12th May, 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 Jonathan Yoder from Vancouver B.C. with his companion who had a great day out at South Bank which is fourteen miles offshore from Ucluelet. This is a fourteen pound Halibut which hit anchovy. Jonathan and his friend fished with Mike Marriott from Ucluelet. Besides this Halibut three Chinook from 14 to 17 pounds were landed.

The month of May has arrived and the fishing reports become much easier as the fishing picks up along the west coast of Vancouver Island. May often has some very good fishing for the sport angler.
This is the month that there are few boats on the water as many tourists and travelling fishing enthusiasts are not yet on the water, which often makes sport fishing more of a relaxed situation. This year the Port Alberni Inlet will have sport fishing opportunities from mid-June (June 15th) when the sport sockeye season opens, until mid-September when the last of the Coho and Chinook enter the Somass River. Barkley Sound and the waters inshore and offshore from Ucluelet will have some fabulous salmon fishing. 2009 is not a doom and gloom year. The sport fishing season is anticipated to be one of the best years for fishing, if one were to look at the past thirty years, out of the Pacific Rim and Barkley Sound salt-water fishing areas.

The Columbia River and it vast surplus of tributaries has been upgraded to have a return of 700,000 Chinook and 1.4 million Coho. The Coho are often termed early summer salmon. The Coho are often close to the beach in May and numbers become larger in June and July as the run peaks. Often 60% of the Coho are termed early summer fish. The other 40% come into the mix in August and peak in September.

This is a picture of John Jang and his group from Vancouver B.C. On this day fishng just outside of Ucluelet the group picked up one 45 pound halibut, five 10 pound ling cod and one 14 pound cabezon. Guide again was Mike Marriott from Ucluelet

The Columbia River Chinook begin to show in the area in June and peak in late July or early August and with Local returns beginning to heat up in early August it is going to be very difficult not to have opportunity to hook into one or two salmon each time out for even the most novice of fishermen. Coming into the mix this year will also be a large volume of Pink Salmon. Returns are expected to be between 14 and 17 million to various rivers especially the Fraser River. This will be an exciting time for those fishermen who enjoy light tackle fly fishing. Those with smaller boats can stay fairly close to the beach and enjoy fishing for many days.

This is a picture of scenic Barkley Sound. The area is fishable most days as one can see by the calm pristine water. Not only is the fishing very good but the area is very scenic

The two areas of Barkley Sound that have had the best fishing are opposite each other on the eastern
And western shorelines. The two areas in question are Whittlestone located just a few miles from Bamfield and Swale Rock. Swale Rock produced some great fishing on the weeks’ best days which were Friday and Saturday. Chinook from ten to seventeen pounds were on average landed in most boats. Guide Boats were having their best success using a four inch green-glow coyote spoon and anchovy in a green Rhys Davis Teaser Head. Swale Rock fishing can often be spectacular. Once you find the salmon try to stay with them. Often Feeder Chinook and migratory salmon come into the area to feed on the rich bait fish. If there is bait there will be often plenty of salmon. We are expecting the surfline areas which are Meares, Edward King, Folger, and Cree Islands to have great fishing most of the summer. These area often have plenty of bait fish and with huge numbers of salmon swimming the Vancouver Island shoreline.

There will be plenty of fish most of the summer in these usual hotspots. Unexperienced anglers should have a good GPS and depth finder to make sure that they do not get themselves into situations where the water is 150 feet and suddenly comes up to 40. Barkley Sound is an extensive area that is fairly protected from winds coming off the Pacific. Most days are very fishable in the Sound. It is a comfortable and very scenic area to fish. For those not interested in fishing the big waters offshore Barkley Sound is the place for you.

This picture is of Tom Householder of Utah and his son Tom Junior with Toms young son Jorday. They fished with Doug Lindores of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishng out in Barkley Sound at Swale Rock The salmon were picked up on anchovy and a silver coyote spoon. Barkley Sound Fishing will be remarkable this summer.

The Port Alberni Inlet will open for sport Sockeye fishing on June the 15th. The season will open with
anglers having opportunity to keep two sockeye per day (four in Possession). The DFO may announce that possession limits be moved to four. This will only happen if forecast numbers are increased. The Port Alberni Inlet last had a sockeye fishery in 2006. China Creek should once again become alive with tourists Anticipating some good times and fishing on the water. Good sockeye fishing locations in the Inlet are Cous Creek, Dunsmuir Point, Underwood, the Narrows and the Narrows Slide and the Nahmint-Franklin area. Guide Doug of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing recommends that mp15 hootchies are the best lure. The mp (mini-plankton) 15 is bubblegum in color. Fish four rods which creates plenty of color as long as one has four flashers in the water.. Green or red hotspot flashers seem to work well with leader lengths from 22 to 28 inches. The sockeye in the early part of the season could be in the top 30 feet of water and as the water warms will move down to 50 and even 80 feet. Sockeye fishing is a fabulous fishery for the whole family. It is a lot of fun and a good time for children who especially have never caught a salmon.

Port Alberni will be a real hot-bed for fishing in the summer of 09. The Inlet has very calm and pristine water. The scenery is fabulous. It should not be a problem for most to catch a salmon in Port Alberni and its beautiful tidal waters this summer.

May is often an exciting month out in the Pacific Rim area. Not only will the migratory flow heat up but there are also many Feeder Chinook in the area. May also sees many salmon close to the beach
in fairly shallow water. The May long weekend is often the time of year when sport fishing begins to really produce for individuals wanting to fish for salmon and halibut. Halibut by mid month have often made their way from the deep water to the shallows. Latest reports around Ucluelet by local guides have been extremely positive. Guides Mike and Al have had some good days close to the Ucluelet Harbor and also out at South Bank. Great Bear has been a hot spot for guides and local fishermen for almost a month. Nice size feeders from ten to fifteen pounds have been the norm. Anchovy in a chartreuse Rhys Davis Teaser Head has been working well. Usually leader length has been five to six feet behind a green hotspot flasher. Depth has been around 70 to 90 feet. The rock and lingcod fishing has also been good. Earlier in the year some of the largest halibut of the season to date have been picked up around Great Bear. Last week on days that guides and guests could get out on the water the south bank area really picked up. Friday and Saturday were two fabulous days on the water. Guide Mike hooked into seven Chinook on Friday with guests landing three. The biggest Chinook came in at 17 pounds. The largest halibut on the day was 15 pounds. Guide Jon of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing had a similar day landing four Chinook,with the biggest coming in at 18 pounds. The green glow and silver glow coyote spoons Have both been working well at south bank. Most of the Chinook have been at depths of 100 to 120 feet.

Mid-May is approaching and fishing will dramatically improve. We are expecting that we will begin to pickup limits of Coho and Chinook Limits this year are as follows per day and in possession

Chinook 2 per day 4 in possession
Coho hatchery 2 per day 4 in possession
Halibut 1 per day 2 in possession
Lingcod 3 per day 6 in possession
Rockfish 3 per day 6 in possession

Summer salmon fishing out of Ucluelet will be absolutely spectacular. Don’t miss out On a season which will be tough to match. If you are not an experienced angler and are not used to Fog or rough water don’t be afraid to call a guiding service to show you the areas to fish safely.

The fall Coho, Chinook, and Summer Steelhead fishing in the Stamp should be as most years very good. This is a great river trip for avid fly fishermen in September or October. Coho numbers should be in a fairly high surplus. Summer Steelhead peak in late September and are still often in the system in early December. The drift and jet boat trips are so popular that we are selling out.