Locally, when we think of returns, we tend to think of the spring returns, the pinks, and the coho and chum to the rivers that we fish locally with not too much regard as to what the returns might be to the small streams all along the mighty Fraser. Many streams have been rehabilitated, and others have been decimated as of late....Some years, certain areas seem to fair pretty well and others, like the Coho season in the Vedder do quite poorly. The huge returns of Chum salmon to the Allouette, Coquitlam, Stave and other local tribs tell me that this is one tough species. It seems that the survival rate is much higher than other species once they leave the rivers. Perhaps they are just easier to raise in the hatcheries?
The forcast for the Fraser this year should not be too much different than other years, all things considered. The ocean temperatures have remained relatively constant and the winter storm tracks have been unusual, but not totally absurd, and the commercial fleet will likely have minimal opportunity to fish......All in all, with the pink run expected, (they will keep the Sturgeon happy) I would predict a pretty good year.
I think the fishing might be a little more normal in regards to timing, as the snowpack this year atr the present time is far aboave normal in a lot of the drainage basin...thus the Fraser will be a little higher and run off a little longer into the summer. .Time will tell...Ortho 8)