At the end of No Name Road is a place that's got sports fishermen's reels buzzing.
They come from around the world Australia, United States, Europe in pursuit of one of mankind's oldest battles. That quest is a part of Pat Beahen's blood.
The salmon, when they first come into the river, they tend to be more like ocean creatures, more willing to attack things, the Squamish-based Whistler Flyfishing guide explains as he treks along the dike beside the Squamish and Mamquam river confluence.
Beahen has been a fishing guide for 13 years. He was hooked on the sport as a teenager quickly becoming a competitive Bass angler in Ontario. Fifteen years ago he moved to the Sea to Sky Corridor where he teamed up with Whistler Flyfishing.
Beahen isn't the only one that's ended up on the shores of Squamish's rivers. The area's many waterways and accessibility to the Lower Mainland makes it a hotspot for anglers. During the current pink salmon run, which started three weeks ago and will peak around the end of August, people in waders pack the pebbly outcrop along Squamish River.
The angling community has remained constant over the years, Beahen said. However, as one walks down No Name Road it's easy to see the number of vehicles from outside of B.C.
A lot of people come from Vancouver or are staying in Whistler, Beahen said.
In 2011 sports fishing contributed $325.7 million to the province's gross domestic product (GDP) and hauled in $936.5 million in revenue. Approximately 8,400 people are employed by the industry.
Pink salmon return to the province's rivers every two years. This run is a particularly large, Squamish mayor Rob Kirkham said. District officials have no statistics on the number of dollars fishing draws into town, but municipal staff work with tourism stakeholders to ensure the activity is encouraged, he said. Officials recently opened the dike to vehicle traffic during the pink salmon run.
It brings a lot of people to town and they do spend money when they are here, he said.
Beahen will be out on the river's banks for most of the run. While wading through the waters he's continually amazed by the life and beauty in our valley's bottoms. But most of all he admires the fish.
They are beautiful little gems. Everything about them is a tale of evolution, Beahen said. They are amazing surviving creatures.
