Question from Denmark: Fly line/tippet for Vedder River??
Hi

My friend and I are from Denmark, Europe. We are going to fly fish in Vedder River for two weeks in October. I have a couple of questions regarding fly lines/tippets.

I know I need sink lines to get the fly down to the bottom to the salmon’s!!
How deep are the Vedder River,- average??
And how strong are the current??
I would like to use an intermediate shooting head, 12ft, with a super fast sink tip, 6-8ft. Is that set up "heavy" enough to get the fly to the bottom to the salmon's?

What fly line/tippet do you recommend?

Which flies do you recommend for
Chinook's??
Coho's??
and Chum's??
(do you perhaps have some pictures you could email me?)

I hope some one will answer my request. See you in October :-)
Regards
/Jacob

Hello Jacob,

Flyfishing the Vedder will be somewhat of a disappointing experience for you because of the crowds of bait-fishermen. There are very very many of them. It is not the pristine Canadian experience that you are dreaming about in your Danish bed at night. Just imagine a few hundred beer cans, bait canisters and a lot of slobs flogging the water for meat. People observe rules less closely in Canada than in Western Europe. Likely you have read that this is a good river in some magazine but it's really very crowded for fly fishing. The Chehalis river, which is close by is a little nicer. I would walk down "Pretty Creek" and proceed to walk downstream and cast into various pools. You will only catch chum and coho in the time of year that you are coming and 19/20 fish will be chum. If you use a belly boat in the Dewdney Slough you may catch more coho.

As for flies:

Coho: Christmas Tree, Rolled Muddler
Chum: Anything bright that is red and yellow.

Any fly shop in the area will be more than happy to take your Euros from you for the right flies.

The current is a big factor. You'll need a nine weight rod with a fast-sink tip and a heavily weighted fly. You will not be able to cast into the fast water that the gear-fishermen can fish in. You will have to fish the calmer pools. You should attach an 18 inch section of 15 lb test to the end of your fly line. This will be totally adequate.

I wish you the best possible Canadian experience but I only went to the Vedder once and then never wanted to set foot near it again. With a little research you could find some very nice places to fish.

BTW at Chehalis I would also recommend hiking into the Canyon. There is more casting room here and nice pools. Park at the parking lot at the bridge crossing the river and follow the trail out of the camping area. It's easy to find.

The Vedder is a crazy place to fish, but you can fly fish for salmon. I do and I do quite well my self in the fall. But most of the of the time it is a very crazy place to fish. Some people on that river just don't get it so you have to tell some of these beekers to back off and grab a brain. It is sad that some of us sportsmen have to deal with these guys that way. It would be a fun place if every one would use their heads.

I have fished the Vedder River for 20 years plus and yes it is a busy place but there is a reason for that. It is awesome fishing. If you are there during peak times of course there are going to be lots of fishermen. Some good to fish beside and some bad but you meet all kinds anywhere that you go. My most successful way of fishing is drifting (not bait fishing) a line with a float and 2 to 4 feet of leader depending on the depth of the hole but fly fishing is also fun and a bit more of a challenge but that is what we are looking for, right?

Come to the Fraser Valley and you are sure to find some very good fishing.

what you should invest in is a good flyfishing saavy guide who has a boat - this way, you can get away from the crowds... I have information for one such guide, who works at Michael and Young Fly shop - he'd be more than happy to take you out, and he fly fishes exclusively. I'll give you contact info if you like..

Flyfishing the vedder will be tough if you don't know the water - you'll end up getting jammed into a hole with 60 other fishers... That can be a very unpleasant experience.

Is that guide your husband or is it you guideing.He'll end up with 60 other fishers anyway and going to pay 400$ for it.Nice advice Nicole.

My aren't you cynical? For your info, my boyfriend hates fishing, and I have no interest in guiding... I hired the Michael and Young guy to take me fishing, and I had great results.

I personally think a guide is a great idea, and I'd certainly pay for it if I were going to another country... I think paying to solidify your chances of hooking some fish is well worth it... Not to mention the currency conversion for denmark would make a guided trip a cheap as a nice dinner out in canadian dollars..

And guides can get you away from the crowds, which is essential for flyfishing... Not really all that possible to rub shoulder to shoulder with gear fishers...

I would bring a 7-8 weight rod, with a couple of different tips - both type 5 (high speed sink) one tip should be about 5-6 feet, the other about 10 feet.

That should do you fine...

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