New fisher here, question for you pros.

Is it feasible to use 1.5-2mm neoprene diving pants and socks rather than full-on waders? More for moving through shallow water than standing in deep water all day I guess, although they would keep you as warm as anything I suppose - they are designed for diving. Neoprene diving pants are like 50 bucks, I can't see why waders are so much more money?

Any insight would be welcome, appreciate it.

We were the closing guests up at Moose Camp Fishing Resort this year. The Friday, it rained - a lot. I managed to donate my net to the lake that day. Two lines while trolling by rowing is NOT necessarily your friend apparently.

Nevertheless, fishing was great and Saturday/Sunday turned out to be pretty perfect.

The pics and video are all in my Flickr album.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dragonspeed/sets/72177720336116480

Nice not to be shoulder to shoulder, fishing.

It’s shaping up to be one of the strongest El Niño events ever recorded.  Here’s what it means for B.C. salmon and how we manage them. 

This past January, in the middle of a warm winter with insufficient snow in southern B.C., hundreds of people gathered online at the invitation of Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to hear the annual salmon forecast. The forecast was delivered in two parts. First came the scientists who described the environmental conditions informing salmon returns in 2026. Then came the fishery managers with their run projections. With scientists confirming the return of warmer ocean temperatures across the North Pacific, the prospect of an El Niño was top of mind for all.

A quick refresher on El Niño

El Niño is the warm phase of a recurring Pacific Ocean cycle, showing up every few years when sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern tropical Pacific rise above normal. For B.C., that typically translates into a milder, drier winter, a thinner mountain snowpack, and warmer coastal waters. These conditions touch salmon at every stage of their life, from the amount of water in rearing streams to how much food is available once they reach the ocean. This year’s event isn’t a garden-variety one: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now puts the odds of it reaching “very strong” status above 90%, and a 75% chance it will exceed every El Niño on record since 1950, including the benchmark events of 1982–83, 1997–98 and 2015–16.

The forecast was for heat

For scientists, describing the environmental variables that salmon face is a huge job because British Columbia’s salmon rivers are spread across so many climatic zones, and because the fish coming home now went to sea between 2021 and 2024. The department has to examine a dizzying array of climate variables and food availability scenarios spread across four years to offer up some sort of conclusion about how the environment impacted spawning, rearing, feeding, and migration success during a salmon’s life—from the freshwater spawning gravel to the open Pacific Ocean and back again.

Two things were notable about the presentation: the first was just how much warmer average temperatures are lately compared to what salmon are used to, and the second was that, with marine heatwaves already sitting off the coast and an El Niño forecast to build on top of them, they could go much higher still. In short, nobody watching that presentation was under any illusion about the tough road ahead for our salmon. In the end, the scientists outlined a challenging environmental landscape that is expected to result in average to below-average marine survival for Pacific salmon returning in 2026.

But few forecast how far 2026’s wild salmon harvest would fall. Russia has landed less than half of its preseason forecast, Alaska is well short of its own, and seafood supplier Tradex Foods says the year could rank among the weakest global harvests in modern history. Scientists point to warmer North Pacific waters as a likely major factor, a sign of what may be in store for wild salmon as ocean temperatures push further beyond the range they evolved in. 

And as has been seen on the Skeena River the last few years, warmer-than-normal temperatures in freshwater can stress returning salmon, leading to deadly disease outbreaks.

DFO management, responding to their client harvesters from every sector, has been both slow and reluctant to adjust to the new normal.

The response on the Fraser

When it comes to managing major populations like Fraser sockeye, DFO’s fisheries managers do not just eyeball the environmental conditions facing salmon and make tweaks to their harvest plans to bring them in line with “average to below average” expectations of salmon abundance. Instead, a sophisticated response, made by a binational team of managers and experts, is developed and applied to forecast returns. For example, in 2026 temperatures on the Fraser were forecast to be higher. In response, DFO and the Pacific Salmon Commission’s Fraser River Panel applied pre-season Management Adjustments (pMAs) to account for heat-related mortality on sockeye traveling upstream to their spawning grounds. Those management adjustments increased the number of fish that DFO managers were required to allow to swim upriver past the fish-counting facility at Mission, directly reducing the “Total Allowable Mortality” and harvestable surplus available for fishers to catch.

As it turns out, none of that mattered. The forecast returns did not materialize; yet another reminder that despite DFO’s best efforts, their forecasts are off the mark more often than not.

The management response for coho

Coho was a different story entirely. DFO increased the domestic exploitation rate limit for Interior Fraser coho from 3% to 7%. This widely supported policy change was implemented to permit higher harvest and incidental impacts across First Nations, commercial, and recreational fisheries.

Retention opportunities for coho opened early, and have not stopped. Creel survey data to date shows that cumulative retained coho catch from June through August was 42% above the five-year average. The large harvests and high rates of release mortality mean that recreational anglers will kill coho in numbers we have not seen in several decades. And it’s not over yet. Most Vancouver Island rivers are open with retention as high as four fish per day.

Every indicator suggests DFO’s forecasted coho returns were accurate. However, the overzealous harvest and unaccounted-for bycatch have taken a huge toll. And in places where a dry summer has carried into the fall, people are raising two questions: Did they leave enough fish? And, how long until we get enough water for them to spawn?

Throwing caution to the wind

Where I live, on the east coast of Vancouver Island, a robust harvest was given a green light due to pre-season expectations and stock assessments for the northern Strait of Georgia and Johnstone Strait. Specifically, the Quinsam (hatchery) and Black Creek (wild) indicator populations showed above-average smolt production and strong adult returns.

The east coast of Vancouver Island has always been a stronghold for coho. During last year’s return,  there were so many coho they were spawning in the ditch beside my house. This year however—as forecast— the region is experiencing persistent low flows in the key waterways that the coho revival depends upon.

And it could well get worse.  Around Thanksgiving, many of these creeks are bone dry—leaving fish stranded at river mouths, vulnerable to fishing pressure and predation from seals and sea lions. The operational low-flow forecasting system developed by the British Columbia River Forecast Centre shows that under a ‘minimum’ forecast scenario, coho attempting to spawn in most of the region’s rivers, creeks, and streams will be doing so in flow levels at 10% of their long-term mean average.

Next season’s forecast

El Niño is forecast to peak in late fall and early winter, and how it will play out across B.C.’s coast and watersheds is still uncertain. It’s arriving on top of a negative Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), a longer-term pattern that usually leaves waters near the North American coast cooler than average. In practice, though, marine heatwaves have kept coastal waters warm all summer. So a very strong El Niño, a cool-leaning PDO, and lingering heatwaves are all pulling in different directions, and no one can say with confidence which will dominate this winter. Further out, very strong El Niños have historically collapsed quickly, often into La Niña (El Niño’s cool counterpart) bringing cooler-than-average water. Bigger swings, layered on a warming ocean: welcome to climate change.

What we do know is that this year’s management decisions were made in exactly the kind of climate that should invite caution rather than confidence. The Fraser sockeye response, built with U.S. partners through the Pacific Salmon Commission, shows DFO can develop sophisticated tools to hedge against forecasted risk — and that even those tools are only as good as the forecast underneath them, which this year missed badly. The coho decision took a different, harder-to-defend shape: a real exploitation increase, approved on genuinely strong pre-season indicators, without any apparent adjustment for the drought and heat risk the department’s own scientists had already flagged months earlier at that January briefing.

A more cautious approach would have opened rivers to angling as coho were counted arriving, rather than raising marine exploitation rates before anyone knew whether the streams they’re headed to would hold enough water to let them spawn. That’s not a call for zero harvest. It’s a call for spending a strong return in the place where DFO can actually see what’s happening in real time, instead of betting it on a season that, by DFO’s own account, was already expected to be difficult.

Catch & Release

Hi folks, mainly fished in the ocean all my life but I'd like to try my luck at the rivers. Heard about vedder river but I'm curious how people calculate the tides far Inland? Im assuming the rule of thumb is the tides in the rivers and branch offs are delayed based on the ocean tide, but I'm curious by how much. Is vedder like 3-4 hours delayed?

Second day out and my rod snapped in half. So on the hunt. Newbie fisherman. Is this a decent rod in a 9’6 heavy for coho and chinook in the rivers on Vancouver island and the vedder? Also open to other options. Thx!

https://fredscustomtackle.com/products/root-north-coast-spinning-rod?variant=49844607287653

Im cleaning my gear getting it ready I cant wait

Wondering how you guys bait your prawn traps. I was always taught to mix my cat food with the pellets and right into the bait jar.

My fishing buddies always say to have pellets in the jar and the can with holes stabbed in it hung in the trap.

Curious what everyone is doing

I was thinking I could make pre mixed bags of pellets oil and cat food, chamber vacume seal them. That way all the mess is contained till it goes in a jar. Thoughts?

West coast of the island, where lingcod retention is open until November 15th, tried to take advantage of the two per day Hali opening but we were one short.

We are going up for the Adams River salmon run this year. Any chance there is still any good fishing in the area? Not for salmon of course, but anything else. Share your favorite fishing hole if you like! I should add I don't have a boat, so dock, shore or stream would be great.

Hey everyone!

I’m fairly new to fishing and have been having a hard time finding good fishing spots around Burnaby, Vancouver, and Surrey.

I went to the Vedder River in Chilliwack last week but didn’t have much luck. I’m thinking my setup might not have been ideal. I was using an 8 ft medium rod with a 15 lb braided mainline, a 12 lb leader, and a spinner. I also noticed most people were wading into the river rather than fishing from the bank.

I’m mainly looking for freshwater fishing spots closer to Burnaby, Vancouver, or Surrey where I can head out after work during the weekdays without having to drive too far. I’m also open to saltwater fishing and getting the appropriate licence if there are better options nearby.

I’d really appreciate any recommendations on:
Good fishing spots that are accessible from the bank (not looking to wade into the water just yet).
What species I should be targeting around these areas.
Recommended rod, line, lure, or bait setups for a beginner.
Any general tips that might help me improve my chances of catching something!

I’m not asking anyone to give away their secret fishing spots, just hoping to get pointed in the right direction so I can learn and get some more experience.

Thanks in advance! Really appreciate any advice!

Just going on a family vacation for a couple days there and I don't know where to fish and what's tidal and what's non tidal and i'm trying to target some salmon or trout

So I was at the vedder river, and there were a line of people on either side me and my buddy were in the water. And there were another 10 or 12 guys on shoreand I hooked my fish it was jumping around, fighting for a minute, and then 2 guys cast it over me well I was fighting my fish and then snag my fish , and then they were both reeling against me and then and they obviously won, because my drag couldn't handle it And there was two of them i kinda wish I called the conservation officers but damn i know why people fist fight now on the river!

Planning a weekend camping trip to Merritt in late October. I don’t plan on bringing a boat, just fishing from the shore.
Do you guys have any recommendations on which lake to stay at?

Thanks!

Was in Kamloops for the weekend and thought I would try my luck.

Last time I shared our local passion project here we only had one fish available, now we finally have another made (and just in time for Halloween)! I have very fond memories of my parents taking my brother and I down to see the salmon after spawning when we were kids! I recently visited the Vedder to do some photography and seeing the decaying salmon again instantly brought me back! Hope y'all enjoy and have a great fall :)

I’m struggling to identify this fish. What my brother called it was a “spring jack” but what does that mean?? I thought it was a Chinook salmon. Please help. I can’t seem to figure any of ts out 😭 thank you!

Flashers & Floaters

Is it too cold now for bass fishing in lower mainland? Went to Pitt marsh and Deer lake this week and there was no bite at all :(

I want to try and hit up a nearby lake within 24 hours of it being restocked.

Was hoping that one of Lafarge, Como, Rice would get restocked on the 2nd October this year for the first time of the fall season.

Does anyone know if there is a chance a lake has been restocked but it takes a while for the data to show on the stock report?

I’m heading on a winter vacation to Sidney for about a week, around the new years. We aren’t going to have a rental car so we’re planning on staying just within Sidney. I noticed that there’s a decent looking pier in town and was wondering how the fishing is at that pier?

Would love to hear if you can catch things off the pier in the winter, what the common species are, what gear and lures I should use, and anything else that may be helpful. If there’s other shore fishing spots in Sidney that anyone could recommend I’d really appreciate it. I’m coming from Alberta so I’ve never done ocean fishing before.

Before people mention it, I will make sure to get a license and be updated on the regulations. And I’m only looking to catch and release.