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| From David Sandquist |
 Well, it was mid February and there was a definite warming trend developing into what many described as "spring-like conditions". I headed out that morning with an unusual level of optimism. As a fly fisherman, I had been waiting for the temperature of the water to rise enough to allow the fish to get active enough to chase a fly. This day it appeared that the weather, and my luck, might just be changing. While it had been warming over the previous few weeks, it had also not rained in a few days and the river was low and clear. I decided then to head up the river as I felt there would have been few fresh fish entering the lower river, and any fish down low would have worked there way up by then. I got up above the Allison Canyon and saw a nice run out of my car window. This was a small "micro-run" (only 50 meters from riffle to tail), perfect for working a fly. What really sold me on it was that there was no car parked along the road next to it, despite the fact that I had got off to a later start then I had planned, so over I pulled. I remember thinking, as I worked into my waders, that this was good morning already. I had a nice stretch of water to myself, I did not need my gloves for a change, and it was not raining. Conditions could not have been more optimal. I grabbed my rod and headed through the trees towards the river.
I got to the head of the run and stood scanning the river. The main flow of the riffle entered the run on the far side, pressing the slot against the canyon wall. Between the slot and me was a large expanse of slower moving shallow water. I began there, looking down the seam and imagining that if there were fish here, it would be right there in the seam where I could see some larger boulders that might provide some good pockets. The water in the seam was only a few feet deep, so I decided the best way to tackle this run was with the floating line. I changed the spool on my reel and strung the line through the rod. I threaded a strike indicator on first and then opened the fly box. I pondered a single egg, still remembering the steelhead I caught the year before on New Years Day. However, I also recalled a recent report I had read by fellow angler Wisper, who said he hooked a nice fish a week earlier on purple wool with a piece of prawn. While I did not have a bag of shrimp with me, I did have a selection of purple egg sucking leeches, so I selected one with orange egg. I tied the fly on the end of my 9 foot length of 8 pound Maxima. The fly was not weighted so I pinched on a small 1/8" split-shot about 18" above the fly and set the indicator to 3 feet above that by squeezing on a little ball of "indicator putty" as a stopper. This should put the fly within a foot of the bottom. |
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As I pulled the line off my reel, preparing to cast, I planned the drift. I usually begin fishing a run with a short cast in close, and then gradually work my way out. Something about this run made me eager to get out to that prime holding water. I made a couple of short false casts, more to get a feel for the added weight on the line then to get more line out, then I hauled off a long cast into the riffle above the run. I mended hard to get the line above the indicator and started the drift. The current carried the fly into the slot I lifted the rod to keep the rest of the line off the slower water to make sure the line stayed drifting and did not pull the fly off the bottom. I was already worried that the current in the slot was too fast and that the fly might not be sinking fast enough. I lifted the slack line to allowed it to be pulled out easily and watch the indicator like a hawk. The line reached the end of the run and began its swing through the tail out. I allowed the fly to hang there for a minute and began stripping in the line. Not a sniff.
The next cast I made was a bit shorter, and after the mend I guided the fly into the seam. This was the sweet spot. I began to pick up the slack and raise the rod when my indicator disappeared. I dropped the slack line at reached up to grasp it at the first eyelet while I lowered the rod to give the fish a chance to suck it in before the drifting line pulled it out. I raised the rod again and set the hook. A flash of silver greeted me right where I had earlier pictured the fish holding. The ensuing fight was not as spectacular as others I have had, as I suspect that the fish was still feeling the lethargy of the colder winter months, but it was still the best (only) I had had that season. After about ten minutes I was able ease the 7 pound wild buck into the shallows for a quick picture and gentle release. That turned out to be my only steelhead landed of 2010, and I am now in search of my first of 2011.
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Article |
Topics |
Date |
| 1. |
Fishing the Tyee Pool in Campbell River |
Salmon |
Aug 2013 |
| 2. |
Jigging for Coho |
Salmon, Tackle |
Aug 2013 |
| 3. |
TKO ing Big Springs |
Salmon |
Jun 2013 |
| 4. |
Spring Fishery Updates 2013 |
Fishing Area Outlook |
Mar 2013 |
| 5. |
Fly Epoxy Chum Fry |
Flys |
Feb 2013 |
| 6. |
Best Fishing Story of 2012 |
|
Feb 2013 |
| 7. |
Salmon fishing outlook for 2013 |
Fishing Area Outlook, Salmon |
Jan 2013 |
| 8. |
Fly Tadpoles |
Flys |
Jan 2013 |
| 9. |
Fishing Outlook for 2013 |
Fishing Area Outlook, Salmon, Sturgeon |
Dec 2012 |
| 10. |
Fly Steelhead Muddler |
Flys, Steelhead |
Dec 2012 |
| 11. |
Fly Bacon n eggers |
Flyfishing, Salmon |
Dec 2012 |
| 12. |
Keeping a journal |
Technique |
Dec 2012 |
| 13. |
Fly Egg-sukin leech |
Flyfishing, Flys |
Oct 2012 |
| 14. |
Fly Steelhead Madness |
Flyfishing, Flys |
Oct 2012 |
| 15. |
White Lake |
Fishing Area Outlook |
Aug 2012 |
| 16. |
Fly Orangesicle |
Flyfishing, Flys |
Jul 2012 |
| 17. |
Fly Blue Morrison baitfish |
Flyfishing, Flys |
Jul 2012 |
| 18. |
Fly fishing the Estuary (Amundson Thompson Chaser Fly Rod Review) |
Flyfishing, Tackle |
Jul 2012 |
| 19. |
Sockeye Strategies |
Salmon |
Jul 2012 |
| 20. |
Ultimate Squid TUBE |
Flys |
Jun 2012 |
| 21. |
Roche Lake |
Flyfishing |
Jun 2012 |
| 22. |
Fly Coho Blue-zer |
Flys, Salmon |
Jun 2012 |
| 23. |
Flies Webflyzers |
Flys |
Jun 2012 |
| 24. |
Vancouver Island's Esperanza Inlet |
Halibut, Salmon, Vancouver Island |
May 2012 |
| 25. |
Fly Purple Peril |
Flys |
May 2012 |
| 26. |
Trolling for trout |
Trolling, Trout |
Apr 2012 |
| 27. |
Fly Blue Note |
Flyfishing, Flys |
Mar 2012 |
| 28. |
Fly Kalumlow |
Flyfishing, Flys |
Mar 2012 |
| 29. |
Fly Skeena Scar |
Flyfishing, Flys |
Mar 2012 |
| 30. |
Fly Polar Express |
Flyfishing, Flys |
Mar 2012 |
| 31. |
Sturgeon fishing in Vancouver British Columbia |
Sturgeon |
Mar 2012 |
| 32. |
Strategies for Catching Sturgeon |
Sturgeon |
Mar 2012 |
| 33. |
Fly Copper Gammarus |
Flys |
Mar 2012 |
| 34. |
Fly Alley Alevin |
Flys |
Mar 2012 |
| 35. |
Fly Hilton Boss |
Flys |
Mar 2012 |
| 36. |
A Guided Steelhead Trip on the River |
Steelhead |
Feb 2012 |
| 37. |
Fly Polar UV shrimp |
Flys |
Feb 2012 |
| 38. |
Egg-sukin Beaver Leech |
Flys |
Feb 2012 |
| 39. |
Fly Chardolas Bait |
Flys |
Feb 2012 |
| 40. |
Don't be afraid to try anything |
Steelhead |
Feb 2012 |
| 41. |
Best Fishing Story of 2011 Ryan Spannier |
|
Feb 2012 |
| 42. |
Best Fishing Story of 2011 by Bob Waldhaus |
Steelhead |
Feb 2012 |
| 43. |
Best Fishing Story of 2011 David Sandquist |
Kids, Salmon |
Feb 2012 |
| 44. |
Fly Reeds Spey |
Flyfishing |
Feb 2012 |
| 45. |
Jet Boat Maintenance |
Boats |
Dec 2011 |
| 46. |
Smoked Salmon Recipe BBQ and Honey |
Recipes, Salmon |
Dec 2011 |
| 47. |
Poached Italian Cod |
Recipes |
Dec 2011 |
| 48. |
Fly Blue Charmer |
Flys |
Nov 2011 |
| 49. |
Fly Muddy Waters |
Flys |
Nov 2011 |
| 50. |
Fly - The Excursion Leech |
Flyfishing |
Nov 2011 |
| 51. |
Herb and Garlic Crusted Halibut with oven roasted ratatouille |
Halibut, Recipes |
Oct 2011 |
| 52. |
The Banner Season |
Fishing Area Outlook |
Jun 2011 |
| 53. |
voteforsalmon |
Conservaton, Salmon |
Apr 2011 |
| 54. |
Votesalmon |
Conservaton, Salmon |
Apr 2011 |
| 55. |
Rivers Inlet Hatchery Program |
Conservaton, Salmon |
Apr 2011 |
| 56. |
Mayday for Wild Salmon |
Conservaton, Salmon |
Mar 2011 |
| 57. |
Contest 2011 Fishing Story David Sandquist |
Flyfishing, Steelhead |
Feb 2011 |
| 58. |
Contest 2011 Fishing Story Honourary mention Ron Gibson |
|
Feb 2011 |
| 59. |
Contest 2011 Fishing Story Bog Waldhaus |
Steelhead |
Feb 2011 |
| 60. |
Contest 2011 Fishing Story Brian Wong |
Salmon |
Feb 2011 |
| 61. |
Does Fish Cooking Techniques Matter |
Recipes |
Jan 2011 |
| 62. |
Mediterranean Fish Fillets |
Recipes |
Jan 2011 |
| 63. |
Virus Killing Fraser Sockeye |
Conservaton, Fish, Salmon |
Jan 2011 |
| 64. |
Halibut Fishery |
Conservaton, Hallibut |
Dec 2010 |
| 65. |
Salmon Virus watch |
Conservaton, Salmon |
Nov 2010 |
| 66. |
Disease Information |
Conservaton |
May 2010 |
| 67. |
Sea lice kept secret |
Conservaton |
May 2010 |
| 68. |
Catch the Dream |
Halibut, Salmon, Trolling |
May 2010 |
| 69. |
Oak Bay Marine Group Newsletter |
Salmon |
Mar 2010 |
| 70. |
Quesnel Lake |
Trout |
Jan 2010 |
| 71. |
Art of Curing and Smoking Fish |
Smoking |
Jan 2010 |
| 72. |
Bradley's Famous Hot Smoked Salmon |
Smoking |
Jan 2010 |
| 73. |
Salmon fishery action suit |
Salmon |
Nov 2009 |
| 74. |
Save B.C. Salmon |
Conservaton, Salmon |
Nov 2009 |
| 75. |
Winner of the Giver on the River Free Charter |
Fish |
Sep 2009 |
| 76. |
Oven bbq salmon |
Recipes, Salmon |
Aug 2009 |
| 77. |
Poached Italian Cod |
Recipes |
Aug 2009 |
| 78. |
Salmon Creole |
Recipes, Salmon |
Aug 2009 |
| 79. |
Australia Fishing |
Salmon |
Aug 2009 |
| 80. |
Horseradish and Dill Butter Salmon Steaks |
Recipes, Salmon |
Jul 2009 |
| 81. |
Navigating a boat purchase |
Boats |
Jul 2009 |
| 82. |
Salmon with a Homemade Grain Mustard Crust |
Recipes, Salmon |
Jul 2009 |
| 83. |
Halibut with Fennel Broth |
Halibut, Recipes |
Jul 2009 |
| 84. |
Cedar Plank Salmon |
Recipes, Salmon |
Jun 2009 |
| 85. |
Islander Winner 2009 |
Tackle |
Jun 2009 |
| 86. |
Just Get In the Water |
Technique |
Jun 2009 |
| 87. |
Saltwater Night Fishing for Salmon |
Salmon, Technique |
Jun 2009 |
| 88. |
Steelhead & Salmon Warfare |
Salmon, Steelhead |
Jun 2009 |
| 89. |
Deep Running Giant Salmon |
Salmon |
May 2009 |
| 90. |
Salmon Scampi |
Recipes |
Apr 2009 |
| 91. |
Dandelion Stuffed Chaunigan Trout |
Recipes, Trout |
Apr 2009 |
| 92. |
Living Rivers - Georgia Basin and Vancouver Island |
Conservaton |
Apr 2009 |
| 93. |
Salmon steak recipe |
Recipes, Salmon |
Mar 2009 |
| 94. |
Chaunigan Trout Recipe |
Recipes, Trout |
Mar 2009 |
| 95. |
Best catch of 2008 |
Flyfishing, Kids, Salmon, Steelhead, Trout |
Feb 2009 |
| 96. |
The Great Chilko Bear Adventure |
Bears |
Feb 2009 |
| 97. |
Seasonal Outlook for 2010 |
Salmon, Seasons, Steelhead, Sturgeon, Trout |
Jan 2009 |
| 98. |
A Fishing Trip with REEL OBSESSIONS Vancouver Island. |
Salmon, Trolling |
Jan 2009 |
| 99. |
Carp fishing from a different angle |
Carp |
Sep 2008 |
| 100. |
Fish British Columbia With a Timeshare |
Accommodation |
Apr 2008 |
| 101. |
Hurt by aquaculture industry |
Salmon |
Nov 2007 |
| 102. |
BC wild salmon endangered by failure to contain sea lice from salmon farms |
Conservaton |
Sep 2007 |
| 103. |
Go Fish |
|
Aug 2007 |
| 104. |
Studies show harmful impact of BC coast salmon farms on wild Pacific salmon |
Salmon |
Aug 2007 |
| 105. |
Lynn's Fishing Adventure |
Sturgeon, Trout |
Jul 2007 |
| 106. |
Chilliwack River Action Committee |
Conservaton |
Apr 2007 |
| 107. |
Indian Candy Recipe |
Recipes, Salmon, Smoking |
Mar 2007 |
| 108. |
Fishing Articles and archived fishing posts |
|
Mar 2007 |
| 109. |
Curing Eggs |
Salmon |
Mar 2007 |
| 110. |
Fishing for Chum Salmon |
Salmon |
Mar 2007 |
| 111. |
Salmon Eating - After They Change Colour |
Salmon |
Mar 2007 |
| 112. |
A guides Perspective - The Fraser River |
Salmon, Seasons, Sturgeon, Trout |
Aug 2005 |
| 113. |
Smoked Salmon Recipe |
Recipes, Salmon, Smoking |
Dec 2004 |
| 114. |
Fishing in Harrison Hot Springs |
|
Aug 2004 |
| 115. |
Jet vs. Outboard |
Boats |
Aug 2004 |
| 116. |
Helpful Hints, Tips and Tricks |
Tackle |
Mar 2004 |
| 117. |
Uncle Wes - Farewell Old Friend |
|
Dec 2003 |
| 118. |
Cow Paddy Pond |
Trout |
Oct 2003 |
| 119. |
12 Seasons of Fishing the Kitimat |
Flyfishing, Salmon, Seasons, Trout |
Apr 2003 |
| 120. |
Sara, Guardian of the Lake |
|
Jul 2002 |
| 121. |
Portrait of a Mountain Man |
|
May 2002 |
| 122. |
Carving the Salmon Pie |
Salmon |
May 2001 |
| 123. |
Spoon Fishing Lakes From The Bank |
Tackle, Trout |
Mar 2001 |
| 124. |
Vedder River Fishing “Fall options” |
Salmon, Seasons |
Mar 2001 |
| 125. |
Slippery Spotted Owls |
Salmon |
Jul 1998 |
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