2020 Winter Harbour Reports
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Sangstercraft
Well-Known Member
Fished the stormy Friday, nothing but a few lings. Saturday got some halis, no salmon. Today no salmon. We fished cliff, kains, Grant, offshore, lawn pt, right down to Solander. Used a variety of spoons, plugs, hootchies, and fished hard. Everyone was complaining about the lack of salmon. Now I’m in Port Hardy about to head out and hoping there’ll be some springs here.
Toyofan_68
New Member
Just got back. Very few springs on the inside due to super moon keeping them off shore. Word is that they can be found in the 400-500ft mark fishing 220-280ft on the downrigger. If you can, get out onto the highway to get the springs. Inshore coho fishing is picking up but no hatchery fish so only 1 wild per day/person available.
Sangstercraft
Well-Known Member
Good intel Michael. We went out to about 300+ but not quite 400-500'. After calling it quits at Winter Harbor, we fished Hardy Sunday afternoon/evening and no luck. Then tried Campbell River yesterday and got a spring in 250' with 280' of line out, fishing a glow plug.
I looked up the weight of a ling we caught in Winter Harbor. All we had was the measurement of 44". The chart I found online gave us a weight of 35 lbs and age of 17 years!
I looked up the weight of a ling we caught in Winter Harbor. All we had was the measurement of 44". The chart I found online gave us a weight of 35 lbs and age of 17 years!
Enniberg
Well-Known Member
As far as truck and trailers parked in Port Alice during the Summer, you must be holding the record!Leaving Thursday
gokart
Active Member
As far as truck and trailers parked in Port Alice during the Summer, you must be holding the record!
No kidding
sly_karma
Crew Member
Had a good three days this past Sun-Tue but as others have noted, no springs around. Our two boats picked up just one in that time. Coho were around, both inside and on the highway, although the new rule about only keeping one hatchery/one wild is effectively halving the daily limit as hatchery fish have always been rare in the Quatsino area.
We did well on lings and halibut, released two fine fish that both appeared to be north of 100 lb. DFO has suspended the program that enabled lodges to purchase unused commercial hali quota, citing COVID issues, or we would have gladly paid extra for those fish. It's just simple paperwork, couldn't this be done working from home like so much else these days?
Great to be back in this wonderful area. Weather was decent, one day of 3-4 m swell but the sun showed itself every day and it was fishable outside every day which is all you can ask. Our experienced guides worked hard for springs though and it was stunning to come home with just one 23 lb fish when there have been relatively few lines in the water this season. With its challenging weather and water conditions, Winter Harbour isnt a mass market destination, but it is starting to feel relatively fished out nonetheless. Going further and further afield to find good ling and hali spots, and the inside locations like Cliffe, Gooding and the lighthouse had a lot of boats every time we looked.
We did well on lings and halibut, released two fine fish that both appeared to be north of 100 lb. DFO has suspended the program that enabled lodges to purchase unused commercial hali quota, citing COVID issues, or we would have gladly paid extra for those fish. It's just simple paperwork, couldn't this be done working from home like so much else these days?
Great to be back in this wonderful area. Weather was decent, one day of 3-4 m swell but the sun showed itself every day and it was fishable outside every day which is all you can ask. Our experienced guides worked hard for springs though and it was stunning to come home with just one 23 lb fish when there have been relatively few lines in the water this season. With its challenging weather and water conditions, Winter Harbour isnt a mass market destination, but it is starting to feel relatively fished out nonetheless. Going further and further afield to find good ling and hali spots, and the inside locations like Cliffe, Gooding and the lighthouse had a lot of boats every time we looked.
Dogbreath
Well-Known Member
Similar report from three long days in the area only one Spring Salmon and had to work for Coho-all the usual pinnacles had been pounded hard and seemingly scraped clean of bottomfish.
Excellent guide/great place to stay but mediocre results mean I'll probably head somewhere else next year if I go anywhere at all in BC.
Excellent guide/great place to stay but mediocre results mean I'll probably head somewhere else next year if I go anywhere at all in BC.
Dogbreath
Well-Known Member
Random pics from recent Quatsino trip
Kagoagh Lodge Quatsino Sound BC (NW coast Vancouver Island)
Before
After
Local lad
The boat
Brekkie
Sunrise 05:30
Wild hippies camped on beach-best not to approach them too close they can be unpredictable
The Outside
Kagoagh Lodge Quatsino Sound BC (NW coast Vancouver Island)
Before
After
Local lad
The boat
Brekkie
Sunrise 05:30
Wild hippies camped on beach-best not to approach them too close they can be unpredictable
The Outside
Chasin' Dreams
Well-Known Member
Man awesome pics Dogbreath! Looks like a beautiful spot the lodge has there and great looking food. ****** about not tons of fish but some nice meat coming home. Some of the most beautiful coast line up there.
Burrow boy
Active Member
Weather good 
eather was good enough to fish all morning of the 12 out at harvys cove and cliffe in the 14 tinny .29 and a 12
eather was good enough to fish all morning of the 12 out at harvys cove and cliffe in the 14 tinny .29 and a 12
Burrow boy
Active Member
morning of the 14 found this hog in the narrows
Burrow boy
Active Member
35 coal in the back
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