|
I was fishing a local river tonight, well o.k...it was the Stave. Anyways, it is paved with sockeye and no you can't keep them,the point I'm trying to make is: I had one fish(sockeye) DEFINITELY bite tonight. This isn't the first time this has happened to me there, I catch them everytime I go up by the Dam. I thought the fish (8 lb doe) that bit tonight was a trout, this thing hit with the tap,tap,tap of a trout. I set the hook thinking it would be a small cuttie or steelie smolt, but it ws a sockeye. So, I am totally convinced that sockeye bite in clear water, as this happens, at least for me, in the Stave.A small percentage of the fish bite, but it definitely happens. I was using a 3 ft leader, under a float with peach/pink wool. Any comments? Dave.
|
|
Oh yah in clear water they bite especially the darker ones.
|
|
I've had a small percentage of socks bite in the vedder, mostly using 8lb leader #4 hook with little bits of pink or peach shades of wool. I've also had socks bite in the harrison on flies, but I find most of the ones that bite seem to be darker fish.
|
|
know from last early September that Sox are biters. They were hitting on a jensen with peach wool threaded through middle. On the vedder I have always had them take on darker blood red and purple patterns. But the Fraser it is just flossing. |
|
I think it's very cut and dry on the Fraser... can you say floss?Yeah, but in clear water some do bite.Most people aren't interested in Sockeye as soon as they close for retention, but they are great fighters and spectacular jumpers in clear water. A great sport fish in my opinion. It is a challenge to get them to bite, or maybe it's just a matter of time before one (in the huge school) takes a nip at it. Me don't care either way, they put a good bend in the rod! Dave.
|
|
Have you guys been out lately??All the beaks are gone,I fished today by boat on a bar just above laidlaw all by our selves,The spring fishing was unbelievable!!!!!!You wouldnt believe me if i told you how many hook ups we had so to save an arguement i wont tell you.Also landed 3 pinks.
|
|
I know, I got tonight off work{thank god} and fished a bar just below the Aggisiz/Rosedale bridge. First cast hit a sock. Then about 20casts later hooked a spring in the 20lb. range but got off. Ended up gettin a 32lb red and released a white that was just under 20lbs. |
|
Springers are great fun to fight on a center pin!!
|
|
The Stave was paved with socks? Is this something new Dave? Sock fry need to spend a year in a nursery lake, which the Stave doesn't offer. Not unlikely that a few strays would find their way in there, but when you use the word "paved" it would seem that it's more than just a few strays.
|
|
True. While most anglers were at the Fraser, I was at the Vedder for C&R. I've always contended that pound for pound the sockeye are the best fighting fish. Man, do they fly. Also, most of the time I have a pool to myself. Can't beat that.
|
|
The stave is not just paved with socks!!!There is some there but its not stacked up.Quit horsing dave!!!lol..tight lines
|
|
Sockeye bound up the fraser move into the Stave "to clean their gills" as we used to say.
|
|
Yes I do believe they spawn in the stave, if you follow the back channel it empties into silvermere lake - perfect for the rearing of sockeye fry and yes it is stacked with sockeye!
|
|
I was just down there walking my dog and it is not stacked with socks,I seen a few but its not stacked like u guys say it is...
|
|
Perhaps these sockeye are related to the Maria Slough stocks... ;-) Pretty confident that the fry don't have access to Silvermere Lake Brian. The times that I've walked it, the back channel flows back into the Stave.
|
|
How can you identify red springs from white? If you cut a fish open, O.K.; but if you release a white relatively unharmed what was the indicator to it being a white spring? I have caught both in the saltchuck. On one trip up at Telegraph Cove, near Port McNeil I took a spring in the A.M. and a second in the P.M. on the tide changes.They looked identical at the time. Only when cleaning them did I see the differences. I know they're people who prefer red over white.
|
|
To all the non-believers...yes the Stave is paved with Sockeye. I am up at the dam almost every night and see them there in huge schools. I was also up there in my neighbours boat with a fish finder and the fish finder was going off constently, especially up near the spill ways. It is absolutely stacked with fish there. Most of them are already starting to turn pretty red, but two weeks ago they were chrome. I have caught them in Sept in full spawn on the Stave, so I have no doubt that they spawn or try to spawn, with some success, I would pressume. The pool under the the dam is just like a lake(in some ways, especially below the spillways) and I believe the fry(at least some) survive. They could also be strays which started a run...?I don't know, all I know is that they are here every July-Aug_Sept. Brad, maybe the fish weren't active when you walked your dog, but I can tell you with total confidence, it is stacked with sockeye and some springs as well, my friend killed a 23lb red spring the other night. Dave.
|
|
White springs have a differant colour than red springs. Also look just behind the gill plate, you can tell that way. DOnt touch the gills though if you are gonna release them though. Over time you should be able to tell.
|
|
Mondays Fraser Fisheries Council meeting fairly much confirms there will be no commercial or further sport fishing for Sockeye on the Fraser. Call 666-2828 for a summary (choose commercial salmon and Fraser River Update from the menu) At 5 million and 0.485 million estimates for the mid and late summer runs it was decided that no further fishing beyond Native food and ceremonial fishing would be accomodated. The reasoning isn't well communicated since we had a smaller run last year with both commercial openings (I think there were 2 or 3) and a longer sport opening. My guess is the relatively low expectations for Harrison and Adam river stocks have resulted in this decision. despite the fact there are harvestable numbers returning to the Horsefly and other major sapwning areas in the central interior.
|
|
Boys and Girls, this is really all good news for everyone. Even though the Sockeye is closed for us sportsfishermen, the long term effects of a year with no in river commercial fishing is nothing more than excellent for our other sportfisheries. For example, the early September Vedder River Coho could be outstanding if this rain keeps up, no commercial fishing being a big part of that. Same with the Coquahala SummerRun Steelheaed. Although we still probably won't fish this year, no commercial fishing will help that run tremendously. No commercial fishing in the Lower Fraser will allow for exceptional Summer Chinook escapements as well. There are countless other small runs of fish in the Fraser River watershed that will benefit from not having to run that hideous commercial gauntlet as well. I for one am expecting an unbelievable early fall season for salmon.
|
|
Rob, It is starting now!!!!!!!!! Get out there, hit a nice place in the Chehalis with a buddy. Hit 3 summers to the beach all around 6lbs and one chrome fish around 4lbs. that looked to be either a coho or summer. All on hardware.
|
|
The Sockeye closure for sporties(nobody likes the sport closure but hey, get over it) and especially the commercial gillnetters, is great, in my opinion.If you can't get enough Sockeye, in a two week opening to satisfy you...then you probably haven't got a pulse! 2 weeks is plenty of time, we don't have to be pigs about it. I killed my share and definitely enough to share with some friends and relatives. With no commercial gillnets on the Fraser we can expect some decent early returns this fall. It is great news! Things are definitely looking promising. Dave.
|
Back to Articles page