18 Feb 2008 FISHING REPORT: Port Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, Ucluelet, Somas-Stamp River System

Picture is of Ian Galland with his Stamp River Steelhead. Guide was Mat of Port Alberni.

The fishing in the area is beginning to pickup in saltwater areas. Fresh water fishing in the Somass-Stamp River has been generally slow over the last month. During the last week guides have been averaging three Steelhead per day. Barkley Sound has picked up with some good days of Winter Chinook fishing. Ucluelet unlike Barkley Sound has been difficult to fish as the weather systems have made the water a bit difficult for fishing. There have been some good days however between weather systems. Areas close to the beach and close to the mouth of the Ucluelet Harbor have reported a few winter Chinook.

Port Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound

42 pound chinook There has been occasion during the winter months that some winter Chinook follow the bait up into the Inlet or at least to the Nahmint-Franklin area. This has not been the case this year. At least there has not been any report of winter Chinook fishing. Most of the keen and hearty anglers have been focusing on the Swale Rock, Canoe Pass, and Vernon Bay areas. A few have fished Samatao Bay, Pill Point and Sarita Bay. Last week charter salmon fishing guide Bob reported numerous feeder springs all over Imperial Eagle Channel. The fish out in the middle just a couple of miles off Diplock were fairly shallow but were not interested in anything that was offered. However the inside waters of Swale Rock was fairly active. Anchovy in a glow Rhys Davis Teaser Head was working rather well behind a green hotspot flasher. There was plenty of bait sitting around 90 feet, which was where the fish were found. Most of the feeders were 7 to 9 pounds. The largest fish of the two day trip with guests from Alberta was 14 pounds picked up between Vernon Bay and Canoe Pass. This fish hit a white hootchie behind 44 inches of leader and a purple haze flasher. Samatao and Sarita have had a few excellent days of fishing. One angler picked up a fourteen pound salmon in Sarita using a clear Super Strip Teaser Head and Super Strip. Three or four other fish were picked up using a four inch silver coyote spoon. These fish were all about 7 pounds.

We are expecting the fishing for feeder Chinook to really pick up over the next couple of weeks. The herring spawn usually occurs the last week of February or first two weeks of March. The herring should be gathering in big schools and will head to the beach with the salmon following close behind. We will be sending more guided trips into the sound during the second half of February as the weather becomes more favorable. The weekend of March 1st and 2nd is the annual Poetts Nook fishing Derby. Last year the winning fish was approximately 20 pounds with local Port Alberni resident Ted Dawes winning the annual contest. The Derby has been known as the Sproat Lake Derby. Call Poetts Nook for information, your local fishing tackle store, or Doug at Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing.

The West Coast fishery has been a little different this year. By this time last year some good sized Chinook had been picked up. With the cooler winter weather the pattern of the fish has changed a little. The Herring spawn is closing in and the salmon will follow the herring to the beach which will develop some incredible fishing days. We are expecting some good fishing at Beg Island, Sail Rock and Great Bear. To date there have been some real keen anglers that get out every day weather permitting. A few feeder Chinook in 125 feet of water close to the Harbor mouth have been picked up on anchovy in green teaser heads and various titan and coyote spoons. Watermelon has been working as has the 4 inch silver coyote spoon which has been intimidating the bait very well. Slivers Charters will continue guiding people in our annual Seafood Safari beginning in April. Guide Mike has been fishing the waters of Ucluelet for many years and is extremely knowledgeable of the West Coast waters. By mid April Ling Cod fishing should open. The Seafood Safari gives opportunity on those sun-filled Spring days to fish for salmon, bottom fish, prawns, crabs and those first few halibut. This is a remarkable fun day for families and close friends.

Somass-Stamp River System

The Stamp River Steelhead fishing has been a bit of a struggle at times. It seems that many of the incoming Steelhead are being intercepted by some pesky seals that are swimming from the Orange Bridge to areas above the falls. Water levels in the river have been low but have been rising over the last few days with warmer outdoor temperatures. The low water levels have been detrimental to the fish as they have been unable to avoid the hungry seal population which really has never been a problem in the Alberni Inlet or for that matter the Somass-Stamp River. Guides have been working the upper and lower river very hard and have been averaging three fish a day. If water levels continue to rise, fishing, which one could say was better than average over the weekend for guides Matt and Rollie should become much better. Fresh fish should enter the system daily and with higher water the fish will have a much better chance to avoid the seals. Guides have been having good success using gooey bobs and various spin-n-glows. Those not wanting to use jet boats can still walk the river and have a successful day.

The summer is quickly approaching. There will be ample opportunity for fishing on the west coast and the vast area of Barkley Sound and the Port Alberni Inlet. If you are thinking about coming to visit beautiful Vancouver Island and are an avid fishermen interested in fishing for Sockeye, and B.C.’s two most sought after sport salmon; Chinook and Coho call Doug of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing for opportunities most ideal for you.

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

18th February, 2008: FISHING REPORT: Port Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, Ucluelet (West Coast), Somas-Stamp River System.