FISHING REPORTS
from some of the BEST PLACES TO FISH !
6th August, 2011: 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
summer months are quickly moving by and the salmon fishing in many areas of
Vancouver Island just seems to be getting better and better as we move into
early August. The salmon fishing in Barkley Sound and the West Coast off of the
Ucluelet Harbor for Chinook, Coho, and Pink Salmon has been extremely good.
Unfortuately the Port Alberni Sockeye fishing for natural or mother nature
reasons has not been what it should have been. The Chinook and Coho on the surf
line and the various banks are getting bigger by the week. Most of these salmon
continue to be migratory salmon moving to destinations or watersheds well to the
south. We are expecting some of the salmon returning to nearby rivers, streams,
and creeks of the Pacific Rim and Alberni Valley regions to appear by the second
week of August. This should in fact develop into an even a much stronger sport
fishery. August and the early part of September should have fascinating sport
fishing out on the coast and also most of Barkley Sound. The Port Alberni Inlet
should have a good return of Chinook and Coho and usually by the 15th of August
good numbers of these Chinook begin to show in Inlet areas close to China Creek
and the Port Alberni Harbor.
Port Alberni | Barkley Sound
The
sport fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet unfortunately has been almost non
existent since the 12th of July. The sockeye return forecast still holds at 1.4
million which is a fantastic run and return but because of the huge winter snow
pack in nearby mountain ranges which drain into the Somass system and also the
very unusual cool spring and summer the Sockeye salmon filled both Sproat and
Great Central Lakes with approximately 400,000 fish very early. The DFO
responded with this fast return to the Somass system and the two lakes by
opening a full Alberni Inlet gill and seine net Sockeye commercial fishery which
completely decimated the sport fishery. DFO was concerned about the salmon
survival in the two lakes with the huge early returns and is the basic reason
why the Inlet to as far as the Bamfield Harbor mouth was scattered with gill
nets. The Chinook return to the Somass system should begin with salmon showing
in good numbers in Inlet areas by the 15th of August. Pre season forecasts are
showing appoximately 50,000 Chinook returning to the terminal area of Barkley
Sound and the Inlet. Most of these fish will be returning to the Robertson Creek
Hatchery. Approximately 32,500 spawners will be needed meaning that there will
be 18,000 Chinook available for harvest. The age class of this years return is
8% three year olds, 81% four year olds and 11% five year olds. With this in mind
there should be a good number of Chinook in the twenty to twenty-five pound
class. Coho numbers are expected to be above average. Coho returns to the
Pacific Rim and the many creeks and stream tributaries of the Somass system
through conservation have become very strong over the past decade. We should see
Somass-Stamp River Coho begin to show in Barkley Sound close to the end of
August and peak during the second week of September before moving into the
inlet.
Parts
of Barkley Sound have been incredible through June and July and the first few
days of August. Swale Rock, Village Reef, Vernon Bay and Pill Point have been on
and off with Swale Rock being the most consistent. Meares or Effingham Island
has been very good for the sport fishery with good Chinook, Coho, and Pink
Salmon fishing. The salmon have been out in the deep water on the low tide and
often on the flood move in towards the rocks and feed on the huge quantities of
rich resourced bait fish. Chinook have been in 80 to 120 feet of water and have
been averaging from the mid teens to mid twenties in terms of weight. The Coho
have been in twety-five to eighty feet of water and are gorging themselves
putting on a pound a week and are currently averaging eight to ten pounds. Most
of the salmon continue to be migratory fish moving to watersheds to the south.
We are expecting the local salmon to begin to show relatively soon. This is not
to say that some Somass Chinook and Coho have not already arrived as there are
some fairly early returns to the Somass system over the past ten days. When
fishing the waters of Barkley Sound it is ideal if sport fishermen have some
anchovy on board. To this date anchovy has not been essential as the salmon have
been hitting various coyote spoons and hootchies behind glow and kinetic
flashers. In Coyote spoons, silver glow, lime green, green and blue nickel,
watermelon, and cop car have all been working. The various whites (AORL12) and
greens and blues in hootchies have had some great success over the past two
weeks. Anchovy should have at least a six foot leader and the army truck, purple
haze, UV green and bloody nose Rhys Davis Teaser Head have all been working
well. A few sport fishermen are using a variety of six inch plugs and tomic
spoons with or without flashers. These have been working only when the bait fish
are big in size. We are expecting Barkley Sound to have some continued great
salmon fishing. With the late summer run of migratory salmon and local salmon
returning to their natural streams and creeks their should
be some continued terriffic fishing right into mid September in all of Barkley
Sound for Coho and Chinook salmon.
Ucluelet
Areas
right outside the Ucluelet Harbor and as far as the Big Bank or shallows and up
to Portland Point which is close to Tofino have all had rather phenomenal sport
fishing from the late spring right up until now. The lighthouse bank, inner and
outer south bank and the turtle head have all been sensational for Chinook and
good sized coho. Most of the banks have had plenty of bait fish and with the
migration of salmon they have have been feeding heavily in these many favorite
offshore Ucluelet areas. When bait fish are in the different areas during the
summer months the sport fishing is normally extraordinary. The inner and outer
south bank and the turtle head have seen most sport fishermen fishing in the
fifty foot level down to almost the sandy bottom at 135 to 150 feet. Hootchies,
coyote spoons, and a variety of five and six inch tomic plugs and spoons seem to
all be working relatively well. Some sport fishermen are using bait and having
great success but like Barkley Sound bait has not been essential. Over the past
week the Chinook salmon have been getting bigger as there are many more in the
mid thirties being landed by guests on our charter boats. Sport fishermen in
their privately owned boats have also been landing some bigger fish. The Coho
offshore are also getting up and over the ten pound mark with a few fish in the
low to mid teens being landed. August and September are really exciting months
to be on the water. These are the two months that bigger Chinook and Coho begin
to arrive along the west coast of Vancouver Island, B.C. as they have been
spending weeks during their long migration feeding constantly on bait fish.
The saltwater sport fishing in
2011 has been fantastic on the surf line and offshore west coast Vancouver
Island locations. We are really expecting the inshore areas of Barkley Sound to
pick up as well as the Port Alberni Inlet by mid August. If you are thinking of
a fishing trip, this is the year and August and the early part of September is
the time to come.
Somass
| Stamp River
The Stamp River September and
October salmon and summer steelhead fishing should be unbelievable again this
fall. Coho returns are looking extremely good with Chinook returns being
average. For those that enjoy flyfishing the 10th of october right through until
mid November is often the best time. Space for guided trips in the river during
the fall is very limited so organize early so there are no disappointments. Good
fishing to all and be safe..
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