Thanks again to Doug , Slivers Charters , for the report , cheers - Fog Ducker
FISHING REPORT: PORT ALBERNI INLET, BARKLEY SOUND, UCLUELET
(WEST COAST) SOMASS-STAMP RIVER SYSTEM
July 16th 2008
Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
The salmon fishing in this area of Vancouver Island continues to be very good. The past week has seen some great weather but also some very strong outflow winds. There is some great salmon fishing still along the beach out of the Ucluelet Harbor. The reports out at the Big Bank are fantastic for Chinook and Halibut.
Those fishing in the Barkley Sound area of Vancouver Island have done well on the surfline with Chinook and Coho. The Coho are becoming a little more abundant.
There is not any sockeye fishing for any user group in the Port Alberni Inlet or Somass-Stamp River System. The DFO has forecast a run size of 150,000. This is a far cry from the returns that have been as high as 1.1 million and often averaged 800,000. The past weeks’ report has shown that 102,000 sockeye have passed through the Sproat and Great Central Lake counters. The river flow is from moderate to high with temperature of the water still favorable for the sockeye salmon. Water temperature in Sproat Lake is 19 degrees Celsius and the Great Central Lake temperature is 17 degrees Celsius. Sockeye that have Returned to Sproat Lake are 64,000 and 38,000 have reurned to Great Central Lake.
Port Alberni Inlet
The waters of the Port Alberni Inlet are very quiet. With sockeye salmon fishing not available many are anxiously awaiting the return of the Robertson Creek Chinook and Coho. Often the first Chinook appear in Barkley Sound by the end of July and by mid August are in good numbers in the Inlet. We are expecting a surplus of both Chinook and Coho. Returning Chinook to Robertson Creek are estimated to be about 55,000. With hatchery stock mixed with many local wild stream and creek returns there should be some fabulous fishing in the Inlet in August and September. If everything holds true of past years have those large and small red and pink hootchies ready. Often 42 inches of leader and a green or red glow hotspot flasher brings on great results. Call Doug to book your trip.
Barkley Sound
The salmon fishing in Barkley Sound has continued to be very good. It seems that the fish are in search of bait fish. Over the past week there have been phenomenal days at many favorite areas. Diplock, Alan Point, Meares and Kirby Point are all examples where the fishing has been good. Kirby was hot for guide John at the end of last week. Staying in tight to the point and using anchovy in a green glow anchovy holder with 6 feet of leader behind a green hotspot flasher the fishing was fast and furious up until 10:15 am and then shut right off. On Monday July 14th again guides Doug and John fished Kirby Point where there were plenty of fish in the teens. Guests from Hawaii with Doug and guests from Utah with John all had a fabulous day of fishing plus were entertained by whales. For Doug the green UV Rhys Davis Anchovy teaser head was working well as was the cop car coyote spoon. Both were behind a green hotspot glow flasher. John found the cop car very good and picked up a 20 pound Chinook which turned out to be the biggest fish of the two boats. For John the glow army truck hootchie was also working well. Some sport fishermen having been doing very well between Meares and Austin Island. One guide on Sunday landed a half dozen Chinook in their teens using a chartreuse and purple haze Rhys Davis Teaser Head. Guests from England were flattered with their catch but were a little annoyed with a couple of seals who have been hanging around the area and playing havoc with hooked salmon for weeks. The same great fishing can be said to be true during the past week at Diplock. Guide Paul made a stop there and had tremendous fishing before the fish decided to move out and things went dead. The Chinook were all in the teens and liked coyote spoons with the two favorites being a cop car and a lime green. We are expecting the good fishing to continue in Barkley Sound for the remainder of the summer. All areas over the past week have been fairly steady. Bait fish seem to be prominent in most areas. If the bait continues to pour into the Sound the salmon fishing will continue to be very hot.
Ucluelet (West Coast)
The fishing out of Ucluelet has been excellent. The Big Bank has been phenomenal as of late as has inside areas like Beg Island, the Lighthouse Bank, and the inner South Bank. Guide Mike has fished all of these areas over the past few days and has done very well. Mid-week saw some terrific outflow winds with most charters boats going into the protected waters of Barkley Sound. Guide Mike found a protected area behind Beg Island and proceeded to get a couple of early Chinook in the 10 to 12 pound range but later on in the morning during the tide change he hooked into a 16, 18, and 28 pound Chinook for some pretty excited guests from Edmonton. The Chinook around Beg were only interested in anchovy and were hitting the green Rhys Davis Teaser Head behind a green hotspot flasher. Over the weekend the fishing out at the Big Bank was very good. With great water and sunny conditions guests from Nanaimo were treated with limits in Chinook and Halibut. The Halis are sitting in 200 to 235 feet of water and for Mike were easily landed using a spreader bar with large herring and salmon stomachs. Most of the halibut catch saw fish coming in between 18 and 20 pounds which are just wonderful. The Chinook were sitting between 80 and 100 feet and were all 15 to 20 pounds. On the troll Mike found that plastic was out fishing bait and the fish were mostly interested in green colors. Two hootchies, the T Rex and the standby green spatterback with leader from 42 to 46 inches were really hot, behind a clear plaid or green flasher. We are getting into that time of year when the fishing around Ucluelet and in all offshore areas becomes very good. When out on the water and fishing for salmon try various colors of spoons and hootchies and always have bait only because some days that is the only answer. July is also the month when fog can be persistent especially in the morning hours. Safety on the water is of importance. Do not go out on the water if you do not have a good compass, GPS, radar reflector, a good VHF radio, and of course good lifejackets.
Stamp River
The Chinook and Coho fishing mixed with summer steelhead will be very good this fall. October and November continue to have some openings with us. This is a fantastic fishery aboard Jet boats with guides that are very knowledgeable of the river. We have the perfect package for accommodation and fishing.
Do not forge that this is the 37th year of the Port Alberni salmon festival. The Salmon Festival and Derby takes place during the Labor Day weekend and runs all three days. Great Prizes are in place for the winning fish each day. Support the local fishing and come down to Clutesi Haven Marina the Derby Headquarters located on River Road.
For More Information
Contact:
Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
www.catchsalmon-ca.com
www.catchsalmon.ca
dlindy@shaw.ca
250 724 2502 (h)
250 731 7389 (cell)
The Fog Ducker
