Originally Posted by
DStewart
Unfortunately, that seems to be common practice on any rivers in the lower mainland, and is tough to see on such small systems. There are always going to be fish around during the run of any river that are fresh and good table fare. However, these fish will tend to not sit and “stack up”, making them an easy target for unethical and at times illegal fishing. Fresh fish will be aggressive, and attack your offering, so there is no need to snag them. It seems to me that a lot of people just get so stuck on catching a fish, that ethics can get thrown out the window. For new fishermen, it is easy to see how one would assume this is how it is done, which is unfortunate. This is why I always try and be friendly and start a conversation with those you run into. It is amazing how many people seem to genuinely not know what is right/wrong.
Chase those fresh fish in the early morning and you will have a lot more rewarding experience. Fresh fish will come in with the higher tides, so be aware of that as well. There are a lot of larger systems with good Coho runs that would help greatly with your success. Good on you for not following the crowds, and good luck
Cheers!