[nocoho]

derby was a bust......only 4 fish weighed in.....largest was a beauty at 13.5 lbs.......got to the river still dark.......every spot on the river had someone waiting for first light........thought we had lucked out getting to fort appachee and no one was there yet........had hopes that there would be steel holding in the hole there but to no avail.......tried roe, wool, shrimp, blades.......headed down to keith wilson bridge and again threw everything in the arsenal at it but not a sign of fish.........then fished mid river around the rock quarry......gorgeous run there now but no fish......finished the day at tamahi but you guessed it......notta..........river was quite fishable/weather was great but the fish just were not there........that river got pounded today but it was not giving up its treasure

 

[Steelie Trav]

Well said nocoho, our trip out started and ended the same, but we also ended up finding some nice water for some future hunting. After the prizes were called out at the clubhouse (Congrats to the winners! Lucky bastards ) We headed out to another set of pools to give it one last shot...nada.

 

[Rib]

Found some water all to ourselves at the beginning of the day, thought for sure there would be fish holding there, but like ST said nada...ST, Marko and I fished the mid river slightly above vedder crossing, above Tamihi, below Tamihi and up by the prison camp and we did not see or hit any fish...there's a lot of nice water around, but few fish just yet. In comparison to last years derby there were 13 fish weighed in last year (I think), compared to the four this year, but last years derby was also postponed a week wasn't it? I took a pic of the fish weighed in and will post it later today...If I'm not mistaken I think the two largest fish were taken mid river, also heard of a wild or two taken from the upper river and a hatch there as well, not sure where the fourth was taken.
There will be a lot more fish coming in the next while I'm sure, I hope everyone had a great day out there, look at it this way, we all found some nice water and have contributed to our re-learning of the river for this season...that will only pay off as the season wears on...

 

[marko]

Cheers to the organizers of the derby,it was a huge success. A good portion of the proceeds goes
to river management and restocking of this valued resource. I know first hand how hard it is to
raise the funds desperatly needed at times but in this case it is well wourth it.
Happy holidays and good luck in the future to the people at ......
The Chilliwack Fish and Game Protective Association.
....Cheers ....Marko... ;D

 

[Rib]

Have now heard that 365 people participated in the derby this year. As was mentioned, 4 fish weighed in, but I have now heard of 3-4 wilds landed also, and several more fish lost.

 

[sage2106lb]

Congrats to Wade.Nice to see one of the top rods win this derby 8)

 

[DMW]

Nothing from our immediate group as well, maybe a torn Roe sack or 2, but that was it. Then went out scouting, hoping to find some water that hadn't been hammered. Couldn't find any, and some real nice water we did see we couldn't reach ??? Anyhow, went and found my former derby partners, and what would you know, my buddy Ed got the first weighed in fish, also was the smallest!! ;D Felt good for him, he had been snake biten the previous 5 years. My other buddy Geoff also got into a couple. losing a hatchery and getting a nice Wild doe about 10-12 lbs. Saw a real nice one pushing 15-16 lbs lost right at shore at about 1:30. That was a heart breaker for the Poor guy. Incredible fight on that one. Just wish I had had gone with my gut and headed there first. : ;D Anyhow, real nice day. Headed back to that spot this morning, and there was no one home!! That's just the way it goes.

 

[cohopk]

I first wanted to post something to the organizers, to thank them for an enjoyable derby. It was well run and very well organized. I will be back again next year for sure.

I hope everyone had a good day, the rain held off and the water levels were decent. And I meet a lot of good people out there. I did not here of too many unethical people out there being chowders, which is always a good thing.

I also wanted to give props to my buddy Wade for winning the derby. I’m happy he finally got his name on the trophy. Wade also had a fish weighted in last year and the year before but was out of the money each time. He spends more time on that river then anyone I know. For those who do not know him. Our joke with Wade is that he can find a fish in any puddle just give him a rod and he’ll find something.

I noticed that all the fish caught were taken by an experienced anglers who have spend more than there share of time on that river. It is not a fluke that those individuals found success. I know 3 of the 4 are guides as well, including Wade?? Congrates to all of them! From the info I understand all fish were caught around “Peach Road” and all on Jigs. Now if we can only get a picture of the winners’ bait of choice for the day?? I didn’t think so…..

In conclusion, it would have been nice to have seen a table or someone selling or promoting the BCFR. Shirts or member decals would have been interesting to have seen or at least a way to expose those who belong to this forum. Maybe that’s something we can work on?

Where's the next derby,

cohopk

 

[Steelie Trav]

From the info I understand all fish were caught around “Peach Road” and all on Jigs.

What I heard at the derby was that the winner was taken from tamahi area, while 2 others came from above allison. Not sure about the fourth. I was also on jigs all day, lost a few too :-\

By the way Congrats should go out to Ironheads 2nd place steelhead.

In conclusion, it would have been nice to have seen a table or someone selling or promoting the BCFR.

While I don't sell any BCFR swag, I do have a hat with the BCFR decal that I was sporting. Plus there is always a decal on my vest front pocket. Maybe we could get some embroidered hats going?? Bergler, have you checked uor PMs?

 

[DMW]

From the info I understand all fish were caught around “Peach Road” and all on Jigs.

What I heard at the derby was that the winner was taken from tamahi area, while 2 others came from above allison. Not sure about the fourth. I was also on jigs all day, lost a few too :-\

By the way Congrats should go out to Ironheads 2nd place steelhead.

In conclusion, it would have been nice to have seen a table or someone selling or promoting the BCFR.

While I don't sell any BCFR swag, I do have a hat with the BCFR decal that I was sporting. Plus there is always a decal on my vest front pocket. Maybe we could get some embroidered hats going?? Bergler, have you checked uor PMs?

The fourth was from the mid river. I was there!

 

[Bent Rod]

Was nice to get a fish in the derby on this rather stingy day for the Chedder.
I hooked mine on the lower end in some beauty slow moving, shallow water. Perfect water for these conditions.
It was 8.5 lbs and put me 3rd in the derby.
The prize I picked was a weekend stay at a Bed and breakfast on the river. I will be getting a babysitter for 2 days and me and my wife will be fishing for steel, shes never been ,but watching her land a Fraser Chinook this year showed me shes ready.

Hats off to all the gang from the Chilliwack River Fish and Game, great event with awesome prizes, auctions and draws.
It's too bad more fish were not weighed in but it seems there were many more encounters than those that were brought in. The guy I fished with hit 2 as well and lost them both, one in the lower and 1 mid river.

Nice to get out,and always enjoy seeing the many generations of hardcore steelheaders that turn out, many faces I've seen for years and years.

 

[Chris]

I agree it was fun and the weather was even good! I was the first one punched in at tamahi, and I was there 45 mins early . I then walked, with my headlamp 45 mins through the forest to my spot. I guess somewhere along the way, someone on the other side of the river decided they didn't like me where I was, because I heard a rock hit the water very close to me, but it was too dark to see anyone. I just continued on my trail. I then waited 45 mins on the river shore for the sun to come up ;D. Finally started fishing, and I had about an hour to myself before I saw anyone else. I went upriver to thurston meadows ??? I think, and didn't see anything there except alot of people. So I went downriver a little ways below the club house, and fished there for an hour. I had one good hit and a shake, then the line came flying back . Never saw it

 

[Guest]

nice meeting u again ribwart, slow all day long, lots of guys out but no fish.

 

[Rib]

Good seeing you again too KP, there'll be lots of fish coming in soon I'm sure...

 

[eimaj]

It was definately a good day out there. My fushin partner and I fished the upper river for the first half of the day and then the lower for an a couple before heading back up to a couple of other spots. He was lucky enough to catch a beauty 14 or so pound wild buck about 30-45minutes in to the day, and the best I could do was a few headshakes. I did however land a real nice dolly just around the prison area. Through the morning we walked the far side from just below the hatchery down to below the clay bank before crossing back over. I like tyhe way the river is more broken up now, makes for alot more fun, if your willing to walk a bit.