30th April 2013: 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

Late August and September should see some great Coho Sport Fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet. Guided by Doug of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing Jeremy and Regan show two Coho landed on hootchies in the Alberni Inelt. The Alberni Inlet is forecast to have big numbers of returning Coho to the Somass River system in 2013.

The West Coast of Vancouver Island is a wonderful area to visit and spend valued time for many people worldwide when on vacation. Known for its unique settings and rugged coastlines, Vancouver Islands west coast also better known as the Pacific Rim, not only offers world class salmon fishing but also offers other adventures and unique cultural activities. The whole of Vancouver Island is located only twenty miles off of British Columbia’s mainland. On this vast island there exists a majestic geographical area of tall coniferous forests and breath-taking scenic views of rugged terrain and coastlines that have been battered by winter storms. There is also a display of wonderful exquisite and secluded white sandy beaches located in areas of pristine and calm water. Those visiting Vancouver Island during the late spring and summer months must take in not only a “fishing adventure” but also explore the great rainforests, beaches, and lakes. When fishing out in scenic Barkley Sound or offshore one can view wildlife and also whale watch. When on land and visiting the many local communities, visitors can seek out west coast culture, spa retreats, and of course take in some great west coast cuisine.

Vancouver Islands West Coast has had superb salmon fishing over the years. Salmon fishing in many of the so called “hot spots” has been nothing better than world class. The West Coast is also one of the only spots where one has opportunity of hooking into a twenty pound salmon twelve months of the year. Of course every year is not entirely the same because predicted run sizes returning to many of the natal rivers, creeks and streams to West Vancouver Island are not as good as other years. When fishing the Pacific Rim and many parts of Vancouver Island’s West Coast the opportunities for landing a Chinook or Coho salmon during the late spring or the summer months are very probable. In the area we have the opportunity during these fair weather sport fishing months to target the vast quantities of migratory or transient salmon headed for the big watersheds to the south. The 2013 season is expected to be relatively good on the west coast and in scenic Barkley Perfect water and a good sized summer Chinook. This fish hit anchovy in a green glow teaser head and came in at thirty five pounds. Fish like this should be in good numbers offshore Ucluelet and Barkley Sound during the summer of 2013.

Perfect water and a good sized summer Chinook. This fish hit anchovy in a green glow teaser head and came in at thirty five pounds. Fish like this should be in good numbers offshore Ucluelet and Barkley Sound during the summer of 2013.

Sound especialy during June and July and the early part of August. The expectation of high numbers of transient salmon headed to distant southern watersheds is already looking fantastic. Salmon fishing around Ucluelet and a few areas of scenic Barkley Sound has been successful for a few avid fishermen with a few Chinook salmon in the high teens being landed by guides and their guests and also sport anglers fishing in their private boats. Salmon fishing in Barkley Sound, along the surf line, and also offshore waters will continue from now through mid September or longer. There will be great opportunities to fish for Chinook and Coho in the waters of Barkley Sound during the months of May, June, and July. Coho salmon will become predominant in Barkley Sound in August and September with opportunity for Chinook in offshore waters. Look for another banner sport salmon fishing year on British Columbia’s westcoast---Vancouver Island.

Winter or Feeder Chinook landed just offshore from Barkley Sounded was at 220 feet. The salmon are feeding on sand lance and needlefish. This fish and others like it were hitting army truck needle fish hootchies.

The month of April and May is often quiet in the Alberni Inlet except for those individuals fishing for prawns if and when the opportunity for this sport fishing is available. There have been some good catches of prawns over the past few days especially along the China Creek Wall. This has also been very true in Barkley Sound where currently there have been some good areas for prawn fishing. Guide boats in the early spring include in their salmon fishing trips to Barkley Sound, prawn fishing. Usually the prawn traps are dropped before fishing and then after fishing the traps are picked up to find the great prize coming up from the ocean floor. Barkley Sound fishing has picked up over the last couple of weeks although one would have to sum up the fishing as being very spotty. When fishing for feeder or winter Chinook the rule is often where one finds bait there will be Chinook salmon. Swale Rock, Vernon Bay, and Alan Point have all produced some nice salmon in the eleven to fifteen pound range. Austin and Cree Island have also had the odd salmon up to twenty pounds. Some of the Chinook as of late have been clipped and the thought is that many of these Chinook are the early run of salmon migrating to rivers to the south. The salmon have been relatively deep from 85 to 125 feet. A variety of coyote spoons have been working. Green glow has been a favorite in the four inch size as has the green nickel. The best two lures however have been a three and a half and four inch blue nickel behind a blue hotspot flasher. Needle fish hootchies in army truck and mint tulip have also been working very well. Some guides and sport fishermen and in truth there have been very few out on the water have been using silver spoons while others are doing well using a variety of white hootchies. There have also been a few favorable reports in Samatao Bay and also Sarita. One angler reported playing some nice salmon in Samatao in fifty to sixty feet of water. The four inch blue nickel coyote spoon was working well behind either a blue or green glow hotspot flasher. Fishermen trolling with anchovy have had their best success using a chartreuse Rhys Davis teaser head with a six foot tail. The most important thing on most of the landed salmon is that bait fish have been found in the area.

We are expecting the fishing during June and July to be very good . The mid- summer run of Chinook and Coho which are migrating to the big southerly watersheds historically begins in mid June and runs into mid July and is followed by the fall or late run which is expected to be one of the largest run of salmon headed to the Columbia, Sacramento, and Willamette systems to the south. Many of the salmon migrating the Vancouver West Coast are forecasted to be four and five year olds which often means some good sized Chinook over thirty pounds. The surf line areas of the Sound and out to offshore area at three to seven miles should have some great fishing as the rich resources of bait fish come into these areas which bring in the bigger Chinook.

Fishing for salmon at this time of year can be wonderful if the weather is good. Barkley Sound and the waters offshore from the surf line have been perfect weather days for the last five or six days. A Gray Whale in the distance as we work the lines on a Feeder Chinook four miles offshore. Barkley Sound and just offshore is one of those very scenic and wonderful places of British Columbia. Guide is Ron is this picture

Ucluelet is one of those spots where it is possible to land a twenty pound salmon every month of the year. Of course weather plays an important role in terms of getting out onto the water. During the winter months it seems there are breaks in the weather patterns which make it possible for keen anglers to get out on the water. Some nice quality fish up to twenty pounds have been landed from mid April to the latter half of this month. The Chinook have been full of sand lance and needle fish. Great Bear has been relatively good. The Alley,Forbes, Sail Rock and Beg Island have all produced some nice feeder Chinook. With the weather pattern changing and becoming more favorable over the last few weeks guided trips and sports anglers have been periodically able to get further offshore. April 22nd to 25th were wonderful days on the Pacific with no wind and little swell. The Inner South Bank as example was perfect with some feeder Chinook and halibut sitting on the bottom feeding on sand lance and needle fish. The guided trips have at times had some great fishing with a few Chinook weighing up to seventeen and eighteen pounds. As mentioned the Inner South has been most favorable for those fishing close to the bottom at 135 feet. Some have had success using purple haze and army truck glow hootchies. However the white Turd and the T-Rex hootchie have been very good for some sport fishermen with both of these lures producing the best catches. The past few days has also produced some of the first halibut of the season. The Halis have been migrating back to the deep and by the third week of Prawn fishing has been decent in The Port Alberni Inlet and also in areas of Barkley Sound. These prawns were all at the China Creek Wall in the Alberni Inlet.

Prawn fishing has been decent in The Port Alberni Inlet and also in areas of Barkley Sound. These prawns were all at the China Creek Wall in the Alberni Inlet.

May will have migrated back to the shallows. The white Turd for three sport anglers was good for two perfect sized halibut while fishing the Inner South. May, June, and July should prove to be three very good fishing months with some nice Coho coming into the mix in late June when the big migratory flow of the mid-summer run begins. Look for some salmon in the mid to high thirties this summer.

The Ucluelet ladder derby began on May 1st and will continue until the Labor Day Weekend with the final derby the second weekend of September. The cost of the Ucluelet ladder derby is $50 for the year or for each trip out on a guided trip the cost is $10. There are great monthly prizes for the top fish. Last year there were some excellent money wins per month by a variety of very happy sport fishermen.

The winter Steelhead season is all but over. Many of the spawned out fish are heading back down the river and making their way out to the waters of the vast Pacific. The Fall of 2013 is once expected to be very good with plenty of early Coho and summer Steelhead in the mix. Those keen on fly fishing should look at booking trips from the 10th of October into the first ten days of November.