Jayhad

I flew to Abbotsford with less then great expectations, after all I was headed out for my grandfather’s funeral. I knew I wanted to spend some time fishing with my father but didn't expect out of 5 days I would get much time. I was happy to find out that my father was pretty excited to just be on the water for the maximum time allowable. Checking our schedules we figured we would be able to fish 3 full days, pretty good in my books. We wanted to do some sturgeon fishing but $60.00 for the tag is getting a little ridiculous and it meant we would have to sacrifice actual fishing time with boat prep, running the river, searching out bait..... Yes I said bait so we decided to just focus on fishing the Fraser around the confluence of the Harrison. Our main prey was to be pinks and if we are lucky, so I thought, maybe hook a big Chinook or two. First day on the water was Saturday, what a gong show. There had to be 3000 people in a 5 k stretch of the river. Tonnes of random campers, camping at the waters edge. More ATVs, 2 strokes and old blazers then I could count tearing up and down on the gravel dunes and sometimes blasting in the water behind you and I can't forget to mention the 100s of jet boats, 50% of which don't give a *hit and take the 383s and 454s full throttle past the long line anglers. So I figured what ever it tends to be a new Canadian trend, here and in BC. There was a 4 man fight just up stream from us that saw 2 dudes get stabbed, over a fish getting broken off on a line tangle up.......... wow eh. I was excited to fish with my Redington CPX 6wt 12'6" Spey as I was going to use a Skagit set up for the first time and I wanted to compare, plus I hadn't used the stick since last winter on the Bow. I was fishing with a piece of T-17 and after an hour and a half, 3 cut backs on the tip and 2 different lengths of the leader I started to seriously bang fish. This is when realizations started to come into play. You truly aren’t catching. Only 30% of the fish I landed had the fly in their mouths and I would think 90% of those were flossed. I generally fish with swivels and I could feel the swivel sliding across lips. The second day of fishing was great at first; I started to nail out pinks and then it happened. I hooked a big nasty Fraser River Chinook; the battle ensued for 15 minutes most of which was me just hanging on trying to keep my tender fingers from getting smashed by the handle of reel spinning the wrong direction at break knuckle speed. I had managed to get the beast up to shore and was holding my rod up reaching for the tail; in the iconic fly fisherman pose. The Chinook had other intentions though, with a quick thrash the big pig showed me what he thought of my 6wt, turning it to trash. I was reminded why I always carry a spare stick……….did I say always. Apparently my arrogance that was built on fishing the coast for 20+ years was rewarded with a learnt lesson. So I spent that day driving 120k round trip to get my hands on demo Sage VT2 8wt. She held up and was returned to the owner with nothing more then some burnt out cork and a sore arm. The third day of fishing wasn’t as great as the others in regards to numbers, but we managed to have a great time. It was Wednesday and the river was quite with angles but the nets were drifting down in full force so there was slim pickings. All in all, I had some great time with my dad, and I landed over 60 salmon in about 24 hours of time on the water. I don’t think salmon fishing on the fly will see much more of my attention as I think I becoming a trout snob. I enjoy the challenge, knowing fish are there but have no desire to feed on what you are offering presents problems that make us better anglers. The searching for the answers in salmon fishing come quick and once learned I find it starts to get boring. But don't get me wrong everyone should try this once, if for nothing else then a major confindence boost. Hope you dig the pics and tight lines Jay my dad with a pink me with a pink, i killed this one big humpy Doug with his first fish on the fly Test driving the Sage VT2

I have been talking to several of my buddies about hitting the Dechutes, the fish are smaller but much more plentiful, and it will probably way warmer then smithers. To me it's not always about the biggest possible fish, I would still like to catch some. Plus the things you learn about fishing travelling regions, I'never steelheaded in the US and I am sure they do something different which are worth knowing.

Great pics, those pikers are pigs. Good work with the black and whites... thank you

Lucky I am having to battle tiny pinks, I would love to find a coho this week

Wow good hike the pics are great, thank you

There are some real clean ones but I have it's about 1 in 8. I am fishing in Rosedale so not to high up. I hope to fish hard the next few days now that my grandfathers funeral is over and the extended family obligations are done. Me and dad on the water. If I am lucky I will work out my brand new 6 wt 10' Z axis I picked up today....... loots

Nice pics boys, great looking water. Is that a cricket???

Just a sample of pics to come....... these little pinks are wicked to fish for on the small spey sticks

I'm in Chilliwack right now....... I'm out I got warrants

are you looking for the tool to crimp PEX connections? If so just rent one at Totem for peanuts.

Fishtales........ best service ever. I took my Korkers in there a few weeks ago after a 100 times on them this year they were coming apart everywhere. Dave just asked me if I wanted korkers again or another brand, no "i'll have to send this out"

nice pics... I will be on the bow next week, I think it is time once again

Nice fish go city lakes

Nice pigs.... my flight to abbotsford leaves friday night hopefully I can find some beasts

oh ya they get even much larger then that. the fish I am holding only taped to 29" but I was reminded that they get bigger this monday when I taped a few hogs. Jay

Back you go, thank you beasty mmmmm the highwood, so much fun

Roach with a rainy day brown Roach with a nice rainbow on the 3wt Z I love the rain

So I wasn't going to post pics to much anymore as there are some real a-holes here that like to talk *hit about having fun. Then this morning I got a call from my sister in BC, with news that my grandfather passed away this morning. In 84 he took me to his favorite lake for 3 weeks and taught me the hows and whys of fishing. I had fished with my dad a lot before this but he would just give me the rod all ready to go. My grandfather explained it and taught me the true love of the trout. It was that memory that reminded me why i love to fish and why i like to show the fish me and my friends catch because others have that love of the trout also. When I can't fish I love seeing fish pics, I know many of you feel the same. 98 years old and he was out on the water just a month ago. So some of you can PM me saying I am stroking my ego AGAIN but these pics are for my Papa. my bro got to come out last month and he got into his first Brown Max caught a way bigger brown in this spot a while back and I love the pic so I had to steal it once I had the opportunity

Man people are a-holes sorry some dudes made you feel that way. Never let anything take away your love of fishing

You may want to check out the new Pentax WP series DSLRs, I am very happy with me K Series DSLR and I don't think you can beat the image stabilization. (I personally think in body is better then in lense, plus it's way less expensive)

nice fish, super fresh eh

The puff ball mushrooms are very tasty..... if they haven't turned. Cut it open if it is still white flesh it is awesome, if it is brown and gooey it's like someone pooped in your mouth

wicked fish good on you keep em coming I am now away from water for 6 weeks

wow that is super cool. what an opportunity

Nice brown, I am still hoping we can swap waters on day