FISHING REPORTS
from some of the BEST PLACES TO FISH !
22nd October, 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
The
Summer of 2010 is over and we can only look forward to 2011 which many are
saying will again be a great year for fishing on the West Coast of Vancouver
Island and also the Port Alberni Area. The great summer fishing for 2010
actually began in the mid-spring with feeder Chinook in many of the popular
areas close to the Ucluelet Harbor and into Barkley Sound.
The migratory flow of salmon
swimming to watersheds to the south was very strong but many of these fish which
peaked at times in terms of the various runs were mainly in the three year old
category through June and July. However in August some big Chinook arrived and
during this time there were many salmon landed by sport fisher persons in the 35
to 45 pound range. Most of these big fish stayed offshore a few miles where
there were great quantities of Pilchards and Sardines. Unfortunately Barkley
Sound did not have a lot of these fish come in and feed only because of the
great quantities of bait fish in the offshore waters. The Ucluelet waters also
benefitted the large return of Sockeye to the Fraser River which was well over
twenty million. Sport fishermen and guests on guided trips were thrilled with
some beautiful ten plus pound Sockeye hitting their lines.
The Alberni Inlet had some
fantastic Sockeye Sport fishing. The season started around June 10th and many
sport fisher persons and guides were still doing
well
on Sockeye in the middle of August. The forecast run size for Somass Sockeye for
2010 was 600,000 and it is thought that the final count will be somewhere
between 1.2 and 1.4 million. Chinook and Coho returns to date through the
counters at Stamp Falls are showing approximately 23 to 24,000 Chinook and
almost the same numbers for Coho. By this time last year the Coho return was
much higher.
The 2010 salmon season was banner
for sport fishing and there definitely was higher than normal returns of salmon
swimming into local rivers and streams and the migratory flow was very high for
those fish swimming the coastline of British Columbia to destinations to the
South. What will the fishing season for 2011 be like? The early pre season
predictions look very good for Aberni Sockeye and offshore Chinook and Coho. Of
course these predictions are pre-mature. No one however will be surprised if the
fishing is better than this year. The Chinook numbers should be good and the
fish bigger in 2011 with four year old returns to various home streams being
very predominant.
Stamp River
The
Chinook return to the Terminal area of the Port Alberni Inlet and then to
Robertson Creek Fish Hatchery was forecast to be 43,000. To date approximately
23,000 Chinook have passed through the fish counters at Stamp Falls. It has been
mentioned by DFO over the years that the needed number of Chinook for potential
egg counts of 57 million is 34,000. In September the lower Stamp had some great
Chinook and Coho fishing. The great salmon fishing has continued into October
with the best fishing moving up into the Upper River. There have been some Chum
returns in the lower but these fish have not been heavily targeted. Currently
most guides and guests are fishing for Summer and Fall Steelhead. The river flow
in very high for this time of year and the temperature is at 12 to 13 degrees.
Because of the high water most of the fishing has been on the float. Often this
is the time of year when some of the best fly fishing occurs. September had some
big rains and this has affected water heights. On the float aboard drift and jet
boats individuals are using bobbers and fake eggs with a weight and bouncing the
bottom. Spin-n-gloes and corkies are also working well. The salmon are in their
natural spawn and the Steelhead are very active and going after everything they
see. The Coho that are arriving in the upper river and that are being targeted
by sport fishermen seem to best attracted by spinners. The Stamp River fishing
for Fall Steelhead will continue well into November. If river levels come down
to more normal levels and water temperatures do not dip then the fly-fishing
should pick up. Dark fly patterns at this time of year are often the best.
Ucluelet
The
September weather was not as predictable as it normally is. The weather pattern
in September is often calm water, little fog, and sunny afternoons. After a very
dry summer, the early fall weather conditions were wetter than usual with higher
winds than what is normal. This poor weather pattern did hinder some great
fishing days. However those days that were fishable through September and the
first half of October were fairly good for mature Chinook, feeder Chinook, Coho,
Ling Cod and Halibut. The Rats Nose out at the Big Bank developed some good Coho
and halibut fishing. The early fishing saw good numbers of wild Coho but as time
moved along the wild and hatchery that were landed were similar in numbers. The
inside and outside South Bank has been very good and has continued that way
right up until this past weekend. There have been good numbers of feeder Chinook
and some good sized hatchery Coho. The halibut at the inner and outer South and
the corner have been fairly reasonable. The largest guided trip halibut landed
this fall was weighed in at 81 pounds and was picked up on the troll like many
of the other halibut catches, using an army truck hootchie. Guide Wayne helped
guests from Vancouver land this halibut plus several feeder Chinook and Coho
which were all very deep from 130 feet to the bottom at 154 feet. The Feeder
Chinook have averaged 10 to 13 pounds and there have continued to be a few
mature Chinook in the high teens. Some beautiful silver Coho are also around but
are few in number with those that have been landed and able to be retained
averaging 15 pounds. The salmon are hitting needle fish hootchies and a T-Rex
Hootchie. Outside the Ucluelet Harbor there has been some unbelievable Ling Cod
fishing. The Lings have been at Janny Reef and in unbelievable numbers. Jigging
with a cod jig and also herring has created some sensational catches. Most of
our 8 hour trips include not only salmon fishing for mostly feeder Chinook and
then Ling Cod in close to the Harbor mouth.
Alberni Inlet | Barkley Sound
The
Alberni Inlet fishing has been poor since early September. The next opportunity
will likely be the opening of the 2011 Sockeye season. Look for DFO regulations
regarding any prawn fishing for openings and closures in the upper and lower
inlet. Barkley Sound has been very spotty. Sarita Bay had some Chum salmon
fishing.
The Kirby Point area, Sanford and
the backside of Fleming Island has had some Coho but most of this has dried up.
At the moment little fishing is occurring in the Sound but some fisher people
will begin to fish areas around Effingham Island, Swale Rock, and Vernon Bay for
Feeder Chinook. The key to Feeder Chinook fishing is bait. Find the bait fish
and one will find the Chinook.
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
