6 fly fishing hot spots in B.C.’s Lower Mainland and beyond

6 fly fishing hot spots in B.C.’s Lower Mainland and beyond

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Owner Garry Elgear calls himself a “shop rat” who started working for Port Coquitlam’s Riverside Fly and Tackle at age 15, before eventually buying the place. Riverside offers a full range of fly tackle, as well as guided trips on both fresh and salt water. En route to the following hot spots, pick up a few Happy Endings—Elgear’s saucy twist on the Intruder fly.

More info: Riverside Fly and Tackle, (604) 944-2479, www.rsfat.com

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FRASER RIVER, B.C.

GPS: 49.221, -122.800

FISH: Bull and cutthroat trout, salmon (chinook, chum, coho, pink, sockeye), steelhead, sturgeon

HIGHLIGHT: At some point in the year, all of the above species are present, often in big numbers

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WHEN: Year-round

HARRISON RIVER, B.C.

GPS: 49.262, -121.930

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FISH: Bull and cutthroat trout, salmon (chinook, chum, coho, pink, sockeye)

HIGHLIGHT: Boat or walk-in access to picturesque water, complete with thousands of eagles

WHEN: Late summer to early fall for salmon; year-round for trout

HOWE SOUND, B.C.

GPS: 49.564, -123.269

FISH: Chinook and coho salmon

HIGHLIGHT: New creosote-free pilings brought back the herring run; numerous spring salmon are following

WHEN: Winter to spring

KOOTENAY LAKE, B.C.

GPS: 49.730, -116.880

FISH: Rainbow trout

HIGHLIGHT: Good population of big-shouldered Gerrard-strain rainbows

WHEN: Year-round; winter for trophies

STUMP LAKE, B.C.

GPS: 50.364, -120.370

FISH: Rainbow trout

HIGHLIGHT: Great fly action with the high-jumping Kamloops strain

WHEN: Spring

VEDDER RIVER, B.C.

GPS: 49.098, -122.001

FISH: Chinook salmon

HIGHLIGHT: Lots of stocking; the red spring chinooks are the tastiest of salmon

WHEN: Summer

Check out our complete list of hot Canadian angling destinations