The Mighty Fraser

Growing up it was easy to take the Fraser River for granted. One would not use the adjective mighty to describe the muddy Fraser. Yet after travelling abroad and seeing the Majestic Shannon in Ireland I’ve come to the conclusion that the Fraser River is mighty indeed for several reasons.

Since you can’t see what’s in the water it’s easy to be completely oblivious to what lives in the water. I was somewhat shocked to see huge Salmon spawning in Bear Creek in Surrey. Salmon come up the Fraser and up the small tributaries to spawn.

You see the odd seal poke it’s head up out of the Fraser this time of year. They come for the Salmon too. I’ve seen a seal as far up as Harrison. Normally you see the seals sunbathing on the rocks at Whitecliff.

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Seeing the First Nation’s brother pull all those Coho out of the Squamish River in Brackendale yesterday one would have no idea those huge fish were swimming upstream just by looking at the river.

This morning I was dragon boating on the Fraser in the Bedford channel and saw two large salmon jump. It was impressive. I remember seeing a guy pull some pretty huge Salmon out of the fish trap on the Salmon River in Fort Langley after a good rain. The conservationist efforts there have done a great job at helping preserve and restore the Salmon counts.

As a youth I was well familiar with the fish ladder and hatchery on the Capilano. Yet those Salmon were always very small comparatively and always beat up from the horrendous struggle up the vigorous river bashing against the rocks. Knowing about all the huge Salmon that spawn in the Fraser makes the river mighty.

Don’t forget the Sturgeon in the Fraser. Many get real excited to fish for sturgeon. I just like to respect the fact that those giant ancient fish are still there. Hells Gate, that makes the Fraser mighty. Let’s not forget the Voyageurs. Tillers Folly sing about them in their CD called the Ghosts of the Mighty Fraser. It’s easy to take it for granted but I am convinced that the Fraser is mighty after all. Cheers.