During the 1850s up to the American Civil War (1861–1865), sport fishing in North America, again, took a back seat to politics. The animosity between abolitionists and southern patriots had escalated to the point of turning many frontier towns into battle zones. Canada was still vastly unsettled past the end of navigation on Lake Superior, and due to escalating violence south of the border, more than a few Canadians were not cordial to visitors from the USA.
Anglers seeking pleasurable recreation during this period; when faced with these two negative circumstances, chose to retreat back to old haunts; only to find these places suffering from the ills of over fishing, habitat destruction, and various forms of pollution.
One individual, who sought and found a solution, was an Ohio doctor, named Theodatus Garlick. He had read of the work of Joseph Remy, who was culturing fish, to restore fish stocks in Moselle River, France.
Garlick decided to bring the science to the U.S. and in 1853, using ponds on his friend’s farm, Garlick began producing eastern brook trout. Meeting with success, he kept no secret of his technique, and published a book on the subject, encouraging others to follow his lead.
Next week the preacher who assisted in changing the fundamental nature of North American sport fishing and became the patriarch of the world’s most sought after game fish.
The Report:
Fishing on our Lower Mainland lakes is very good. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Bloodworm, Chironomid, Wooly Bugger, Doc Spratley, Halfback, Micro Leach, Six Pack, Souboo, American Coachman, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry (floating) fly fishing try: Lady McConnell, Big Ugly, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith Gnat, or Royal Coachman. For kokanee try: Bloodworm, San Juan Worm, Red Spratley, Red Ibis, Double Trude, or small Red Zonker.
Our lower mainland bass and panfish waters are fishing well also. For bass try: Wooly Bugger, Big Black, Dolly Whacker, Clouser’s Deep Minnow, Lefty’s Deceiver, Dragon Nymph, Foam Frog, Chernobyl Ant, or Popper. For panfish try: Micro Leach, Bloodworm, Chironomid, Wooly Bugger, Dolly Whacker, Tied Down Minnow, Black Gnat, or Tom Thumb.
Fishing on our interior lakes is good; most are ice free. Tics and hypothermia are two things to be on the alert for at this time. For wet fly fishing try: Bloodworm, Chironomid, Big Black, 52 Buick, Dragon Nymph, Halfback, Butler’s Bug, Doc Spratley, Green or Red Spratley, Green Carey, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry fly fishing try: Tom Thumb, Double Hackled Peacock, Elk hair Caddis, Goddard Caddis, Royal Wulff, or Irresistible.
The Fraser River backwaters and sloughs are fishing well for cutthroat and rainbow. For either species try: Rolled Muddler, Eggo, Chez Nymph, Big Black, black Stonefly Nymph, American Coachman, Zulu, Chez Nymph, Mosquito, Elk Hair Caddis, Irresistible, or Micro Leach.
The Vedder River is fair to good rainbow and steelhead. For steelhead try: GP, Squamish Poacher, Polar Shrimp, Popsicle, Big Black, Flat Black, Eggo, or Black Stonefly Nymph.
The Harrison River is good for rainbow, and cutthroat. For rainbow try: Rolled Muddler, Zulu, Eggo, Chez Nymph, Big Black, Black Stone Nymph, Micro Leach.
