Fishing is better than it is.... the problem is that recreational anglers don't get on the water enough to experience the "bites" which come on and usually miss it by a day or two.
I ran into a couple of local forum members (on this thread) down at the Marina on Monday and this was my advice to them...
Based on the numbers of Springs getting up the river et al...I'd be focussing efforts off the Coal Ports to T10...the problem is that recently the tides are working overdrive....and pushing the fish around and putting them off in a big way. As well..there are high tides at night...which really moves the fish upstream.
I'm at work this week...but I called around for the scuttlebutt on local fishing this morning and there were some great results..... if you can fish at the slacks in the Coal Ports to T10 area...DO IT and put in a good effort. Get out first thing in the morning..after work..whatever..make the time and get out and fish!!!
The best thing to use is Anchovies behind flashers..and hands down this will produce the best results for the next 6 weeks. Never mind the rest of the gear---Anchovies or Herring is the word...period.
As for the Cap...would you rather fish a spot which coughs up 2 springs a tide or would you rather fish an area with potentially an opportunity at dozens of springs?
One of the reasons the local guides are so successful for Springs is that they're dead on consistent and spend their time focussing on an area---and Anchovies are by far doing the most damage.
Some argue that Anchovies are expensive---consider this....if you spend a $100 on Anchovies and it puts 4x as many fish in your cooler as tackle...it's a great investment no?
My tips were to those guys looking for springs...
1. Anchovies--brine them up no more than 2 days before...fresh bait does wonders. If you're going to go through the trouble of fishing bait..fish them on ALL lines.
2. Anchovy rigs...tie them up and get them ready to go.
Favorite colour heads for right now: Chartreuse, Straight Chrome, Glow Green. Sharp Hooks...if you don't own a good hook sharpener...get one...and fast. Buy the best hooks you can afford...and don't tell me you can't afford Owner or Gamakatsu or Eagle Claws... have triple the number of pretied rigs as you do lines fishing...you want to be ready to go when you get a tangle, dogfish/whatever.
3. Fish the tide changes---never mind whether it's mid day or not..get out and fish it. Put in your time....if you get discouraged from a slow day on the water...overcome your defeat and GET OUT FISHING. Charters and Guides don't go without skunkings every now and then.
4. Fish Depths from 40 to 80 feet...usually not deeper.
5. Fish a 7 foot leader. Some of the guys were fishing a 4-5 foot leader. These fish can be flasher shy...fish flashers on all lines..
6. If you're catching too many dogfish..you need to fish faster!!!! Dogfish need to roll over almost on their backs to get a Chovy. Consider moving if you're wasting time with Doggies.
One of these guys was a real novice to fishing for these springs.....and he had obviously spent a lot of money and been outfitted with some great gear from local tackle shops...and I'd recommend the following.
If you're interested in learning more.. consider a group charter where you can sit back and relax and enjoy a few brews and let the guides work hard at sending you home with fish. You can even mine some info from them buy going on a charter to see technique and gain insight as to why they catch fish regularly) Local charter rates are inexpensive enough that you're actually coming out ahead by chartering as by the time you fork out the $$$ for launch/parking, gas for truck and boat, $14 for 2 packs of 'Chovies, et al.... Charter rates for local operations are the lowest on the coast.
I'd recommend assembling your family/friends and splitting the cost among 2 to 4 people---and when you look at it that way...there are no fights---no disagreements, no lost gear, and no friendships jeopardized! LOL)
My recommendations for local charter firms are (google them yourself for contact info)..in no particular order.:
Predator Charters (this guy catches fish!)
BonChovy Fishing Charters (saw these folks bonking a few fish recently--highliners!!! sheesh!)
Bonnie Lee Charters (bonking some nice fish as well)
Bites-On Charters (Bonking Tyees and seeking them out)
M and M Charters (Mas---what a great guy!)
Watermark Charters (Mark...... what a fish monger)
Sewell's Marina (What a bunch of cool folks)
Book a 6 to 8 hour charter with any of these firms and tell them that you SPECIFICALLY WANT TO FISH FOR SPRINGS OFF THE FRASER RIVER MOUTH. Structure this around the slack tides. Explain to them that you're local and want big fish. I'm sure any of these Charter operations will work extra hard for you to get you fish. If you don't catch---I'm sure it will not be because of incompetence or lack of effort.
Also, the time is NOW...get out and fish while the fish are here....not 2 months from now, not 6 weeks from now, but in the next 3 weeks.
Over the last 5 days there have been excellent numbers of fish moving into the Fraser and the tides have conspired against those fishing for these fish.
Anyways, to the great folks I met yesterday, get out and fish and TIGHT LINES! See you on the water!!!
[
]
