I probably know as much as most of the members on this forum, when it comes to fishing salmon on Vancouver Island. And, I probably share most of the information I have learned over the years. Almost everything I have learned from others. Very little of the techniques I use have been developed by me, ever though there are a few. I have fished the entire WCVI and most of the ECVI and have truly enjoyed going to the new places and learning the different techniques from everyone over the years. However, one doesn't know the real reason for my trek… and there was a reason, it is called "people"! Throughout the years, I kept moving north just to get away from all the people!
Let me see if I can get this timeline right?
30 years ago: Ucluelet and Bamfield were the hot spots on the WCVI, with Tofino coming in a close third. Campbell River was the spot on the ECVI, period and it was where all the families went. There were limited facilities on the WCVI. The above were truly fishing villages, with Campbell River being the exception. It was a true town. Electric downriggers were not allowed and if you could not properly cut plug a herring, you weren't going to catch a fish! We didn't have flashers or teaser heads. Most used chrome dodgers, which I still have. I am not sure, but I doubt if most on this forum was even born?
There was NO Internet!
Around 25 years ago: The above were still the hot spots and Campbell River was still the spot on ECVI; however, the Campbell River collapse started in 1992 and the fishery was pretty much finished by 1995, but it was still a crowded place. On the other side, in 95 while fishing Ucluelet it got so crowded, I couldn't even go off the back of the boat, due to the number of women and families that year. It was crowded all the way from Wya Point down to Bamfield and the fishing was bad close to shore. The guides and "cattle boats", did run offshore to the Big Bank and I followed them. Due to the crowds, I opted to move farther north to "get away". None of you… guides included, had even heard of "Ferrer Point", but guess what, I was there and fishing it… and I was all by myself! By then I was using electric downriggers, flashers, and teaser heads and was knocking them dead and they were big. I was one of maybe four or five sport boats in Tahsis. You didn't need reservations anywhere north of Tofino! Westview Marine, Critter Cove, Gold River Fish Camp, Rodgers Fishing Lodge all had just started up. There was one other lodge in Tahsis Narrows, called Ceepeecee. By 1997 "guide boats started showing at Ferrer, coming out of Campbell River, Ucluelet, Bamfield, and Port Alberni. I went from the only boat in 1996 to counting about 75 boats there in 1998. Guess what guys? I did not tell a soul, nor did any of my fishing partners, as the fishing was so good, we all swore secrecy. By then everyone was using electric downriggers, flashers, and teaser heads.
There was still very little Internet!
Around 20 years ago: There was NO fishery to speak of in Nootka, until 1994 and it really didn't start getting good till 1995 and 96. The crowds didn't start showing in force, until ALL the lodges started popping up with "guides", that was around 1997. Prior to that, there were only a couple of guides in Tahsis, anyone remember "Red"? Critter didn't have any, one at Gold River Fish Camp, the owner... and lodge and guide at Friendly Cove. None of the rest of you existed! By 1998, there were people and guides fishing ALL OVER THE PLACE! My secret wasn't so secret anymore. At least most members on this forum was now born. Some lodges, guides, and marinas were starting to advertise…
But still, very little Internet.
About 10 Years ago: I moved farther north to Kyuquot and Winter Harbour, still "to get away from the crowds"! The first time I went to Walters Cove, I had to arrange for fuel, as they had no fuel dock. I remember thinking and stating, finally a place we can fish "without crowds". All the way there, I kept thinking that! Well was I surprised! When I pulled in at Spring Island, what did I find? About 25-30 sport fishing boats, along with a "fleet" of guides from Murphy's Sport Fishing, out of Ucluelet. The first time at Winter Harbour, during the first week of August, I was one of the sport boats on the government dock. There were quite a few sport boats in the private marina and the campground across the road was full of campers and trailers. When I went out fishing there were sport boats all over the place; to include all the way from Brooks to Cox. I still don't know where all those boats came from? I do have to admit there was not a boat at Triangle!
Most people were just now getting on the Internet!
5 years ago: I believe everyone in the world is on the internet! Nevertheless, I fighting the crowd hasn't changed for well over 20 years! It is not much better or worse these days, than then.
Concerning the commercial fleet, I have seen the BC salmon commercial fleet go from a robust industry to basically a "dead" industry. Even 20 years ago, those boys were bringing in some serious salmon! I used to be amazed at the amount of salmon those boats would off load… and it was day after day, boat after boat! I do not believe the sport sector could ever compete with the amount of fish I have seen brought in, in their prime. You keep thinking about their TAC now; think about their TAC 20 years ago? Some sport anglers and guides might be good, but don't flatter yourself… they were better! There is no way the sport sector will ever take that much salmon, especially knowing most of the fish was coming in from offshore!
Now concerning sharing knowledge. That is strictly a personal preference, which I chose to do. In addition, I will continue to do so. There are approximately 3000 members on this forum and they all do not read the saltwater section, but even if all did - that is only a drop in the bucket, compared to the number of total anglers fishing off Vancouver Island and really do you think they are all going to go out and catch their limits? "Secrets", "Prefer keeping to myself", "Years to learn", "etc"… Give me a break! Like I said it is strictly a personal preference to share information or not, but don't anyone flatter yourself with that either. I seriously doubt if there is a person on this forum (myself included) that has developed any secret or unknown technique to catch a salmon. Years to learn? Not years to learn, if it has taken years to learn, something is wrong; however, years to perfect, I would certainly agree with! Most will never perfect it. That is were 10 percent of the fisherman catch 90 percent of the fish, yep! I agree with that and I really don't think that will ever change. That is one reason I don't mind sharing the information! I am one of those 10 percent. What I have found over the years (many times over) is you can explain and tell someone everything you know; to include, what, where, when, and how, but they have to perfect it themselves. That is the trick… only 10 percent will ever effectively learn how to catch a fish, let alone a salmon! I don't think that will ever change!
I guess this was a little more than 2 cents, eh?
