First Fraser River sockeye salmon season in three years is likely

[Okanagan]

I expect sockeye season to open on the Fraser River within the next 24-48 hours.  No season last year and I think that we had three days two years ago but that may have been four years ago.

I've been tying up leaders, finding tackle, even went out yesterday to scout current access to the river since I haven't fished sockeye on the Fraser for two years. I will likely kayak across a new river channel that we used to drive across at medium water level and lower.  Then I can access a mile or more of island shore in mid-river.  It will be swarming with boats and people.  The river is pretty high.  Hot weather we've been having melts a lot of snow and that is the main feed for the river.

Somebody will almost certainly drown trying to wade the new channel in the river.  That happened the last time sockeye was open when the channel was brand new.   

The river channel used to be a dead end slough with a gravel bar across the lower end, actually a long skinny lake in an old river channel.  One day during sockeye salmon season, about 75 people were fishing a gravel bar accessed via walking across the lower dry land end of the slough.  The river came up and some fisherman decided that it would lower the water level in the slough if he cut a channel through the gravel bar and let the water out the lower end.  He did.  Within ten minutes the river had cut a deep and wide channel trapping all of the fishermen.   

[Okanagan]

I spoke too soon. Season postponed for another week.   The panel that sets the seasons met last Friday and said that they expected to open sockeye season mid week this week, and that they would set the details at their next meeting, Tuesday, which was today.  At today's meeting they put it off deciding till next week.

I get their official e-mails full of biology and management jargon: escapements, water temps, cubic meters of water flow, where tagged fish are showing up, etc. At the end of each e-mail they announce various fishing seasons: commercial, First Nation, recreational, plus specific open and closed areas and streams.

[nastygunz]

Pretty exciting!

[FinsnFur]

I was going to pack a bag and stand out near the road again and wait for you to pick me up.

[nastygunz]

 I have been doing that for three weeks waiting for him to pick me up to go to his favorite trout pond 

[Hawks Feather]

Sounds like fish was 'almost' for dinner.  Good luck when they open the season.  Who is it that sets when it is open - something like the Department of Wildlife or is it on an Indian reservation and they set it?

Jerry

[Okanagan]

Jerry, seasons are set by a panel of "experts" composed of Federal fisheries and salmon specialists, biologists etc. from both the US and Canada.  I don't know who all are on the panel, likely the First Nations have a rep there, as I'd assume that the commercial fisheries and recreational fishermen do also. No doubt some politicians have a say.   Salmon swim back and forth in US and Canadian waters and so are managed by the Feds of both countries rather than by state or provincial jurisdictions.  Salmon heading for the Columbia River in the US come through Canadian salt water, and vice versa for salmon heading for the Fraser River in Canada.   

Sometimes they open and close seasons with a few hours notice.  It is a little aggravating this time because I would have gone salmon fishing on Vancouver Island for a few days starting Monday but their Friday e-mail was so sure they would open the river here that I stayed home. 

[JohnP]

I had the jet serviced and the pilot on standby.  Flight plan filed for flight through several "Yankee" states to pick up wannabe fisherman  and then headed to Canada.  Oh well maybe next week. 

"O"  don't forget your camera................

[nastygunz]

Are we dropping jimbo out of the plane on a HALO jump to establish a beach head of prime salmon fishing spots for us?  I would definitely video that especially if there is an outside chance he might land on a grizzle bar after the same aforementioned salmon