All posts by STS Guiding Service

STS Guiding Service has been providing quality fishing charters and vacations since 1994, established by Vic and Teresa Carrao, STS has evolved from a single guide and boat to a team of some of the most skilled, talented and dedicated fishing guides in the Fraser Valley. Year round we carry a Team of angling guides include 4 full time & 4 part time guides who specializing in Sturgeon, Salmon and Fly Fishing. During peak seasons we call upon our associate guides for help and carry as many as 15 full and part time angling guides.

June 15 Fraser River Update

June 15 Fishing Report

First I would like to wish all you Fathers a Happy Fathers Day, yesterday was my special day as a father as I got to witness my oldest daughter receive her Bachelor of Science degree, very proud moment for us a parent. I hope all you fathers have a great day on June 16.

This past week has been good for both salmon and sturgeon in the Vancouver area, the Fraser has risen again due to warm weather and the salmon fishing continues to produce good results. See below for detailed report.

Sturgeon fishing has been fair to good in the Mission area, mostly fish under 6ft but we have heard of a few larger ones being caught as well. The area between Chilliwack and Hope has fished well this past week and a few good sized fish coming from this area. Best baits have been lamprey and salmon eggs but this is a good time to start trying some local sqaw or cray fish.

Salmon Fishing

We were out on the water yesterday fishing for Chinook Salmon, we managed to hook 6 undersized and 1 nice keeper in the 12-13lb range. We did well with the Gibbs G-Force Spoon ( Irish Cream ) these are new and will be soon available at local tackle stores. Right now if you are wanting salmon the Gulf Island trip is your best bet. We offer daily trips departing from the Vancouver Delta Airport Hotel location.

Our guest visiting from Ireland landed his first ever salmon, nice job Kevin.

New Gibbs G-Force Spoons are going to do well in this region, this one is called ” Irish Cream”

Trout Fishing

Over the next 6 weeks we will be fishing the Upper Pitt River as often as possible,this river provides anglers a great opporuntity to fish a quality water system right here in our back yard. This fishery is one of our favorites and offers some excellent fishing for both sea-trout and salmon. The river is in great shape and there are some beauties being caught. Give us a call and lets go fish’n.

Most of the smaller local rivers are high and will remain high for the next 2 to 3 weeks but we are expecxting some good summer sockeye and pink runs so August/September should be excellent fishing for both salmon and sturgeon.

Hells Gate Tours

We still have a few seats available for July 27 & 28 tours to Hells Gate, we are also offer daily tours on the Harrison River for $69. August is already sold out for all weekend trips but if you can put your own group together we can fit you in on a Friday or late afternoon trip.

If you would like more information on our tours, please give us a call.

Our facebook page is updated often and is a great way to receive on-river reports, join our facebook page and get up to date reports

Like us – http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/STS-Guiding-Service/220035516172

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Summer Fishing Update

STS Guiding Service Summer Fishing Update

Summer is fast approaching so I thought it would be a good time for an update on what is happening in Vancouver, on the Island and Fraser River area. Early summer predictions are still in effect and nothing much has changed on the pre-season forecasts, fishing for salmon has been better than expected, sturgeon fishing has been very consistent and our fly fishing and Bull Trout season is just getting under way.

Having fun in the canyon with the crazy Dutchman
Having fun in the canyon with the crazy Dutchman

 The Fraser River will open for salmon fishing on July 15 as planned so we are really looking forward to this fishery. We will once again be able to offer our salmon/sturgeon combo trips for Chinook/Sturgeon, Sockeye/Sturgeon and Pink/Sturgeon, later in the fall we will also offer Coho and Chum fishing combined with sturgeon as well.

Here is a beauty from the past, the Fall offers anglers the best chance at catching a monster sturgeon
Here is a beauty from the past, the Fall offers anglers the best chance at catching a monster sturgeon

Sturgeon update

We are catching sturgeon daily from both our Mission and Delta Hotel location, our next peak sturgeon fishery will begin in about 6 weeks as more salmon begin to enter the Fraser River, currently the Chinook salmon are migrating up the Fraser but as soon as those sockeye begin, sturgeon will start to hunt them down for food. On July 15 the Fraser River will open for salmon fishing so we will also begin our combination salmon/sturgeon trips.

Fraser River Sturgeon 003

Our Canyon trips begin July 27 and will be offered daily until mid October, all weekends in August and September are SOLD OUT but we still have a few weekday and Friday dates. I still have 2 weekend dates in October. For those of you who have never experienced our Fraser Canyon Adventure, it is a bucket list adventure for sure.

Clay shooting in the canyon while having a barbeque lunch
Clay shooting in the canyon while having a barbeque lunch

2013 is a Pink Year where millions of Pink Salmon will enter the Fraser River, best time to fish sturgeon while these fish are in the river will be between early September to mid October. Our schedule still has some availability but dates are getting limited.

Pitt River Trout Fishing

Our next peak fishery is the Pitt River for sea-run Bull Trout, we were up last week and caught a few of the early fish but the best fishing will start up in the next week to 10 days lasting until mid August. This fishery is one of my favorite and offers great fishing and adventure on a remote scenic river. We prefer to fish weekday so that guests can experience the quite calm river, weekends can get a bit busy.

Here is a beauty Chinook caught in early August while fishing for trout, caught on 8lb test with an 8.5ft Fenwick trout rod
Here is a beauty Chinook caught in early August while fishing for trout, caught on 8lb test with an 8.5ft Fenwick trout rod

Vancouver Salmon Fishing

Salmon fishing is red hot right now over in the Gulf Islands, most days are producing 2 to 6 legal sized Chinook and fishing for ling cod has also been good. The trip over to the fishing grounds is about 1:15 each way so all trips are 9-10 hours, cost is $950 for2 anglers, plus $100 for each extra angler. Fishing should remain good for another 2 to 3 weeks then we will move into the Vancouver harbour area for Coho and begin targeting Fraser River bound Chinook.

STS guide Rob Dieleman landed this 25lb Chinook last week fishing over in the Gulf Islands
STS guide Rob Dieleman landed this 25lb Chinook last week fishing over in the Gulf Islands

Vancouver Island Salmon

Vancouver Island is known around the world for it’s amazing salmon fishing, from early May through middle of September anglers can find good to great fishing throughout the island. Both the east and west coast of the island offers salmon and halibut fishing but it really depends on your timing to hit it right. Almost all the fishing communities along the coast boast about great catches and like to lay claim to “Salmon Capital of the World”

Vancouver Satlwater Fishing

Coal Harbour is the hub for fishing groups wanting to target those big Chinook and Halibut off Winter Harbour & Quatsino Sound. Coal Harbour is located 15 km west of Port Hardy and offers great fishing in calm protected waters. The action is fast a furious for both Coho and Chinook as well as Ground fish, rock cod and Halibut. We do venture off the coast when water is calm to reach some of the best fishing grounds on the coast.

The calm waters between Coal Harbour & Winter Harbour offer our guests world class fishing in the protected waters of Quatsino Sound. Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, Halibut, Black Bass, Cod, Snapper, Crab & Prawns are all abundant in these waters.

2013 season schedule

Our 4 day 3 night package is just enough time to fill the coolers with salmon and halibut for the year. Calm water fishing with opportunity to head out to sea for those like me who like to fish big west coast water.

Trip details – All inclusive packages with 2 – 4 anglers per boat, 100% guided, all gear provided. Arrival day begins with meet & greet then head out onto the water for an afternoon salmon fish, returning for a crab feast by the fire. Day 2 & 3 are full days fishing for salmon and halibut followed by dinner and post fishing activities. Wrap up this incredible trip with a morning fish before heading home with your cooler full of salmon, halibut, snapper, cod, bass, crab and some prawns.

Trip Dates:

  1. July 18 – 21
  2. July 21 – 24
  3. July 25 – 28
  4. July 28 – 31
  5. Aug 1 – 4
  6. Aug 4 – 7
  7. Aug 8 – 11
  8. Aug 12 – 15

The above dates are Thursday – Sunday or Sunday to Wednesday

Weekend and longer stays are available, maximum group size of 6 anglers per date. Combination package including Fraser Sturgeon are also available.

2013 Rates:

  • 2 anglers – $2770 p/p
  • 3 anglers – $2100 p/p
  • 4 anglers – $1875 p/p

STS Guiding specializes in guided fishing charters and vacations in the south western British Columbia region, with our 22 years of on the water experience and 3 prime locations we can ensure that you are given the very best chance possible to experience that trip of a lifetime.