In answer to the last question, I did a little search and viola:

http://www.fvrd.bc.ca/Parks/explore-our-parks/island-22/

RK43,

Island 22 is about 2 to 3 miles north of Chilliwack.

Sleds are the best choice

Remember, there will be THOUSANDS of fish moving up all at once and they like to stay fairly close to the bank, 10 to 50 feet out but, they like fast slots to run up. That river splits in all directions, all over. Alot of channels for them to move through. Bring your big net, there are some nice kings in there then. I got a 30lbr last year. It was too big for my silver net so some guy helped me beach it.

Oh yeh, if your fishing early in the morning don't forget the skeeker spray! They can be nasty up till 10 am.

Salmon, Trout, and Steelhead had a artical, by Dave Vedder, last year on this fishery. He fished with a 10 1/2 foot rod, 10-20 pound test, 1-2 once Bouncing Betty, 10 foot leader, 1/0 hook, green cheater and army green wool. He said they caught hundreds of sockeye and quite a few chinook over twenty pounds! I'm going to have to make a trip!

G-MAN

I have a 21ft Wooldridge with a 70 lb river anchor and no chain. Will it be enough?

I would have to pass through Bellingham on the way up. An extra seat could be made available for the knowledge exchange. Let me know.

RK43,

I take my 20 foor inboard Weldcraft up to the Fraser all the time. I have a 65 pound river anchor with 4 modified claws on it and I have no trouble with anchoring. I launch at Island 22 when we go up, no problem at all. Like was already said they can fire 20 boats at a time off this gravel bar. If the water is down, like in October you may have to get the truck tires in the water to get the boat on and off the trailer. Still it is no big deal, the down current side of the ramp is the deepest though.

G-man, nice post.

*A good place to stay and usually there are a lot of anglers there, is the Best Western Rainbow Country Inn in Chiliwack on Lickman Road Exit. Good breakfasts and good bar.

Have a good trip!

Hey Snake Pliskin

When is the sequel to Escape From New York coming out?

Thanks for the info fish4fun. I appreciate the help. Do you ever camp on any of the bars?

RK43,

Never tried the bar camping yet, but we are tossing the idea around. There are 2 ways to approach the boat ramp problem. Be there very early and be towards the front of the line at Island 22 or wait and let the first major wave of boats and trucks get out of there. Being the crazy type, we go for the first wave and get going early. Then ask ourselve if we have lost our minds, because it is so early in the morning.

Hey LT,

I take it you missed Snake escaping from Los Angeles?

A couple of more things to add:

There are boat launches also at Gill road, and farther upstream above Agassiz at Herling island.

If you get your license at Fred's, help them out a little and buy some tackle like your Bouncin' Betties there too. They don't make much if any money on the license sales, and it can be hectic in there with 50 guys waiting to buy their licenses.

Click here , then click "Fishing reports." Scroll down a little and there is a downloadable map of the Fraser river bars and access points between Mission and Hope that you can print and use as a guide.

You DO NOT have to constantly set the hook to floss these fish. Most of the time your rod will just bend over and you'll have one on.

RK43,

Camping on the gravel bars of the Fraser is a lot of fun and sometimes you can have an entire bar to yourself, but the Fraser river valley can be windy, so take some extra long and strong tent stakes.

LT,

I do have a sequel coming out:

"Escape from the wife and kids to fish more"

If your casting from the bank, just remember that it might not be wise keeping a spring over 18lbs because its often at least a mile hike back to the truck in 80-90 sunshine. Made a mistake once of carrying out a big spring and couple nice sox and the 1.5 mile hike almost did me in. Now all the big ones get realeased and the smaller ones get bonked!

All I can say is I hope the Fraser doesn't turn into a big Cowlitz. Bring lots of "betty's" you'll need them!

I second or third the birth certificate, they'll give you some grief at the border if you don't have one or a passport.

See everyone up there this summer.

BD

Actually, I almost hope it does BD! Last year there were more people at Grassy bar ALONE than I've ever seen at Blue Creek! (I'm talkin' late 80's, early 90's , the real heyday of BC)

Luckily there's a WHOLE lot of river to fish (with a boat) and a WHOLE lot of fish to catch!

Just ask the half of the city of Vancouver's population that fishes it during sox season!

How big a motor do you need to make it over to the islands?

Will a 12-foot rowboat with a 7-horse work?

LT:

You could make it "over" to an island, but I wouldn't try to go up or down the Fraser looking for islands. The Fraser is the color of mocha, so visibility is minimal. Snags, stumps and rocks are hidden. Plus there are some big tugs that go up and down the river, and their wake is huge. I hope you have a lot of freeboard and that 7 hp is running good. Best to bank it to be safe.

Only about 1 foot of free board, I think I will pass or hitch hike to the island

I would say no as that river really moves. I suppose if you took out down river from where you put in, but probably not safe.

Is there anyone who offers a TAXI to the island? You know give someone a $20 or something to shuttle you and your tent across the river.

Some addl info you'll need if your comming up or going to launch at Island 22. (Which isn't an island)

Launch fee- $5.35 cdn per day or $26.75 per year. The office don't open up until 6 or 7 but if your going to launch before that , go ahead, They'll leave a note on your rig and you can pay when you get back.

The Border crossing in Sumas is DEAD! at 4:30 at 5:00 in the morning. Once we had 1 vehicle infront of us last year Don't know after 5:00 because were never that late crossing

If your planning on staying a couple of days, I'd suggest going on-line and search Hotels and Motels in Chilliwack. With the exchange rate it's not to expensive

RK43, email me when we get closer, maybe we can hook up one day?

Can't help with fishery info much ... but we always use the Sumas crossing when we come and go every year and it's never had more than a couple of cars in front when we've gone ... at all hours of the day. Just an FYI