An Introduction.

What's Been On My Mind:

When i first became interested in fishing six or so years ago all i had to go on was the information i could source online or from books, and to a lesser extent a few friends or family with a passing interest in fishing, and although there is an abundance of lower mainland specific resources available the vast majority of it seems to be mostly concerned with trout and salmon, which in itself is great, and for my first few years of fishing it was more than i could ask for, after all who wouldn't fall head over heals in love with the beautiful and varied Rainbow trout? or a gorgeous Coastal Cutthroat? (which to this day is still my favorite species.) Trout and Salmon are amazing in so many ways that you could definitely study them your entire life and still be filled with with awe and wonder.

But the truth (at least to me) is that over time i've come to see that there are many more freshwater species in our area that deserve our admiration and attention. And yes, more than a few of these fish are invasive species whose presence in our waters can be quite a volatile, and confusing subject. I've seen online forums with page after page of useless information, zero solutions to the problem, and many posters simply bragging about illegally killing bass or catfish by "throwing them into the bush" or "leaving them for the eagles". ironically the list of "invasive species" i've heard people brag about killing include Northern Pike Minnow and Sculpin, both of which are native and have been living in balance with the rest of the ecosystem for thousands of years.

Now let's get something 100% clear. I in no way support the illegal stocking of ANY species, the introduction of non native species is a horrible environmental crime, not only legally but morally, and should be treated as such. that said, killing any fish in cold blood simply because you deem it ok to do so is also a crime, legally and morally. Your license to fish is not a licence to kill everything and anything you come across. And while i do understand some people's frustrations regarding invasive species, there are much more proactive ways to conduct ourselves. To be fair, those fishermen who choose to act in an illegal and callous way are likely the minority and i have met many fantastic anglers online and along river banks who are level headed, educated, and open minded. Its these types of anglers i prefer to interact with.

black crappie.

largemouth bass.

I don't intend for this blog to be an argument for or against these introduced species or to examine the moral and ethical questions surrounding them. They are already here in our waters and logic would suggest they probably aren't going anywhere. And i will likely not address this subject in much detail again. As far as i am concerned, the government institutions and scientists tasked with dealing with these matters can do a much better job than most of us could hope to. As long as it legal for me to fish for these species and i don't feel like i am personally doing any harm to our environment i will continue to make use of the awesome angling opportunity these species have become. For truly, many of them are not only beautiful looking and great sport, many are delicious eating as well.

northern pikeminnow.

redside shiner.

Aside from non native species such as LargeMouth Bass, Bluegill, or Crappie there are many native fish, that although maybe not quite as big or edible as trout and salmon, can be just as beautiful and interesting. From the surprisingly colorful Redside Shiner to the brave little Threespine Stickleback and so on. It's not that i don't love trout or salmon fishing, i do, it's just that my attention has become divided, And i must admit that my life as an angler has become richer for it.

What's My Intention.

Over the past few years while attempting to research either "micro fishing" or the habits of the various non native species in the lower mainland, and a few other angling topics of interest to me, i've continuously found myself disappointed with what i've found. Not just information wise, but comunity wise as well. I have often resorted to resources relating to fishing outside of the lower mainland. which, although very useful, is not as helpful as location specific information would be. That said, i don't plan on getting TOO location specific, I have no intention of revealing my personal favorite fishing spots or those of others, not simply for the obvious reasons, but i also believe that exploring, adventuring and hunting down spots on your own is one of the most rewarding aspects of fishing. I would however like to share my own trials and errors, my thoughts, and the things i learn along the way. And maybe even make a few like minded friends and associates.

Although i don't intend for this blog to be the most technical, and i'm sure at times i am going to ramble and fall guilty to run on sentences, I will do my best to provide an articulate, detailed and entertaining account of my experiences while exploring the lower mainland and targeting not only the species that British Columbia is famous for but a few other ones as well. In this, I invite you to join me.