We chose the Chilliwack region specifically to record a promotional video for Angling Classics and Bluewater Rockies Sport fishing.

Anyway what better an opportunity to see how the mighty Rockies stacked up against my native Cave Hill and Mourne Mountains.

My companions for the trip were English tackle dealers, Richard Havers, and husband and wife Richard and Kerry Sheard.  After a relatively comfortable 10hr flight from Gatwick (booking a seat upgrade is so worth the money) we arrived in Vancouver where our pre-booked Ford 4x4 awaited us.

Driving straight down Highway One through Chilliwack to Slesse Park, a lovely little hamlet situated on the bank of the beautiful Vedder River we found the River bend Lodge.

Until you actually travel to the Rockies along British Columbias Coastal area, you cannot imagine the purity of the air, washed clean as it sweeps down from the glacier peaks.  It can only be described as taking an open-aired shower so refreshed it leaves you.

Our base camp was a two-bedroom log cabin. Complete with central heating, TV, En-suite bathrooms, internet, and its own kitchen, which was only ever used for tea making and keeping the odd beer cool, as all meals were prepared and delivered to our door by Jennifer, our hostess.

Just yards from our front door ran the Vedder River, a beautiful clean clear boulder strewn river alive with the six species of Pacific Salmon that run the Fraser system. And the river in which I recorded my personal best, a huge fish of 30lb. unfortunately it was the one day we forgot the camera, so you'll have to take my word for it!

Chris, our Canadian guide met us that first night, and over a few beers, we planned our campaign for the coming week.  Having been on a few film shoots and Guiding  , I know exactly how hard it is to produce fish to order, but for some reason Chris didn't look very worried.

He specialises in targeting Western Canada's top sport fish, including all six species of Pacific

Salmon, as well as Steelhead, Trout, and, not to mention the prehistoric, White Sturgeon!

Lots, having been drawn, it was decided Chris, Dave, and I were to fish, while Richard and Kerry were to capture our fly-fishing success on video and camera.

Dave & Steve

But on our travels we did spot a few Canadians savouring the delights of fighting these tremendous fish on a fly rod. So there is hope for them yet!

That first morning Chris turned up at 7 am sharp, the 300bhp engine of his jet boat idling, ready for the off.  This was no ordinary river charter boat.  Imagine a tea tray with a honking 5.2 litre V8 strapped to its back and you'll get the picture.  Yet despite its size four men could lift it from a trailer and it can run in of water and turn on its own axis.  Needless to say moving from beat to beat at speed was no problem.

For our first port of call, Chris took us to what he called The Rock.  A huge boulder 15 yards off shore were the Harrison River joins the Fraser.  From this vantage point we couldn't believe our eyes.  Salmon of all types, Chums, Pinks, Sockeyes. Cohos, were heading and tailing, swirling, jumping and smashing virtually everywhere we looked. We also spotted Bald Eagles and the odd Beaver.

Although Richard was supposed to be filming the action, the temptation proved too much, and indeed it was he who landed our first catch after a hard fighting 20 minutes.  It was a lovely Chum or Dog as the locals call them, of about 13lbs.  Indeed Richard set the pattern for us for the next five hours as we all had Salmon after Salmon lots of times 3 of us where fighting fish at the same time. 

I have to say those Chum were the most memorable.  Boy do those doggies live up to their name. The power of those fish is just awesome, snatching 250 yds of backing screaming from your reel.

While the takes were solid, the runs varied.  Some fish exploded, head shaking out of the water.  Others accelerated in a heart stopping run for fast water and apparent safety.  Yet what I savoured most were the fish which greyhounded across the surface, proposing as they went.  What a sight!

We got more video footage in those5 hrs, than we did during the rest of our trip such was the quality of the salmon fishing by the Harrison-Fraser junction.

Lunch and filming over, Chris tempted us to try a little of his guiding speciality.  White Sturgeon fishing.  Well I didn't know about anyone else, but with aching arms virtually falling off, having already landed 25 salmon, the idea of just sitting in a boat for a few hours seemed like heaven.

It proved to be my second misconception of the trip.  No sooner had Chris picked his spot and cast his bait did there begin a tap-tap, tapping on the 40lb class boat rod.  Handing me the rod Chris offered me a $100 bounty if I could break the rod while striking into the monster.   I struck as hard as I could, the Lami Glass one-piece rod remained intact. Then all hell broke loose

Pinned to the side of the boat by a long heavy run, the fish peeling off 150lb braided line at will, the monster did something I didn't expect.  This 7ft of primeval fish jumped 8ft straight into the air, then crash landed back into the Fraser, leaving my rig behind.

But I was hooked.  I wanted more and within minutes I felt the telltale tug as another monster picked up the baited stocking bag full of salmon row.  I waited for a long pull, as instructed, then struck.  And we were off again in a merry dance.

However, with confidence growing, and knowing what to expect, this time it stayed attached.  Although not as large as the first, I'm proud to say, within ten minutes we where photographing my first Sturgeon.  While only a five-footer it was my biggest fish ever, although a record that wasn't to last the afternoon out.  There is nothing quite like seeing a 5-12ft fish explode out of the water.  Give it a try and you won't be disappointed!

What I loved most about the Fraser Valley was its mix of different waters, from the Fraser itself, with massive stocks of every variety of Pacific salmon, to the upper reaches of the Vedder which run in places like an Irish trout stream.  The Fraser and Harrison river systems are home to amazing runs of Salmon Chinook, Sockeye, Coho, Pink, and Chum up to 45 million in a good Pink year.  (Which is hard to believe being an Atlantic salmon Fisher from
N. Ireland where our runs are counted in 1000s, if we are lucky`)

In addition don't forget the Steelheads, one of the most prized of the West Coast game fish.  This migratory Rainbow can reach up to 30lbs plus, running the rivers from the sea and can fight like a dragster!  With such diversity you never have to fish the same water twice, and at the right time of year you can almost pick and choose how many fish you want to catch. 

There are some nine different rivers to be fished from the Chilliwack area not to mention countless different mountain lakes, overflowing with Rainbows, Lake Trout, Pike and Dolly Varden (a kind of Char). 

Another added bonus of September fishing is the" Pinks.  Although these fish don't reach great sizes, 10lb is a big one, there are plenty of them.  They run in numbers every odd numbered year and for anyone who prefers light gear, Pinks on a 6-7-weight fly rod are an absolute thrill.  Try using Pink lures, much as you would for Rainbows in UK.  We targeted these fish and they put up a fantastic scrap on the fly...

Although some may say that the West Coast Pacific salmon do not have the same mystique as the Atlantics, a whole section of fly fishermen, are looking for a good value venue that will get them connected to a good number of very hard fighting fish on a fly.  And more importantly, without them having to sell the wife, or re-mortgage the house.  Ok maybe sell the wife, only joking!

In my opinion British Columbia. pound for pound, fish for fish, is just that.   Some are maybe lucky enough to pick and choose their fly-fishing, on top beats, when at its very best.  But for the guys who have only one week in a year to really enjoy themselves in a beautiful place to get locked into some of the hardest fighting fish and lots of them, then British Columbia fits the bill every time.   And the Fraser can be all things to all men, just as the Salmon season fades at the end of November, this marks the onset of one of the biggest runs of Steelhead in the world, and believe me there are not many who would turn there nose up at one of these. 

Fact File...

Rods:

As always I packed too much gear, and even ended up breaking my treasured 12, nine rated double hander following a particularly 30 minute nasty fight with a big Chum, that I had fowl hooked much to the amusement of the company.

Although I had also armed myself with a 10 foot, eight rated rod, it was the Bloke 9 foot, nine rated Salt Water Travel rod which proved to be the most suited for the job.

Fly lines:

We had them all, from floating to intermediate to sink tips of differing weights and lengths.  However, with line, backing is the key point to remember.  Believe me you will need it, my record was losing 270yds in one run before the fish eventually broke me.  Unfortunately that day we did have the camera to record it.  Dam!, but what a run the speed of that fish was amazing and is one I will never forget.   

Flies:

Having done my homework and spending many a long evening sweating over my fly tying vice concocting as many different variations of a pink fly as I could muster, having been told, Anything as long as its pink mate, it did prove galling when Chris produced a box stuffed full of Silver headed muddlers.

They seemed to consistently out fish everything when on the Chums and the Cohos.  But to my mind the colour was not the difference, but the added weight of the silver bead, which took the fly to the correct fishing depth quicker.  Anyway we where still catching three or four salmon an hour on my flies. 

Remember also the Fraser system demands that flies must be dressed on barb less single hooks only.

What Are The Best Times To Fish?

STURGEON: year round fishery. Peak months April-May, August-Nov.
CHINOOK: peak months, June-Oct
COHO: peak months, Sept-Jan
SOCKEYE: peak months, July-Oct
PINK: peak months, Aug- Oct
CHUM: peak months, Sept-Nov
STEELHEAD and Sea run CHAR   Dolly Varden: peak months, Nov-April (winter runs)
STEELHEAD: peak months, -July (summer runs)
CUTTHROAT: Spring and fall months

I can't wait to return to fish Chilliwack area in BC it is a truly remarkable place. With its various rivers not to mention countless different mountain lakes, stuffed with both Rainbows, Lake Trout, Pike and Dolly Varden (a kind of Char), and I fully intend to fish as many as I can, and return to fish the Rock.  Amazing Scenery and fish and I must admit the Rockies do look the part.