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Competitive fishing has its place

Last week, I touched on the main motives in sport fishing. This week, I want to cover another facet of this sport: Competitive fishing. Though there is sometimes strong opposition to it, organized competitive fishing has a place in our sport.

Last week, I touched on the main motives in sport fishing. This week, I want to cover another facet of this sport: Competitive fishing.

Though there is sometimes strong opposition to it, organized competitive fishing has a place in our sport. Let's face it. not everybody who would like to earn some money at this endeavor wants to be a guide, instructor or tackle dealer.

Enter the pro or semi pro-angler option. These folks range from derby winners, who often want to pick up a few extra dollars to offset fuel costs, to the multi- national celebrities whose annual incomes are equivalent to other pro sports stars.

Some might ask whatdoes competitive angling have to offer our sport. Knowledge is my first answer. Those who are out fishing hard 200 to 300 days a year under verious conditions are going to know what does and doesn't work.

Innovation is my second answer. When winning is the difference between getting top dollar and just covering expenses, you are always looking for something to give you that edge.

Lastly, I'd say it's quality equipment. Pro anglers demand it and tackle makers know that sales depend on meeting that demand.

We reap the benefits of what the pro anglers demand in better and more innovative tackle.

THE REPORT

There's nothing like an Arctic cold front and snow to put a stop to fishing. We can expect fishing on our Lower Mainland lakes to be slow for a few days, or even a week. Keep an eye out for sparrows targeting adult chironomid flies hatching off our local lakes. When you see the sparrows out in formation, working just off the surface of your favorite lake, it's time to fish.

The Fraser River is good for cutthroat and dolly varden.

The Vedder River is good for steelhead, dolly varden and rainbow. The Stave River is fair to good for steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat.

The Chehalis River is good for steelhead and cutthroat.The Harrison River is good for cutthroat and rainbow.

The B.C. Boat & Sportsman's Show is at the Tradex in Abbotsford, March 4-6.