B.C.’s Lower Mainland and beyond: 6 fly fishing hot spots
The staff at Port Coquitlam’s Riverside Fly and Tackle share their favourite waters
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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