FISHING REPORTS
from some of the BEST PLACES TO FISH !
16th July, 2008: 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
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
Steelhead
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 forget 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
[email protected]
+1 250 724 2502 (h)
+1 250 731 7389 ©
Toll Free Number: 1-
888 214 7206
