2019 Nanoose Bay/French Creek Reports

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PL, must have been right beside you doing the same thing on the same tackle at the same time with the same results :). Played charter captain today to 3 relatives-all 3 landed a spring. The range from 15 - 25 or so at 200+ feet just outside the pack as well. All 3 were on (again) the same plug (maybe a 003) that we have had great success with thus far. Pretty good angle on the DR and depth of water 220 - 280. Missed the orcas unfortunately but anytime you can provide 3 guests each with a spring to take away, it is a great day.
 
Brother-in-law sent 29 lbs to St Jean Cannery before going home to Edmonton on Saturday. Great two days of fishing for him. Hats off to those charter guys, I haven’t got the patience for it. I’ll keep my 1st mate (wife).
 
anyone been out at the Little or Big Q? I see no reports from up there?
Tried to think like a fish last night. Our recent FC springs have been turning colour, there are not the same massive groupings on the sonar, and we just had some relatively decent rains. Time to try the Little Q. Trolled around for a bit and couldn't find anything of interest.
Packed up, headed back to FC and pulled in 2 beautiful springs between 15 and 20 on plugs at 220+ on the DR (15 # balls and a quick pace so DR lines are at a pretty good angle out.
So much for fish-think :D
 
Took our neighbour out today. She wanted to see why we got up to leave the house by 5:20 am on the weekends. We have had a very successful year thus far. We have been hosts to friends, neighbours, and relatives an most have experienced mostly positive results, with springs ranging from 12 - 25 lbs. Many whites and many good battles. Prior to this season, I could have counted on one hand the number of fish we have caught over the years on a plug - now it is our go-to lure :). Today, I dropped the DR to 225 and it the clip popped just as I was slowing down the brake to set the rod tension. While I was muttering a few expletives about having to reset, the rod pounded and out flew the line. Set the hook, set the tension, and handed it over to our guest. Eventually, we landed a beautiful 16# red and she learned about the origin of the Peetz reel 'knucklebuster'...;). Wonderful fight.

That was the not the highlight however. Just prior to that, we were trolling well off the back on the North Side of the humps, when the plug at 225 dipped and released. I took it, pseudo-offered it around, quickly took the tacit permission to play the fish...and play we did! It peeled out line and came straight back at a steady pace. Halfway out, it ran again and came back in, repeat, repeat, repeat. Saw one breach ~ 150 yds out, big splash, and down it went. Fantastic pulls - heavy and hard, lots of head shakes. We brought it to within 20 yards of the boat, and that was it stalemate. Couple of reels in, couple of pulls out. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Cleared both sides so took it to port...it took us to starboard. Moved to starboard and it took us to port. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Not a boat around so no worries there, but we were starting to appreciate a good fish. Eventually we saw a back and a fin just under the surface and off it went. Over and over, never giving a layover for us for more than a couple of seconds, but when it did, wow. For the first time in ages, I felt we had a nice size fish on the line. We eventually caught up to it, it layed over, and I watched as my wife dropped the opening of the net bag for the head to enter...awesome. Took both hands to lift the net into the boat and we just stared at it. I knew it was a good size and debated for a bit about releasing it back. Almost 30 years to the day, I caught in a spring in Port that weighted just about 35#. Today, we landed our second spring ever of that size and after a bit of internal debate, it was kept and enjoyed and brought home to be further enjoyed over several meals and beverages. Just over 35# on the scale - a large fat male that had the underbelly of a white and the spine meat of a red. Epic and extraordinary battle to be savoured. Not meant to be a hero pic, just wanted to share a picture to accompany a story that has ended a great summer of family and friends and a fish that will be enjoyed over the winter with the story repeated.
 

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Nice fish, not a hero shot at all, thanks for sharing, sounds like a great morning. I went out for the evening, the launch was a complete gong show when we showed up around 330 to launch, seems every boat was coming in lol. Started at the little Q, put in a little time there with no bites, not much on the sounder and lots of weeds, did have a big whale breech beside us which was nice to see. Decided to run back to the French creek and we had better success there picked up two keepers and released a few wild coho. Lots of bait in spots and seemed we would double up when on it. Fished a plug and herring aid spoon. Sounds like the morning was the good bite
 
Took our neighbour out today. She wanted to see why we got up to leave the house by 5:20 am on the weekends. We have had a very successful year thus far. We have been hosts to friends, neighbours, and relatives an most have experienced mostly positive results, with springs ranging from 12 - 25 lbs. Many whites and many good battles. Prior to this season, I could have counted on one hand the number of fish we have caught over the years on a plug - now it is our go-to lure :). Today, I dropped the DR to 225 and it the clip popped just as I was slowing down the brake to set the rod tension. While I was muttering a few expletives about having to reset, the rod pounded and out flew the line. Set the hook, set the tension, and handed it over to our guest. Eventually, we landed a beautiful 16# red and she learned about the origin of the Peetz reel 'knucklebuster'...;). Wonderful fight.

That was the not the highlight however. Just prior to that, we were trolling well off the back on the North Side of the humps, when the plug at 225 dipped and released. I took it, pseudo-offered it around, quickly took the tacit permission to play the fish...and play we did! It peeled out line and came straight back at a steady pace. Halfway out, it ran again and came back in, repeat, repeat, repeat. Saw one breach ~ 150 yds out, big splash, and down it went. Fantastic pulls - heavy and hard, lots of head shakes. We brought it to within 20 yards of the boat, and that was it stalemate. Couple of reels in, couple of pulls out. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Cleared both sides so took it to port...it took us to starboard. Moved to starboard and it took us to port. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Not a boat around so no worries there, but we were starting to appreciate a good fish. Eventually we saw a back and a fin just under the surface and off it went. Over and over, never giving a layover for us for more than a couple of seconds, but when it did, wow. For the first time in ages, I felt we had a nice size fish on the line. We eventually caught up to it, it layed over, and I watched as my wife dropped the opening of the net bag for the head to enter...awesome. Took both hands to lift the net into the boat and we just stared at it. I knew it was a good size and debated for a bit about releasing it back. Almost 30 years to the day, I caught in a spring in Port that weighted just about 35#. Today, we landed our second spring ever of that size and after a bit of internal debate, it was kept and enjoyed and brought home to be further enjoyed over several meals and beverages. Just over 35# on the scale - a large fat male that had the underbelly of a white and the spine meat of a red. Epic and extraordinary battle to be savoured. Not meant to be a hero pic, just wanted to share a picture to accompany a story that has ended a great summer of family and friends and a fish that will be enjoyed over the winter with the story repeated.
Awesome fish.
No need to apologize for success. Perhaps we need to get more stories out to counter the doomsayers fundraising rhetoric.
 
Awesome fish.
No need to apologize for success. Perhaps we need to get more stories out to counter the doomsayers fundraising rhetoric.
Took our neighbour out today. She wanted to see why we got up to leave the house by 5:20 am on the weekends. We have had a very successful year thus far. We have been hosts to friends, neighbours, and relatives an most have experienced mostly positive results, with springs ranging from 12 - 25 lbs. Many whites and many good battles. Prior to this season, I could have counted on one hand the number of fish we have caught over the years on a plug - now it is our go-to lure :). Today, I dropped the DR to 225 and it the clip popped just as I was slowing down the brake to set the rod tension. While I was muttering a few expletives about having to reset, the rod pounded and out flew the line. Set the hook, set the tension, and handed it over to our guest. Eventually, we landed a beautiful 16# red and she learned about the origin of the Peetz reel 'knucklebuster'...;). Wonderful fight.

That was the not the highlight however. Just prior to that, we were trolling well off the back on the North Side of the humps, when the plug at 225 dipped and released. I took it, pseudo-offered it around, quickly took the tacit permission to play the fish...and play we did! It peeled out line and came straight back at a steady pace. Halfway out, it ran again and came back in, repeat, repeat, repeat. Saw one breach ~ 150 yds out, big splash, and down it went. Fantastic pulls - heavy and hard, lots of head shakes. We brought it to within 20 yards of the boat, and that was it stalemate. Couple of reels in, couple of pulls out. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Cleared both sides so took it to port...it took us to starboard. Moved to starboard and it took us to port. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Not a boat around so no worries there, but we were starting to appreciate a good fish. Eventually we saw a back and a fin just under the surface and off it went. Over and over, never giving a layover for us for more than a couple of seconds, but when it did, wow. For the first time in ages, I felt we had a nice size fish on the line. We eventually caught up to it, it layed over, and I watched as my wife dropped the opening of the net bag for the head to enter...awesome. Took both hands to lift the net into the boat and we just stared at it. I knew it was a good size and debated for a bit about releasing it back. Almost 30 years to the day, I caught in a spring in Port that weighted just about 35#. Today, we landed our second spring ever of that size and after a bit of internal debate, it was kept and enjoyed and brought home to be further enjoyed over several meals and beverages. Just over 35# on the scale - a large fat male that had the underbelly of a white and the spine meat of a red. Epic and extraordinary battle to be savoured. Not meant to be a hero pic, just wanted to share a picture to accompany a story that has ended a great summer of family and friends and a fish that will be enjoyed over the winter with the story repeated.
Having my coffee and trying to find anything fishing related to read. This was great. As far as the hero shots and apologies go, I can tell you with 100% certainty I'm bonking that fish. And thanks to the guys that have caught several 30+ fish in their life and can now make that choice to release them a little easier. Perhaps I'll do the same once I've had the honor to take a couple home myself.
 
Took our neighbour out today. She wanted to see why we got up to leave the house by 5:20 am on the weekends. We have had a very successful year thus far. We have been hosts to friends, neighbours, and relatives an most have experienced mostly positive results, with springs ranging from 12 - 25 lbs. Many whites and many good battles. Prior to this season, I could have counted on one hand the number of fish we have caught over the years on a plug - now it is our go-to lure :). Today, I dropped the DR to 225 and it the clip popped just as I was slowing down the brake to set the rod tension. While I was muttering a few expletives about having to reset, the rod pounded and out flew the line. Set the hook, set the tension, and handed it over to our guest. Eventually, we landed a beautiful 16# red and she learned about the origin of the Peetz reel 'knucklebuster'...;). Wonderful fight.

That was the not the highlight however. Just prior to that, we were trolling well off the back on the North Side of the humps, when the plug at 225 dipped and released. I took it, pseudo-offered it around, quickly took the tacit permission to play the fish...and play we did! It peeled out line and came straight back at a steady pace. Halfway out, it ran again and came back in, repeat, repeat, repeat. Saw one breach ~ 150 yds out, big splash, and down it went. Fantastic pulls - heavy and hard, lots of head shakes. We brought it to within 20 yards of the boat, and that was it stalemate. Couple of reels in, couple of pulls out. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Cleared both sides so took it to port...it took us to starboard. Moved to starboard and it took us to port. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Not a boat around so no worries there, but we were starting to appreciate a good fish. Eventually we saw a back and a fin just under the surface and off it went. Over and over, never giving a layover for us for more than a couple of seconds, but when it did, wow. For the first time in ages, I felt we had a nice size fish on the line. We eventually caught up to it, it layed over, and I watched as my wife dropped the opening of the net bag for the head to enter...awesome. Took both hands to lift the net into the boat and we just stared at it. I knew it was a good size and debated for a bit about releasing it back. Almost 30 years to the day, I caught in a spring in Port that weighted just about 35#. Today, we landed our second spring ever of that size and after a bit of internal debate, it was kept and enjoyed and brought home to be further enjoyed over several meals and beverages. Just over 35# on the scale - a large fat male that had the underbelly of a white and the spine meat of a red. Epic and extraordinary battle to be savoured. Not meant to be a hero pic, just wanted to share a picture to accompany a story that has ended a great summer of family and friends and a fish that will be enjoyed over the winter with the story repeated.

Nice fish ! Absolutely no need to apologize....not after a zero retention, followed by a slot limit, then still only one a day....damn rights you kept it, I would have too !!!
 
Any reports may head out for evening to big Q. Wonder if this rain will shut things down.

Not sure about big q but sounds like the last few early morning bites have been really good out front or the little Q. We did alright on the night bite Saturday night, started at little q but did better out front, may have been a tide thing.
 
Not sure about big q but sounds like the last few early morning bites have been really good out front or the little Q. We did alright on the night bite Saturday night, started at little q but did better out front, may have been a tide thing.

Thanks... Never fished it so don't know area that well. But ramp is close so figured give it try for change of scenery this week.

Went up to hatchery a day ago and river is just stuffed with big chinooks. Great too see.
 
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