Fraser River

Rock scalers work at the site of a massive rock slide on the Fraser River near Big Bar, west of Clinton, B.C., on Wednesday July 24, 2019. Fisheries officials are forecasting more migrating salmon will successfully pass through a massive rock slide zone on British Columbia's Fraser River north of Lillooet this summer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Improved fishway, lower flow raises salmon migration hopes at Big Bar rock slide

Thousands of migrating Fraser River salmon expected to be able to pass through the area

 

Emergency crews combed the Fraser River from land, water, and air after reports came in Saturday of a possible body floating downstream – past 223rd Street in Maple Ridge. The area is seen here from the south side of the river, at Derby Reach. Efforts have not yet turned up anything. (Ron Paley/Special to The News)

Mounties search the Fraser River for possible body

Emergency crews comb water by air, land, and boat after suspicious item seen floating by Maple Ridge

  • May 24, 2021

 

Boats in the Fraser River launched from Barrowtown and Ft. Langley on May 12 to search for the missing fisherman. (Steve Simpson)

Boats search the Fraser River for missing Abbotsford fisherman

Anyone with ‘a boat, time, or a drone’ to help bring Damian Dutrisac home was asked to help

 

Dean Werk of FV Salmon Society, Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer, Fred Helmer of FRSA, and Abbotsford MP Ed Fast discuss fisheries on a gravel bar in the Fraser River near Chilliwack on April 28, 2021. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: Feds asked to OK selective fishing on Fraser River instead of closures

With record-low salmon returns looming innovative approach is needed, say fishing reps

Dean Werk of FV Salmon Society, Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer, Fred Helmer of FRSA, and Abbotsford MP Ed Fast discuss fisheries on a gravel bar in the Fraser River near Chilliwack on April 28, 2021. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
Screenshot from a video posted in early 2021 showing repeated crossings of side channels by trucks on the Fraser River near Chilliwack. (Facebook)

Organizer of convoy that churned through Fraser River fish habitat served warning letter

Truck crossings ‘disrupted 1,000 square metres’ of aquatic habitat on Fraser at Chilliwack, DFO says

Screenshot from a video posted in early 2021 showing repeated crossings of side channels by trucks on the Fraser River near Chilliwack. (Facebook)
Fishing licences came available for sale Thursday, April 1, and the federal government has introduced a new tool to help anglers – those who are required – to record their catches. (Black Press Media files)

New digital recording tool available for fishing licence sales in B.C.

Anglers can now use an ‘easy’ online system to take note of fish they have caught, as per DFO rules

Fishing licences came available for sale Thursday, April 1, and the federal government has introduced a new tool to help anglers – those who are required – to record their catches. (Black Press Media files)
Maple Ridge Fire Department along with BC Ambulance and police responded to a call of a canoeist in the Fraser River midday Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Ronan O’Doherty/Black Press Media)

Maple Ridge and Langley emergency crews called for canoeist in Fraser River

Person in frigid river helped to shore by jet boat

Maple Ridge Fire Department along with BC Ambulance and police responded to a call of a canoeist in the Fraser River midday Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Ronan O’Doherty/Black Press Media)
For every male sockeye salmon that doesn’t make it back to its spawning grounds, at least two, sometimes three females die, says findings from a recent UBC study. (Courtesy Photo/MC Martin)

Study uncovers B.C. female salmon dying 2x the rate of males

Dr. Scott Hinch predicts the disparity will become more prominent in coming years, calls upon the DFO to help ease their migration journey

For every male sockeye salmon that doesn’t make it back to its spawning grounds, at least two, sometimes three females die, says findings from a recent UBC study. (Courtesy Photo/MC Martin)
Screenshot from video posted to Facebook in early 2021 showing repeated crossings through side channels of the Fraser River near Chilliwack. DFO said a file is open and new signage is coming. (Facebook)

New signage coming to keep ATVs out of prime fish habitat near Chilliwack

‘Fish killed and spawning beds damaged’ says Fraser advocate after repeated channel crossings at Gill

Screenshot from video posted to Facebook in early 2021 showing repeated crossings through side channels of the Fraser River near Chilliwack. DFO said a file is open and new signage is coming. (Facebook)
Screenshot from a video posted to Facebook in early 2021 showing constant and repeated crossings of side channels on the Fraser River near Chilliwack, actions that scientists say kills salmon fry and damages fish habitat. (Facebook)

VIDEO: Four-wheeling fun shredding fish eggs and prime habitat of the Fraser River

‘Fight the urge to make big splashes with a water crossing,’ advises four-wheel drive group prez

Screenshot from a video posted to Facebook in early 2021 showing constant and repeated crossings of side channels on the Fraser River near Chilliwack, actions that scientists say kills salmon fry and damages fish habitat. (Facebook)
A Expo 86 icon was moved to Maple Ridge for restoration in 2015. Now the owner of the former floating McDonald’s restaurant says he has plans to reopen the barge as a seafood restaurant once a high traffic location is secured. (Matthew Claxton/Black Press Media)

Expo 86 icon closer to finding permanent home, owner says

Howard Meakin plans to reopen barge as seafood restaurant

A Expo 86 icon was moved to Maple Ridge for restoration in 2015. Now the owner of the former floating McDonald’s restaurant says he has plans to reopen the barge as a seafood restaurant once a high traffic location is secured. (Matthew Claxton/Black Press Media)
Carol and Rick Blacklaws have distilled years of experience travelling the Fraser River into their latest book. Contributed photo.

South Surrey couple’s book chronicles the mighty Fraser River

Carol and Rick Blacklaws celebrate love of the waterway in The Fraser: River of Life and Legend

Carol and Rick Blacklaws have distilled years of experience travelling the Fraser River into their latest book. Contributed photo.
A high streamflow advisory was issued Sept. 23, 2020 for the Chilliwack River (seen here Nov. 24, 2017) and other rivers and tributaries across B.C.. (Jennifer Feinberg/The Chilliwack Progress file)

Rivers could rise rapidly as heavy rains hit Lower Mainland

Larger rivers to reach peak levels on Thursday or into Friday, according to high streamflow advisory

A high streamflow advisory was issued Sept. 23, 2020 for the Chilliwack River (seen here Nov. 24, 2017) and other rivers and tributaries across B.C.. (Jennifer Feinberg/The Chilliwack Progress file)
More than 50 people participated in the bar-fishing demonstration fishery on Sept. 9, 2020 on the gravel bars of the Fraser River near Chilliwack. DFO officers ticketed six people and seized four rods. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

Tickets handed out and gear seized during Fraser River bar-fishing demonstration

Cost of fishing for salmon/trout during a closed time comes with a fine of $250, say DFO officials

More than 50 people participated in the bar-fishing demonstration fishery on Sept. 9, 2020 on the gravel bars of the Fraser River near Chilliwack. DFO officers ticketed six people and seized four rods. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
DFO fishery officer Mike Fraser chats with Valdy Widera of Surrey, at the bar-fishing demonstration fishery, Sept. 9, 2020, at Island 22 Regional Park in Chilliwack, explaining the event was not sanctioned by DFO. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

Demonstration fishery on the Fraser River went ahead to showcase bar fishing

‘This is about standing together for our rights to a public fishery,’ said organizer

DFO fishery officer Mike Fraser chats with Valdy Widera of Surrey, at the bar-fishing demonstration fishery, Sept. 9, 2020, at Island 22 Regional Park in Chilliwack, explaining the event was not sanctioned by DFO. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
A bar fishing demonstration fishery is set for Sept. 9 on the Fraser River gravel bars. (Jenna Hauck/ Progress File)

Demonstration fishery on the Fraser River going ahead without DFO approval

‘This is about standing together for our rights to a public fishery,’ says one of the organizers

A bar fishing demonstration fishery is set for Sept. 9 on the Fraser River gravel bars. (Jenna Hauck/ Progress File)
Bar fishing on the Fraser River near Chilliwack in a demonstration fishery on Sept. 2, 2017. (Greg Laychak/ Chilliwack Progress file)

DFO will not be authorizing a ‘test fishery’ for Fraser River chinook salmon

Fishing groups were hoping to test out selective bar-fishing method on the main stem of the river

Bar fishing on the Fraser River near Chilliwack in a demonstration fishery on Sept. 2, 2017. (Greg Laychak/ Chilliwack Progress file)
The Brown family of Chilliwack with one of the largest sturgeon caught so far this season on the Fraser at 10.2 feet. (Submitted)

B.C. family recounts ‘experience of a lifetime’ catching huge sturgeon

It took them more than two hours to reel in the 10.2 ft white sturgeon that weighed 522 pounds

The Brown family of Chilliwack with one of the largest sturgeon caught so far this season on the Fraser at 10.2 feet. (Submitted)
It’s been a bad year for mosquitoes in the Fraser Valley. (Black Press Media files)

‘Perfect storm’ led to bad year for mosquitos near Fraser River

High river levels and lots of rain meant many eggs hatched this year

It’s been a bad year for mosquitoes in the Fraser Valley. (Black Press Media files)
A third peak is estimated to arrive next week at Hope in a 10-day forecast of estimated discharge on July 7, 2020. (BC River Forecast Centre)

Fraser River may surge one more time next week

It’s unusual for the Fraser River to peak twice in one season, let alone three times

A third peak is estimated to arrive next week at Hope in a 10-day forecast of estimated discharge on July 7, 2020. (BC River Forecast Centre)