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Spring 2024    Doug Lindores   Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

       Spring is upon us and those of us living on Canada’s West Coast are patiently waiting for the arrival of the summer months which brings longer and warmer days.   In early Spring the saltwater fishing opportunities increase and the sport fishing productivity dramatically improves.  The weather and water conditions improve as well.   This is a favorite time for anglers to begin their spring-summer season and is a time for early season Chinook, halibut, and ling cod angling on Vancouver Island’s West Coast.  In Barkley Sound the “early summer Chinook” migrating to the big southerly watersheds such as the vast Columbia River system and even Puget Sound swim down the West Coast.  These migratory salmon come into the islands close to Ucluelet and come into surf line areas and much of Barkley Sound and feed on the rich resources of bait fish.  With the dramatic change in the offshore winds many fisher persons venture out to the many sandy banks and in May begin fishing halibut which migrate from the deep water to the shallows.  This is a very popular sport fishing opportunity.  It is best to check halibut size regulations before any trip.

        There are many popular spots to salmon fish at this time of year in the pristine and protected waters of Barkley Sound.  Surf Line areas like Cree Island, Austin Island, Meares, Edward King, Sail Rock, Great Bear, Mara Rock, and Swale Rock are fantastic areas that often have the best salmon fishing opportunities and productivity.  Usually at this time of year the areas will have great sport salmon fishing if the bait fish resources are abundant.  With colder water copepods abundance play an important role as a key component in the salmon food chain.  Squid also begin to show especially around the Ucluelet Islands, Wya Point and Florencia which are inside the one-mile nautical mile.  Squid also show-up around areas close to Bamfield, Bamfield Wall, and out towards Cape Beale and Edward King Island.  As well needlefish and small herring can be in huge dense abundant schools.  When the bait fish are close the salmon are near by.  The salmon and bait are normally in water ranging from eighty to one hundred and thirty feet.  Currently the Feeder Chinook which can be termed local fish are ranging from seven to fourteen pounds.  The transient salmon have been up to as large as twenty pounds or better.  Most anglers will fish with a variety of octopus, squid, and needlefish hootchies.  Hootchies and cuttle fish known as an AORL 12 and Green Spatter back are very popular.   Spoons from two and a half to four inch in size will work well.  Various Skinny G’s are fantastic.  Smaller spoons in cookies and cream and Irish Cream are terrific.

        Halibut begin to show in good numbers by mid-May as they migrate to the many sandy banks offshore.   Halibut are also around the Swiss buoy in Trevor Channel, Austin Island, and Swale Rock.

         On April 1^st Prawn fishing opened in the Alberni Inlet and many areas of Barkley Sound.   Many avid fisher persons will throw out their traps before their fishing day and then check them later after fishing.  This is a remarkable time of year for sport fishing prawns.  Limits also vary in the different areas.

          The 34^th Annual Sproat Loggers Winter/Spring Derby was attended with well over 450 participants in early March.  Don Deforest one of the derby’s founders who spent countless hours yearly organizing the derby suddenly passed away on February 5^th.  Don’s legacy continued with other derby committee members making the derby “happen” in Don’s name.  Those that knew Don will dearly miss him.  The three largest fish in the Derby were landed by Mike Roberts at 21.5 lbs., Brian Elliott 19.6 lbs. and Dave Fleck 17 lbs.  The weather was not the best for this first derby of the season but some good-sized fish were weighed in over the derby weekend.   We expect terrific sport salmon fishing in the spring months.   The later summer months will see some world-class fishing as West Coast Vancouver Island returns have been termed abundant in the early season forecasts.

Tight lines and Good Fishing,

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

dlindy@shaw.ca      email
1 888 214 7206 (toll free)
www.catchsalmon-ca.com

FALL FISHING AND 2023 SPORT FISHING REVIEW

SLIVERS CHARTERS SALMON SPORT FISHING——–DOUG LINDORES

NOVEMBER 28TH 2023

The 2023 summer sport fishing season has come to an end for most saltwater sport fishing locations in mid and West Coast Vancouver Island locations as well as the many other saltwater angling areas around British Columbia. The weather during much of the fall in the Pacific Rim areas has been unbelievably dry. There has been ample rainfall to help the migration of the returning salmon to their spawning grounds. There have been many wonderful sunny warm afternoons in many parts of Vancouver Island’s west coast and Barkley Sound. Right up to the beginning of November keen anglers have been able to enjoy the last salmon fishing opportunities for 2023 in many local rivers where the last of the Chinook, Coho and Chum salmon have migrated to their natal streams, creeks, and rivers.

Chinook and Coho salmon returning to the many streams, creeks, and rivers were fantastic. The return of Somass River Chinook and Coho salmon stock in 2023 were historically high. The In-Season forecast of one hundred and twenty-five thousand returning Somass River Chinook was quite accurate. The Chinook escapement was close to forty thousand. Coho escapement was over twenty thousand and Sockeye returns to Sproat and Great Central Lakes were close to Two hundred and forty-five thousand. Chinook and Coho salmon usually pass through the counters until early December.

Barkley Sound areas and those areas close to the Ucluelet Harbor had mediocre sport fishing from mid-September into October. Wya Point was likely one of the best spots as were areas offshore. The Big Bank was on fire for many days with plenty of hatchery Coho dominating the sport fishing in rather shallow water. In Barkley Sound the best fishing during the Fall months was the Bamfield Wall and Fleming Island.

Now we are into late November and most sport fisher persons only have fond memories of the fabulous 2023 sport fishing season and look forward to the 2024 salt water angling year. Anglers are hoping the 2024 Sockeye Sport fishery in the Alberni Inlet is as good as 2023. Chinook returns to West Coast Vancouver Island in 2024 are hopefully like the last few years. Coho returns continue to improve to the Somass River system and numbers to the many streams located in the rest of West Coast Vancouver Island continue to get stronger. One very important positive is that Ocean conditions have been favorable over the past few years. The mortality rates have been lower. Food sources for salmon stocks in the North Pacific Ocean have been relatively good. The sport fishing season in 2024 on British Columbia’s West Coast should be very exciting with plenty of opportunity for everyone.

Stamp River Fall Fishing

For those fisher persons that know the Stamp River the sport fishing especially for Chinook during the fall has been very good. The river until the first heavy rain was extremely “LOW”. Sport Anglers and guides taking guests out on the river did however have great success through October. There has been ample rain to keep the river at a reasonable level for salmon migration. Those on the river will likely continue to fish for the late Chinook and Coho coming into the system but also are now targeting Fall Steelhead. The fall season is normally a fantastic time for fly fishing enthusiasts. Fly fishing usually occurs on the Stamp River from mid October to mid November. The best fly fishing to date for those on guided trips in jet boats or for those walking has been the Lower and Upper River. Entering the river close to the gun range or driving out to Service Road which is just off Hector Road and walking to Dolan’s Pit is another terrific fishing spot when the water levels are at a normal level. The key is finding an area where the water is not moving too quickly. The river has had over twenty thousand Coho migrate into the Somass River System. This migration often continues into December as Coho continue to trickle in. The late Chinook and Coho are in a natural spawn and drop their eggs in the river bed. With the fresh egg drop the Steelhead in the fall become very active as they search for loose eggs. Fly Fisher persons can use a variety of flies of choice. Anglers who are wishing to fish conventionally can use gooey bobs, or wool that is white, pink, or orange. Other popular areas to fish when water conditions are normal are Stamp Falls Park, Eagle Rock, Black Rock, Moneys Pool and the Slide Pool. The Stamp is still referred to as a very healthy river system and is fishable twelve months of the year.

Barkley Sound & Alberni Inlet

The 2023 salt water sport fishing was remarkable in both Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet. The Sockeye returns to the Somass River were much higher than originally forecast. This made for a terrific sport fishery of four Sockeye salmon per person per day. The Chinook fishing in the Inlet and Barkley Sound was phenomenal for fisher persons up to the end of the Labor Day Weekend.

One of the best sport fisheries and enjoyed by all in the Alberni Inlet is Sockeye fishing. It is a great family fishery and is fantastic for all ages. Sockeye Fishing when numbers are high in terms of returns can last from mid-June through until the beginning of August. Most years Chinook Fishing historically gets well underway by the tenth of August and continues through until Labor Day.

There were some beautiful fall days on the water in Barkley Sound, areas around Ucluelet, and for some as far away as the Big Bank and South Bank. There were many wonderful afternoons that were gorgeous with great warmth from the sun and water that was magically smooth. Coho salmon fishing was best in the Sound from Whittlestone to the Bamfield Harbor. The Islands close to the Ucluelet Harbor had some fantastic Fall fishing but the best area was from Little Beach up to Way Point. The sport season has dramatically ended. A few local and very keen anglers have taken opportunity to search for some of those late Coho and Chum Salmon in Barkley Sound.

We look forward to another Fantastic Sport Salmon season in 2024. In late May, June and July we will target the migratory salmon headed to the southerly watersheds to the south. In late July, August and September we will target returning West Coast Chinook and Coho.

We offer great day trips in the Inlet, Barkley Sound, and West Coast offshore fishing. “WE ALSO OFFER FANTASTIC” lodge accommodation where people take opportunity to experience extended trips in Barkley Sound, West Coast, and offshore for sport fishing. Take advantage early and organize one of these extended trips for the summer of 2024. These trips are often for three or four days and nights. You will not be disappointed. Join us in a comfortable and fun environment in the 2024 summer from early June through early September.

For More Information, contact:

Doug Lindores

1 888 214 7206—–toll free
250 731 7389——-mobile
dlindy@shaw.ca—email
www.catchsalmon-ca.com

DOUG LINDORES

SLIVERS CHARTERS SALMON SPORT FISHING                                

          August is always a fabulous month for sport salmon fishing. This year is of no exception as there should be spectacular salmon fishing on Vancouver Island’s West Coast, all of Barkley Sound, and the Alberni Inlet.  The Alberni Inlet has had great Sockeye returns which created fabulous sport fishing.  Returns to the Somass River system have been terrific with approximately Two Hundred and seventy Thousand Sockeye returning into the Stamp and Sproat systems.   Pre-season estimates of returning Chinook to the area are similar and perhaps even better than the last two years to the Somass River (Robertson Creek Hatchery) and the many other streams and rivers of West Coast Vancouver Island.   

          To date the sport fishing season in Barkley Sound and the inshore waters of Ucluelet is best described as “improving”. Most of the salmon retained in June and July have been migrating to the big watersheds of the Pacific North-West.   August is the month when mature local salmon begin swimming to their natal rivers and streams to complete their lifecycle.  Starting in late July and right into September migrating Chinook and Coho swim through the waters of Barkley Sound where they stop and feed heavily before completing their long journey into the Alberni Inlet and finally into the Somass River system or Sarita, Nahmint and Franklin River systems

          In August the returning salmon often school and feed heavily at many locations in Barkley Sound.  Cree Island, Austin Island, Meares, Whittlestone, Fleming Island, the Bamfield Wall, Gilbraltor, Swale Rock and Pill Point are some of these fishing spots.  The early morning, evening, and tide change are often the best bite times.   August in the Sound is often the month when Anchovy in a variety of teaser head colors work well.  Green and Purple Haze as well as Army Truck Glow and Cop Car anchovy teaser heads with at least a six-foot leader attached to a purple gold, blue or green gold flasher.  Depending on the size of the bait a variety of hootchies and spoons are also great lures.  The AORL 12 is a great standby as is the Jack Smith and Green Spatterback for both Chinook and Coho.   The various Skinny G and Big Eye spoons are excellent lures to have in the tackle box.  The Herring Aid Skinny G have been working very well.  The bait has been very small in some areas and smaller spoons in the three-inch size or even less are working well.  On the Bamfield side there seems to be some squid around so some of the various cuttle-fish hootchies are working as is anchovy.  The salmon are often found in shallow water in August.  Fishing from twenty-five to sixty feet are the best depths.

         The Chinook fishing in the Alberni Inlet often begins by the 10^th of August.  Hotspots in the Inlet and Harbor are Lone Tree Point and Coulson Mill.  The China Creek Wall, the Narrows, and Underwood Cove often hold a good number of Chinook salmon as well.  Sport Anglers fishing the Inlet will have the best success using Octopus Pink (O-15) and Red hootchies (O-16) as well as AORL12, Purple Haze, Army Truck and Spatterback.  Anchovy is also a very good idea in August especially for Chinook when they are just coming into the area from Barkley Sound.

           August also will have some great days offshore for halibut and salmon.   The Big Bank, South Bank and Long Beach can have some spectacular action for both Chinook and Coho.  The Tomic Plugs and six-and seven-inch Road Runner Spoons are often the best gear.   We are looking forward to a fantastic month of fishing on the West Coast of Vancouver Island especially in the Barkley Sound and Alberni Inlet areas.   The fishing in August and into September of 2023 should be world-class.

Tight lines and Good Fishing

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

www.catchsalmon-ca.com
toll free 1 888 214 7206
mobile 250 731 7389
dlindy@shaw.ca

DOUG LINDORES     SLIVERS CHARTERS SALMON SPORT FISHING

Sockeye Salmon Sport Fishing is “FANTASTIC”

         July 2023 should provide excellent opportunities for many sport fishing anglers.  The runs of migrating mature Chinook combined with decent schools of Coho travelling the Vancouver Island West Coast surf line to the large southerly watersheds should give endless opportunities to sport fishing enthusiasts fishing Barkley Sound and areas close to Ucluelet.  “Sockeye Sport Fishing” in the Alberni Inlet has been more than “TERRIFIC”.   Sockeye fishing is a great opportunity for everyone and is a very comfortable angling opportunity for people of all ages.  The run size returning to the Somass River system is still estimated at six hundred thousand.   Escapement of Sockeye through the Stamp and Sproat Counters have been very good to date.   The current regulations for sport retention are four Sockeye salmon per person daily with a two-day possession limit of eight.    The best fishing areas to date have been from Cous Creek, Coulson Mill, Lone Tree, and Underwood which is just south of China Creek Marina.  The Sockeye are currently in thirty-five to fifty feet of water.   The mp blue and pink, black and pink and black hooks with very short leaders have been working very well.  We are expecting sport fishing for Sockeye Salmon to continue right through July.    

         Current sport fishing regulations provided by the DFO will allow sport fishing for Chinook salmon within one nautical mile of the coastline until the fifteenth of July.  After this date anglers will be permitted to fish offshore waters for Chinook salmon.  Pacific Rim areas are often a feeding station to these transient salmon.  The islands close to the Ucluelet Harbor mouth and up the coastline to Wya Point and Florencia and the many areas of Barkley Sound often hold vast quantities of bait fish in herring, anchovy, squid and needlefish.  To date Sail Rock, Great Bear, Florencia Island, and Black Rock which are all close to Ucluelet have had provided some very good Sport Fishing.  Barkley Sound locations such as Cree Island, Meares, Kirby, Bamfield Wall, and Swale Rock have been spotty.  There have been some wonderful fishing days.  The Barkley Sound sport fishing should improve as the transient fish make their way down the west coast and come into the Sound to rest and feed.   The July fishing will dramatically improve two-fold in late July when the West Coast Vancouver Island salmon begin returning to their natal streams and rivers.

        Historically the most common gear and consistent salmon producer when fishing Barkley Sound has been trolling with anchovy behind a variety of colored flashers.  However, that trend has changed over the past couple of years with fish hitting various Herring Aid spoons as well as other Skinny G’s, Coho Killer spoons, and a variety of octopus, cuttlefish, and needle fish hootchies.   Anchovy teaser head colors that work well are Green Haze, Glow Army Truck, Herring Aid, and Cop Car.  Flashers in blue, green glow, chartreuse, and even red with at least a six-foot leader are best.   Spoons behind a flasher can vary from forty-two inches to five feet.  Hootchie leader lengths behind a flasher are thirty-eight to forty-two inches.  Favorite hootchies are the AORL 12, J-79, Jack Smith, and Purple Haze.   The salmon have been feeding on small immature herring and needle fish around Meares, Austin and Cree Island.  Smaller Spoons have been working very well.   In areas around Beale, Whittlestone, and Florencia Island there have been mature squid.   Octopus hootchies and cuttle fish in a variety of white and glow colors have been working very well.     

          Halibut fishing in July is in full swing.  Many sport-fisher people will either drift, jig or anchor.  Halibut will often prefer salmon bellies as well as large herring or octopus.  If jigging try a Gibbs Hali Hawg tipped with salmon belly.  Lingcod fishing is also relatively good.  How ever it is important that a good descending device is on board as any yellow-eye rockfish are to be released.

            The 2023 saltwater season Sockeye sport angling in the Alberni Inlet to date has been fantastic.  The fish are in the top thirty-five to fifty feet of water and are hitting black-pink, blue-pink, bubble gum mp hootchies and black hooks.  Leader lengths can vary from sixteen to twenty-four inches.  Trolling with two dummy flashers on either side of the boat and spaced ten feet apart is a great idea as the Sockeye are attracted by color.  This is a fun fishery for everyone of all ages.

Tight lines and Good fishing,

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
1 888 214 7206
250 731 7389   (mobile)
dlindy@shaw.ca
www.catchsalmon-ca.com

MAY/JUNE 2023     DOUG LINDORES        SLIVERS CHARTERS SALMON SPORT FISHING

         June is a wonderful month for salmon sport fishing in Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet.  Many anglers enjoy fishing the areas of Barkley Sound not only because of the wonderful salmon fishing opportunity but also because of the breath-taking scenic views of rugged coastline.  June is a month unlike July and August when there are fewer fisher people on the water making fishing conditions much more relaxing.  The Alberni Inlet can be quite the opposite in June when most years there are big numbers of sport boats fishing for Sockeye Salmon.   The 2023 sport fishing season will see boat traffic in the Alberni Inlet as Sockeye migrating back to the Somass River system are expected to be relatively high.  Pre-Season forecasts are predicting about 600,000 returning Somass River Sockeye.  As of May 1st sport fishermen fishing tidal waters are able to retain four Sockeye salmon per day.   There will be many test fisheries with detailed reports regarding any change in returning numbers.  The Sockeye will move through the fish ways and sit in either Sproat or Great Central Lake for the summer months before moving into the various streams to spawn in the fall.

         The West Coast Vancouver Island 2023 Chinook return looks relatively strong.  The 2023 forecast return for Stamp River Chinook to the terminal areas of Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet is very similar to the last few years.  These returns have been historically high.   The West Coast returns usually begin to show in numbers along the surf line of Barkley Sound close to the end of July.  With a very healthy return the sport fishing in Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet should be “first class” with some very nice sized salmon in the mix during late July and into early September.

         Salmon fishing during the spring months in Barkley Sound and the area close to the Ucluelet Harbor has been consistent.  Anglers have targeted transient Chinook salmon headed to the big watersheds to the south and also local feeder Chinook.   Barkley Sound has ample rich nutrient bait fish which bring the fish migrating down the coastline into rest and feed heavily before continuing their lengthy journey.  June is also a month when the first migrating Coho are in the Sound and surf line locations.   Coho Salmon feed aggressively and often gain a pound per week before reaching their natal streams in the early fall.   Chinook and Coho limits in Barkley Sound are currently at two per day.   It is advised that anglers check the current fishing regulations for retention of marked or unmarked Coho salmon

        Often the best salmon fishing during June is along the many surf line areas.  Cree and Austin Islands, Sail Rock, Great Bear, Meares, Swale Rock, Edward King, the Bamfield Wall and Beale and can produce some excellent Chinook weighing from the mid teens to the mid twenty-pound range.  The Bamfield Wall, Swale Rock and even as far in as Pill Point have fantastic fishing opportunities for Chinook Salmon and Coho that can often average six to eight pounds.  Some of the current years best sport salmon fishing has been around Austin, Meares and Swale Rock. The salmon in June are feeding heavily as they do have a long journey in their migration to their natal streams, rivers and creeks.  Many Anglers will use anchovy in a variety of different colored teaser heads.  The best teaser head colors are usually chartreuse, green haze, army truck glow, cop car, Glow, and purple haze.   Needle fish hootchies, octopus and cuttlefish hootchies in green, white and even blue and white colors are excellent choices.  The salmon close to Bamfield have been feeding heavily on squid and bigger herring.  White hootchies in Octopus or cuttlefish have worked well.  Spoons in a variety of colors and in the three to four-inch size are also a wonderful choice.  Herring Aid, Bon Jovi, green-nickel, and the no bananas spoons have been terrific around the Bamfield area.   Many anglers who have been fishing Meares, Austin, Sail Rock, and Cree have found a variety of spoons as the best lure.  For some the Coho Killers in Cookies and Cream have worked well for salmon in the eight to twelve-pound range and fishing from sixty-five to ninety feet.  Others have done well on skinny G spoons especially in the Herring Aid and spoons as small as the two-inch Silver Night Herring Aid.  Those who have had great success around Swale Rock have been fishing on the front side of the rock from 100 to 135 feet.

          Halibut fishing in June can be very productive.  Fisher persons anchoring out will use Octopus, salmon bellies, and sardines.  Others will back-drift and use Berkley Grubs.

            2023 will be a great sport fishing year in Pacific Rim Areas.  Sockeye, Chinook and Coho opportunities with the predicted returns make for the possibilities of a fantastic sport fishing year.

Tight lines

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
www.catchsalmon-ca.com
toll free   1 888 214 7206
mobile     250 731 7389
dlindy@shaw.ca

SLIVERS CHARTERS SALMON SPORT FISHING          DOUG LINDORES

            The salmon sport fishing season near West Coast Vancouver Island for 2023 is closing in on us very quickly. April to date has been very cool and wet with little sunshine.  April on the rugged but scenic West Coast is most often looked at by a variety of sport anglers as the true beginning of saltwater fishing opportunities.  The 2023 season according to most pre-season indicators and forecasts for Chinook and Coho will be very much like the last two years which provided “excellent” sport fishing.  Many areas inside the surf line close to Ucluelet and Barkley Sound should have some great fishing for feeder Chinook and then the early summer run of Chinook salmon migrating to the big watersheds to the south will begin to show up in April, May, and June.  Migrating salmon to the vast Columbia River system and even Puget Sound come into the islands close to the Ucluelet Harbor mouth and much of Barkley Sound and feed on the very rich resources of bait fish.  As the spring months move forward into summer returns of Coho migrating to the Big Southern Watersheds add to sport fishing opportunities for most West Coast Vancouver Island fishing locations.  Barkley Sound is one of the primary areas.  In late July and the full month of August forecasts of returning salmon to West Coast Vancouver Island are forecast to be very “GOOD”.  The return of Chinook in the high teens and into the twenty-five-pound range is considered the average weight class of returning Chinook to West Coast Vancouver Island.   The 2023 sport fishing season in Barkley Sound and Pacific Rim areas will rely on the waves of transient salmon headed to the large southerly watersheds and the strong returns of salmon expected in August and September to West Coast Vancouver Island rivers, creeks, and streams.   Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet will reap the benefits of the salmon returns to West Coast Vancouver Island providing some terrific sport fishing.   August will have wonderful salmon sport fishing opportunities in 2023 for those that enjoy fishing in calm, pristine and relatively scenic water.  Anglers will be treated to some world-class salmon fishing along Vancouver Island’s West Coast and Inlet areas.  The Port Alberni Inlet, inshore areas of Ucluelet and Tofino and Barkley Sound will be wonderful areas for sport fishing in the many so-called “hotspots”.

         The first salmon fishing derby of the season took place during the weekend of March 4th and 5th.  The annual March Sproat Loggers Winter Spring Derby held out of Poett Nook took place with many entrants taking part in a weekend which provided some very good salmon fishing.  The top three fish came in at 18.4, 18.2, and 17.6 lbs with Justin Kumagai, Jody Thompson, and Dan Nadokas in order being the first, second and third-place finishers.  These were good-sized fish but definitely did not beat out some past years when winning derby salmon weighed in at the mid-twenty-pound range.   Local organizer Don Deforest was once again pleased with the number of people who entered the derby and also thanked the many sponsors.   The top prizes were awarded by local Port Alberni businesses in Port Boat House, Gone Fishing, W Berry Trucking and Breakers Marine Port Alberni and Bamfield.   Many would say this early season derby is the start of the local sport fishing season. 

          Those avid anglers fishing in the month of April and May will find that successful fishing trips often occur by finding the fish where one finds the bait.  Using Anchovy in a variety of teaser heads and also needle fish hootchies in blue and green, silver hordes, and a variety of small three to four-inch spoons also work well.  When fishing in Barkley Sound during April and May the best fishing can often be along the Bamfield Wall, Scotch Bay, Brady’s Beach, the Whistle Bouy, Vernon Bay, Fleming Island and Sanford, and also Swale Rock.  Areas just outside the Ucluelet Harbor with good salmon fishing are Sail Rock, Mara Rock, Big Bear, The Alley, and Beg Island.  The fish in most areas can be in water of ninety feet to one hundred and sixty feet.  Currently, some of the best fishing has been between the tides.  There have been a good number of residential salmon and the migratory salmon are showing as they continue their long journey to the watersheds of the Pacific North West. 

         The spring and summer months of 2023 should definitely be a year when all anglers will have an opportunity to land a beautiful salmon in one of the most wonderful and scenic places in the world which is the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

For more information

Contact

Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

1 888 214 7206    (toll free)
1 250 731 7389     (mobile)
dlindy@shaw.ca   (email)
www.catchsalmon-ca.com

Written by Doug Lindores       Winter 2023 Report 

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport fishing

        It is a new year and new sport fishing opportunities will be with us in 2023. This year will see the “return” of the Sproat Loggers Winter Spring Derby.  Organizers for year Thirty-Three of this popular winter derby have sent out brochures and much needed information for the many sport fishers that year after year have looked forward to this event.  The Derby headquarters is again at Poet Nook.  The derby fishing hours are during daylight hours of March 4^th and 5^th 2023 with the final weigh in at noon on Sunday March 5^th.  All derby tickets can be purchased at Port Boat House, Gone Fishin, Breakers Marine, and Poett Nook.  This year’s top prizes are an Islander Reel, an 1106 Scotty down rigger, and a 2.5 hp. Motor.  This derby has been known to be the true beginning of the new Salt Water sport fishing season.

      The winter weather on the West Coast in late January and the first few days of February were fabulous.  In many west coast areas, the sun had been glorious with some warmth coming from it.  Bamfield and Ucluelet were especially beautiful with bright warm winter afternoons.  More of these days are coming as we approach spring.  There have been some productive fishing days for feeder Chinook close to Bamfield and the islands outside the Ucluelet Harbor mouth.

          February 1^st marked the opening day for Recreational Halibut.  The Halibut can be found in many Barkley Sound and Ucluelet areas as the halibut migrate from the deep water to spawn in the inside waters.  Many recreational fishermen land some beautiful halibut outside the Bamfield Harbor Mouth right up to the green whistle Buoy.  The Herring spawn will often occur later in February or into early March.  Often Toqourt Bay up to Salmon Beach is an unbelievable area to watch this spawn with the naked eye.   The Alberni Inlet is a great area for sport prawn fishing and historically opens on the 1^st of April with expected open and closure dates.  Ling and Rock fish openings are normally the first or fifteenth of April.

     The spring, summer, and fall are looking favorable for Chinook and Coho fishing in Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet.  More information and data on Port Alberni Inlet Sockeye fishing will be available by mid-April.

        In 2023 there should be some excellent sport fishing in many Barkley Sound spots out to the surf-line as salmon returns to the big watersheds to the south are expecting excellent returns of Chinook and Coho.  These fish run down the coast of Vancouver Island and come into Barkley Sound and outside the Ucluelet Harbor Mouth and feed on the rich quantities of bait fish.  One of the biggest watersheds is the Columbia River which has three major tributaries in the Kalama, Willamette, and Cowlitz.  Big runs of Chinook, Coho and Chum come into these systems.  The Sacramento is another large system which has fantastic salmon returns.  These returning salmon migrate along the coast line of British Columbia and create wonderful sport fishing from May through September.  In Later March and April many of these migratory salmon begin to appear in Barkley Sound.   

          Winter Chinook fishing in areas of Barkley Sound have seen some salmon landed in the six-to-nine-pound range in sixty to one hundred and thirty feet of water.  A variety of spoons, needle fish, or hootchies in green colors are working best.  The Bamfield Harbor, Scotch Bay, the Whistle Buoy, and Fleming Island (Sanford) are often fantastic winter and early spring locations to sport fish.  In Nahmint there have been winter chinook right at the back of the bay. 

          The new year should be a positive experience for all sport fishers.  The sport fishing season will certainly give many individuals something very “positive” to look forward to.   The 2023 sport fishing outlook is “Good News”.

Tight lines

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

www.catchsalmon-ca.com
mobile  250 731 7389
toll free     1 888 214 7206
dlindy@shaw.ca

October 18TH 2022          SLIVERS CHARTERS SALMON SPORT FISHING

Doug Lindores

           The 2022 summer sport fishing season has basically come to an end for MANY saltwater sport fishing locations around British Columbia. The weather in many of the Pacific Rim areas has been simply unbelievable until this time.  British Columbia has been under a High-Pressure Zone with day time temperatures well above normal.   British Columbia does need rainfall as many of the streams and creeks which are the spawning grounds for salmon are simply dried up.  In the Pacific Rim area, the salmon seem to be holding without a lot of distress and are waiting on the season’s first rain. 

          Some avid sport fisher persons who had not put their boat to sleep for the winter took advantage of the early great fall weather and spent some wonderful sunny days with gorgeous warm afternoons in Barkley Sound up to Mid-October fishing for Coho returning to their natal streams.  The Coho fishing in the Sound in September and October was fantastic.  The Bamfield Wall and up to Brady’s Beach has had terrific sport fishing as did Sanford and areas around Swale Rock.  The Coho have averaged from ten to fifteen pounds and have been in very shallow water which made for spectacular sport fishing.

          Chinook and Coho salmon returning too many of the streams, creeks, and rivers have been very good to date even with the drought conditions on the West Coast.  The return of Somass River Chinook salmon stocks up to the 17th of October are just over thirty- thousand.     Adult Coho migrating through Stamp falls are at approximately twenty thousand.   The numbers of Chinook and Coho salmon passing through the counters are quite high.  The peak numbers per day usually occur in late September and into October.  It is fantastic to see that the Chinook and Coho returns are excellent which helps develop a natural spawn in the river system.   The drop in the river water temperature and the high discharge of water over the last few days has definitely helped the migration of the salmon to their natural spawning grounds.

           Currently a few areas in Barkley Sound continue to have some mediocre especially along the Bamfield Wall, the backside of Fleming Island, Pill Point and Swale Rock.  The offshore fishing continued to be quite good through September with some great Coho and feeder Chinook fishing out at the Rats Nose, the Dinosaur, Southbank, and Big Bank.   Hatchery Coho on the outside waters dominated.

              The 2022 Salmon Festival in Port Alberni was a success.   The derby occurred from September 3rd through September 5th.   The first-place winners for each day won $5,000.  Winners were Scott Clydesdale on day one with a 26.2 pound fish.  The day two winner and also winning extra $5000.00 with the biggest fish overall was Justin Mckay with a 27.1 pound salmon.  The day three winner was Bob Matlock with a 21.6 pound salmon.  

          Now that we are past mid-October most sport fisher persons are looking forward to the 2023 sport angling season.  Hopefully any early indicators are favorable for next year.   In the Port Alberni Inlet for example the returning Jack Sockeye during June and July of 2022 to the Somass system were above average.  A high return of Jacks often reflects the following years run size.   Sockeye returns in 2023 hopefully will be of average or better and create a wonderful sport fishery for the number one commercial Pacific salmon.  Ocean conditions have been very favorable for all five salmon species.  The mortality rates have been lower.  The food sources for the salmon stocks in the North Pacific Ocean have been good.  The sport fishing season in 2023 on the British Columbia West Coast should be very exciting with plenty of opportunity for everyone.

Stamp River

      For those fisher persons that know the Stamp the sport fishing for Coho and Chinook during this fall has been very good.   Guide anglers have been doing a great job to date for most of their guests.  The Stamp was a tricky to fish because the water levels have been at record lows making the salmon migration a concern.  Hopefully some October rain will dramatically change this.  Many of the guides at some point will continue fishing for salmon but will also begin to fish for Fall Steelhead.  This is the time of year when historically the fly fishing for fall Steelhead is fantastic.   The fly fishing most years occurs from the mid of October into the first ten days of November.  Guides are hoping to salvage some of that great fly fishing for later in the month.  The river has already had close to 25,000 Coho migrate into the system.  There is often a continued migration of Coho right into December.  The Coho in the lower river have been fresh and still very bright.  Most of the Coho landed are from 8 to 15 pounds.   The best method of fishing Coho has been conventional using spinners, blades, and the Gibbs Coho spoon.   The Steelhead in the system should become very active as they search for loose eggs during the natural spawn.  Fly fishermen can of course use flies of their choice but anglers who are wishing to fish conventionally can use gooey bobs, or wool that is white, pink, or orange.  Some areas to fish are Stamp Falls Park, Eagle Rock, Black Rock, Moneys Pool, and the Slide Pool.  There is still plenty of time for Coho salmon and Fall Steelhead sport fishing.  Winter Steelhead fishing begins in December and continues into late April.

Lake Fishing-Great Central Lake

       The water in Great Central Lake is cooling down which is creating a great fresh water sport fishery.  A few trout but mostly Cut Throat are being landed by those few anglers that fish this massive and most beautiful lake.   With the water cooling the various creek mouths are excellent spots for the fish to be hiding.  Fishing structure is best and using a variation of flatfish especially the Michael Jackson is an excellent choice.  Great Central is also excellent this time of year when the salmon spawn is occurring.  If fishing areas other than the creek mouths using a big gang troll or a Luhr Jansen and Cowichan spoon attractor are perfect.  Great Central is a wonderful place to fish with little interference from other fisher persons.  

Port Alberni Inlet Barkley Sound

          The sport fishing in the Alberni Inlet was relatively good in 2022.  Sockeye fishing turned out to be okay when the water warmed up in the last part of July.  The Chinook and Coho fishing up to the Labor Day Weekend Derby was quite good.  After that time things slowed as the salmon coming into the inlet were interested in hitting the river.  The 2023 season looks very promising.  The indicators for early season projections of Sockeye salmon are good.   Sockeye fishing most years lasts from mid-June into the first week of August.  It is a wonderful family fishing trip and is a wonderful sport fishery for those from five years of age to ninety-five.  The Chinook returns in 2023 could very well be high in returns.   Most years the Chinook fishing gets underway by the 15th of August and limits per angler per day is two.  We will be looking forward to that sport fishery as well as Coho next August and September.

             The afternoons in Barkley Sound have been gorgeous with great warmth from the autumn sun and water that was just magically smooth.  The sport season has dramatically slowed down but with some perseverance a few anglers have had opportunity to land the last stragglers of the incoming or migrating Coho.  Two anglers had a great time also in the Sarita Bay area with Chum salmon up to seventeen pounds.    The Coho have been hitting shorter hootchie lengths from 32 to 38 inches.  The best hootchie colors have been purple haze, jelly fish, AORL12 and the green spatter back.  Anchovy for Coho has been excellent behind a purple gold flasher and six feet of leader.   Glow Army Truck and Cop Car teaser heads have been excellent choices.   We offer FANTASTIC LODGE accommodation and are looking at extended trips into Barkley Sound for the summer of 2023.  Take advantage and organize your fishing trip into Barkley Sound and offshore early for a 2023 sport fishing adventure. 

Ucluelet (West Coast)

         Ucluelet is one of those areas along the British Columbia West Coast that has opportunity every month of the year to get out on the water inshore, or offshore, or into Barkley Sound and fish for salmon and bottom fish.  For many months of the spring summer and early fall there are huge numbers of migratory salmon swimming their way to natal streams, creeks and rivers to the south.  These salmon are right outside Ucluelet’s backdoor and they stop on the various banks to rest and feast on herring and sardines.  The salmon are usually in relatively big numbers and create a great sport fishing opportunity throughout the years more favorable months for anglers.   There is also a good number of local salmon that feed close to the beach on the rich resources of bait fish.   Each and every year there is a return of different salmon species to local streams and rivers that extends from mid August until early November.  The fishing out of Ucluelet this year did not disappoint.   Some of the years best sport fishing was very close to the Ucluelet Harbor Mouth.   We are expecting the summer of 2023 to once again be very good out on the various banks and inshore outside of the Ucluelet Harbor.

           WE have been organizing our three and four day and night LODGING for 2023.  Join us in a comfortable and fun environment next summer from early June through early September.

For more information contact

Doug Lindores

TOLL FREE—-1- 888- 214 7206   OUT of Canada calls
250 731 7389 (cell)  
dlindy@shaw.ca  (email)
www.catchsalmon-ca.com

SLIVERS CHARTERS SALMON SPORT FISHING

Doug Lindores
Late August & September 2022
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

         As we approach the month of September we realize that the days become shorter with the crisp early mornings and fabulous warm afternoons.  This is the month that many anglers enjoy as the weather patterns create fabulous settings for many memorable sport fishing days.  This is also the month that the bigger Coho and Chinook approach the final destination of their longest life journey.  The salmon historically are making their way and waiting for the final push into the many streams, creeks, and rivers of West Coast Vancouver Island.  The salmon in Barkley Sound feed frantically before entering the many fresh water systems. In the Alberni Inlet the Chinook and Coho make their way into the Somass River system.

         September is also that time of year when some of the more prominent fishing derby’s take place.   The city of Port Alberni normally hosts the three-day Labour Day Weekend salmon festival.  On the west coast Tuna fishing presents an opportunity for what has become known as the “Tuna Shootout”.  Tuna fishing has become very popular in September and even late August.  The warmer water currents bring the Tuna closer to the beach and make them more accessible for those in good-sized sport boats.  Anglers heading out for Tuna have to watch and be aware of the water current, look for the temperature break, and fish the warmer side of what is known as the blue water.

       This year (2022) the DFO has forecast Chinook returns to West Coast Vancouver Island to be historically one of the best in a very long time.  To date the sport fishing in the Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound has been “World Class”.  Pill Point, Gilbrlator, Wittlestone, Swale Rock, Diplock, Assets, and the Bamfield Wall are normally excellent fishing areas during the later half of August and into the first half of September.  This has been very true for 2022.  The salmon hold in these areas if there are large quantities of rich resources of bait fish.  The salmon on the Bamfield Wall side which normally migrate to the Somass River, Sarita, or Nitnat will often hold on a long stretch from Whittlestone to Poett Nook and gorge themselves as they wait for the first fall rains to provide water for their final migratory push.  The Coho in September are in very shallow water and can often be found on the surface in the morning and later in the evening.  Chinook are often in twenty to sixty feet of water.  Anglers are currently using anchovy, various hootchies, and spoons.  Those using anchovy are using Teaser HEADS in glow army truck, Purple Haze, Green Haze, and cop car with six feet or better of leader line behind purple or green-gold flashers. Many Hootchies in a variety of colors are great stand-bys.  The Dark Green spatter-back, AORL12, Purple Haze and Army Truck are great choices when using hootchies as a lure.

          The Alberni Inlet in the last half of August and first half of September fills with Chinook salmon followed by Coho.  In September the Chinook and Coho are in an abundant mix.  Hotspots in the Inlet are Lone Tree, The China Creek Wall, Underwood, Couslons, and Dunsmuir Point.  The salmon are in fifteen to fifty feet of water and are most aggressive in the early morning and on tide changes.  Most sport fishermen have had early success using anchovy.   Lately a variety of hootchies have provided excellent success.  The O-2 and O-15 which are a pinkly colored hootchie have worked very well as have the mp-2 and mp-15 which are smaller mini plankton colors.  The best success has been with anchovy in a variety of Different colored teaser heads.

          September 2022 will provide sport fisher people with some world class fishing opportunities in this area.  The Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound locations will be definite hotspots for many local and visiting Anglers.

Tight lines,

Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
www.catchsalmon-ca.com
250 731 7389
dlindy@shaw.ca

Written by Doug Lindores – Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

           August is always an exciting month in this Pacific Rim area as Chinook and Coho salmon begin to migrate into the various rivers, streams and creeks of West Coast Vancouver Island.  Anglers have so many fishing wonderful opportunities to sport fish for salmon in this majestic area.  West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook and Coho migrate to surf line areas and then into Barkley Sound in late July and peak in numbers from mid August to early September of which many continue their final journey migrating to the Alberni Inlet before swimming into the Somass and Stamp River systems. The 2022 sport fishing season from mid July to September should be simply wonderful with fabulous forecast returns of Chinook and Coho salmon.

          West Coast Vancouver Island returns of Chinook Salmon are forecast to be of “terminal abundance” for all hatchery and wild Chinook. This forecast released in late May 2022 has forecast returns to Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet of 135,000 Chinook.  With this forecast model the range of return is from 100,000 to 170,000 Chinook.   The age category predictions are three-year-old Chinook at 36%, four- year-old Chinook at 54%, and five-year-old Chinook at 11%.  Coho returns are above average due to spectacular ocean conditions over the past few years.

           The large schools of Chinook normally migrate into Barkley Sound and feed on the rich resources of bait fish before making their final journey to the Alberni Inlet and then into the Somass River.  The best Chinook and Coho fishing in the Alberni Inlet historically begins early in August.  The Alberni Inlet provides a variety of hot spots for the many anglers that visit the Port Alberni area to sport fish.   The top angling areas are Lone Tree and the Coulson Mill which are two spots in the Harbor.  China Creek Wall, Underwood, Leaning Tree, and the Narrows are excellent fishing spots south of Lone Tree Point.

          Sport Fishers, fishing the Inlet waters have best success using anchovy in a variety of teaser heads.  Glow Army Truck, purple haze, cop car and green haze with a six-foot leader behind a variety of flashers will create some of the best results.   Anglers will also have success using Pink and Red Octopus Hootchies.  The AORL 12, Purple Haze and Spatter back are also excellent hootchie choices.

           Many Anglers during August will fish Barkley Sound from the surf line to the far end of the Bamfield Wall over to Pill Point and Ecoole.  Austin-Cree, Beale, Wittlestone, the Bamfield Wall, Gilbraltor, Swale Rock and Pill Point should have terrific angling opportunities through the month.  The returning salmon are most often in shallower water from twenty-five to sixty feet.  Coho are often right on the surface.  Best results for those anglers fishing Barkley Sound are using anchovy in the same teaser head colors as the Alberni Inlet.  A variety of Coyote spoons, Skinny G Herring Aid in green and blue, and Big Eye spoons are terrific choices.   A variety of hootchies in octopus and cuttlefish are often a sure bet at different times of the day and month.  The best go to hootchies are the dark green spatter back, AORL 12, glow white, purple haze, clown, and army truck.

         The fishing in Barkley Sound and the waters close to the Ucluelet Harbor Mouth over the past few weeks has been relatively good.   Some would call the Chinook fishing as “spotty”.  The Coho Salmon fishing has been fantastic.   There have been big numbers of Coho all over Barkley Sound which has been a treat for many anglers.   The Coho have ranged from five to ten pounds and have created some excellent sport fishing.  The fish are hitting a variety of small TKO spoons, Skinny G spoons and hootchies.   The best results occur when one is able to match up the bait fish in the area fishing.  

         August will be a banner month for Chinook and Coho fishing and will produce many opportunities for sport anglers.  The fishing in 2022 should be world class.

Tight lines

Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
www.catchsalmon-ca.com
toll free    1 888 214 7206
mobile      250 731 7389
​dlindy@shaw.ca