FISHING REPORTS
from some of the BEST PLACES TO FISH !
7th May, 2012: FISHING REPORT: Port Alberni
Inlet, Barkley Sound, Ucluelet (West Coast), Somas-Stamp River System.
by Doug Lindores of
Slivers Charters
Salmon Sport Fishing
Toll Free Number: 1-
888 214 7206
The 2012 saltwater salmon fishing
season is here with forecasts along the inner and outer coastline of Vancouver
Island British Columbias’ west coast look extremely favorable for sport
saltwater salmon fishing. Many considered the 2009, 2010, and 2011 season as
fantastic but 2012 looks extremely phenomenal with big returns of Chinook salmon
migrating to the big watersheds to the south. These big river systems located in
Washington, Oregon, and California are expecting some of the biggest returns of
Chinook and Coho salmon since counts began in the mid 1970s. The three biggest
predicted Pacific North-West salmon returns are to the Columbia River system,
the Klamath River and the Sacremento River. Some of the indicators include
returns of the previous year Jack salmon. Last year the Klamath system had a
record high ninety thousand Jacks return. U.S. biologists are suggesting that
Chinook returns to the Klamath River will be over 1.6 million. The exciting
thing about all of this is that these fish migrate right outside the back door
of the Ucluelet Harbour, the Bamfield Harbour and the majestic, pristine, and
scenic waters of Barkley Sound. Barkley Sound has huge quantities of rich bait
fish that these migrating salmon will feed on during their long summer
migration.
Salmon fishing in the out and inner portion of the sound should be
very good through the late spring and all of the summer months as these waves of
salmon make their way to their natal river system. To date a low number of early
Chinook coming from these big runs have been landed by a couple of sport
fishermen and guides but the first real big waves really do not occur outside
the Ucluelet Harbour and Barkley Sound until mid May. The salmon usually migrate
fairly close to the beach in May and then along the various sandy banks off the
coast in the summer months.
Sockeye Salmon returns to the
Aberni Inlet are also forecast to be one of the biggest returns in decades. The
early season forecast is at 700,000 to one million but it is suggested that by
mid season due to many indicators that the run size could easily be upgraded to
double the current predictions. The sport fishery for Sockeye in the Alberni
Inlet is a fabulous opportunity for families and all avid sport fishermen.
The summer of 2012 looks
absolutley phenomenal in terms of sport fishing opportunities. Those fisher
persons that prefer open water or for those that enjoy areas that have
protection from prevailing wind patterns the saltwater salmon fishing no matter
where individuals decide their destination on Vancouver Islands west coast the
opportunity to land a Pacific salmon from six pounds to thirty-five pounds
should be a dream come true.
Port Alberni | Barkley Sound
The Port Alberni Inlet is
currently very quiet as anglers are definitely not out in big numbers searching
for the first Sockeye salmon swimming towards the Somass River mouth. The
Sockeye numbers in terms of returns are once again very good with authorities
saying that the 2012 Somass River Sockeye migration is expected to be one of the
largest in decades. Sockeye fishing for the sport angler most years gets
underway by mid June. Of course water conditions and river flow play a big part
on the migration of these salmon. The Somass river and two predominant lakes are
currently very high and the river water is quite cold. Any sockeye coming into
the system will be in the top twenty to thirty feet of water and will swim right
through to the Somass River. When the Somass River warms up to seventeen or
eighteen degrees celsius and the Inlet water warms up the Sockeye migration will
slow down and the salmon will move into deeper and cooler water in the Port
Alberni Inlet. Mid June most years is the time that this occurs and the salmon
begin to school in big numbers which opens the way for the sport fishery. With
Sockeye salmon return forecast to be very high and if things, nature wise, are
normal then this very exciting sport fishery can often continue right into the
end of July and first week of August. Sockeye fishing is a lot of fun and is a
great time for families to get out on the water and take part in one of British
Columbias best sport fisheries. Sockeye like a slow troll and are attracted to
the boats with lots of color in the water fairly close to the boat. Most
experienced Sockeye fishermen will have six to eight flashers in the water. Most
of the lures are on a short leader from eighteen to twenty-eight inches in
length behind a red or green glow hotspot flasher. Sharp hooks are very
important as the gum structure of these best tasting salmon are very soft.
The Winter or feeder Chinook
fishing in Barkley Sound has been off and on during the last month. The feeder
chinook will always be found wherever the bait is found. Feeders are just what
they are termed as these hearty salmon feed heavily especially on tides changes.
Austin Island, Village Reef, Vernon Bay and Swale Rock have had some good days
with Chinook up to seventeen and twenty pounds but on average coming in at ten
to twelve pounds. This past weekend Vernon Bay was on fire especially on
Saturday with winter Chinook up to twenty pounds being landed and found in
eighty to one hundred and forty feet. Anchovy in Rhys Davis green glow and
chartreuse teaser head holders were working as were a variety of coyote spoons
with the three and three and a half inch Irish Cream being by far the most
productive. Meares and Austin on Saturday were fairly decent but on the tide
change and when the bait came in on the change. Needle fish hootchies and
anchovy were working fairly well. On the Bamfield side Cape Beale, Whittlestone
and the west side of Edward King down to Kirby Point has been very consistent
for those out on the water. However like the west side of Barkley Sound an area
can be hot one day and completely dead the next. The salmon have been in 140
feet of water but up against the rocks closer to Edward King the feeders have
been in twenty-five and thirty-five feet of water. Bait is important if fisher
persons are to find the salmon. Army Truck Hootchie has been working well and
also an Irish Cream and Army Truck spoon in smaller sizes. Cape Beale and the
protected side of Folger Island has also had some relatively decent Halibut
fishing. When the weather has been good the three and seven mile and an area
called the chair has produced some salmon and halibut catches off the bottom.
The summer fishing opportunities
look more than fabulous for Barkley Sound and the surfline and of course
offshore waters. The big numbers of Chinook and Coho that will migrate down the
Vancouver Island coastline will produce some very good fishing opportunities for
local fishermen and of course guides and their guests. Safety is always an
important concern and those days that are of poor weather on the offshore waters
do not usually affect the protected waters of the sound or the Port Alberni
Inlet. There will always be a good spot to fish in the summer months ahead.
Ucluelet
Ucluelet offers magical salmon
sport fishing and it is one of those places that one can have opportunity to
land a twenty pound salmon twelve months of the year. The salmon fishing
continues to be relatively consistent close to the Ucluelet Harbor Mouth. Most
of the Chinook salmon that have been landed by sport fishermen to date have been
Winter Chinook. This is not to say that there have not been some clipped fish
bound for distant rivers. The first big wave of migratory fish will appear soon
as the middle of May is often the time when the early summer run of fish begin
to show up. We are expecting some great fishing out on the various banks.
Usually in May the fishing will be closer to the Harbor with good spots being
the alley, Beg Island, Great Bear, Mara Rock and the Red Can to name a few. As
we get into June however the hotspots will become the Turtle Head, Inner and
Outer South Bank, the Wreck and perhaps for some out as far as Laperouse Bank.
Recently the Red Can and Great Bear have provided some good fishing With limits
being taken on Chinook Salmon. The Red Can had some great fishing from 60 feet
to the bottom just recently. The Spatter Back Hootchie and needle fish hootchie
in blue, green and a bit of silver was working very well. But not only did the
various fishermen know there were plenty of salmon from eight to fourteen pounds
in the area but a pod of killer whales knew this also scattered the fish which
slowed things down dramatically. There have been a few nice fish taken at South
Bank that are migrating and these fish have been in the mid teens and have been
taking smaller coyote spoons. Green Nickel and Knight Rider have been working
fairly well behind a green or red glow hotspot flasher. Needle fish hootchies
and army truck hootchies have also been working well with 42 inches of leader
behind a flasher. By the middle of this month we should really start seeing the
migratory push and by June there will be plenty of tales about the numbers of
salmon in the nearby waters and the big one that got away. This will definitely
be the year that anyone that desires to land a Pacific salmon will have a
genuine opportunity to have this dream occur
The Ucluelet ladder derby got
under way on the first of May. Cost is $50 for the year or $10 per ticket. Cash
awards are given monthly for the biggest three salmon per month. The fish off
will be the weekend after the labor Day weekend.
For more information
Contact:
Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
www.catchsalmon-ca.com
www.catchsalmon.ca
dlindy@shaw.ca
+1 250 724 2502 (h)
+1 250 731 7389 ©
Toll Free Number: 1-
888 214 7206
