It’s show time! That’s right, this weekend, March 4-6, the BC Boat and Sportsman’s Show is at the Tradex in Abbotsford.Last week, we touched on the main motive in sport fishing. This week, I want to cover another facet of this sport: competitive fishing. Though there is strong opposition to it, organized competitive fishing has a place in our sport. Let’s face it not everyone who would like to earn some money at this endeavour wants to be a guide, instructor, or tackle dealer. Enter the pro- or semi-pro angler option. These folks range from derby winners who want to pick up a few extra dollars to offset fuel costs, to the multi-national celebrities whose annual incomes are equivalent to other pro sports stars.Some might ask what does competitive angling have to offer our sport. Knowledge is my first answer; let’s face it, anyone who is out fishing 200 to 300 days a year under all kinds of conditions is going to know what works. Innovation is my second answer. When winning is the difference between top dollar and just covering expenses, you are always looking for something to give you that edge. Lastly, quality equipment. Pro anglers demand it and tackle makers know that sales depend on meeting that demand. We reap the benefits of what the pros demand in better and more innovative tackle.The pros, dealers, resort operators, and guides will all be at Tradex, so whether you fish for fun or profit, there will be a world of knowledge under that roof. Hope to see you there.The reportThere is nothing like an Arctic cold front and snow to put a stop to fishing. We can expect fishing on our Lower Mainland lakes to be slow for a few days to a week. Keep an eye out for sparrows targeting adult chironomid flies hatching off our local lakes. When you see the sparrows out in formation, working just off the surface of your favourite lake, it’s time to fish. Try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Big Black, Woolly Bugger, Micro Leach, Sixpack, Dragonfly Nymph, Halfback, Doc Spratley, Buggy shrimp, or Zulu.The Fraser River and sloughs are good for cutthroat and dolly varden. For cutthroat try: Rolled Muddler, Mickey Finn, Eggo, Tied Down Minnow, Epoxy Minnow, Winter Stone, Flesh Fly, Professor, Lioness, Coachman, Zulu, Chez Nymph. For dolly Varden try: Large (#4 to #1) Eggo, Dolly Whacker, Bucktail, Epoxy Minnow, Big Black, Muddler, or Zonker.The Vedder River is good for steelhead, dolly varden and rainbow, by the weekend. For steelhead try: big Black, Popsicle, Steelhead Nightmare, Polar shrimp, GP, Thor, Squamish Poacher, Kaufmann Stone, Purple Peril, or Eggo. For rainbow try: Rolled Muddler, Mickey Finn, Eggo, Flesh Fly, Kaufmann Black Stone, Black Gnat, Zulu, Chez Nymph, Big Black, Sixpack, or Renegade.The Stave River is fair to good for steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat. The Chehalis River is good for steelhead and cutthroat.The Harrison River is good for cutthroat, and rainbow.You can find more at “The Reel Life Press” by Jeff Weltz
