Standing at the waters edge looking down as the water lapped the toes of our boots, painting the pebble stones as it goes with a temporary gloss varnish before returning back to the dull matt finish. It was a typical day, sun beating down upon our heads; the only clouds to be seen were like a white veil surrounding the vast mountaintops. A bald eagle cruised effortlessly and silently through the deep blue sky; suddenly my dream was broken as the distant noise of a boat engine roared into sight. It was late morning on the Fraser River, Mark our guide pulled the boat up the bank and walked over to greet us with his great big welcoming smile. With the sight of the Fraser River and our boat ready and armed for action, my heart started to beat faster and faster, I could feel the blood swimming through my veins like a fish swims through the sea. Cruising up river hardly a word was said, minds were all occupied just taking in the vast scenery, and I found myself lost in time and past experiences. Suddenly, my rod top twitched slightly, startled, I wondered where the last few hours had gone. There it was again, the twitching slowly becoming more positive. Was it another frustrating bite from a ten or twenty pound fish, which would still fight like a demon possessed, or perhaps something larger? The bite strengthened as the fish became more committed. I slowly picked the rod from its holder and allowed the gentle pulls to tighten; a firm strike confirmed the bite, a brick wall!! There was no doubt at all that this was a big fish, but just to prove itself we watched as the line speedily cut through the water, she was coming up rapidly from 40 feet down, seconds later the water erupted just 10 yards from the boat as it launched its whole great body more than 3 feet into the air, before crashing back into it’s home environment and tearing off on the first of many 250 yard plus, thumb burning reel emptying runs. She leaped again, and again, run followed run. We had seen my adversary and knew this would be no short fight, but when is any Sturgeon fight ever short. Some 45 minutes later, the beast was often coming under the boat, using that enormous tail to just rest in the strong current, and gaining strength whilst I tired. It took all that I had left within my body to lever her from the bottom, almost at stalemate, but somehow managing to just hang in there gaining line. The following 15 minutes seemed an eternity but as each minute passed, my hopes rose as slowly the fish was worked to the far bank towards a beach where it could be landed. This was another critical time; a great sudden lunge on a short line can easily catch you unaware, resulting in horror as the line parts. There are also countless snags and great underwater trees in the shallow margins just waiting to assist an escaping Sturgeon. I still had to cope with 100-yard runs, pumping the fish back to the boat only to watch in agony as it ripped all the line back again. Eventually, it yielded and there in the shallows was a magnificent sturgeon, the sight of which will be forever stamped in my memory with its large head and gaping mouth followed by 8 feet of pure muscle. Mark walks over and shakes my already trembling hands as he announces, ”that’s over 300lb”. The elation, the relief and pure emotion are overwhelming. This is fishing the like of which you’ll never have experienced, for how often have you caught a personal best that takes at least two people to lift in order to take a picture!!? Leave all your previous experiences and ideas about big fishing at home – for they will only be smashed by the White Sturgeon!
The Fraser River is British Columbia’s largest river. Beginning as a trickle at Mount Robson near Jasper National Park, it tumbles northwest to Prince George where it swings abruptly southward to make its way to the Pacific Ocean. Before it does, the Fraser travels nearly 870 miles and is joined by Nechako, Chilcotin, Tompson and Harrison rivers. During the Fraser’s southerly journey, it begins to pick up speed and incredible volume. At French Bar Canyon it begins its journey into steep, high-sided canyon walls, swirling back-eddied and frothing white-water. Especially significant is the point in the Fraser known as ‘Hells Gate’, a narrow canyon created by a blasting accident that funnels the water of the Fraser into huge waves and white water. After Hells Gate, the river chews through solid rock walls until it reaches Hope where the walls of the canyon subside and the meandering flood plain of the Fraser Valley begins. It’s here where your Sturgeon fishing begins; this is big, deep, fast river fishing at its very best. You’ll be using powerful quality tackle and fishing from superb boats in stunning surroundings. You’ll see eagles, perhaps bears and vast log rafts, numerous Salmon and Sturgeon leaping out of the water and best of all you’ll see the rod tip twitch a few times then slowly pull over in the holder, signalling the start of another epic battle.
All of our clients are met at the airport in roomy and comfortable Crew-Cab 4x4. Based in Chilliwack and only a 90 minute drive from Vancouver, our team of professional local guides have over 14 years of fulltime experience, and are waiting to provide you with the fishing experience of a lifetime! Guests stay at a 4 star hotel in downtown Chilliwack, the hotel is perfectly placed for all the facilities you require during your stay, such as banks, restaurants, bars and supermarkets. Everything about fishing here is BIG; you will be using 21ft boats powered by a 300hp jet engine, which is essential to cope with the massive river. Sometimes covering in excess of 50km, you will travel through stunning canyons decorated with Maples, Cedar trees and snowcapped mountains always looking for that occasional glimpse of a Brown Bear. The tackle comprises of 9ft one piece rods around the 50lb class together with Penn international reels loaded up with 100lb braid. At the terminal end things are kept simple with sliding leads of between 12oz and a 16oz depending on the flow. The leader is 2-3ft of 60lb mono tied to a 6/0 stainless steel Gamakatsu hook. Sturgeon is a scavenger fish feeding on natural available food, therefore the bait used is either Salmon roe or chunks of Salmon, simple but very effective as it’s their natural food source.
One of the beauties of this holiday is that it’s so flexible. You can fish for Sturgeon all day every day or depending on the time of year try salmon fishing for the largest of the pacific salmon – the Chinook or King Salmon Cast a fly or spin for the speedy Sockeye and Coho, or experience the challenge of Steelhead fishing in the river and its tributaries.
So what can you expect in terms of catches on your trip? As a fisherman you’ll know that nothing in fishing, as in life can be guaranteed. Firstly, forget the long waits and blanks so often associated with pike and carp fishing, forget the idea that you may hook one if you are lucky, expect to catch a Sturgeon, indeed several and expect to catch a fish larger than anything you’ve caught in freshwater before. On our most recent trip we caught the river in good condition, with fish well on the feed. The trip lasted eight days and two anglers caught a total of 82 Sturgeon, thirteen of which were over the100lb magic mark, two over 200lbs and one breaking the 300lb barrier. Giving a total weight of over 5000lb, incredible! No, such is the head of Sturgeon in the Fraser River it’s just another good weeks fishing. For Sturgeon fishing on the Fraser River “Quite simply has to be one of the best fishing adventures in the world.” You will have a very realistic chance of catching a freshwater fish of over 100lbs,
Peter Collingsworth. Angling Direct Holidays
www.AnglingDirectHolidays.comTel 0044 1603 407596
