Harrison Cutthroat
Richard Probert
Fraser Valley Adventures
  Harrison cutthroat fishing was once world renowned.
  Anglers came from all over North America and even Europe to fish in Harrison Lake and the Harrison River. Even famous personalities like Rudyard Kipling fished for Harrison cutthroat. While in Vancouver in 1889, Kipling made a visit to Harrison Hot Springs. In his book "Sea to Sea," Kipling wrote about "catching 70 trout in a day of fishing on Harrison lake."
  The Harrison River was also famous for its fine cutthroat fishing. Both the Harrison River and Harrison lake provided excellent cutthroat fishing until the 1948 flood.After that, for reasons not clearly understood, cutthroat fishing declined precipitously. A hatchery program has since restored the cutthroat, but not nearly to the level of more than 100 years ago.
  Still, even today anglers fish Harrison waters specifically for cutthroat trout. In Harrison lake fish the bays and gravel bars near a stream or river. Green point picnic area has a beach worth trying especially in mid April to early May, when sockeye fry swim close to shore, attracting the big cutthroat and rainbows. In the Harrison River, fish near the railway bridge, and near the road bridge, or use a boat, which can be launched at Kilby Provincial Park.
  Harrison cutthroat can reach four pounds or more. Fly fishing can be very effective, using flies that imitate fry. Dew worms are deadly and some anglers swear by spinners and local lures. Cutthroat move around a lot so the angler must constantly search the bays and stream entrances and beaches. Just remember, use single barbless hooks on the Harrison River, though barbed hooks are allowed on lakes.
  On the Harrison River the legal limit is two hatchery fish per day. A hatchery fish has a clipped adipose fin, the one near the back of the tail. All cutthroat trout with that small fin near the top back tail must be released. This law is strictly enforced in all rivers in region two, and remember, the legal limit in rivers is 12 inches. In lakes, though not only is there no size limit, and the angler can legally take four fish per day and these can be wild as well as hatchery fish.
  While these are the legal regulations there are other considerations. Cutthroat trout are less numerous than past decades. A day of fishing is a day well spent regardless if the angler takes home fish. Many cutthroat fishers are releasing all cutthroat to conserve the resource. I believe I will live to see catch and release for all sea-run cutthroat trout in the Fraser River system. These fish are increasingly being threatened with encroaching urbanization, pollution, and changing climatic patterns, which may be affecting estuary and ocean survival.
  Over 100 years ago, it was possible for Kipling and other anglers to catch dozens of cutthroat in a day of fishing. Even I can remember when the daily limit for cutthroat was 15 fish per day, and many anglers kept that many. Those days are gone forever. Hatchery programs will not save the sea-runs cutthroat from decline, since genetic variability and thus fitness may be compromised. As an angler who has spent hundreds of days fishing for this elusive quarry, I would mourn the demise of these marvelous colourful fish.
  In the meanwhile, anglers can still enjoy a day of quality cutthroat fishing along the Fraser River and its backwaters. But do the cutthroat fishery a favour and release 20 fish for everyone you keep. Future anglers will thank you, especially if future anglers have the opportunity for qualityHarrison cutthroat.fishing.
 

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