FISHING REPORTS
from some of the BEST PLACES TO FISH !
17th June, 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
Time seems to be moving very
quickly as we are already into the middle of June. June has been a great month
of fishing for sport anglers and salmon fishing charter guides off of Ucluelet
and in various areas of Barkley Sound. To date most of the Ucluelet fishing for
both salmon and halibut has been fairly close to the beach. Barkley Sound salmon
fishing has been best from Vernon Bay out to Effingham. The Port Alberni Inlet
is quiet but Sockeye Salmon are entering the Somass River daily and making their
way through the counters and entering Sproat Lake and Great Central Lake.
Port Alberni Inlet
& Barkley Sound
Usually
by mid-June their have been reports of the first sockeye catches in the Port
Alberni Inlet. DFO has issued a reported estimate that 150,000 sockeye are
returning back to the system. This is a very low return and there will not be
any fishing of sockeye unless the return looks brighter. User groups have
curtailed any fishing in June. There will also not be any fishing of sockeye in
July unless returns look better.
The counters have been in place
for Great Central Lake since May 14th and on May 20th they were in place for
Sproat Lake. The river water flow has been excellent and will continue into the
early summer because of the continued high snow pack. This of course has helped
keep water temperatures very cool which the sockeye prefer. Escapement totals to
June 9th are 2,802 sockeye into Sproat Lake and 219 sockeye into Great Central
Lake. This is the first report of the season and escapement reports will be
provided once or twice per week. The next report is expected on June 17th.
Numbers should be much higher by this date. Sproat Lake returns are
traditionally stronger in the early part of the season.
The Port Alberni Inlet should
become a busy area for angling in August. Good returns of Chinook and Coho are
forecast. The department of fisheries has forecast a surplus report for both
species with Chinook returns being predominately five and three year olds.
The Chinook fishing over the last
ten days in Barkley Sound has been excellent. Charter salmon fishing guides and
sport anglers have had several days where they have had limits or close to
limits on Chinook ranging from 15 to 25 pounds. The areas of Vernon Bay, Harold
Island, and the water off of Swale Rock and Meares have been very good. On
Saturday guide Jon picked up six Chinook with the two largest weighing in at 25
and 26 pounds. Jon treated guests with the best fishing close to Harold Island
and the Port Alberni side of the entrance to Juliette Passage. There has been
plenty of bait in the area which of course brings the salmon in to feed before
continuing on their migratory route back to their original river to spawn. Most
of the salmon around the Harold Island area were in 100 feet of water and were
hitting a green/glow four inch coyote spoon behind a green flasher and 42 inches
of leader. Other than the coyote spoon the only other hits came on a green
spatterback. Anchovy which during the early part of the season has been
excellent was not the answer on Saturday for Jon. However for guide Mike,
Anchovy in a green glow Rhys Davis teaser head has been working at Swale and
Meares. Chinook in these two areas are in 80 to 110 feet of water.
Diplock
was a good spot to fish on Friday for some. Reports that one angler and his
fishing friend picked up four chrome Chinook weighing in from 15 to 18 pounds on
a white hootchie and a watermelon coyote spoon. If the bait continues to pour
into Barkley Sound the Chinook and sooner or later Coho will also be there to
feed. June and July can be great fishing months for migratory salmon coming down
the West Coast of the Island. It seems that this is certainly again the case for
June 2008. Other areas on the surfline of the Sound that can have fantastic
fishing are Cree and Austin Island and also Kirby Point and Edward King.
Ucluelet
Ucluelet
fishing has been very good for several days. Guides Mike, Dave, and Al have all
been doing well on their halibut or salmon or salmon-halibut combo trips. The
halibut have continued to remain tight to the beach but there are promising
reports of more being picked up out at the Big Bank.
Guide Dave treated guests from
Vancouver with some good halibut and salmon fishing late in the week. Fishing at
the Lighthouse Bank which is only five miles south of Ucluelet the Vancouver
guests picked up six halibut with the largest coming in at 40 pounds. Two great
salmon weighing 18 pounds a piece were also brought to the boat. Bouncing whole
large herring off the oceans floor and sometimes 10 to 15 feet off the bottom
seemed to work very well. The salmon were not in the mid water but seemed to
want to stay in the deep and were picked up just off the bottom. Guide Dave has
also had some excellent Chinook fishing at Longbeach. Mike who has been fishing
in the Ucluelet area daily when weather permits has had some good days at Great
Bear and The Wreck. Over the weekend The Wreck produced some smaller halibut and
good sized Chinook ranging 12 to 20 pounds. Anchovy in a purple haze teaser head
and a UV green worked very well for the Chinook. The halibut were hitting army
truck hootchies bounced off the bottom on the troll. Ucluelet has had some
wonderful fishing. All of the sport fishing guides favorite spots have been hot.
It is expected that with controlled fishing to the North that the fishing in the
areas of Ucluelet and Barkley Sound will be very good. The Alaskan Commercial
fleet is fishing 52% less. This permits more salmon to come into West Coast
Vancouver Island waters.
Somass- Stamp River
There is currently not a sport fishery in the river. With sockeye numbers low
the days of lining up on the river bank are over. It is expected that in the
fall, Chinook, Coho, and summer steelhead fishing should be very good. We have
put together an excellent fall fishing and accomodation package. At the moment
there is little availability in September. October and November are also
excellent river fishing months.
Remember to plan you Labor Day
Weekend plans. The Port Alberni Labor Day Weekend Salmon Derby is always a great
hit. The fishing in this years’ derby will occur during the last two days of
August and the first day of September. There should be plenty of Chinook and
Coho in the Port Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound. With the prediction of a great
return of five year old Chinook there should be some large salmon weighed in
during this years’ derby. Make your plans and come to this years Port Alberni
Labor Day Weekend Salmon fishing Derby.
For more information
Contact:
Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
https://catchsalmon-ca.com/
[email protected]
+1 250 724 2502 (h)
+1 250 731 7389 ©
Toll Free Number: 1-
888 214 7206
