A Handlebar, Salmon and Beaches

Many times as I approach a stream or a favorite river I listen for the beating chests of a male partridge seeking to fulfill its one purpose. Or the slight peep of a stray partridge chick that has strayed too far from its mother. The mother who, all of a sudden jumps out in front on my trail to distract me so her chicks can disappear safely. She might willingly sacrifice herself for the survival of the species.

As I often venture onto a saltwater beach I will simply stare over the water letting my mind calm, becoming one with the moment, listening to the birds, watching for the seals and, of course, eyes and ears tuned for jumping salmon. Photographers, bird watchers, hikers, swimmers, runners and so many other groups of people do this routine. Sometimes our paths cross and sometimes our paths collide, yet we all have a similar desire to experience our place in nature peacefully.

It is the summer months that marvel me most on Vancouver Island. The freedom of existence is so apparent here, all the faces of the many new comers, old faces, pretty faces, handsome faces and fly fishers faces, waiting anxiously for the return of pink and coho salmon that can be caught off our local beaches. Some of these faces have only heard rumours of catching salmon off the beach with a fly, others have the scares of summer, the many days of strolling along the 100 miles of shoreline, watching for that showing or jumping salmon.

Recently I have noticed a new generation of beach fishers appearing to take part in this annual enjoyment. To me it seems that this new generation of fly fishers and gear fishers alike are more gentle and appreciative of what is left from the many days of over fishing and stock abuse.

Beach fly fishing has grown by leaps and bounds for good reason. It is no longer a male only experience but completely open to everyone. Watching as families participate with children, grand parents, wives, husbands, cousins. Those who are challenged always makes me smile a bit more. You will see men under cover of an umbrella reading a book while wives make great efforts to land a fish. Cameras always at the ready for pictures of whales, dolphins, fish, birds, smiles, a piece of drift wood, star fish, crabs and so much more.

Secrets are made to be broken, so for those of you not knowing, here goes. One of the main food sources for pink salmon is small shrimp, krill and other small sea creatures that dominate the oceans or at least once did. So, for fly fishers trying to imitate a fly that will entice a reaction there is a need to be creative. I don’t know how or when it was created but there is one artificial fly that is a must have in any pink salmon fishers fly box; the Handlebar.

The simplest explanation of this fly is that it is pinkish, very easy to tie and it works. Many of us remember the colourful flowing plastic strips on our first tricycles handlebars. Well, some innovative fly tier found a need to wrap a pink strip around a hook in the event it might catch pink salmon and created this must-have fly.

Today, in all its variations, it still is the true performer. For the gear fishers among us the realization that shrimp and krill don’t move fast is a must, so we have to change from a very heavy spoon or lure to a system that mimics the movement and speed of these food sources. A simple water float followed by a short leader with a fly attached works well.

The retrieve can be slow, fast or faster without having to worry too much about your fly getting caught on the rocks below. The bonus here is that a salt water fishing license isn’t too expensive, access is not denied and we can keep fish if we so choose (following the regulations.) For pink salmon you may keep four per day.

Pink salmon begin to arrive by mid-July and continue until about Labour Day weekend. By then coho salmon are also present in catchable numbers, followed by chum salmon well into mid-November. Pink Handlebars also catch coho and chum salmon so hang on to your rod. To make matters worse you might even hook into a 40-pound chinook looking for a tidbit.

By the way. That person who so graciously calls me “mad” is my wife Val, whom is often seen with me on the beaches at 5:30 in the mornings, but on her schedule. We both own and operate the Nile Creek Fly Shop in Bowser. Feel free to call or visit our website for up to date info and conditions on all Island fly-fishing locations, salt and freshwater. Check us out at nilecreekflyshop.com or call 250-757-2095

Written by Valerie Taylor