First Chinook Salmon of the Season (Bike and Fish)! | Fishing with Rod

I hopped on my mountain bike, rode to a hot fishing spot and caught chinook salmon in September. Chilliwack River is located in Southwestern British Columbia, Canada.
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Camera:
Rodney Hsu
Editing:
Rodney Hsu
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My name is Rod, and I am an avid fisherman, fishery advocate, conservationist and educator in British Columbia Canada. On this channel you will find:
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🔸 Conversations on current fishery and conservation issues!
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#salmon #fishing #chinooksalmon

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks for watching all! Be sure to subscribe and comment below. To get the latest updates: ► Instagram: instagram.com/fishing_with_rod ► Facebook: facebook.com/fishingwithrod

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

You just reminded me why I don't fish the Canal all that much. Yes, the fish are fresh and not that gear shy yet, but it's dirty and snaggy down there. I think I'll stay up river thanks. Every year I have to remember all over how hard chinooks fight.

[@FishingwithRod]

Yeah I pick my spots really depends on how hard I want to work before and after fishing. An outing to the canal usually takes a bit of time to clean everything up afterward, but the fresh push of fish is often irresistible. 😄

[@icantcatchsalmon]

They aren’t very gear shy but are usually very not willing to bite and are very stressed

[@AngelaLangston-fx6ym]

Happy you are back! Looking forward to more educational adventures.

[@peeairp6919]

Hi Rod thanks for all your videos i'm new to salmon fishing and your videos have helped me a ton have a great 2024

[@FishingwithRod]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@Pray4Mojo1]

Last week I walked from Keith Wilson all the way to the #1. Seen some springs but they were really spooky. This reminds me when I was 11, I had caught a big mountain whitefish, like a 3lber out of the bow river in calgary. I took off home on my bike and the whole fish fell off onto pavement. I just dusted it off and took it home and my mom cooked it for us. Good times.

[@mtimm6162]

My son is getting into fishing now because of you thanks! We live in Chilliwack and go lots to the vedder river.

[@markweber4854]

The big soft beads work almost as well as roe and are a lot easier to fish. Good job Rod!

[@FishingwithRod]

Yeah they definitely work well. I don’t know if they’d outfish roe, but the amount of bites plus less mess is a good incentive for me to stop using bait. 🙂

[@afishingmagician]

Little trick is to put the beads in a bag with cured roe over night.

[@Yourebeingtrolled]

I'm going Wisconsin Thursday can't wait 9 hr drive to see buddy n fish

[@madanglerab9555]

Well done, fish on!!

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks!

[@antmas3507]

Great idea!!

[@FishingwithRod]

Thank you! 😊

[@oldpolak5203]

Rod when the results are in catching a salmon , it's always a good idea .😁

[@FishingwithRod]

That’s right! 😃

[@Deadllyy_raptor]

what a stunning area you live in!

[@claytonmcdonald8603]

I’ve done a lot of traveling and I live where this is filmed - it really is a beautiful place to live.

[@michaelduy9055]

Nice video! I like casting reels over spinning for most fishing. I followed the link back to your "Chinook setup" and remember watching when it was posted. That video sent me tackle shopping for an upcoming trip. Tackle addicts have to be careful watching your videos Rod!

[@FishingwithRod]

Oops! 😅 I actually am going to do another video on the setup I used for this video. There’ve been some changes, so I guess more $$$… 😆

[@michaelduy9055]

@@FishingwithRod I noticed the Tranx 300 is missing in action! I'll be waiting for the updated video. I'm going to turn the credit card over to my wife before I watch though. 😃

[@dylanmounsey7515]

I used to ride home with chrome kings gilled on the bullhorns of my ten speed lol in grade 8… now I’m 31 and I gotta grind to get a chromer

[@bubbanads]

FISH ON!! Giddy up!!

[@FishingwithRod]

🎣

[@rafabonati7757]

Good job biking with that salmon. It reminded me of how I used to bike carry my bowling ball to the lanes for Saturday league in winter with snow on the ground when I was a kid. But instead of eating salmon, I had to settle for bowling alley French fries.

[@FishingwithRod]

That’s a heavy cargo!

[@ozworth2436]

Me and a buddy limited out before 10:00am yesterday. 4 does lots of roe!!

[@lietaermelucci]

That's a lot of work Rod..😁😁

[@FishingwithRod]

They taste better when you put in more work to get them. 😆

[@vannghiaphan4044]

Love biking n fishing

[@FishingwithRod]

I used to do it all the time, 30 years ago. 😄

[@604billyboy]

I saw you riding yesterday hehe... Keith Wilson was the hot spot Friday.

[@ricknelson576]

Time for a ebike Rod, But good exercise. Nice fish. Thanks for sharing.

[@FishingwithRod]

E-bike, never! 😆 I am too stubborn and old school lol. Thanks for watching Rick! 😄

[@Will-dr9cf]

Haha, need another one to balance the bike. That might be a reason of setting the quota as 2 or 4 fishes for the river. Thanks for the video, Rod!

[@FishingwithRod]

Yeah. 😆 I could have kept fishing but decided to stop after the first one. What if the second fish was 20lb, then we got a problem! 🤣

[@FishingWithBottles]

Solid fish!

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks! Lots of specimens in this size/age class this year. 🙂

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Biking to fish, NICE!!!

[@FishingwithRod]

😄

[@porfiriobaruch8728]

NICE FISH, BUDDY

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks 👍

[@jimpapadoulis830]

Reminds me of riding my bike home with a full bucket of smelts (and the net) from Kits Beach in the 80’s. Yes, I dumped it 🤦‍♂️ in the street…

[@FishingwithRod]

🤣🤦🏻‍♂️

[@tricknasty7262]

Great way to get a workout in!🤣

[@FishingwithRod]

Yes! 😄

[@caroljames3853]

Excellent catch - bet you were tired when you got home!

[@FishingwithRod]

Not too bad actually! I probably bike better than I walk. 😀 When I was in my 20s, I was quite involved in competitive cycling so we used to ride 100km+ on some days. Those legs don’t forget. 😉

[@josepha4786]

I'm coming out October 1 thru 8 (I'm a Great Lakes Steelheader) hope to see you out there.

[@FishingwithRod]

Your timing is very good for any watershed in Southwestern BC, it should be a great visit. 🙂

[@josepha4786]

@@FishingwithRod I very much hope so, long range daytime temps seem a little high and I would like to see some gradual rain (to raise levels but not blowout), but forecasts are about as accurate as Horoscopes these days. Also booked a $150 flight for Nov 6-12 - hoping there are no 'atmospheric rivers' 😶

[@katigasfishingtv]

Mantap sir ❤️

[@RosinFlyFishing]

Haha I enjoyed the bike fishing vibe very much! Is it common for folks to get tangled up with each other float fishing in a hole like this?

[@TheFishingDoctorsAdventures]

Congrats rod that looked like fun... you could have road your bike to my house and I would have taken you out for ocean chinook and sockeye... but that looked like fun too. Haha. Can't wait to get out there myself.

[@FishingwithRod]

20 years ago I could have ridden to your house and still go fishing. Now, I can barely walk to the car from my bed. 😆

[@TheSnowManTT]

I know right Rodney!! I was tired after reeling in my third spring of the day yesterday. What happened to us. Lol

[@TheFishingDoctorsAdventures]

@@FishingwithRod hahaha... this is how you know you are aging. Stay young. Keep fishing. Maybe ride the bike more.

[@TheFishingDoctorsAdventures]

Yeah I hear you. Saltwater fishing kills me now. After standing in a rocking boat all day and running the riggers by back is aching, neck sore, legs weak... oh man I'll be 40 this year too.

[@FishingwithRod]

@@TheSnowManTT Doc is joining our 40s club, and you're leaving soon! 😆

[@ChipDarby13]

That looked fun! Well the fishing part…not the biking part😝

[@FishingwithRod]

Come on Camille! When you come down here, that’s what you have to do too, maybe incorporate a Chilliwack beer, wine and food tour into the route. 🤪

[@ChipDarby13]

@@FishingwithRod Only if it’s an electric bike😝

[@FishingwithRod]

@@ChipDarby13 😆

[@lotsofducks6234]

Hey rod you could try looking for used baby stroller trailers for bikes to carry your fish haha

[@FishingwithRod]

😆 That’s too much for me. I have a back injury which makes lifting stuff in and out of my truck really difficult. Riding through, is no problem.

[@JamesTKirk-yz5ng]

Riding a bike with waders on. Now that's talent!!! Was that snowman filming from across the river lol?

[@FishingwithRod]

Yep!

[@mlinder85]

Great video Rod. Do you find you have to trot your line more when using the beads? I seem to see the bead following behind my weight when using the same setup as yours and the float is vertical. Should I "hold the float back" a bit when fishing with beads? Thanks!

[@FishingwithRod]

A couple other people have mentioned that today but I personally haven't found that I need to hold the float back. I much prefer to let the float drift freely without any resistance actually. Who knows, maybe success would go up if I start holding it back. 🙂

[@minkos61]

Way to go Rod nice catch , but you might want to find a better net man 😂😋😜

[@FishingwithRod]

😂 So true! I've always been terrible at it once the fish reach that size.

[@cabinvibeetsystore9094]

New sub ! Liked 🙏🙂🙃

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks!

[@tommyPDX]

Is a 200 size reel capable of fishing a Chinook or is a 300 size a must?

[@kelvinpen3144]

😎

[@mikeford4580]

great video thx where do you get your sliding weights ? thx

[@FishingwithRod]

Those sliding weights are from Taiwan. If you are in Vancouver, the place to get them is First Light Fishing and Tackle in Burnaby. They have three different sizes available, for 20, 25 and 30g DNE floats. 1stlightfishing.com

[@mikeford4580]

@@FishingwithRod thx very much

[@afishingmagician]

Well done Rod. BTW I lost some gear on the Vedder last night out of the back of my truck. If you hear of anyone who found a few rods and a Lexa 400 Daiwa Reel let me know.

[@FishingwithRod]

They fell out of the truck while driving? Any idea where about? I can post something up.

[@afishingmagician]

@@FishingwithRod Right at Pacific Rivers. Willi is keeping an eye out. Really want the reel back. Lost two twitching rods as well. Those were just ugly sticks with Daiwa reels. Would appreciate it if you could get the word out. They were on my tail gate, which I forgot to close.

[@FishingwithRod]

Ok posted on my FB now

[@MrKveite1]

hard work pays off, now and then....

[@FishingwithRod]

Yes! What I didn’t show was the few other days I spent trying to get those fish without any success. 😉

[@MrKveite1]

@@FishingwithRod well it's fishing, sometimes its easy and you are an exellent angler and sometimes its impossible and you are an useless angler lol. And btw, it works that way for me too lol

[@TCB77]

Ha, I also used to ride-to-fish. How old is that bike, ‘92?

[@FishingwithRod]

'98.

[@243pete]

Crashing cause a Chinook/ Spring tail got wrapped up into your spokes. 🤣 To bad you don't have a tail rack or a mounting system for side panniers. Or you could always try carrying across your back in a medium sized cargo net. I haven't seen a set of Shimano XTR V brakes since forever... from cross country to downhill, my last bike was a Trek Session 10 with RS Boxxer WC's.

[@FishingwithRod]

Hehe that bike was my XC bike from the late 90s when I used to race. I love it!

[@243pete]

@@FishingwithRod lol if only we could keep in the same shape like back then.😂

[@omygodish3]

Have you done this spot with a spinning rod always drive past been way to busy to try kinda intimidating for a newer Person to fishing

[@FishingwithRod]

Spinning rod for float fishing? I don't use a spinning rod for float fishing, it's just not efficient. I have however used a spinning rod to cast and retrieve lures in the canal, which works well at times for sure.

[@Joe671]

Biking to fish. Not my first choice but if that's what I had to do to go fish I'd definitely be on my bike lol. You need a basket lol.

[@FishingwithRod]

I ain’t putting a basket on that beast. 🤣

[@Joe671]

@@FishingwithRod 😂

[@yyoohh]

I’ve got same reel ! Love it , what size and color of beads do you recommend for chinook and coho ?

[@averagejoefishing7833]

Just curious what reel is that?

[@fishingwithej1963]

@@averagejoefishing7833 looks like a curado 300

[@FishingwithRod]

That's a Curado 301HG (left hand instead of right, trying something new).

[@FishingwithRod]

I don't really have a recommendation, but I've been having success with 14mm, mottled cerise, pink, red from BNR Tackle.

[@yyoohh]

@@averagejoefishing7833 Shimano curado 300

[@toiynhac]

I really miss the river but it's $2/ litre lol

[@georgej7077]

Nice fish! But it's time to get a modern mountain bike. 😉

[@FishingwithRod]

No way! My little carbon fibre race machine will never be abandoned. 😉

[@georgej7077]

@@FishingwithRod Hahaha, hear that! 😁

[@davper8619]

What size hook are you using?

[@FishingwithRod]

1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/d16WoYynpdicZtk

[@ICU8onetoo]

I think you need a folding e-bike with a rear rack and pvc rod holders.

[@FishingwithRod]

No e-bike. 🤪 I’m pretty old school. 😄

[@ivan_pavlenko23]

I see your fishing a “sort of “ torpedo bobber… with a bead..? My question is are u bobber dogging or fishing the bead suspended!

[@FishingwithRod]

The float depth is set so the bead is kept just off the bottom as i drifts down the river.

[@fishingwithej1963]

What rod is that ?

[@FishingwithRod]

That is a G.Loomis E6X. I can’t remember the model off top of my head but it has been discontinued. It’s 10’ long, rated 10-20lb. There are other similar E6X models that are just as good (10’, 8-17lb) too.

[@simongillgannon253]

what day was this filmed?

[@FishingwithRod]

This past week.

[@kcoutdooractivities1338]

I did the bike to fish during Covid. You would need an electric bike to make it a nicer trip.

[@FishingwithRod]

Despite of how out of breath I may have seen, I actually really enjoyed it lol!

[@Jim5myli]

Hi, Rod, which river is this you called your home river?

[@FishingwithRod]

Sorry, Vedder River, couldn’t talk properly while trying to breathe. 😅

[@Jim5myli]

Thanks, you are a nice man. You are so experienced in fishing and is always willing to share them. Keep it up please.

[@vitaliimogilin766]

Where you fishing now?

[@FishingwithRod]

Now?

[@dylanmounsey7515]

Usually when they do circles it’s best to go find other fish 😂😢

[@FishingwithRod]

Well, where we were fishing, there are always new fish pushing in especially with the tide.

[@curiousjericho]

Where is this!!

[@FishingwithRod]

Vedder River.

[@curiousjericho]

@@FishingwithRod Appreciate the response! Hoping I'll catch ya one day :)

[@amur6640]

I don't know how you rode a bike in waders lol. I don't even like driving my truck in them.

[@FishingwithRod]

I’ve ridden my bike in pretty heavy gear and clothes in the past, no problem. 😃

[@Sunnyboy9362]

Hi. Nice job by putting all those educational video about fishing. When does exactly pink salmon start running in Vader River. Thanks.

[@FishingwithRod]

You can find them throughout September, the second half of the month is definitely more productive. I did a video on this a couple years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6Skgp-Om7WWpas

[@andrewransom6489]

What sized beads are these?

[@FishingwithRod]

Those are size 14mm. I have no idea if smaller or bigger would actually work better, because that was the size I started with last year and caught fish right away so I just keep using them. 😄

[@ri-rithecookingguy4862]

Well the bike was probably worth because you got a fish out of it. What time are these fish here until? Thinking of going in the next couple of weeks...

[@FishingwithRod]

The fall chinook salmon run usually tapers off starting around the first week of October. By mid October it should be all over. The coho salmon run on the other hand will be good between now and mid November.

[@ri-rithecookingguy4862]

@@FishingwithRod Awesome! Thanks for the insight! Also have you ever fished the Nicomekl river? It's right next to crescent beach.

[@FishingwithRod]

No not really, since I am rarely in that area. I'm sure it can also be good.

[@jonathonledward1525]

Was this Friday??

[@FishingwithRod]

Maybe? 🤪

[@jonathonledward1525]

@@FishingwithRod so it was you I saw across the river!

[@FishingwithRod]

@@jonathonledward1525 You should have yelled. 😁

[@jonathonledward1525]

@@FishingwithRod well it didn't even cross my mind at the time that it was you lol. Did you get out today??

[@FishingwithRod]

@@jonathonledward1525 No, I leave weekends to the commoners. 😁

[@chuckgregory9480]

Oh ! Your as bad as I am. But you catch

[@chuckgregory9480]

I like your what your doing sir !

[@diopants]

get yourself a proper rod case! BW Sports cases are the best.

[@FishingwithRod]

I have rod cases actually, but I didn’t want to carry more weight while riding.

[@KERRY-THE-WILD]

Seems like Springs rarely bite during day time, It is totally normal seeing schools of fish coming in and still waiting for hours to get just one bite. But what makes me sick is that on Vedder river, some people at those fish stop pits, trying to snag fish. Always the same group of people, you won’t miss it. You can’t call it fishing anymore.

[@FishingwithRod]

Given the right conditions, chinook salmon will definitely bite throughout the day. With low water, high fishing pressure, they're definitely spooked and less likely to be enticed.

[@KERRY-THE-WILD]

You need more exercise man😂

[@FishingwithRod]

😑