tall tales
Chum salmon run to 10-22lb and can be
seen in great numbers in our area spawning
in shallow gravel streams and channels
connected to our rivers. It is a remarkable
sight watching large schools of chum
thrashing about in 1-3 ft. deep shallows
depositing their life cycle eggs. This force
of nature spawning attracts feeding black
bears in large numbers methodically adding
body fat prior to winter hibernation.
Pink salmon are the smallest Pacific
Salmon species averaging 5lb to 10lb and
are our most abundant. The pink run is
bi-annual in August-September with one
million plus pinks dominating the Squamish
and Mamquam Rivers. It is not unusual to
see enthusiastic fisherman lined up on
the river banks and out on the gravel bars
catching and releasing 20 to 30 pinks a day.
Year 2017 promises to be another banner
year for pinks.
There are also resident dolly varden,
bull trout, cutthroats and rainbow trout
throughout the Squamish River watershed
ranging from 2-5 lbs. Fishing for trout is no
less exciting to angle than their big salmon
cousins. These trout species are abundant in
late Fall and throughout the winter months
55 Wild Guide
. Winter 2018
as they are feeding on the eggs deposited
by the salmon in their spawning grounds.
The Squamish River sustains us year-round
fishermen as the winter months provide us
with great trout fishing when the rivers are
full of food for these trout.
The Squamish River system is superb
for fly fishing but also offers wonderful
opportunities for center-pin, bait reel and
spin cast rods. You can catch great fish using
different types of wet flies, intruders, streamer
flies, metal lures and float rigs. The fish are
aggressive and can be at maximum size and
weight for their species. Our rivers have many
classic holding pools, riffle pools and gravel
bars which fishermen can easily accesses
except during high water periods. Anglers
fish from the banks or don chest waders and
crisscross the river at certain points while
fishing upstream or down.
The river is an ever-changing environment
forged by glacial spring run-off, violent Pacific
winter storms and heavy seasonal rainfall.
The river bottom constantly changes from
one of gravel, sand or cluttered river rock. An
outing after a storm will show a changed river
dynamics, a new river bend, eroded banks
and altered gravel bars. After a storm the river
is filled with rooted trees, logs and flotsam
continually in motion. A coveted fishing pool
upon return could now be a raging torrent
which results in a new search on the river to
find the recently sculptured pools.
It took a series of ice ages lasting many
thousands of years to shape the local
landscape and carve out the scenic valley
through which the Squamish River flows.
Our wild and forested valley is surrounded by
year- round glacial snow covered mountains
abruptly rising from the valley floor. We
share the living valley with extraordinary
wildlife. Grizzly and black bears are in
abundance as well as black tail deer,
mountain goats, cougars and wolves, plus a
herd of 80 resident elk. Our winged friends
include Bald and Golden Eagles, hawks,
osprey, owls, Trumpeter Swans, Canada
Geese and grouse. The Squamish Valley
is world famous for its large population of
the symbolic American Bald Eagle. Besides
resident bald eagles, thousands of migratory
bald eagles arrive from Alaska in late fall and
early winter to feed on the spawning salmon
carcasses. It’s not unusual in the winter,
while out fishing, to see a dozen eagles in a
single tree high over our river.