zones of Ocean in front of the fraser opens up Aug 1 for (1) Chinook under 80cm, and (2) fish Sept 1st.
Test fisheries showing slight increase in gillnet but they are doing 3 seine tests this weekend which will show more.
Overall good conditions for the fish in the river - lots of water - good for fish but not much beach for fishermen, water temp is low will help survival.
Fingers crossed
Agree, from the sockeye point of view, conditions do sound good for their survival, which is a good thing.
Water has been higher so it could present some issues.
Gill rd can get really busy.
But I had a good time amongst the group of people I was surrounded by 4 years ago.
It can be really testy an unpleasant butt last time it was a lot of fun.
100%.
It was my second (but really my first) sockeye season ever. I was also at Gill Rd all the time at the last opening and found everyone to be very cordial and patient even when it took the new guys A LONG TIME to figure out the system and fish like everyone else. I had expected guys to be testy and belligerent because that is what I had heard it was like. But I found the opposite to be true. Being there so much also meant we recognized each other and got to know each other a bit and so we shifted and made room for guys to come and fish alongside the rest of us.
Its been slow so far from the information that I can find, I am thinking its gonna be late like mid August when we start to see the big numbers of fish coming, I am excited for an opening, but if it doesnt I will get over it fast
yeah,,,im keeping my fingers crossed for another opening up here on the South Thompson,,,,,,,2018 was a really good year with a 2/day retention,,with a last minute opening for Aug.22nd,,,,,,,and 2014 was a kickazz year with a start of 2/day retention,,then DFO last minute upped it to a 4/day retention,,,,im not expecting to hear anything for an opening up here till aprox 1st--2nd week of Aug.
PSC Fraser River Report July 22
https://www.psc.org/publications/fra...eekly-reports/
Did anybody digest that they expect 93% of the Early Stuart fish won’t make it to the spawning grounds. They are already holding in back channels and creek mouths.
Increased water temperature due to the heat wave this week will also have a negative effect on any salmon coming up the Fraser. I can't see there being any openings this year.
looks good for an opening, numbers are starting to come, fish are making it past big bar
been talking too 6 other people from accross BC,,,,,,Kitimat-----Lower mainland,,,,,they all said same thing,,,,,,runs just coming in ,,,,,man O man,,,fingers crossed,,,,hoping south thompson gets a chance this year,,,,,,4 years a long time to wait for a chance of the freezer filling
https://content.jwplatform.com/previews/iXWa0no2 looks like these guys are in midseason form
What did that guy think was gonna happen when you throw a rock at a jet boat?
A friend talked to a first hand witness and this account is accurate. There was rocks being thrown at boats by anglers on the bank. I am not condoning violence but I can understand why somebody would be mad at rocks being thrown at their $150-200,000 jet boat. People on both sides need to understand the consequences of their actions.
Well that is the Vedder he was jet boating up and down on. If you want to put the pedal to metal take the jet boat to the Fraser, or to Cultus Lake. As far as violence this is where you have to really think about the consequences. What if the guy on shore suffered a broken jaw. From the video footage, the guy in the boat would be the one facing charges. Just my humble opinion.
There has been zero issues with jet boating the last three weeks on the Vedder. Water levels have been up as well as the Fraser has backed up the lower end. All parties have been respectful except for the angler who allegedly threw the rock.
What would you do if someone threw a rock at your boat or car?