11th March, 2009: FISHING REPORT: Port Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, Ucluelet (West Coast), Somas-Stamp River System.

by Doug Lindores of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
Toll Free Number: 1- 888 214 7206

This is a picture of Felix (left) and Randy. The largest fish is an 18 pound Chinook caught at Sarita Bay in Barkley Sound Vancouver Island B.C. The 18 pound Winter Chinook hit a 5 inch glo/flo coyote spoon in 130 feet of water. It won third place at the Sproat Loggers Winter Spring Fishing Derby which was hosted out of Poett Nook in Barkley Sound.

We are now into almost mid March and even though it is rather cool, and yes still some mornings with a bit of snow on the ground, many local fishermen and salmon fishing charter guides are gearing up for a season of fishing which looks rather spectacular. The Port Alberni Inlet will once again have a sockeye fishery. This is very exciting as sockeye have not been available for 2 full summers in the Inlet. At this time numbers and limits are not available but the Sport Fishing Advisory Board has announced a sport fishery will occur. The Port Alberni Inlet will also have a very strong return of Chinook and Coho Salmon in August and September. Most of these salmon will be returning to the Somass-Stamp River System and its Tributaries. Many are returning to Robertson Creek Hatchery. Barkley Sound should be absolutely fabulous. The migratory fish swimming down the coast of Vancouver Island are predicted to be very high in numbers. Chinook returning to the Columbia River are forecast to be well over 500,000. This is almost 300,000 more than in the summer of 2008. Coho returns are forecast to be above 1.2 million. Many of these salmon that will be swimming the Vancouver Island coast line will flood into Barkley Sound to feed on the rich resources of bait fish.

The Stamp River drift and jet boat fishing whether fishing traditionally or on the Fly will have fabulous fishing for Coho and Summer Steelhead in late September, October and November. For those who enjoy river fishing make sure you reserve your spot now as river fall fishing is booking up quickly.

Peter on the right who is part owner of the Poett Nook Marina fished in the Sproat Loggers Derby with guest Jim. They show three of their bright silver Winter Chinook caught close to Poett Nook in Barkley Sound B.C. on Green spatterback hootchies and green-blue hootchies

There has been some nice Winter Chinook in the Inlet around Ten Mile Point and the Franklin Wall. The largest fish to date, caught near Bells Bay, is holding at 22 pounds. Recently the Sproat lake Loggers Winter Spring Fishing Derby took place with the winning fish and the second place fish coming out of the Inlet also close to Ten Mile Point. First place went to Blain Belton who picked up a 19 pound beauty and second place to Matt Klyne with an 18.5 pound Winter Chinook. The third place fish went to Felix and Randy who fish under the name “The Fog Ducker”. Fishing in Sarita Bay very close to the Derby headquarters, Poett Nook, Felix and Randy hit an 18 pound Chinook on 5 inch Glo Flo coyote spoon with 42 inches of leader behind an Abe and Al #1 flasher. This fish was in 130 feet of water and it claimed the third place winners a prize of $300. Sarita Bay was good for this particular crew as they picked up three more salmon weighing 14, 10, and 8 pounds. A spatterback hootchie behind a cop car flasher was working well and a five inch chrome/green coyote spoon behind a green hotspot flasher created some good action. Charter and salmon fishing guide Jim had our guests from Saskatoon Saskatchewan out fishing on Thursday and again this past Sunday. Both days were absolutely spectacular in terms of weather and the Winter Chinook guided fishing trip was not too bad either. On Thursday Ten Mile point produced a nice ten pound salmon. This fish hit an AORL12 hootchie which is white but turns bluey in the water. Pill Point using the same lure produced an 8 pound fish. Sarita Bay again in about 130 feet of water produced a 12 and 15 pound salmon. Both hit the green spatterback hootchie which had 42 inches of leader behind a green/glo hotspot flasher. Sunday the crew from Saskatoon spent a little time crabbing and prawning. The results were favorable. But Sunday night with the crab and prawns and a couple of 9 pound winter Chinook, which were picked up just outside the mouth of Poett Nook, a wonderful west coast barbecue with some of the best seafood found in the world made the Saskatoon guests holiday on the west coast of Vancouver Island very memorable.

We are expecting the Winter Chinook fishing in Barkley Sound and areas around Bamfield to really pick up over the next few weeks.

Prawn fishing is part of our Seafood Safari out of Ucluelet B.C. and also part of our Winter Chinook Package fishing in Barkley Sound

We have not done a lot of fishing out of the Ucluelet Harbor and areas close. We have done a few prawn trips and mixed in some salmon fishing into the Sound around Mayne Bay. Usually by the beginning of March there is a lot of Bait in many of the areas of Barkley Sound especially around Canoe Pass, the back end of Swale Rock, and Vernon Bay but this has not held true this year. Three trips around Mayne Bay have produced only three 8 pound Chinook and Swale Rock has produced about the same. Local Ucluelet fisherman Willem was out fishing the rocks on Monday morning the 9th of March and picked up four 10 pound Chinook on a blue-green hootchie behind 44 inches of leader and a green hotspot flasher. The area that he picked up the fish was just behind Great Bear. The herring spawn should be upon us very quickly as they come to the beach to spawn. This should bring in good numbers of winter feeders. We are beginning our SEAFOOD SAFARI in early April. People will have opportunity to fish for prawns, crab, bottom fish and salmon. Again, there is nothing better than having accommodation at a nearby bed and breakfast or resort and barbecuing that delicious fresh seafood catch.

We are also offering whale watching on our guided fishing charters. On an eight hour day we offer 2 hours of whale watching and the other 6 hours towards salmon fishing. If desired we can do 4 and 6 hour whale watching tours. This is also a most wonderful day on the open Pacific. This Saturday March 14th is the opening of the 23rd annual Pacific Rim Whale festival. This event continues through March 22nd and features not only some guided whale watching or just looking for the Grey Whale from the Whale Watching Station at Amphitrite Point but also sandcastle building, kite flying, it features the 13th annual Chowder chowdown, Rainforest walks, and even story telling by famed artist Roy Henry Vickers. Ucluelet hosts the Chowder chowdown. The event takes place on Sunday March 15th from 11am until 2 pm at the Seaplane Base Recreation Hall. Cost is $25 for the family or $10 per adult and $5 for kids.

Bring the family to the Pacific Rim during Spring Break. Enjoy the festivities and take us up on a salmon charter and whale watching activity.

This is Larry and Al from New Mexico and South Carolina showing their catch of salmon at the Port Alberni Clutesi Haven Marina

Steelhead fishing during the winter has been up and down but most of the guides have a general feel and have had some great days with a good number of hookups. This past weekend guide Nick fished with guests from Calgary and Vancouver and hooked into 12 Steelhead on Saturday and six on Sunday. On Saturday Nick and guests drifted the upper river and had great success as the 12 hookups that occurred were hitting 4 inch pink worms, spinners (colorados), jigs and Hot Shot Plugs. Sunday was a fabulous day with bright sunshine and bit of frost in the early morning but by noon the temperature was about 10 degrees Celsius. Fishing the lower river and below “the bucket” aboard a jet boat roe bags produced some great steelhead. Surprisingly a good number of the fish hooked were hatchery fish. The guests released all hooked fish. We are now expecting some very good river fishing as the water will warm up a little and the Steelhead will become more active as has been the case the last few days. From March 8th until about the 25th of March the last big schools of fresh Winter Steelhead will surge into the river. We are expecting to fish the Stamp until mid April.

The Port Alberni Salmon Derby is a 3 day event that takes place during the Labor Day weekend. The event this year is at prime time. Plenty of Chinook and Coho will be in the mix in both the Port Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound. It is a great way to complete a summer of salmon fishing. This years’ derby dates are September 5th, 6th, and 7th. Call Doug at 1 877 314 6800 for further information.

Great summer fishing is forecast for Barkley Sound and the west coast in June, July, August, and September. Port Alberni Inlet will feature Sockeye fishing in June and July. In August and September Chinook and Coho in the Inlet will be very good. In an article written in the Columbian Allen Thomas a columnist says the fishing along the coast lines of B.C. and Washington will be “absolutely fantastic”. Thomas says that Federal and Tribal biologists are forecasting well over 1.2 million Coho to swim the waters of the Pacific Ocean off of Vancouver Island. These fish are returning to the Columbia River and its tributaries. The Chinook return should be over 600,000. The migratory salmon coming into Barkley Sound and the return of local Coho and Chinook should make it for a spectacular summer. There is also expected to be a huge return of Fraser River Sockeye.