FAQ

Brian started Silversides in 1996. His experience also includes working at some of British Columbia’s best fly-in Salmon fishing resorts for 3 seasons. Excellent fishing skills and warm customer service is what you should expect with us.

The best fly fishing spots and venues around Vancouver, BC is best answered by reading this key article: Top 5 fly fishing spots within 3 hours from Vancouver

You can go fly fishing for Salmon, Trout or Steelhead on several keynote rivers in our region!

The Fraser River has a large variety of fish. Over 38 species of fish inhabit the Fraser river but only a small percentage of these are a target sport fish.

These target species include:

• White Sturgeon
• Pacific Salmon(Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, Pink, Chum)
• Steelhead
• Cutthroat, Bull, Rainbow Trout
• Dolly Varden (sea run)

Vancouver has a lot of choices for high end fishing experiences. We think the best fishing in Vancouver is probably White Sturgeon fishing tours on the Fraser River. They are our #1 seller and regularly produce whopper size river monsters. In close second place is likely the Salmon fishing or fly fishing for Trout & Steelhead.

Yes. Pickup is included on all walk n wade trips serving downtown Vancouver hotels or North Van hotels.
We provide airport transfers to our clients for a fee. For airport transfers we meet you inside the airport, drive you to your hotel and help you check in. Hotel pickups from Vancouver for Fraser river fishing trips are an additional charge.

Yes, and for any occasion. Fishing gift certificates are ideal for Xmas, Birthdays, milestones or whatever you like!
Choose from a Fraser river fishing trip all the way to fly fishing lessons.

West coast weather can be quite variable even throughout the day. For this reason we recommend looking at the forecast and dressing accordingly.

Tips: when waders are likely be worn(with exception of July/August Fraser River charters) please wear or bring fleece pants or long johns and warm socks(not ankle socks). This will allow you to be comfortable inside the waders we provide. Jeans and waders don’t mix well. Upper layers are a great idea and if it’s warm or cold you can always remove or add a layer. In the heat of summer(mid July to early September) we recommend shorts and footwear that can handle getting completely wet such as Crocs or sandals.

Sunscreen, sunglasses and hats are great items for sunny days.

Please Do Not wear perfumes or colognes. This includes spray on body deodorants such as Axe. These products irritate many of our staff and the pervasive fumes get on the bait and line rendering them useless. Light use of roll on deodorants or natural products are OK. Fancy expensive clothes and shoes are likely to get stained from possible blood and other stuff. Leave your $200 white Nikes and shirts at home. Just ask us if you’re unsure of anything.

We work smart to achieve one of the best overall success rates in our industry.
Many of our repeat clients book with us because of our reliability. We are very proud to have a success rate very very near to 100%. On all our 8 hour Sturgeon trips we have over a 99% success rate. You can fish with confidence when you book with Silversides Fishing Adventures!

Yes! all of our guided fishing trips come with rods, reels, tackle and waders.
However we realize that experienced fly fishers and anglers may want to use their own equipment and that’s OK. We’ll help you with the details of what you need to bring. For Sturgeon fishers please rely on our specialized big game gear.

12 months a year. Each month has some excellent fishing options and we dare not pass up on that. Please see our Blog for usefull articles on best fishing times.

After spending a few years working for several first class sport fishing lodges in BC, Brian Mack established Silversides Fishing Adventures in 1996. Since then we have been providing Fraser river Salmon & Sturgeon fishing holidays and continue to this day. Please read our Reviews and find out how well we are doing!.

Brian Mack runs a 21 ft Customweld ‘Storm’ jet boat with a 5.7 litre inboard V8.
The seating area is covered and has a heater. You’ll stay dry. Seating is very comfortable. Our assistant guides all run 20 – 22 ft aluminum jet boats very similar or identical.

Fraser river White Sturgeon are available year round.
Peak season for Sturgeon fishing on the Fraser River is from March to late November but if we get a milder Winter then Dec/Jan/Feb are also very good. Please read Best Times for Sturgeon Fishing in BC

• River fishing for Salmon usually starts in early July.
• Chinook salmon arrive in the Vedder river in early July.
• Fraser river Chinook salmon usually opens mid July.
• Chinook fishing is good from late July to mid October.
• Sockeye arrive in August and the Fraser river may be open if the numbers are strong.
• Pink salmon arrive in odd years only and can be fished from July 10 to October 1st.
• Coho salmon can be fished from mid September to late November.
• Chum salmon are fished from October 1 to November 30.

Ridiculous amounts and insights! Brian Mack started fly fishing back in 1988. By 1994 he was very skilled in Trout fly fishing. By 1996 we were doing very well with Salmon too.

Today we have complete confidence in our abilities to fly fish on all our local rivers and lakes for ALL of the species available here. We also teach fly casting.

Our fly fishing assistant guide Jason brings a wealth of knowledge and ability including his honor of winning the Canadian Junior Fly Fishing championship and top ten in the world!

• Our Fraser river Sturgeon trips mostly depart from Mission, BC which is recognized as the Sturgeon Capital of North America. This location allows us to target Sturgeon anywhere from Chilliwack to Maple Ridge.
• Fraser river Salmon trips depart from either Mission or Kilby Provincial Park(30 minutes east of Mission) on the Harrison river. If you are staying in downtown Vancouver we do provide hotel pickup, free for walk and wade, or a fee for Fraser river Sturgeon or Salmon trips.
• For walk and wade trips which are mostly from January to May we fish anywhere from Squamish all the way to Chilliwack, either not more than 60 minutes from downtown.
• Wilderness lake trips are about 3 hrs from downtown Vancouver.

Generally No.
People ask a lot if we’ll cancel a trip if it’s raining. This is the west coast aka wet coast and rain is a part of life here and besides the fish are already wet. Life goes on, just bring a rain jacket or we may have a extra one for you. Our jet boats are covered and will keep you dry if you’re not fighting a fish. The only time we ever cancel or postpone a trip is during Steelhead season if the river is blown out or if it’s snowed too much.

These are the popular bodies of water we guide on:

• Fraser river
• Harrison river
• Chilliwack/Vedder river
• Squamish river & tributaries
• upper Pitt river
• Stave river
• Chehalis river
• Key interior lakes for Rainbow’s

All BC fishing licenses are now available online.
Many stores just don’t carry them anymore and Tidal licenses are only online.

Links: Tidal or Freshwater(Non Tidal)  We will tell you which licenses to purchase prior to your arrival.

• Squamish river Pink Salmon are available starting around July 7 – 10 in odd number years only. Possession limits are announced around early July. Check with us for updated openings and closures. Visit our Fly Fishing page for more info.

Pink Salmon open on the Fraser River in later August which is about the time they start showing up.
Best times to book for Fraser Pink Salmon is from very late August to very late September. Limits for Fraser Pinks is 4 per day per angler.

The best times for Trout fly fishing in Vancouver is as follows:

• Squamish River – March to early May & Nov-Dec for Bull, Cutthroat, Dolly Varden & Rainbow trout
• Upper Pitt River – May 15 to July 7 for sea-run Bull Trout
• Fraser River – February – April for Cutthroat trout(jet boat only)
• Interior Lakes – May to early July for Rainbow Trout

Read: Best Fly Fishing spots within 3 hours of Vancouver

Yes! If you want to take your salmon on the airplane that’s easy for any North American destination.

We can supply airline approved travel boxes at $25 each. They’re big enough to hold four 25 lb salmon or 16 Pink/Sockeye size salmon(about 5 lbs each). It is highly recommended that at least 50% of the contents of the box be frozen when you pack it prior to flights. Our lodging partners offer freezing of fish for those staying multiple days. If you are travelling outside of North America see St Jeans website(below).

Fish smoking & canning is done through St. Jeans Cannery. They have 2 drop off locations in Vancouver. See the St Jeans website for details and rates.

Are you a single angler who’s looking to join a group or other angler?
We get this request a fair amount. For boat charters it will only work if there’s another single angler looking and the dates line up. This doesn’t happen very often but we still try. We highly recommend posting on our Facebook page so that others can possibly join you. Or try posting on Craigslist.

That’s not likely because the Fraser river is generally flat and calm.
On a very windy day we could have a chop with wave heights not over 2 feet. In most cases it’s either flat or a light ripple. Our Sturgeon fishing video shows what the water is like on average.

Nope. Nada. None.
We’re very good at teaching and coaching you through your playing of that big fish. You’ll have fun!

For fly fishing it does help if you have fly casting experience but it’s not essential. We have taken absolute rookies many times and after some casting instruction on the river they have done very well and caught some nice fish!