Fly Fishing Salmon in BC

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Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Salmon fishing in British Columbia is fantastic. They have the river that has the largest over-all salmon run. They have another river that has the largest wild Coho salmon run. They have another river largely ignored by fishermen that has the most salmon per square foot than anywhere else. All this happens in just one region, the Lower Mainland where fly fishing salmon in BC style is hot.

No discussion of fly fishing in British Columbia can start without talking about the Fraser River. The Fraser River holds an amazing variety of game fish species. It always has the biggest salmon run of anywhere in the world. Five different species of salmon spawn in the Fraser River. They are the Pink, Chum, Sockeye, Chinook (King) and the Coho. Access to the best wading water is by boat. Fishing from a boat is also quite effective.

The best prize of all the species is the Coho salmon. The Coho?s amazing runs and acrobat leaps give any fisherman a thrill. Coho hole up in stiller waters often no more than a knee deep. They keep away from other species of salmon and like still streamside pools. But if you see a smooth patch of darker water in a run, give it a try.

The Pitt River has the largest run of wild Coho. Starting in late September and running through early December, the Coho are silver bright from their short trip from the ocean. Access to lots of great wading water is by boat.

The Harrison River is a short river so salmon stack up like cord wood awaiting spawning time. Every odd year (2009,2011) hundreds of thousands of pink salmon add to the traffic jam. It is a great place for fly fishermen of all levels of ability.

No article would be complete with mention of another region in British Colombia, Vancouver Island. Here on the shoreline of Tofino there is excellent salt-water fly-fishing for large Chinook salmon in August. This fly fishing requires a two-handed (spey) rod and reels that are rated for salt-water. Use large streamers for the salmon are feeding on anchovies and other large baitfish. But the opportunity to catch a 75-pound Chinook makes the extra equipment worth it. The spey rod will also be useful fishing the Fraser. By boat the South Islands offer salmon fishing year-round, trophy fish also inhabit these waters too.

Beware that in British Columbia a separate license is required for saltwater fishing, so read up on the regulations before fishing. Fly fishing salmon in BC is worth a trip at least once for very fly fisherman.

NINE (9) FLY FISHING LURES all different NR D-6