Sturgeon fishing on the Fraser River is one of the most exciting freshwater angling experiences that a large game hunter can have. These fish grow huge and fight hard!
While Sturgeon are primarily bottom feeders (meaning we are not fly-fishing for them), our guides anchor their full sized jet boats in the current and cast selected bait down into the depths of the river.
An exciting waiting game, the spontaneous action can be explosive...especially when they launch to the surface, clearing the river and thrashing in the air trying to spit the hook!
Sturgeon inhabit all depths of the river. From big, deep runs to shallow troughs, these fish keep us on our toes and range in sizes from a couple feet to 12 feet long!
Day Rates:
November 1st - July 1st:
1 angler
$515.00 (plus HST)
2 anglers
$575.00 (plus HST)
3 anglers
$630.00 (plus HST)
4 anglers
$690.00 (plus HST)
July 1st - October 31st:
1 angler
$575.00 (plus HST)
2 anglers
$630.00 (plus HST)
3 anglers
$725.00 (plus HST)
4 anglers $800.00 (plus HST)
*Fishing gear supplied upon request.
**Lunches available for an additional $15.00 per person
***Gratuities and fishing licenses not included in listed price.
Our guided fishing for sturgeon takes place from March through to the end of November.
In the springtime after a long winter, the eulachon (similar to a smelt) start to return to spawn.
The sturgeon are hungry at this time and feast on these small fish like true gluttons. It is not uncommon to have double-digit days when fishing for sturgeon at this time of year.
This fishery is relatively consistent until the snow melts from BC’s interior mountains. This in turn raises the water in the Fraser River and the river levels fluctuate dramatically (depending on the size of the previous winter’s snow pack).
Even though the water can be high and dirty there is always some place to fish away from the current and debris. The fish then hold in these ‘softer’ areas and feed on whatever food is flushed through the high water.
After the snow melts, and the river levels start to drop, the fish begin to move back to their regular spots.
The next big feed for Fraser River Sturgeon is when the salmon return to the river on their annual spawning migration. This time of the season is when we start to use salmon parts and roe to attract the fish.
In August the sockeye salmon start to show up. By this time, the Fraser River has warmed up and the sturgeon become very active. The battles can be monumental, with sturgeon leaping clear of the water when hooked!
Every two years (on the odd years) there is a pink salmon migration that takes place on the Fraser and Harrison Rivers. During these years, the fishing is out of this world as the sturgeon feast, becoming fat and heavy.
From here, as we roll into the fall, Chum salmon make their way into the system. Again, the sturgeon eat aggressively in preparation for the long winter. They feed actively through the fall until the cold-water temperatures slow their metabolism with the onset of winter.
All Sturgeon fishing in BC is on a catch and release basis. These fish grow slow, taking a female fish approximately 15 to 20 years to reach her spawning age (at around 5 or 6 feet).
Gear That We Use
When fishing for sturgeon, we use full sized jet boats that are comfortable and covered to provide shelter from any rain or less than favorable conditions.
We use custom built rods with strong butt sections and gently tapered tips. We pair our rods with heavy-duty saltwater style reels lined with 150lb Power pro as main line.
Reliable hooks are very important for this type of fishing and a strong 8/0 to 12/0 hook is necessary to land the big ones. We thank Gamakatsu hooks for their fantastic hooks!
British Columbia
From our Chilliwack riverfront mountainside, the Fraser River's Edge Bed & Breakfast Lodge provides our guests spectacular Westerly views spanning 20 miles down the Mighty Fraser River alongside the setting sun.
Three hundred feet of river frontage and nature trails engulf our secluded 3 acres of fern-covered rain forest, inclusive of a hot tub with a view, cedar sauna and an outside Spring fed shower.
Conveniently located in Chilliwack, B.C. on the banks of the Fraser River, this Bed and Breakfast Lodge is only one hour from Vancouver, yet guests feel as if they've escaped the city by thousands of miles.
Our Bed & Breakfast has a large private living room with seating for eight in leather reclining chairs and couches, complete with a 50” LCD TV and DVD library.
This area is for guests only and is separate from the owner’s living area.
A private kitchen and adjacent deck with table, chairs and barbecue allow guests the freedom to prepare their own meals and snacks.
The entire property is covered with ferns while overhead guests will find towering Firs, Cedars, Alders, Pine, Birch, Maple, Cottonwood Dogwood, and Japanese Maples.
Other amenities include RV or Boat Parking, wi-fi internet, guest computer/internet, a dry room for fishing gear, freezer usage, and Utility Vehicle transportation to the river if needed.
www.fraserriversedge.com
Greg Wolf
BC, Canada
Greg Wolf has been living and fishing in B.C.’s Fraser Valley for as long as he can remember.
A seasoned guide, Greg has been guiding for over a decade and is truly passionate about helping others while on the water. His enthusiasm is contagious….
Greg is very patient and is great with younger anglers as he truly enjoys helping upcoming generations enter into a sport that has always accompanied the important values and memories within his own family.
Greg is on the pro-staff team for Airflo Fly lines and G. Loomis rods. He is well versed with conventional gear, single handed fly-casting and Spey (double handed) fly rods.
Sturgeon, salmon, steelhead….Greg does it all.
