FISHING REPORTS
from some of the BEST PLACES TO FISH !
1st March, 2010: 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
Those
people looking to salmon sport fish this summer in British Columbia will again
be pleased to hear that the fishing opportunities in many of the more ideal
locations will have some fabulous salmon fishing in 2011. Vancouver Island
should have some of British Columbia’s best salmon fishing. The summer of 2010
saw record numbers of sockeye return to various British Columbia Rivers and
streams. The migratory flow of Chinook salmon that swam the west coast of
Vancouver Island heading to various watersheds to the south stayed close to the
beach and created a fantastic inshore sport fishing season. Many of these
Chinook came into the coasts various inlets and sounds to feed on the rich
resources of bait fish were also in record numbers and dramatically improved the
sport fishing sector especially from late May through early August. Survival of
fry and young salmon due to the La Nina cold water phenomenon has greatly
affected the salmon survival in the North Pacific. This wonderful condition for
the salmon will again be responsible for 20ll healthy returns in British
Columbia and the Pacific North-West.
Sockeye
returns coming into Barkley Sound and returning to the Somass and Henderson
Rivers are again expected to be very good. The survival of fry in both systems
has been exceptional and there will be some good sized four and five year old
Sockeye Salmon returning. The early Sockeye return to the Somass River often
begins in late May. Sport fishing for these number one commercial salmon in the
Port Alberni Inlet usually is well underway by the 15th of June with the peak of
the season occurring the second or third week of July. Henderson River Sockeye
which are often bigger than the Somass River stock begin to show in the middle
of July and often swim as far up the Alberni Inlet to Nahmint Bay before turning
back to the Kildonan mouth and the Henderson.
As for Coho and Chinook returns
to the area the Somass-Stamp return should be average which can be 35,000 to
50,000 Coho pieces. The Robertson Creek run is looking better than the last two
years but numbers have not yet been fully discussed.
Being an odd numbered year the
west coast will see a huge number of pink salmon on inside and outside number.
These pink fleshed salmon return to a variety of systems with the Fraser River
having an expected escapement of close to twenty million. These salmon along
with the Chinook and Coho from mid July through September will keep west coast
sport fishermen busy during their daily fishing excursions.
Look for the 2011 sport fishing
season to be as good and perhaps even more exciting than the last two years in
terms of productivity and size of salmon.
Port Alberni | Barkley Sound
Sport
fishing in the Alberni Inlet is very quiet during the winter. Prawn sport
fishing is closed in the Inlet although it is available in Barkley Sound and has
been very good. The Sockeye season which begins in June will re-awake the Inlet
this summer. Barkley Sound is fishable year round due to the protective waters.
Winter Chinook fishing has been off and on and with more and more bait moving in
due to the late February or early March Herring spawn more feeders have been in
the area which has really picked up the fishing. Some good fishing has been in
Tseshart and Peacock Channels. Lyle Point and Mayne Bay have had some good days
with Winter Chinook averaging ten to twelve pounds. The Sproat Lake Loggers
Derby is also very close. This Derby was started years ago by actual loggers
from what was known as Sproat Lake Division. In that inaugural year forty-one
individuals participated in the small derby at the beginning of March. Last year
four hundred and seventy people participated. This years’ derby takes place on
March 5th and 6th with derby headquarters at Poett Nook. Cost per fisherman is
$15 with ticket sales at Gone Fishing and Port Boat House both located in Port
Alberni. Last year there were some good sized fish landed with the winning
fishing caught by local Port Alberni resident Tom McMurdo. This salmon weighed a
whopping 29.4 pounds
and
was hooked close to Tseshart Lodge. There were several other recorded fish in
the over twenty pound range. If you are planning on fishing the Derby or just
coming fishing for Winter Chinook angling remember to fish deep and if using
hootchies shorten up on your leader length. Coyote spoons in three and a half or
four inch are also good. Cop Car, Army Truck, Nasty boy, Green glow and Blue or
Green Nickel are great choices. It is never a bad idea to also have bait
(anchovy) on board ones sport fishing boat. Usually the feeders are where there
is bait. So it is important to find the bait balls. The fishing in Barkley Sound
through March, April, and May should really pick up as the feeder Chinook move
in with the herring spawn and the early summer run of Chinook make their way to
southern watersheds. By late June and into the month of July the Sound should
fill up with the summer run of Chinook and Coho which has been determined to be
one of the best runs of salmon in recent years.
Ucluelet
Those
daring to fish the waters of Ucluelet have had some success relatively close to
the Ucluelet Harbor. Alley, Mara Rock and Great Bear have both been very good
with some nice feeders amongst all of the bait fish. One guide boat on a
beautiful west coast day last week slammed into three fifteen pound Chinook
which all hit an army truck glow hootchie. There are some very nice days on the
open Pacific during the winter months. Ucluelet does have a great location as
boats can go up Peacock Channel and fish in the quiet and protected waters of
Mayne Bay, Lyle Point, or Swale Rock. All of these locations have had some good
fishing in January and February. The Prawn sport fishing has been excellent up
Peacock Channel and for that matter right into Barkley Sound. We are expecting
some great feeder Chinook fishing right until April. The early summer run of
salmon headed to watersheds to the south should begin to show by mid April which
should be the beginning of a fabulous summer of fishing.
The west coast has plenty of
activities during the early spring. The Pacific Rim Whale Festival begins March
17 and continues until March 27th in Ucluelet and Tofino. This is the time of
year that twenty thousand gray whales make their migratory swim along the coast
of Vancouver Island towards northern waters. Both communities have hundreds of
activities that are family oriented.
The Ucluelet Ladder Fishing Derby
will also take place this summer. The Derby begins in May and runs until
September 7th. Cost per day to enter the derby is $10 and $50 for the full
season. Prizes are given each month.
More details will follow in
future reports.
Stamp River
Steelhead
fishing pressure has declined since early January. There are plenty of fish in
the whole system with good numbers around the falls and below and also in the
upper river. Those on foot in the upper have done well on a trout bead and white
wool. Pink Worms have also been working well. The lower river below the bucket
has still been a favorite spot for many guides. Roe and roe bags has been a
guide favorite in the lower river. With the fishing pressure relatively low
there is a lot of area for eager sport and guide fishermen to roam. With the
cooler weather the fish are not as active but when it warms there should be some
great action.
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
