Fraser River report for Aug 6 and 7

[coach]

After hearing several reports last week that the Fraser was "on fire" for springs, I decided it was time to make my first trip of the year to try my luck. My girlfriend and I and our two dogs headed down Saturday afternoon and arrived at the river sometime around 4:00. We met up with my good friend and his wife at the Agassiz boat launch, loaded all our gear a dogs into the boat and headed up river to set up camp and start slaying fish...

A couple friends of ours had been fishing throughout the day and had been into about 5 springs. They kept two - 16 and 17 pounds. They were leaving just as we arrived as apparently there hadn't been any action for several hours. Having fished the river for many years, I knew that it was common for things to either be hot or cold, but figured if we put our time in, we'd hook into at least a couple good ones.

Here's a picture of camp and my dog, Chilko, eating some rotten fish parts: Awesome - better than the dog sh@t she usually likes to snack on!

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_0795.jpg

After a couple hours of flogging with the 14 foot Rainshadow and five ounces of weight, the arms and shoulders were getting tired - but I kept on casting..

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_0796.jpg

And reeling...

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_0794.jpg

And casting...

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_0798.jpg

[coach]

Chilko got into the spirit of the whole thing by letting Mike's Yorkies out to the end of their leash, then pulled them back in, shook them around a bit and let them back out. It was rather humorous to watch!

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_0809.jpg

Eventually it got too dark to fish. We made a nice camp fire, cooked up some dinner and had a few beers. The moon set a few hours later, and I was able to get a pretty good picture of it - zoomed in about 78 times with my Canon.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_0803.jpg

[coach]

Grand total for day one was about 4 sockeye - all gently released. Two were pretty close to ten pounds and maybe more. It was clear that the presence of a lot of nets in the river was having an effect. Apparently fishing was really good Friday - before the native opening.

While sitting around the fire, I looked at my phone just after mid-night and realized it was Mike's birthday. That was cause for a little celebration and resulted in me sleeping a little past my 4:30 alarm. Fortunately, I made it up before the sun hit the water and went right back to casting..

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_0810.jpg

[coach]

Several hours later, after releasing a few more sockeye, I finally hooked into what I believe was a spring. I felt the big head shakes and the weight of a decent fish, but not for long. Unfortunately, when things are as slow as they were, it's easy to get lazy. I fished a leader a little too long and it must have had a nick in it. When the fish took his first good run, he broke off. It was rather disappointing as I knew there weren't going to be many opportunities.

A couple other boats joined us and their success was about the same as ours. Eventually, one left. A couple more hours went by and Mike and I had a discussion about moving to a different bar. The grass is always greener somewhere else on the river! Mid conversation, I finally hooked into another fish. This time, I had a fresh leader and felt good about my chances. A short boat ride later, I had the fish played out and Mike slipped the net under her. A decent spring of about 18 pounds..

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/fish.jpg

[coach]

Chilko was quite interested in the fish. Or she was jealous.. Clearly she could see I love spring salmon way more than her! We gave it another couple hours, but unfortunately this was the only fish of the weekend. A few hours later, we would be back in Kelowna - but not before I managed to hit my prop on a new sand bar just above Spaghetti Island. The river channel changed big time from what it has been the last 15 years. Fortunately, I have a brand new spare - and don't think I damaged the shaft. I do think this one is a little past the point of being able to be reconditioned though.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/prop.jpg

[Farmer]

Nice fish coach! Great moon picture also. We will be heading out for the day tomorrow. The wife and son will probably be bottom bouncing. I think I will be lazy and put out the bar rod.

Too bad about your prop. Been there done that. Probably more than once . or twice.:cry: It might be repairable. If so, it should be cheaper than a new prop. If not, you have to buy a new one anyway.

[coach]

After a full day of fishing, driving and cleaning up, I processed my catch and put a little aside for the BBQ..

Here's how to make your future in-laws like you..

Start with putting a healthy amount of olive oil on the grill, then put your teriyaki marinated salmon on it, skins side down..

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/bbq1.jpg

Sear the skin side, then flip it over.. Cook with the skin on until the fish is almost done. Then peel the skin of and grill it until it's the texture of a potato chip..

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/bbq3.jpg

Figure out if your future in-laws like salmon skin. If they don't, then eat it while enjoying a beer. Give a little to the dog - it's good for her too.

[doubled]

That looks awesome. Good job!!!

[Everett]

Oh man I would love to get out fishing salmon on the river. Great pics Coach just brought your old camper home tonight from a 900km road trip she is still holding up should last at least two more hunting seasons if I treat her nice. You are probably missing her sleeping in a tent.

[coach]

Oh man I would love to get out fishing salmon on the river. Great pics Coach just brought your old camper home tonight from a 900km road trip she is still holding up should last at least two more hunting seasons if I treat her nice. You are probably missing her sleeping in a tent.

Yup - I definitely miss that camper. Great that you are getting good use out of her though! I always tent on the Fraser, because it's warm and nice to sleep where the fish are. My new synmat is comfy as can be, so tenting is fine. November hunting out of a tent is a little different story though!The river is only going to get better. Hopefully the sockeye open this weekend. I'll be down again regardless.

[lip_ripper00]

I spent a few hours down river, could not hit a spring for the life of me but in 3 hours 3 of us hooked and released 12 sockeye.Not a 100% sure, but I beleive their is another native opening starting Thursday 6:00pm

[Everett]

Yup - I definitely miss that camper. Great that you are getting good use out of her though! I always tent on the Fraser, because it's warm and nice to sleep where the fish are. My new synmat is comfy as can be, so tenting is fine. November hunting out of a tent is a little different story though!The river is only going to get better. Hopefully the sockeye open this weekend. I'll be down again regardless.

She has been to Revelstoke and Fernie (skiing), Montana, Idaho, Rossland, Nelson and Castlegar (mountain biking) so far this year and should head hunting several times this fall. All the offroading has been hard on her but she is still in one piece.

[coach]

I spent a few hours down river, could not hit a spring for the life of me but in 3 hours 3 of us hooked and released 12 sockeye.Not a 100% sure, but I beleive their is another native opening starting Thursday 6:00pm

The native openings definitely do have an effect - but they are nothing like the commercial openings where nothing gets through. It does kind of suck though, to carefully release a sockeye just so it can swim into a net. On the other hand, it sure was nice to have the river basically to ourselves. No chance of that once the socks open.

[nano]

Going to be heading out this weekend, Coach were you bottom bouncing. If so how many oz?
Thanks
Nano

[coach]

Yes. Bottom bouncing 4-5 ounces. Weight totally depends on the flow and depth. Bar fishing should work by this weekend as river cleared considerably from Saturday to Sunday.

[nature girl]

Nice pictures you have I like the one with your dog holding the leash of the other 2 dogs.
Glad you got out before the crowds come.

[Farmer]

We were out for about 6 hours today. Bar fishing and some bouncing. Nada, but it was a nice day on the water and I got to read a whole book with only a few distractions via ringing bells. Alas only debris or fish hitting the line. It sure won't be quiet like that if sockeye opens. It will be a huge mess as there are very few bars that allow you to fish from shore yet. the water is still at the trees in a lot of places.