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The Squamish River
Just north of Vancouver, towards Whistler ski
area, one finds a spectacular drive along the Sea to Sky Highway.
Mountains rise from the salty waters and tower above the winding
highway. Forty-five minutes from downtown Vancouver, the town
of Squamish interrupts the drive with a few signal lights. Nestled
just west of the town is the river from which the town derives
its name.
The Squamish River begins in the snowcapped coastal mountains
of BC. Many different glaciers feed the river along its way
to Howe Sound where it forms a large estuary extending well
into the ocean. This river is a rugged, beautiful place.
The lower river has some access points, but is still best fished
from a jet boat of which there are hardly any. The upper river
offers more bank access with a logging road traversing most
of its length. To the inexperienced eye the entire length looks
“fishy”, but the local anglers know only portions hold good
fishing.
Our main fishing on the Squamish is the Chum Salmon that begin
to show up in middle October and peak the middle of November.
The run is large and attracts huge numbers of bald eagles for
which the area is famous. We fish within the estuary or just
upstream from it, traveling from spot to spot via jet boat.
These fish are ocean bright; many still have sea lice clinging
to them. Hard fighters and eager biters make these fish fun
and challenging to catch.
Once known for its winter steelhead, the Squamish River now
holds only a remnant of those original fish. Over the past few
years the fish have been making a steady comeback and are starting
to offer somewhat of a fishery. Each fish caught is a treasure
and rightly so, a true trophy.
During steelhead season, the river also finds us trying our
hand at sea-run Dolly Varden and resident Bull trout. These
fish have flourished over the last decade and represent a quality
winter/spring fishery. Bull trout are considered rare in most
parts of the world, but seem to do well in smaller coastal river
systems of BC. “Dollies” and “Bulls” are beautiful creatures
and reflect well the surroundings in which they are found.
Prices: Please call or e-mail so we can set up your
trip and get some prices for you.
Includes: all fishing gear, 8+ hours fishing, jet boat
(if necessary), and guide.
Not Included: 5% GST tax, fishing licenses, accomodations, or
gratuities.
* Larger groups are not a problem, please
inquire for pricing and logistics* |
