1st March, 2010: 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

Sockeye sport fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet is expected to be very good in 2011. The 2010 year saw record runs Of Sockeye not only to the Somass River System but also the Fraser. Father and Daughter pictured here flew in from Ontario and had a great trip in June of 2010. They fished with guide Doug of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing.

Those people looking to salmon sport fish this summer in British Columbia will again be pleased to hear that the fishing opportunities in many of the more ideal locations will have some fabulous salmon fishing in 2011. Vancouver Island should have some of British Columbia’s best salmon fishing. The summer of 2010 saw record numbers of sockeye return to various British Columbia Rivers and streams. The migratory flow of Chinook salmon that swam the west coast of Vancouver Island heading to various watersheds to the south stayed close to the beach and created a fantastic inshore sport fishing season. Many of these Chinook came into the coasts various inlets and sounds to feed on the rich resources of bait fish were also in record numbers and dramatically improved the sport fishing sector especially from late May through early August. Survival of fry and young salmon due to the La Nina cold water phenomenon has greatly affected the salmon survival in the North Pacific. This wonderful condition for the salmon will again be responsible for 20ll healthy returns in British Columbia and the Pacific North-West.

Thirty pound Chinook caught out on the surf line of Barkley Sound. The migratory flow of Chinook and Coho Salmon headed to southern watersheds in 2011 should be primarily four year olds meaning that there will be several Chinook like this one during the summer of 2011.

Sockeye returns coming into Barkley Sound and returning to the Somass and Henderson Rivers are again expected to be very good. The survival of fry in both systems has been exceptional and there will be some good sized four and five year old Sockeye Salmon returning. The early Sockeye return to the Somass River often begins in late May. Sport fishing for these number one commercial salmon in the Port Alberni Inlet usually is well underway by the 15th of June with the peak of the season occurring the second or third week of July. Henderson River Sockeye which are often bigger than the Somass River stock begin to show in the middle of July and often swim as far up the Alberni Inlet to Nahmint Bay before turning back to the Kildonan mouth and the Henderson.

As for Coho and Chinook returns to the area the Somass-Stamp return should be average which can be 35,000 to 50,000 Coho pieces. The Robertson Creek run is looking better than the last two years but numbers have not yet been fully discussed.

Being an odd numbered year the west coast will see a huge number of pink salmon on inside and outside number. These pink fleshed salmon return to a variety of systems with the Fraser River having an expected escapement of close to twenty million. These salmon along with the Chinook and Coho from mid July through September will keep west coast sport fishermen busy during their daily fishing excursions.

Look for the 2011 sport fishing season to be as good and perhaps even more exciting than the last two years in terms of productivity and size of salmon.

Port Alberni | Barkley Sound

Fishing just of the surfline of Vancouver Island is always an adventure. Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing guide boats are equipped with all fishing gear and safety equipment

Fishing just of the surfline of Vancouver Island is always an adventure. Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing guide boats are equipped with all fishing gear and safety equipment

Sport fishing in the Alberni Inlet is very quiet during the winter. Prawn sport fishing is closed in the Inlet although it is available in Barkley Sound and has been very good. The Sockeye season which begins in June will re-awake the Inlet this summer. Barkley Sound is fishable year round due to the protective waters. Winter Chinook fishing has been off and on and with more and more bait moving in due to the late February or early March Herring spawn more feeders have been in the area which has really picked up the fishing. Some good fishing has been in Tseshart and Peacock Channels. Lyle Point and Mayne Bay have had some good days with Winter Chinook averaging ten to twelve pounds. The Sproat Lake Loggers Derby is also very close. This Derby was started years ago by actual loggers from what was known as Sproat Lake Division. In that inaugural year forty-one individuals participated in the small derby at the beginning of March. Last year four hundred and seventy people participated. This years’ derby takes place on March 5th and 6th with derby headquarters at Poett Nook. Cost per fisherman is $15 with ticket sales at Gone Fishing and Port Boat House both located in Port Alberni. Last year there were some good sized fish landed with the winning fishing caught by local Port Alberni resident Tom McMurdo. This salmon weighed a whopping 29.4 pounds The Sockeye cleaning table is a very active spot during June and July at the various Port Alberni Marinas. This happy group from California had a great morning with Doug of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

The Sockeye cleaning table is a very active spot during June and July at the various Port Alberni Marinas. This happy group from California had a great morning with Doug of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

and was hooked close to Tseshart Lodge. There were several other recorded fish in the over twenty pound range. If you are planning on fishing the Derby or just coming fishing for Winter Chinook angling remember to fish deep and if using hootchies shorten up on your leader length. Coyote spoons in three and a half or four inch are also good. Cop Car, Army Truck, Nasty boy, Green glow and Blue or Green Nickel are great choices. It is never a bad idea to also have bait (anchovy) on board ones sport fishing boat. Usually the feeders are where there is bait. So it is important to find the bait balls. The fishing in Barkley Sound through March, April, and May should really pick up as the feeder Chinook move in with the herring spawn and the early summer run of Chinook make their way to southern watersheds. By late June and into the month of July the Sound should fill up with the summer run of Chinook and Coho which has been determined to be one of the best runs of salmon in recent years.

The Steelhead fishing continues to be good for those on the Stamp river which is close to Port Alberni B.C. March and early April are great months as the pressure from anglers is down and there are lots of Steelhead in the system. This past week has had some very good fishing.

Those daring to fish the waters of Ucluelet have had some success relatively close to the Ucluelet Harbor. Alley, Mara Rock and Great Bear have both been very good with some nice feeders amongst all of the bait fish. One guide boat on a beautiful west coast day last week slammed into three fifteen pound Chinook which all hit an army truck glow hootchie. There are some very nice days on the open Pacific during the winter months. Ucluelet does have a great location as boats can go up Peacock Channel and fish in the quiet and protected waters of Mayne Bay, Lyle Point, or Swale Rock. All of these locations have had some good fishing in January and February. The Prawn sport fishing has been excellent up Peacock Channel and for that matter right into Barkley Sound. We are expecting some great feeder Chinook fishing right until April. The early summer run of salmon headed to watersheds to the south should begin to show by mid April which should be the beginning of a fabulous summer of fishing.

The west coast has plenty of activities during the early spring. The Pacific Rim Whale Festival begins March 17 and continues until March 27th in Ucluelet and Tofino. This is the time of year that twenty thousand gray whales make their migratory swim along the coast of Vancouver Island towards northern waters. Both communities have hundreds of activities that are family oriented.

The Ucluelet Ladder Fishing Derby will also take place this summer. The Derby begins in May and runs until September 7th. Cost per day to enter the derby is $10 and $50 for the full season. Prizes are given each month.

Steelhead fishing will continue to be very good in April on the Stamp River located close to Port Alberni located on Vancouver Island British Columbia

Steelhead fishing pressure has declined since early January. There are plenty of fish in the whole system with good numbers around the falls and below and also in the upper river. Those on foot in the upper have done well on a trout bead and white wool. Pink Worms have also been working well. The lower river below the bucket has still been a favorite spot for many guides. Roe and roe bags has been a guide favorite in the lower river. With the fishing pressure relatively low there is a lot of area for eager sport and guide fishermen to roam. With the cooler weather the fish are not as active but when it warms there should be some great action.