Photo: Haley Ritchie. The salmon smoked my line out all the way to the backing and then as quickly as it came; it was gone as it broke off my hook. The weight of the fish made me think for a moment that I may have hooked a medium-sized brown trout, but as it broke the surface I could see its silver side and knew that it was some sort of salmon. Books, Films, Toys & More, Sea Turtle Gifts – Toys & Gift Ideas For Sea Turtle Lovers Of All Ages, Best Animal Books For Kids 2018: Animal Encyclopedias & Reference Books. If you’re looking for prime dates you’ll want to aim from mid March to early May. For salmon and steelhead, float fishing and lure fishing are two popular techniques used by anglers on the Squamish River. All Rights Reserved. The winter and spring months are the best times to river fish in Squamish or head out on the ice in Whistler for a truely Canadian ice fishing experience! The lower section of the river offers the best … I was heartbroken in an instant, but it passed quickly, because I knew there was hope and that it was possible for me to hook and land a fish. Now I just needed to find out how. My quarry kept zigging and zagging and I had to move down the shoreline several times, apologizing to other fishermen as I wove myself through their lines. Advertise with us - Video Production - Website Design - Subscription Service - Contact Us. Fishing Squamish River, BC - A Novice's Fly Fishing Journey Hey, I understand your concern, but this is a pretty small fly fishing forum, and I'm fine if a few other fly fishers know a decent river to fish. So excited was I, so overcome with some primal joy that I forgot to set the hook and when I started to crank the reel the fish spat it out. From the corner of my eye I see another fisherman leaning back, his rod bent, line taut and fighting what looked like a rather big fish. Fly fishing is a meditation, the repeated movement of casting and luring the fish quiets the noise in your head and offers a release. I'm all for hiding fragile small systems, or little honey holes you've discovered, but the Squamish is a big river and I think it's ok to generate a bit of discussion among fly fishers by revealing where this is. Fishing for pink salmon becomes available in August and September. The fishing season of Squamish River is limited compared to other river systems in Southwestern BC. 03-11-2013 - fly fishing for chum salmon on the beautiful Squamish river BC Because the Squamish River typically produces coho in the 10 to 20lb range, large spoons in the 3/8 and 3/4oz range are very effective. It was an 11-foot, 2-piece and came packaged with a matching fly reel with backing, a yellow-green fluorocarbon fly line and fast sinking leader. On another cast I hooked a rather strong individual full of stamina. And with that I stood back up, got my line ready and waded back into the water to cast my line out into the water once more. The main access to the lower section of the Cheakamus River is from Squamish Valley Road. I actually had to switch hands for a minute just to gain a bit of reprieve from the lactic acid buildup. I decided to go with the purple marabou and, with it tied to my line, waded into the cold Squamish River. A simple wool tie on the hook can entice these aggressive biters. : Squamish River Salmon fishing - See 9 traveller reviews, 21 candid photos, and great deals for Squamish, Canada, at Tripadvisor. As I walked the small trail connecting the parking lot to the fishing grounds I played over and over in my head the sequence of casting, as much as I want to say that I did this to hone my technique, I equally did it to ease my anxiety and apprehension. If you are able to cast a fly 50-70ft then you are capable of fly fishing for pinks from our local beaches, whether you are just beginning or a seasoned angler! Single egg, minnow, sculpin, leech patterns all produce, just not at the same time. As I wriggled into my hip waders I thought about the various flies and streamers that I had at my disposal. The tree line sits a fair distance away from the fishing area and this means that a fisherman can really swing a fly rod without fear of snagging a shrub or some other obstruction. Glacial discharge keeps the river high and dirty in spring and most of summer. We’ll pick you up in Vancouver, we can even arrange for an airport pickup, and then we’ll drive you north, through Sea to Sky Country and into the Squamish River valley. Denis manages to catch a fish but it’s a tired fish on its way home from spawning, he releases the fish and keeps on. View Brian Mack's fishing report in Squamish River, Canada for Pink salmon from 07/30/2019 to 08/01/2019 in Fly dreamers. Fishing the Squamish River Drop a line any time of year for Steelhead, Salmon, Bull and Rainbow trout while the late summer and early fall brings thousands of Pacific Salmon heading into the rivers to spawn. All I needed was the fish, and they were coming. Squamish River, Squamish - The Squamish River is a beutiful, wildlife enriched river located just west of the senic sea-to-sky highway. You can follow this Squamish River level link to see the real time hydrometric graph of the Squamish. Wilson's riffle near the mouth of the Cheakamus and the Graveyard Run a little farther downstream are good examples. : Squamish River Salmon fishing - See 9 traveler reviews, 21 candid photos, and great deals for Squamish, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Brian picked up from downtown Vancouver, provided lunch, all the gear along with photography through out the day of me casting and catching, with the all important trophy shot of my biggest fish. The Squamish River is 80km in length, stretching from the Elaho Valley to the City of Squamish River before draining into Howe Sound. Match the pattern to the type of feed available in the river at the time to increase success. When driving north on Sea to Sky Highway, turn left onto Squamish Valley Road. Anglers cannot possibly ask for more from a watershed that is only 1 to 1.5 hours drive from Vancouver. Fishing Reports (191) Articles (30) Contributors . What I saw was definitely a salmon, definitely a juvenile, but it was missing the adipose fin which indicates that this is a Coho that was spawned from a hatchery found a couple of kilometers upriver. Continue until the first bridge. I did not know how to use a fly rod. Two casts later I got my chance. I must admit that I felt a bit intimidated when I walked into that store, not because of the guys behind the counter (they were extremely easy to talk to) but because I knew absolutely nothing about what I was getting into, except for the fact that I needed something to catch fish with. Although 3rd on the list of Best places to go Flyfishing this is our 2nd Best Trout Fly Fishing available in Vancouver, British Columbia. They even threw in a couple of flies for good measure. Access to the Cheakamus River and Upper Squamish River can be done via Squamish Valley Road. Always keep your fish in the water and use wet bare hands to handle them. The finest in guided wilderness fly fishing, heli-fishing and remote fly-in experiences. The road forks into two after the bridge. Apr. My right forearm was burning at this point. All those hours of reading, watching videos, practicing casts and knots have finally paid off. Flyfishing for pink, coho and chum salmon produces well as long as water clarity is good. From the shore? Silver Creek Outfitters (23) John Packer (14) Brower Moffitt (13) Anibal Núñez (12) Uros Kristan - URKO Fishing Adventures (12) Kenneth Sykes (10) Halldór Hallsson (7) Fly Dreamers (6) Paulius Mazuras (6) David Lambroughton (5) Although its former glory days are unfortunately long gone due to overfishing, habitat degradation and pollution, it still offers quality catch and release fisheries in the finest scenic setting. Squamish’s waters mainly attract three species of Pacific Salmon; Chum, Coho and Pink. Because the Squamish River typically produces coho in the 10 to 20lb range, large spoons in the 3/8 and 3/4oz range are very effective. Optimal Squamish River fishing level is between 1.7 and 3.1 metres. Between January and April, anglers can enjoy targeting a variety of winter species, including bull trout, coastal cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and winter steelhead. Nothing was going to take this away from me and I can finally, officially, call myself a fisherman. On a map, the Squamish River looks like a sapphire snake winding its way through the Coastal Mountain Range and eventually finding its way to the river delta, and spilling out into Howe Sound. It is also a hotspot for local wildlife, so be cautious and have your cameras close at hand. Is it an open area or will there be obstacles like trees? Nestled on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, in between the pricey homes of West Vancouver and the world renowned winter destination of Whistler, lies the town of Squamish. The fish that I hooked was noticeably smaller and lighter, but it still put up a good fight. Squamish now offers world-class mountain biking with hundreds of trails and single tracks. The Squamish River has been a superb fly fishing river for steelhead. Our Squamish River fishing packages are flexible, pick and choose your days. This page shows when game fish species are in the Squamish River system of British Columbia and the best time to fish for them. Keep the float depth shorter than the depth of the run to avoid foul hooking the river bed or fish. Unfortunately, this fish ended up breaking free as well. I wrestled with my rod for what seemed like hours but in reality was more like ten minutes. I was handed my first fly fishing rod. Year-round opportunity for both resident and sea-run trout and char species. Before your first fishing trip to Squamish River, please make sure you know the following information: About us The lower section of the river offers the best venue for flyfishing due to its spacious river bank. Our Story - Our Editors & Contributors - Our Supporters - Search Site - Our Facebook Page - Our Tweets - Our YouTube Channel, Our Services Fly Fishing for Trout and Char near Squamish. Fed by melting glaciers hundreds of kilometers away and strengthened by several tributaries which include the Elaho, Ashlu, Cheakamus, Cheekye and Mamquam rivers. Using the power in my muscles and my 7/8 weight rod, I landed the fish. I devoured their instructional videos on YouTube and purchased ‘The Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing: More Than 300 Tips for Angles of All Levels‘, what the bookstore clerk reverently called “The Bible”. *Sharper Hooks* *Tighter Lines* ... Best Fishing: Fair Fishing: In River: Fly Fishing Only: Not In River Jan. Feb. Mar. Fishman's Park on the Squamish River Squamish Fly Fishing Squamish is a world class anglers destination with incredible year-round fishing in stunning coastal mountain scenery. The Squamish River holds true to … Fly Fishing Whistler B.C. Squamish and its rugged mountain areas are a rock … However most people don't seem to know the trick in tying it. ), current types (Will I be fishing in still water or in current?) The town itself sits at the tip of the Sound, a tidal fjord that eventually makes its way to the Pacific Ocean. Will it end in success or will he forever be rueing the ‘one that got away’? After a successful cast and hook set the fish started to swim back and forth, going this way and that in an attempt to stay away from the shore and being landed. Each has its own unique eco-system. Ten minutes pass and not a nibble. Chum salmon and coho salmon fisheries are available from early October to late December. In this case I put my own spin on it and it looks a bit different then the original but hey, but its the same technique, and its not like the fish really care. Squamish River Bull Trout Fly Fishing The Squamish River: A place of beauty & tranquility! May Jun. The shore gently slopes down into the river where fishermen can comfortably wade into the current and get a line out. The upper sections of the river near Whistler can be acce… Needless to say I had my work cut out for me. "You've got the rivers, mountains, giant trees, pure wilderness. It then swam away with the force and speed of a torpedo. RIVER FISHING. I shot my line back out on the river and for the next hour I was able to hook and tussle with salmon on several occasions. Choose from half and full-day trips or discover remote fly fishing at its finest through a heli-fishing trip to one of more than 180 remote wilderness rivers. This area offers year round fly fishing. There are also many creeks feeding the Squamish River. Copyright © 2001 - 2016 Fishing with Rod Production. Continue on the road to the right until the second bridge, where additional access is available. Some of the best rock climbing in the country can be found on the rock faces of the Smoke Bluffs and the iconic granite monolith, the Stawamus Chief. Each offers a rearing ground for young salmonids. Which would I use? Is only 1 to 1.5 hours drive from Vancouver on Highway 99, turn off at tip. 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