We are back from vacationing on both sides of the border and the fishingthis year was a learning experience.
It's not that we didn't catch fish; it's just that the size and numbers were not what I would have liked to see.
Getting skunked is humbling for any angler. It is one thing to be puton a river and expected to succeed with methods and presentations that are completely foreign, it's another to work waters verysimilar to your home ones and fail using style and methods youteach.
Such was my case when I decided to try my hand at centralWashington's Methow River. Briefed with everything I needed to know, I set out in pursuit of 20-inch trout. I raised many that came up to inspect my flies but not one solid connection was made. My wife, Kim, on the other hand did catch, on the one Grasshopper fly pattern I had with me. Perhaps I should have humbled myself and bought some of the local fishing-store owner's recommendations, inspite of myinner voice protesting, "Surely some thing in your briefcase of flieswill work."
Well, as I often preach in fly fishing classes, "Some ofus learn the first time, but for the rest of us, it takes a while."
THE REPORT
Our Lower Mainland lakes are fishing well. For wet (sinking) fly troutfishing try Coachman, Zulu, Wooly Bugger, Dragonfly Nymph, DamselNymph, Sixpack, Doc Spratley, Pumpkinhead, or Baggy Shrimp. Forevening dry (floating) fly trout fishing try: Tom Thumb, Irresistible,Royal Coachman, Renegade, Elk hair Caddis, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnator Lady McConnel.
For kokanee try Red Ibis, Double Trude, Blood Worm, San Juan Worm, Red Spratley, or Red Carey. For bass try: Zonker, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Lefty's Deceiver, Dolly Whacker, Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Foam Frog, Poppers, Chernobyl Ant or Crayfish.For panfish try: Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Bucktail, Dolly Whacker,Bloodworm, Chironomid, Poppers, Turks Tarantula, Tom Thumb orIrresistible.
Fishing on our Interior lakes is good. For wet fly fishing tryChironomid, Halfback, 52 Buick, Pumpkinhead, Big Black, Micro Leach,Coachman, Green Spratley, Damsel nymph, Dragon nymph, Carey Special, Souboo, Sixpack or Baggy Shrimp. For dry fly fishing try LadyMcConnel, Black Gnat, Double Hackled Peacock, Griffith Gnat, BlackGnat, Elk Haired Caddis, Irresistible, Sofa Pillow or Tom Thumb.
The Fraser River is fishing well for cutthroat, dolly varden and spring.For cutthroat try Rolled Muddler, Proffesor, Anderson Stone, Zulu,American Coachman, Renegade, Tom Thumb, Black Gnat, Chez Nymph or Irresistible.
For dolly varden try Zonker, Eggo, Clouser's Minnow,Big Black, or Dolly Whacker, in sizes 4 and 8. For spring trylead-heading with size 4 to 2, Eggo, Big Black, Flat Black, WoolyBugger, Kaufmann Stone, Squamish Poacher or Red Spratley.
The Stave River is fair to good for cutthroat and rainbow. For rainbow try Kaufmann Stone, Big Black, Black Gnat, Souboo, Royal Coachman, Zulu, Renegade, Tom Thumb, Chernobyl Ant, Joe's Hopper or Irresistible.
The Harrison is good for cutthroat.The Vedder is good for rainbow and cutthroat.The Thompson is very good for rainbow and spring.
