Len's Sportfishing Adventures - Ph: 1-604-991-0287

Coho

Salmon fishing in British Columbia can be spectacular! In fact, the Fraser River in B.C. is the largest salmon producing river in the world with huge runs of Chinook Salmon ( King Salmon ), Coho Salmon ( Silver Salmon ), Chum Salmon, Sockeye Salmon and Pink Salmon. The timing of the runs often over-lap and it is frequently possible to catch several species in the same day. They can be readily caught fly fishing, drifting, mooching, spin casting or with ultra-lite tackle.

Coho are likely the most prized of our salmon if for no other reason . . . they will readily take spinners and jigs fished with ultra-lite tackle or fly. They are in prime shape from early September through to the end of November.

Coho Salmon otherwise known as silvers, have white gums and a black mouth with a few black spots on there tails. They average around 10 to 12 pounds in weight with some weighing in the high teens and twenty pound range. Coho typically live between 3 and 4 years, they often spend 1 to 2 years in freshwater before heading to the sea to live on average about 18 months. In that time spent at sea the fish will grow very rapidly to there adult size.

Coho Salmon Fishing Techniques and Tackle!
Coho are a very sought after sport fish in our local rivers. They retain there silver coloring for some time after entering freshwater, and are great table fare during this time in the

river. When the Coho have reached spawning maturity they develop reddish sides with a green tinged back. The males develop large hook mouths which is used to defend there mate from other males during spawning.

When fishing for Coho, float fishing methods are used a lot here on the Fraser Valley Rivers. Generally lighter action rods along with center pin and level wind reels are commonly used. Coho can be very difficult fish to catch at times; they can be very spooky and cautious. There are many times when the angler must use as little as 8 pound test leaders and small # 4 bait hooks when fishing for them. Popular lures are crocodile spoons, Colorado blades along with different colored wool patterns. Cured Salmon roe dyed in red hot colors are also very effective baits.

Spin casting is also a very productive way to fish for Coho, here we use spoons and spinners casting in the slower parts of the river and then retrieving the lure. When guiding we fish on the Fraser and Harrison rivers mostly. On the Fraser River there are many gravel bars to fish for migratory Coho. When spin casting it is important not to stop retrieving until the lure is almost at your feet. Coho will often follow your lure all the way in before striking at the lure, quite often you will see them follow it and then turn away at the last moment. When retrieving the lure in, it is always a good idea to move the rod to the left or right once in a while to change the direction of the lure. Occasionally stop reeling altogether for a second allowing the lure to flutter to see if that entices a strike.

Fly fishing for Coho can be challenging but definitely worth the effort. When fishing the Harrison River the Coho will stage in the slower parts of the river, waiting for the late fall rains to raise the water levels in the tributaries so they can continue to there home rivers. When they are in these slower sections, you must take a cautious approach for them. Here we use clear lines with a slow sink rate to fish for them, lines such as the Airflow Forty Plus clear and the Freshwater tactical lines with there slow sink rates are fantastic for this type of fishing. When presenting your fly to the fish that are holding in the slower currents, it is imperative that you do not just cast your fly and line right on top of them. Cast beyond or to side of where the fish are and then start your retrieve, which are normally short strips with the occasional pause. Coho will leave the school to chase and bite the fly, when hooked they do like to jump and have a tendency to roll in the line and leader. Flies commonly used for this type of fishing are, Muddler minnows, flash flies in greens, blues and reds and wooly buggers in different colors.

Fly Fishing Coho Salmon on the Fraser River!
Fly fishing the Fraser River for moving fish, which are fish that are not waiting in one general area for long, is a great way to spend the day. Here we have lots of room on the many gravel bars to move and try different flies. On the Fraser we use bigger flies than we would use on the Harrison, the fish tend to be more aggressive in the slightly colored water than the clear running Harrison River.

When to Fish Coho Salmon!
Our most productive times to fish Coho on the Fraser and Harrison River are from the middle of October right thru November, with November being my favorite time to fish on the Harrison River.