First time we made the run from China Creek to Barkley we were in a 14 foot tin boat with a 15hp Honda and a 7.5hp kicker. We were on the ramp at 4:00 AM when they dropped the chain. It took us 1 hour 15 minutes to Chup Pt and in those days we fished Pill Pt, DIplock and Swale. Almost always smooth in the AM, but we knew we needed to be on our way back by noon. Cutting across Nahmint was always the killer as with wind, 4 ft wind waves are more than a reality. Can be scarry at best and a pretty ugly ride. The fishing in Barkley always made it worth it though. That boat did dozens of runs to Barkley in the almost 15 years we fished it there. Lot's of fish blood in that boat. Your boat, a piece of cake. I'd fish Swale, Mears Bluff/Effingham, Cree, Kirby Pt off Diana. Really you can find fish everywhere. Actually, you are right in the peak of Sockeye in the Inlet. You can drop your downriggers as soon as you leave the harbour at China Creek. Go accross the channel and fish Dunsmuir to the Slide, through the Narrows, Macktush, Franklin Wall, Hook Bay, and 10 Mile Pt. There will be plenty of boats to follow. Send your wife to talk to people coming back to camp from the marina and you should get the 'skinny' on whats going on. You will want to have 2.5" pink and black, MP15 pink hootchies, and leaders with 2 rigid tie 1/0 black steel hooks tied as close together as possible for Sockeye in the Inlet. Leaders are 24" to 27" depending on your trolling speed. Experiment until you find what works for you. Herring Aide Coho Killers and Skinny G's, 4.5" Purple Haze Aurora, Pink, and Army Truck Hootchies, Blue/Chrome, Green/Chrome 4" Coyote spoons and maybe a 6" 602 Tomic for Coho and Springs in Barkley. 42" leaders for hootchies there. Our favorites in Barkley the last couple of years has been 4 Herring Aide Coho Killers on 64" 40# leaders stacked 60', 70', 80', 90' on the back side of Effingham off Mears Bluff. Just troll 1.9 or so SOG between the 94' and 165' contour lines. Money. Our last year before Covid kept us home we had an honest 40 Spring morning on a slack tide. We couldn't get both sides down without a fish on. We really like the 94' contour line wrapping around Swale Rock as well. Again 60' to 90'. Our biggest Coho (18#+) have come from Swale. Anchovies in Purple Haze or UV Green Rhys Davis heads work really well too. Our favorite flasher is the 160 HotSpot Clear UV Chameleon. We love that thing.
We fished and camped (on the lawn!) at China Creek for 30+ years until the Seiners and Gill Netters made it not fun for us anymore. Your family, especially your kids will love the park. It's safe and beautiful. It's sad thinking about not going anymore. We go to Ukie now to catch our Columbia River Springs before they get home. Much mellower experience for us 'old folks'. Enjoy and catch a lot of fish!
jc Tuna Maru
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