tall tales
Big Hearted River
Big Hearted River
by Lyle McKenzie
“ There was a heavy strike . Nick swung the rod against the pull . It felt as though he were hooked into the log itself , except for the live feeling . He tried to force the fish out into the current . It came , heavily .
The line went slack and Nick thought the trout was gone . Then he saw him , very near , in the current , shaking his head , trying to get the hook out . His mouth was clamped shut . He was fighting the hook in the clear flowing current . Looping in the line with his left hand , Nick swung the rod to make the line taut and tried to lead the trout toward the net , but he was gone , out of sight , the line pumping . Nick fought him against the current , letting him thump in the water against the spring of the rod . He shifted the rod to his left hand , worked the trout upstream , holding his weight , fighting on the rod , and then let him down into the net . He lifted him clear of the water , a heavy half circle in the net , the net dripping , unhooked him and slid him into the sack ”
I wish I could take credit for this beautiful , descriptive , uncomplicated writing style but I can`t . This is an excerpt from one of the best fishing short stories every written . Big Two- Hearted River by Earnest Hemmingway , published in 1925 . Hemingway is best known for his economy of words . He could create scenes and describe emotions and circumstances with fewer words than any other writer .
When we retired to Squamish , British Columbia after a half a life-time of living overseas my wife Donna surprised me by suggesting that we take up fishing . This desire to fish was probably genetically induced by her father`s love of fishing the local lakes and rivers in Manitoba where we grew up . To my pleasant surprise I have become an avid fisherman with a love of the sport and of the spectacular scenic B . C . Coast Mountains , forests , rivers & valleys . Here in Squamish , The Outdoor Capital of Canada , we fish five mountain rivers a full nine months of the year from August to April for migrant salmon , steelheads , bull trout , dolly vardens and rainbows . Come May of each year when the glacial snow pack melt floods our rivers we move up to the many emerald glacial mountain lakes north of Pemberton B . C . above Whistler and summer fish 1-3 lb . rainbow trout . This is four season fishing at its best .
The Squamish River is a glacial fed river that originates at the top of the Pemberton Ice Fields north of Whistler , B . C . As it flows south from the glacier it is joined by several more glacier fed tributaries including the Elaho River , Ashlu River , Cheakamus River , and then further south , by the Mamquam River . From there our fast-flowing river discharges at the head of scenic Howe Sound where the mountain town of Squamish is located 70 kilometers north of Vancouver .
The Squamish is a wild , dynamic river alive with abundant fishing opportunities throughout its 80 km length . The soul of the river runs right through our Squamish community town-site and you sense the river everywhere , always changing , never
still and always on the move . You can literally fish at no less than 20 productive locations 15-90 minutes from our home .
The Squamish River system is home to four big runs of Pacific Salmon : Chinook , Coho , chum and pink salmon plus a late running winter steelhead run . The salmon runs begin in August and continue until the month of May and are throughout the Squamish and her four tributary rivers . The runs produce fish regularly and rank us among the best salmon fishing destinations on the planet .
Chinook salmon ( Springs ) are found throughout Howe Sound and enter the Squamish in late summer . Chinook can be huge and often exceed 30lb . Coho follow the Chinook in early fall and are equally robust ranging from 5lb to 10lb sometimes reaching up to 20 pounds . It is not unusual to catch 15-18lb Coho in our rivers if you know where to fish .
Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or “ silvers ” and is a game fish in fresh and salt waters . They are one of the most popular sport fish in the Pacific Northwest and its popularity is due in part to the reckless abandon which it frequently displays chasing bright intruder flies and shiny lures . Its habit of schooling in relatively shallow water , and often near beaches , makes it accessible to anglers on the banks , as well as wading in the rivers .
Wild Guide . Winter 2018 54