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Fishing will be very good this July and August in Barkely Sound and the Alberni Inlet as good returns of Chinook are forecast

July is a wonderful month for sport fishing in the Alberni Inlet and Barkley sound. The area begins to fill with travelers and various anglers world-wide. The Alberni Inlet was to be an area where perhaps during July there would be a lack of fishing opportunity. Sockeye Salmon numbers returning to the Somass River were forecast to be very low. However the numbers are much more than what was thought and on the FIRST of JULY Sport Sockeye Salmon fishing opened. The early results have been phenomenal with many anglers limiting. The current bag limit per person per day is two salmon. On Saturday the 8th OF JULY the Limit for sport ANGLERS will be FOUR per day. That number could change. Over the next few days there will be a variety of test fishing which may indicate a new run size. With the current environmental conditions Sockeye Sport fishing should continue in late July. There is still plenty of snow in the mountains which has created a fairly steady flow of cool water which attracts the Sockeye to the River. How-ever the area has had several days with air temperatures over thirty degrees celsisus. These higher temperatures have helped the temperature of the river water and the inlet water rise substantially. With this the Sockeye are slowing their migration down and are schooling out in the inlet.

Barkley Sound has had some fairly good Chinook fishing in May and especially the last two weeks of June. The “early” and mid- summer run of migratory Chinook headed to the big watersheds to the south have been relatively decent. Barkley Sound has had ample amounts of rich nutrient bait fish which are bringing the salmon in from offshore waters to feed. The surf line areas and inshore areas along the Bamfield Wall, Austin and Cree Island and Swale Rock are excellent locations for some of those chrome Chinook which are make their long journey to their natal rivers and streams. There have also been a good number of Coho up to seven pounds in many of the areas.

These three girls from Prince George, Vancouver and Port Alberni had a great time Sockeye fishing in the Alberni Inlet fishing with guide Doug from Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing Sockeye fishing opened in the Alberni Inlet on the first of July

Port Alberni Inlet

Anglers have the best opportunity to land Sockeye when they school in big numbers. This historically occurs when the water temperature in the Somass River and Alberni Inlet hits eighteen degrees Celsius. The Sockeye school from Cous Creek out to the Nahmint Franklin area. With the projected outlook for Sockeye returns to the Somass River being really unknown until there is more data there should be a fantastic opportunity for some tremendous Sockeye fishing. On July 1st Sockeye fishing opened in the tidal waters of the inlet. The retention is currently at two Sockeye Salmon per person per day with a two day limit of four per person.

The Sockeye in the Alberni Inlet are currently sitting in thirty-five to fifty feet of water and as the water warms they will swim down into deeper and cooler water. Sockeye hit short leader lengths from eighteen to twenty-five inches in length behind a variety of hotspot flashers. The mp2, mp15, pink and blue, pink and black, and the pink with either the green or white head hootchies all seem to work very well for most sport anglers. Sockeye are attracted to the boat by color. Many sport fishermen will often have eight flashers behind their boat. Four are often dummy flashers and the other four with hootchies of choice. The Sockeye will average four to eight pounds. Sockeye are the number one commercial salmon. They are wonderful for summer barbeques and when vacuum packed properly last the winter for those special occasions.

Sockeye fishing is a wonderful fishing opportunity for the whole family. It is a fun fishery for young and old. Don’t miss out on this opportunity in the Alberni Inlet this July and early August.

Graham from Vancouver shows his Chinook Salmon landed on surfline of Barkley Sound. This Chinook salmon was landed using a small Coho Killer spoon

Barkley Sound and Ucluelet

The salmon fishing in Barkley Sound has been relatively inconsistent. The best fishing has been out on surf line areas. The islands close to the Ucluelet Harbor Mouth, Meares, Austin, Cree Island, Kirby Point, Edward King and the Bamfield Wall have all had times during the past few weeks with some hot Chinook and Coho sport fishing. Areas close to the Ucluelet Harbor that have had a few fantastic fishing days are Great Bear and Sail Rock. The inner and outer South bank and Long Beach have had some of the transient salmon linger creating some good sport salmon fishing opportunity. Florencia and Way Point have been two hotspots as of late. The salmon in the Sound and inside waters have been hitting anchovy in green glow, army truck, and green haze Rhys Davis Teaser Heads. Needle fish hootchies and hootchies in green (spatterback), blue and white have worked well. Small Coho Killer spoons in the cookies and cream and white pearl have been working very well. A few guides have done very well with the army truck glow hootchie and the cuttlefish J-79. The Sonora cuttlefish, Jack Smith, and Blue Meaney Hootchies have been very good out on the banks. Anchovy and a variety of four and five inch coyote spoons have also been working. We are looking forward to some great sport fishing opportunities during the second half of July and August in Barkley Sound, the Alberni Inlet and offshore. The numbers of transient Chinook and Coho headed to the big watersheds to the south are forecast to be average which should provide some very excellent sport salmon fishing.

Three nice Chinook in boat before 7 am

Rahul and daughter from Nevada have a nice halibut and Chinook landed outside of Ucluelet.

1-888 214-7206
June 1^st, 2017
Slivers Charters

June has arrived with some very warm weather which has created a relatively heavy run off into the many rivers and streams. With the current warm weather the rivers in the area are very high. For the early returning salmon moving to the big watersheds to the south and also the various local areas the early migration flow has been very smooth and fantastic for conservation purposes. The long term forecast is for the weather pattern to be normal or above normal seasonal temperatures. For the many people coming to sport fish on the west coast in the month of June this is great news. The sport salmon fishing in Barkley Sound, the Bamfield area, and inshore and offshore Ucluelet has been relatively good. Many of the Chinook that have been either feeders or migrating salmon headed south or to the Fraser River are averaging eight to eighteen pounds. There have been a few clipped migratory salmon landed weighing from twenty to up to twenty-eight pounds. The Somass River has had some early Sockeye enter the system. These salmon are making their way to either Sproat or Great Central Lake where they will sit in deeper water until the fall. This is actually good news as Somass River Sockeye returns are not in abundance for the 2017 season. Numbers of returning Sockeye in pre season forecasts are very low. There is currently NO Sport Sockeye fishing in the Somass or Alberni Inlet for the 2017 season. There will be further and more current updates in later June and early July.

Over the last number of years we have witnessed some world class salmon fishing opportunities on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. The current 2017 season is forecasting some better than average Chinook and Coho returns to the various rivers and streams located on the West Coast and inland waters. This will definitely be a fantastic year to take opportunity and sport fish in the pristine and protected waters of the Port Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, and the more open water of inshore-offshore Ucluelet-Tofino especially from the last ten days of July through early September. Chinook and Coho salmon will definitely be returning to natal rivers in good numbers. The returning Chinook are forecast to be in the four to five year old class. With this in mind there should be great salmon fishing days in the 2017 season.

Port Alberni Inlet

Barkley Sound

The sockeye salmon fishing consistently gets underway by mid June. However 2017 will be a very different year. The current forecast is reporting that two hundred thousand Somass River Sockeye will migrate their way back to the river system. These low numbers are not even close to what is needed for conservation levels. The Alberni Inlet will be very quiet in late June and July. Sockeye Sport fishing is a fun fishery for everyone. Updates will occur in later June and early July. If there are improvements and Sockeye numbers returning to the Somass become higher than the current guideline rules may change.

Chinook Salmon landed in Barkley Sound. Landed using anchovy in a chartreuse teaser head.

The Barkley Sound Salmon fishing has been what most guides and sport anglers would say as fair to good. Recently sport fishermen have often needed to be at the right spot at the right time. The Chinook salmon for the most part have been feeder springs and weigh on average eight to fifteen pounds. There have been some migratory Chinook coming in and feeding on the rich based resources of bait fish. Some of these migratory Chinook salmon have weighed from twenty to twenty-five pounds. In the earlier spring the Bamfield Wall, Kirby Point, Sanford and the Whistle Buoy were quite good. Lately the best fishing has been on the opposite shoreline from Pill Point all the way out to Cree Island. Cree and Austin Island locations are out on the surf line and the best fishing has been in tight to the rocky shoreline fishing in shallower water from thirty to sixty-five feet. Some anglers however have done better and have landed larger Chinook fishing in deeper water up to 120 feet. A couple of other hotspots in Barkley Sound have been Vernon Bay, Swale Rock, and the Bamfield Harbor mouth. In these locations the fish have been as deep as one hundred and forty-five feet. Small coyote spoons at the three or three and a half inch size have been working. Coho killers have also been an excellent choice for many fisher persons. Needle fish hootchies as they normally do during this time of the year in blue and green colors have been very good. Anchovy in a Ryhs Davis chartreuse teaser head, green haze, army truck glow, and purple haze have been the top producers. At this time of year one will always find the salmon where there are great quantities of bait. The biggest bait balls have been on the broken group shore lines. For those that prefer water that is protected Barkley Sound is the ideal fishing location as the east and west coast lines are protected from the prevailing winds and for the most part the water is calm and very flat. Barkley Sound will definitely have some fantastic salmon fishing during the upcoming summer months.

These salmon were landed on lighthouse bank and long beach. Guide Alan had guest using needle fish hootchies.

Ucluelet (West Coast)

The fishing in Ucluelet has been very consistent during the spring. Of course weather can still play a major role in early June but generally the water is very fishable inshore and offshore as the weather patterns change. There are a good number of days where the wind and water is calm and flat. The first of the migratory fish have showed up on the outside water on the inner and outer south bank and up toward Long Beach. Inshore there is still a good number of feeder springs plus a few of the early clipped fish that are headed to the big watersheds to the South. The Ucluelet Harbor during the month of May around the Red Can has been very good.

The forecast in terms of returning salmon to the Columbia River and Puget Sound watersheds are expected to be a little better than average. The areas around the Ucluelet harbor producing Chinook have been Great Bear, Beg Island, Sail Rock and the Ucluelet Harbor Mouth. The salmon have been in deeper water and once again when the bait are in big schools there are good number of feeding salmon up to twenty pounds. The lighthouse Bank has also been good as has the turtle head and Long Beach. One of the best days over the past week saw four guided guests pick up eight Chinook averaging thirteen to twenty pounds fishing at one hundred and fifty feet or close to the bottom using needle fish hootchies which have been working very well during the spring. Small green glow and greennickel coyote spoons have also been good lure choices. The fishing on the west coast will only get better as we get into June and July. In August the Chinook and Coho as they make their way to their natal rivers will have put on a lot of weight as they feed on the rich resources of bait fish provided along Vancouver Island’s illustrious coastline. The 2017 summer sport salmon fishing will definitely be a fantastic season and one to remember for many years.

For more information:

Contact: Doug Lindores
1 888 214 7206 (toll free)
1 250 724 2502 (home)
1 250 731 7389 (cell)
dlindy@shaw.ca
​www.catchsalmon-ca.com

Nice Chinook salmon landed by Jacinta

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

April 4th 2017
The spring and summer salmon sport fishing season for 2017 is closing in on us ever so rapidly. March on the Vancouver Island’s West Coast has been a rather wintery month with a lot of snow, especially in higher elevations, and below seasonal average temperatures. We are now turning the calendar over to April which is very much a welcoming thought. April on the rugged but scenic West Coast coastline is most often looked at by a variety of sport anglers as the true beginning of saltwater fishing opportunities. The last two summer sport fishing seasons for Chinook and Coho outside the protected harbors of Ucluelet and Tofino, along the surfline of beautiful Barkley Sound, and also the protected waters of the Sound itself were relatively good in terms of salmon fishing. The 2017 season according to the many indicators in pre-season forecasts are predicting that the current years fishing opportunities for salmon along West Coast Vancouver Island will be what can be termed average sport fishing in May, June, and July and better than average opportunities in August and September. Many of the indicators in the preseason forecasts expect that returns to the Columbia River and Puget will be relatively good. With this in mind those returning fish do stop on the various banks outside of Ucluelet and Barkley Sound and of course also migrate into the various Barkley Sound areas and feed on the rich resources of bait fish. Of course as the summer movers into July and August returns of migrating Coho salmon really adds to sport fishing opportunities. The big migratory return of salmon normally arrives in three large waves. They are termed as being early summer, mid-summer and late summer runs. The early summer run often begins in April off the west coast of Vancouver Island and continues into June and creates some early fishing very tight to Ucluelet, Tofino and the pristine waters of Barkley Sound. The transient salmon feed aggressively on the rich resources of bait fish as they make their long journey to their natal streams. The late summer run in late July and running through August and early September usually produces for avid anglers some beautiful Tyee in the high thirty pound range.

Winter Chinook landed during the Sproat Loggers Derby in March. This fish hit a Kitchen Sink–a three and a half inch in the Vernon Bay Area. Fishing with Blair from Bamfield.

West Coast Vancouver Island pre season forecasts for Chinook and Coho are looking relatively good. Good returns of Chinook in the four and five year old class are forecast in 2017 which means there will be some very nice salmon in the high twenty to mid thirty pound range. The Chinook often begin to show the first week of August in the Port Alberni Inlet and actually peak in the third or fourth week of the month. The Coho follow the Chinook and begin showing in the later part of August and continue well into September. Chinook returning to West Coast Vancouver Island are often showing up in Barkley Sound in the second half of July. The salmon come in close to the surf line and feed heavily on bait fish in the waters of Barkley Sound. Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet should have a fantastic sport fishery during the summer of 2017 for those who enjoy fishing in calm, pristine and relatively scenic water. Anglers world-wide will be treated to some world class salmon fishing along Vancouver Islands West Coast and Inlet areas. The Port Alberni Inlet, the inshore and offshore water of Ucluelet and Tofino and Barkley Sound will be all fantastic areas for sport fishing in those so called “hotspots” in 2017.

Summer fishing in 2016 was excellent in Barkley Sound. Mile of Calgary Alberta land this fish using anchovy. We are hoping 2017 is as good for Chinook and Coho

Port Alberni Inlet

Barkley Sound

Barkley Sound has recently provided some great winter Chinook fishing. The fishing in the Sound has been quite good through the full month of March. The Sproat Loggers Derby occurred during the first weekend of the month and produced some nice feeder Chinook up to TWENTY pounds. Local angler Morgan Steede had the winning salmon which weighed in at Twenty and a half pounds. Morgan won a fantastic prize dontated by Port Boat House which was a Yamaha Power Washer. Wayne Crossfield finished second landing a sixteen and a half pound Chinook. Gone fishing donated a Scottie Prawn Puller and two traps. Third place went to Brent Rose another local angler who landed a fifteen plus pound Chinook at Sandord using needle fish. Brent won an Islander Reel donated by JW Berry Trucking. Derby organizer Don Deforest was very happy with the weekend. Don remarked that “The overall weather was great and many anglers landed some nice feeder Chinook”. This was the derby’s twenty-ninth year and four hundred and seventy-seven entrants participated. In 1988, the derby’s first year, forty fishermen joined Don in that first winter derby. Don described the fishing for himself as “quite good”. Even though he did not win one of the top three derby prizes he landed four or five very nice Winter Chinook using anchovy in a chartreuse Rhys Davis Teaser Head. In early March and April anchovy often seem to work very well. Needle fish hootchies in blue and green, silver hordes, and a variety of small three and a half and four inch spoons also work well. All of these favorite lures were definitely working well in the derby and also throughout the full month of March. The best Winter Chinook fishing in the Sound has been along the Bamfield Wall, the Whistle Bouy, Vernon Bay, the Bamfield side of Fleming Island and Sanford, and the “Back Door”. The salmon have been in one hundred and thirty to one hundred and eighty and even up to two hundred feet of water with the bigger fish in the deeper water. Fish have been coming in daily feeding heavily during the herring spawn. The best fishing has occurred between tides as of late. April should really turn on as residential fish will continue to be in the area and the first of the migratory salmon should begin to show as they make their way to the southerly watersheds in the Pacific North West. Look for fantastic fishing from May through September. Always carry bait and ones favorite summer spoons and hootchies. As the summer moves on switch to bigger spoons but also remember to adjust to the size of the bait.

Winter Chinook fishing in Barkley Sound has been relatively good in March

Ucluelet (West Coast)

The offshore and inshore fishing during the spring is often very good around a variety of areas in the Ucluelet and Tofino areas. As the herring spawn approaches in mid to late March the local Chinook or more commonly known as feeder or winter Chinook move close to the beach and are abundant in local areas such as Great Bear, Mara Rock, Sail Rock, Forbes, the Alley and Beg Island. Over the last few weeks it is these spots that have been quite good for the local sport fishermen and guides. Small three and three and a half inch coyote spoons in army truck, chartreuse, glow green and knight rider have been working in deeper water from 90 to 160 feet. Also a variety of regular octopus hootchies and needle fish hootchies are working quite well behind green glow and purple haze flashers. It is important to find the bait which is becoming more abundant. Those out on the water will do relatively well when finding the bait balls. This past three weeks Vancouver Islands west coast has had some good fishing for a few local guides and avid fishermen. Great Bear had some good sized bait balls and some good sized feeders up to sixteen pounds. Needlefish hootchies and the three and a half inch green glow coyote spoon were working very well and should be two items in ones tackle box over the next few weeks. This summer’s fishing is expected to be very good as migrating salmon make their way to the big watersheds to the south. Chinook beginning in the middle of April and continuing through August will swim right outside the Ucluelet Harbor and will feed out on the various sandy banks before continuing their long journey. Coho salmon should also be in good numbers and will add variety for many sport fishermen those guests on many guide boats. The summer of 2017 should definitely be a time when all fisher persons will have an opportunity to land a salmon.

For More Information

Contact:

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport fishing

1-888-214 7206 (toll free)

1 250 724 2502 (home)

1 250 731 7389 (mobile)

dlindy@shaw.ca (email)

www.catchsalmon-ca.com

Harry of Langley British Columbia shows his Chinook Salmon landed in Barkley Sound Vancouver Island. This fish was landed in June. June I often a favorable month in Barkley Sound and offshore. Big schools of Chinook are headed towards the big watersheds to the south. They stop to feed on the rich sources of bait fish along the coast line of West Coast Vancouver Island
This salmon hit a green nickel coyote spoon in 90 feet of water

Alberni Inlet, Barley Sound, West Coast Vancouver Island

It has been a relatively long and colder than average winter in all areas located in Central and West Coast Vancouver Island. Spring and summer are coming and when finally arriving we can expect the weather conditions to improve and allow for some productive days out on the water. Winter Chinook fishing in Barkley Sound and close to the Bamfield Harbor has been slow but should improve if the herring spawn is anywhere like 2016. Over the past six weeks there has been some opportunity for a few avid anglers to get out salmon fishing in the afternoons when there has been some warmth from the sun. There have been reports of a few feeders being landed around Kirby Point and all the way up to Edward King Island. There have also been a few feeders landed around Scotch Bay and up at the whistle buoy. Those few anglers on the water have been fishing depths from sixty to one hundred and fifty feet. Anchovy and herring on the troll in various glow teaser heads with a six foot leader have been working. Three and a half inch spoons in Irish Cream, Cookies and Cream, cop car, and a four inch Gibbs green glow are great choices. Hootchies in purple haze, green spatter back and glow whites should also be excellent choice of lures. The key regarding Winter Chinook fishing is finding the bait. When one finds bait there should be some success. There are herring balls close to Bamfield and many areas of Barkley Sound. The Herring spawn normally occurs in March which should provide for some greater improvement in the Winter Chinook fishing.

Benny landed this great Chinook salmon fishing with Doug of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing. This Chinook is a returning West Coast Vancouver Island fish. The summer of 2017 should see a good return of four year old Chinook to West Coast Vancouver Island

The first weekend of March will see the areas first salmon fishing derby. The annual Sproat Loggers Derby will be hosted out of Poett Nook (also derby headquarters) which is located at the far end of the Bamfield Wall and in Sarita Bay. The last few years have seen over 400 entrants and there have been fish historically weighed in over twenty pounds. The derby is usually marked as the beginning of the saltwater season in Barkley Sound and has some wonderful prizes. Information can often be found online and derby entries can be obtained at Gone Fishing Stores.

At the time of this writing we are still waiting for an update on projections for Sockeye returns to the Somass River. The various indicators and early pre season reports are not looking favorable for a good return. The last two years have been from 1.2 to over 2.3 million pieces returning to the Somass River system. On the other hand West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook returns where stocks have been enhanced have a fairly good outlook status for 2017. The 2012 and 2013 salmon stock that went to sea have done very well in terms of survival and the return of a good number of four year olds and some five year olds to the West Coast should provide for some relatively big fish in what is termed “TYEE” size.

The 2017 Chinook returns to the big watersheds to the south were released in December 2016. The returns of what might be termed “early summer and mid-summer” are not bad and are on par with the TEN year average. The big watersheds are the Columbia, Kalama, Cowlitz, Sacramento, and Willamette. The Chinook travel as if on a highway along the coast of West Vancouver Island and sit out on the many sandy banks and feed on vast amounts of bait fish. These salmon also migrate into Barkley Sound and rest and feed on the rich resources of bait in many of the favorable Barkley Sound salmon fishing areas. With this in mind the salmon fishing for Chinook in late May, June and July should be relatively good for all anglers fishing the sound and offshore.

Some great fishing in August of 2016 by this group from Ontario Mardie and Tony show two fish landed close to Sarita Bay in Barkley Sound

Over the last few weeks Stamp River conditions have been favorable. The water has been at the time of this writing is clear and low. Anglers have been using longer leaders and very light tackle. Those in the river have been on average hitting a few fish per day. Steelhead fishing has been in both the upper and lower river. There are Winter and Fall Steelhead in the system. These fish will spawn in the spring. Hopefully when conditions warm up so will the Stamp River fishing.

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

1 888 214 7206 toll free

1 250 724 2502 mobile

dlindy@shaw.ca

Tight lines

Two beautiful late summer Chinook land by Mardie and Fred of Ontario. Fishing with Slivers Charters the two salmon were landed using anchovy in a Rhys Davis glow army truck teaser head.

FALL REPORT

November 9th 2016

1 888 214 7206

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

       It is almost mid-November and the great memories of the past salt water salmon fishing season are very fresh.  The summer of 2016 had many memorable days of fishing in many of the local fishing areas.  The Sockeye fishing in the Alberni Inlet from mid June through the first week of August was excellent.  Barkley Sound had an abundance of salmon in August and the first part of September.  Coho salmon which were forecast to be poor were actually in very good numbers and by mid August were weighing up to fifteen and sixteen pounds.  Chinook numbers forecast to return to West Coast Vancouver Island were not what was expected.  Returns to the Somass River system are currently close to fifty thousand.  The forecast return was more than double that number and never materialized.  However on the bright side there were definitely enough Chinook in the system to make the Chinook salmon season a success. The forty-fifth Labor Day Salmon Festival during the 2016 Labor Day Weekend was definitely remarkable.  There were many registrants and plenty of salmon landed and weighed in.   The fourth largest Chinook recorded in the history of the derby was landed.  The fifty three pound salmon was the largest Chinook since 1991.  The salmon derby was definitely a terrific boost for Port Alberni. With all of the great 2016 salmon fishing results still memorable we are now slowly preparing for the summer of 2017.  The summer and fall salmon Season is now over and salmon returns, even though the Chinook were not as strong are still relatively healthy for conservation measures.  Pre seasonal 2017 forecasts for local West Coast Vancouver Island Sockeye, Chinook, Coho, and the salmon runs migrating to the big southerly watersheds have not yet been forecast.  The various fishing departments will likely begin to share returning numbers in the early part of 2017.

       November and much of October has had more wind and rain than usual.  The Stamp River has had very high water conditions through much of the fall and at the moment is at an above average level.  There have been times that fishing the Stamp for Fall-Summer Steelhead has been difficult because of the very high water conditions but it is hoped that the rain will become less and the river will get to normal levels so that the Fall Steelhead will go into a feeding frenzy on the dropped naturally spawned river eggs.   Less rain and less water entering Stamp River will reduce water levels and will allow for some great Steelhead fishing for the second half of November and into early December.

Charly from Arizona land this beautiful Chinook fishing the waters of Barkley Sound in very late August. Fish was landed using anchovy.

       Salmon returns to the Somass system were better than what was forecast for 2016 especially for Sockeye and Coho.  Over one million Sockeye Salmon returned to the Alberni Inlet with four hundred and forty thousand escaping to the Sproat and Great Central Lake systems.  Coho which were looking dismal have had over thirty thousand pieces return to the Somass River.  Chinook Salmon were not close to pre season forecasts but with a return of just about fifty thousand there are excellent egg counts for Robertson Creek Hatchery and for a natural river spawn.   The Somass River system is a key stream for Sockeye, Chinook, and Coho.  The Chinook numbers in terms of return still allowed for the necessary 57 million egg count at Robertson Creek Hatchery.  Fisheries and Oceans Canada in partnership with Hupacasath First Nations facilitate a counting operation from late May to early November.  The fish way is open daily and the salmon are counted by video and computer and trained observers.  The salmon migration in the River system as mentioned is video-taped  and counts are better than 95% accurate.

The Stamp Fall River fishing for salmon was excellent

Stamp River

        Water levels in the Stamp are currently at an average level for mid-November.  The Summer-Fall Steelhead fishing for the past few weeks could be described in two words as “mediocre” or slow.   Water levels are too high and there is currently severe flooding along the Somass.  The Upper Stamp fishing pressure is very “LOW”.  The best angling opportunity when water levels come down will likely be just above the Ash River.  The Chinook and Coho wild spawn has thinned out but there are plenty of eggs in the river system.  The problem is that with the severe flooding the gravel beds and natural egg spawn may be washed out.  The Lower River has seen little fishing lately but expectations are that in the next few weeks or when water levels decrease that some late Fall and Winter Steelhead will begin to show and pick up the Stamp River fishing.

      With the Coho spawn being very strong with the fairly decent Coho returns anglers when it is possible to fish the river should mimick what the Steelhead are feeding on.  A bait ban been in effect from “the bucket” so fish egg imitations are a must.  Guides are using single egg imitations.  Jensen eggs are the most popular.  Also gorkies, and spin-n-glows will do well.

       When the fishing in the Lower River picks up especially below the bucket sport fisher people should use gooey-bobs, pink worms, and spin-n-glows in bc orange and regular orange colors.  We are expecting the Stamp River which is British Columbia’s premiere fishing destination river to have some terrific Steelhead fishing right through March of 2017

Alberni Inlet

Barkley Sound

Ucluelet

         The Alberni Valley hosted the forty-fifth Labor Day Salmon Festival in early September.  The fourth largest Chinook, in the derby history, weighed just over fifty three pounds was landed by Dan Weatherby of Chilliwack B.C.  This big Chinook was landed close to the Bamfield Harbor mouth at Brady Beach.  A small cookies and cream spoon in fairly shallow water landed this fish which won the Chilliwack residence fifteen thousand dollars.  The Bamfield Wall was definitely a hot area to fish during the derby and most of the month of September.  Daily first place finishes were Brian Lawrence landing a twenty-seven pound Chinook on Sunday and Justin Kumagai of Port Alberni landed a twenty four pound Chinook on Sunday.  Both anglers won $5,000 for landing the biggest fish of the day.

         Sport prawn fishing will have openings in the Alberni Inlet.  It is important to check with the regulations and check with the DFO for winter openings.  The openings are often for 15 days.  Again it is important to check all DFO regulations and openings.  Most individuals at this time of year will prawn close to China Creek, the narrows and Cous Creek.  Currently salmon in the Alberni Inlet is slow but often Winter Chinook will travel up as far as China Creek if there is bait in the area.

       Barkley Sound is one area on the west coast that is protected on the east and west shorelines.  It is an area that can often be comfortable for winter fishing.  Winter or Feeder Chinook fishing usually picks up in December and carries on well into early April.  The rule is often where one finds the bait the salmon will be there.  The Chinook are usually in deep water from 115 to 140 feet.  Good areas of the Sound to fish are areas close to Poett Nook and Sarita Bay.  Vernon Bay, Swale Rock, Mayne Bay, and the back end of Canoe Pass can also be excellent areas to fish.  Often hootchies in blue, green, various whites and blue-green colors are the best lures.  Of course there are days when the fish will touch nothing but anchovy.  Winter Chinook trips also include some prawn and crab fishing.

Colin with Chinook landed in the Alberni Inlet in August of 2016 using anchovy

         Ucluelet has already experienced some good Feeder Chinook fishing.  The Inner and Outer South Bank earlier in October allowed sport fishermen to have success on salmon up to 17 pounds.  This is unusual for the fall but a couple of terrific days for weather permitted a few keen anglers to get out a few miles offshore.  Earlier in the fall the T-Rex hootchie was good but recently those anglers fishing on good weather days and close to the Ucluelet Harbor at the “Red Can” Mara Rock, and The Lighthouse Bank have been using white hootchies and also a green needlefish hootchie.  A four inch cop car and cookies and cream spoon have also been good lures behind a green or chartreuse hotspot flasher.  During the winter Ucluelet offers some of the west coasts best prawn and crab fishing.  The Bottom fishing is also very good.  One must remember that the Pacific Ocean during the winter can have some magnificent storms but also there are superb days for fishing as the ocean can be completely flat.  Winter fishing is often very close to the harbour.  Safety of course is always a priority.  Ucluelet hopefully will once again be a fisherman’s paradise in the summer of 2017.  The migratory fish headed to the large watersheds to the south begin showing as early as late May and continue into late August or early September.

For more information

Contact

Doug Lindores

dlindy@shaw.ca

250 724 2502 (home Phone)

250 731 7389 (cell Phone)

1 888 214 7206 (toll free)

www.catchsalmon-ca.com

SEPTEMBER 1^st          2016 DOUG LINDORES

Jin from Toronto Ontario fished with Doug of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing and landed this twenty-three pound Chinook using anchovy in Barkley Sound

2016 Alberni Valley Labor Day Salmon FESTIVAL

Labor Day weekend is upon us and that means it is Salmon Festival weekend in Port Alberni. The Derby takes place on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with fishing beginning each day at 6 am. The derby will close on Labor Day Monday at 3 pm with final weigh-in occurring at or before that time. Derby Headquarters and the official weigh-in center will once again be Clutesi Haven Marina located on River Road. There is $55,000 in prizes for those people participating in the Salmon Derby. With this is mind there are plenty of prizes to go around for everyone.

Tracy and Bryan fish with Doug of Slivers Charters and landed these two Coho as a double header at Assets Island

The Alberni Valley and all of Barkley Sound has experienced rain fall over the past few days which has helped many of the migrating salmon swim much more quickly to their natal streams, creeks and rivers. Fresh Chinook and Coho are moving from the vast Pacific Ocean into Barkley Sound. The salmon that have recently reached the waters of Barkley Sound will migrate fairly rapidly up into the Alberni Inlet. The water in much of the Inlet and also Barkley Sound is not stagnant and has cooled down dramatically which help the salmon to migrate a little more quickly. The Chinook and Coho will also be a little more eager to bite the variety of lures put out by many anglers. There are currently plenty of Chinook and Coho Salmon in the system.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has announced that there is a decrease in the Chinook run size returning to the Somass River System. The original forecast of one hundred and twenty thousand Chinook returning to the River system has been cut in half to approximately sixty thousand.

Great Salmon landed by Guest from Arizona. Landed close to the Bamfield Wall on anchovy

The best salmon fishing currently is in Barkley Sound. The many salmon that were in the Alberni Inlet have moved into the River system. The Inlet will fill with fresh salmon in the coming days. Weather conditions are forecast to improve and warmer air is in the immediate forecast which will slow the salmon migration. This will also be very true of the salmon down in Barkley Sound locations. The ample Chinook and Coho at Swale Rock, Harbor Entrance,Pill Point, Assets Island, and the Bamfield Wall should hold for a few days. The Bamfield Wall has been inconsistent for the last ten days. Pill Point, Swale Rock, Harbor Entrance and Assets have all had very consistent sport fishing over the same amount of time. The salmon in the sound have been biting and feeding very hard around tide changes. The Chinook and Coho are also very active between tides. The same scenario has been true for those fishing in the inlet. The salmon are in fairly shallow water in Barkley Sound and also the Alberni Inlet. Fishing between thirty and fifty feet has not been uncommon. The best lures in the Alberni Inlet are the O-2, 0-15, 0-16, spatterback and AORL 12 hootchies. Anchovy in the Inlet is also working. In Barkley Sound anchovy in a variety of Rhys Davis Teaser Heads seem ideal and for many is working the best. Leader lengths from five and a half to six feet behind gold, green, or burgundy flashers with a gold face are working very well. The AORL 12 hootchie with 38 to 42 inches of leader behind a burgundy and gold flasher or a kinetic flasher is ideal for Coho in Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet.

Salmon landed close to Assets on anchovy

Entries for this year’s Salmon Festival Derby have been remarkably encouraging. There will be many boaters on the water. Safety precautions are always of importance.

For More information

Contact Doug Lindores

250 731 7389 (mobile)

1 866 214 2706

dlindy@shaw.ca

August 21st 2016
1 888 214 7206
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

Mike of Edmonton fished with Doug of Slivers Charters and landed this 22 pound Chinook on Anchovy in Barkley Sound

The summer months are quickly moving by and the salmon fishing in many areas of Vancouver Island just seem to be now picking up and getting better and better as we move into mid August. The salmon fishing in Barkley Sound and the West Coast off of the Ucluelet Harbor for Chinook and Coho have improved dramatically. The Chinook and Coho on the surf line and the various banks are getting larger and more numerous. Most of these salmon continue to be migratory salmon moving to destinations or watersheds well to the south. Many of the West Coast Vancouver Island salmon are now also beginning to show on surf line areas and on the west and east shorelines of Barkley Sound. We are expecting some of the salmon returning to nearby rivers, streams, and creeks of the Pacific Rim and Alberni Valley regions to be the highest return in a decade. From mid August into the first half of September there should be some world class sport fishing out in most of Barkley Sound. The Port Alberni Inlet with salmon migrating into the Somass River will have a good return of Chinook. By mid August good numbers of these Chinook will begin to show in Inlet areas close to China Creek and the Port Alberni Harbor.

Port Alberni Inlet

Barkley Sound

Sockeye Salmon fishing continued strong into August in the Alberni Inlet. Family from Kelowna fished with Slivers Charters and did extremely well on Sockeye Salmon

The sport fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet for Sockeye salmon in June and July was incredible. The sockeye return forecast still holds at 1.1 million which was a fantastic run and return. Returns to the system for conservation are at four hundred and fifty thousand. These fish have migrated into Sproat and Great Central Lakes and will sit in deep water until the fall before spawning. The Chinook returns to the Somass system should begin with salmon showing in good numbers in Inlet areas by the middle of August. Pre season forecasts are showing s very high number of Chinook returning to the terminal area of Barkley Sound and the Inlet. Most of these fish will be returning to the Robertson Creek Hatchery. The age class of this year’s return is predominately four and five year old Chinook. With this in mind there should be a good number of Chinook in the twenty to twenty-five to thirty pound class. Coho numbers are hopefully expected to be normal. Coho returns to the Pacific Rim and the many creeks and stream tributaries of the Somass system through conservation have become stronger 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.

Jacinta of Calgary and Barkley Sound Lodge fished with Terry and landed this twenty-two pound Chinook using a coyote spoon

Most of Barkley Sound has been mediocre through June and July and the first week of August. Swale Rock, Austin Island, Cree and Pill Point have been the only spots with any consistency. Meares or Effingham Island and Austin Island out to Cree Island has been the best area for the sport fishery for most of the summer months. 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 Chinook that are now showing and returning to local rivers are much shallower. The Coho have been in twety-five to fifty feet of water and are gorging themselves putting on a pound a week and are currently averaging eight to fifteen pounds. Some of the salmon are migratory fish moving to watersheds to the south. The West Coast Vancouver Island salmon are now arriving. This is not to say that some Somass Chinook and Coho have not already arrived as there have been 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 anchovy on board. To this date anchovy has not been essential as the salmon have been hitting various small three and a half inch coyote spoons and some hootchies behind glow and kinetic flashers. In Coyote spoons, silver glow, Cop Car, Cookies and Cream and Irish Cream have all been working. Various small Coho Killers have all been working. The various whites (AORL12) and greens and blues in hootchies have had some great success over the past week. Anchovy should have at least a six foot leader and the army truck, purple haze, and green haze in Rhys Davis Teaser Head have all been working well. We are expecting Barkley Sound to have continued great salmon fishing well into September. With the late summer run of migratory salmon and local salmon returning to their natural streams and creeks there should be some continued terrific fishing right into mid September in all of Barkley Sound for Coho and Chinook salmon.

Ucluelet

Ron with a twenty five pound Chinook landed offshore at the Rats Nose on a Coyote spoon

Areas outside of the Ucluelet Harbor around the Starfish, Hyacinth and Long Beach and as far as the Big Bank or shallows West to Portland Point which is close to Tofino have all had rather phenomenal sport fishing over the last few weeks. Most of the banks have had plenty of bait fish and the migratory salmon 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 Big Bank (Rats Nose) the Starfish and Hyacinth have been the best areas to fish to date. Hootchies and smaller spoons seem to be working the best offshore. 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 to upper twenty pound range being landed by guests on our charter boats. Sport fishermen in their privately owned boats have also been landing some bigger fish. A few 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 for the rest of 2016 should be 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 during the last two weeks of 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.

For more information

Contact:
Doug Lindores
1 888 214 7206
1 250 731 7389 (cell)
www.catchsalmon-ca.com
dlindy@shaw.ca e mail

July 26th 2016      Doug Lindores      Sliver Charters Salmon Sport Fishing      250 731 7389 (cell number)      1 888 214 7206

Mike from Calgary fished with Doug from Slivers Charters and landed this twenty-five pound Chinook at Cree Island in Barkley Sound. This salmon hit an anchovy in a green haze teaser head

The 2016 saltwater sport fishing season is closing in on some world class angling opportunities on B.C.’s West Coast.  The month of August and the first half of September should provide six to seven weeks of fabulous sport fishing for anglers fishing the Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound and offshore Ucluelet.  Chinook forecasts are literally off the chart in terms of returning four and five year old Chinook to the rivers, streams and creeks of West Coast Vancouver Island.   The forecast of great returns to the Somass, NitiNat, and Sarita River systems are expected to be the best returns over the past fifteen years.
The Sport Sockeye Fishery in the Alberni Inlet CONTINUES to be very good.  To date the sport Sockeye season has provided some terrific angling opportunities for everyone.   The 2016 season is not like the previous year but with forecast returns of almost 1.2 million Sockeye the sport fishery and been very good.   Due to cooler water and air temperatures in June and the first half of July the returns of Sockeye to the Somass River system have been excellent.  To date escapement has been four hundred and twenty thousand to Sproat and Great Central Lakes.   The summer rain and cooler temperatures in the area has led to excellent migration through the salmon ladders.

Chinook salmon in Barkley Sound landed sing anchovy in a glow army truck
teaser head.

Currently the Sockeye are schooling from Cous Creek out to the narrows.  The Sockeye in the Alberni Inlet are currently sitting in eighty to one hundred and ten feet of water.  They are hitting short leader lengths from eighteen to twenty-four inches in length behind a variety of hotspot flashers.  The mp2, mp15, pink and blue, pink and black, and the pink with either the green or white head hootchies all seem to be working very well for most of the sport anglers.  Many anglers are also using “Black Hooks” behind a green plaid chartreuse hotspot flasher or the purple onion hotspot flasher.  Sockeye are attracted to the boat by color.  Many anglers will have eight flashers behind their boat.   Four are often dummy flashers and the other four with lures of choice.  The Sockeye are averaging four to eight pounds.  Sockeye are the number one commercial salmon.  They are wonderful for summer barbeques and when vacuum packed properly last the winter for those special occasions.   With good numbers of fresh Sockeye coming into the system on a daily basis we are hoping the Sockeye Sport fishery will continue into the August Long Weekend.
Sockeye fishing is a wonderful fishing opportunity for the whole family.  It is a fun fishery for young and old.   Don’t miss out on this opportunity in the Alberni Inlet this July and early August.

Sockeye salmon landed by Geoff and Cliff from Tswassen B.C. All fish came from the Alberni Inlet

 Barkley Sound and Ucluelet
The salmon fishing in Barkley Sound has been relatively inconsistent.  The best fishing has been out on surf line areas.   The islands close to the Ucluelet Harbor Mouth, Meares, Austin, Cree Island, Kirby Point, Edward King and the Bamfield Wall have all had times during the past few weeks with some good Chinook sport fishing.   Areas close to the Ucluelet Harbor that have had a few fantastic fishing days are Great Bear and Sail Rock.  The inner and outer South Bank, Long Beach, and the Starfish have had some of the transient salmon heading to the big water systems to the south create some wonderful sport salmon fishing opportunity.   The salmon in the Sound and inside waters have been hitting anchovy in green glow, army truck, and green haze Rhys Davis Teaser Heads.  Small three and a half inch spoons have been working the best.  The cookies and cream, Irish cream and the TKO spoons have been excellent.  They match up to the very small bait size.    The Sonora cuttlefish, Jack Smith and a variety of Turds have been working well out on the banks.  The best lures, however have been the smaller spoons.  Dragging the small spoons close to the bottom has created the best opportunity.

Jessica and Raymond from Victoria B.C. with a beautiful Chinook Salmon landed close to Bamfield.

We are looking forward to some great sport fishing opportunities during the last week of July, all of August and the first half of September in the Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound and offshore.  The numbers of transient and West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook headed to the big watersheds to the south and local rivers and streams are forecast to be very strong which will provide some world class sport salmon fishing.

For more information
www.catchsalmon-ca.com
1 888 214 7206
Call Doug 250 731 7389 mobile
Or 250 724 2502
dlindy@shaw.ca

June 14th 2016
1 888 214 7206
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

Chris who is from Vancouver landed this 30 pound Chinook close to Meares Island in sunny and science Barkley Sound located on Vancouver Island

It is early June and weather conditions for most of the 2016 spring season have been terrific on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. With this in mind a lack of rainfall is not environmentally good. The salmon fishing has been relatively consistent close to the Ucluelet Harbor and also offshore Ucluelet. Ucluelet is located on the extreme west coast of Vancouver Island British Columbia. The area is often referred to as the highway of migrating salmon. The fishing in various surf line areas of Barkley Sound has been off and on during late May and early June. The early sockeye salmon have already started their long return from the North Pacific to the Somass River in fairly good numbers. There has been a few Sockeye landed by sport fishermen in the China and Cous Creek areas. With the good weather and higher afternoon air temperatures the Sockeye Migration will slow down as the water temperature in the river and the Alberni Inlet warm up. This will possibly help the Sport Sockeye season get underway in the inlet a little earlier than normal. Salmon and halibut fishing on the west coast have been consistent over the past few weeks. The great fishing in local hotspots is very evident by the increase of vehicles on local roads and highways towing a variety of sport fishing boats. Many of the fishermen are either fishing the scenic and pristine waters of Barkley Sound or are travelling out to the west coast to fish close to Vancouver Island’s rugged coastline or in offshore locations.
The 2016 sport salmon fishing season in Ucluelet, Barkley Sound, and the Port Alberni Inlet is forecast to be terrific. In fact this year is predicted to be one of the best seasons in many years. On the west coast the early summer run of Chinook which are currently migrating down the Vancouver Island coastline and stay fairly close to the beach will soon peak and will be followed by the mid summer Chinook returns to southern watersheds. West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook returns will be predominately four year olds. The returns are expected to be more than double the historic numbers. The Sockeye fishing should be extremely good. The return to the Somass River is predicted to be approximately one million in early season forecasts. Don’t miss out on a fabulous 2016 sport salmon fishing year in the Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, or inshore offshore Ucluelet-Tofino.

Darcy from Toronto with a fourteen pound Chinook landed at Cree Island in Barkley Sound. This fish hit a three and a half inch Irish Cream Spoon.

Port Alberni Inlet
Barkley Sound
The Sockeye sport fishery in the Alberni Inlet has been open since the first of May. Limits are four per person per day. That number should remain the same throughout the season. Sockeye usually school in the Alberni Inlet when the water of the Somass River and the Inlet warms to 18 degrees Celsius. When there are big numbers of Sockeye entering the system the schools will hold in the inlet for the salmon ahead to push into the river. The river water is warming up and with very little snow in the nearby hills it will not take much for the Somass the desired temperature. The Sockeye that are currently in the Inlet are swimming in fairly shallow water. Those sport fishermen out fishing will ideally during the next few weeks have the best success fishing the Nahmint-Franklin area, the narrows, and perhaps Cous Creek or right in the Port Alberni Harbor trolling at twenty-five to fifty feet. The mild spring weather conditions will help fairly good Sockeye fishing get underway by the 15th of June. It is often safe to say that this is the time to start fishing Sockeye. We are hoping that by mid month sport anglers are landing limits of Sockeye. Sockeye are attracted to color and having six or even eight flashers hooked to the downriggers is not unusual. The most popular lures for Sockeye are the mp 15( bubblegum), the pink and blue, and pink and black mp hootchies. Leader lengths are best at 22 to 27 inches behind a green or red glow hotspot flasher.

Chinook Salmon from ten to twenty-five pounds. The salmon were landed fishing Austin and Cree Islands in early June 2016

The Salmon fishing in Barkley Sound especially out at surf line locations has been mediocre over the past few weeks. Many areas have had big bait balls which will bring those migratory Chinook swimming close to the beach to feed on these rich resources of bait fish. Over the past week Effingham, Austin Island, and Cree have produced some nice salmon. Bamfield areas such as Kirby in the morning and Edward King later in the day and also the Bamfield Wall have reported some nice fish being landed by guides and sport anglers. The best results have been fishing from 80 to 120 feet depending on location but it is important that you are fishing where there is bait. It seems that choice of lure really does not seem to matter as many have been using a variety of spoons, plastic, and bait. The best spoons have been the three and a half inch green and blue nickel coyote spoon and also an Irish Cream behind a green glow or chartreuse hotspot flasher. The 155 needlefish has also been very good. Anchovy in army truck, green haze, green UV, and also chartreuse in a Rhys Davis teaser head have been hot at various times. Many of the salmon have been in the mid to high teens with a few up to twenty-five pounds. We are expecting the fish to get bigger as the mid-summer run of Chinook get underway in the latter half of June. This run of salmon will have a good number of four and five year olds. Barkly Sound should be a hotbed for fishing this summer especially out in surf line locations.

Ucluelet
Ucluelet is often referred to as Vancouver Island’s premier salmon and halibut sport fishing destination. Like Barkley Sound the waters inshore and offshore from the Ucluelet Harbor offer some world class fishing. The water is very rich in bait fish (sardines and needlefish) which the salmon feed on throughout the spring and summer months. The summer salmon fishing seems to be changing. August and early September were often considered peak times for Chinook and Coho sport fishing. With the high numbers of transient Chinook salmon passing along the west coast of Vancouver Island from April to

This Chinook salmon hit an anchovy in an army truck glow Rhys Davis Teaser Head in approximately 70 feet of water just off of Effingham Island in Barkley Sound Port Alberni

August it often seems that the peak of the season is in the month of July. This is not to say that Chinook sport fishing does not continue in August and September. Coho which were often referred to as the number one sport salmon along coastal fishing locations in B.C. are a major highlight in late August through September. This thought is something to consider when thinking about and organizing sport salmon fishing this summer. The Ucluelet fishing has been consistent over the past few weeks with some good fishing out at the inner and outer Lighthouse Bank and also Long Beach. Mara Rock, Great Bear, Sail Rock, and The Lighthouse which are all very close to the Ucluelet Harbor have been choice selections for sport fishing on those days where the weather has not co-operated for boats to get out a little offshore.. The largest salmon have been averaging twelve to eighteen pounds. The fish out at the inner and banks have been close to the bottom between 130 and 160 feet. Guides have done extremely well on salmon and halibut with the largest hali for guests at forty-five pounds. The best lures to date have been anchovy and a few different spoons in the three and a half inch size. Green nickel, Irish Cream and Cookies and Cream have been working well. Other guides and sport anglers have had great success using needle fish hootchies behind a flasher. The needle fish will hide in the sand and on tide changes will come up to higher levels which creates a very good salmon and halibut bite. If trolling and using anchovy it seems that a green or red glow hotspot flasher with a green or army truck Rhys Davis teaser anchovy head with six feet of leader are working well. One important thing to remember is that during the season the food sources often get bigger and when using spoons and plugs the sizes should increase as the bait increases.
The 2016 sport salmon fishing season in Port Alberni and the West Coast is shaping up just as has been forecast—-TERRIFIC!!!! There should not be disappointments this summer. Of course there are highs and lows but the high days will definitely out do any lows.
For more information
Contact
Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
1 888 214 7206 (toll free)
1 250 724 2502 (home)
1 250 731 7389 (cell)
dlindy@shaw.ca
www.catchsalmon-ca.com

May 13th, 2016

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

1-888-214-7206

The weather on the west coast of Vancouver Island has been miraculous for the past several weeks. On a sunny afternoon in May 2016 Julia fished with guide Chad and landed this Chinook salmon at Sail Rock using anchovy.

The 2016 summer saltwater salmon fishing season is here with many sport fishermen already salmon fishing with success on the Pacific Rim waters for the past few weeks. The 2016 salmon forecasts for salmon migrating to the big watersheds to the south and also returns to West Coast Vancouver Island rivers’ and streams look extremely favorable. Many individuals have considered the past few sport fishing seasons as extremely good but the 2016 predictions of transient and local returns especially for Chinook and Sockeye salmon are looking phenomenal. Chinook returning to the big river systems in Washington, Oregon and California are expected to be fantastic. The systems with big returns are predictably the Columbia River, Sacramento River and the Klamath River systems. These transient salmon from late April through August migrate just outside Ucluelet, Bamfield, and beautiful Barkley Sound. Barkley Sound holds huge quantities of rich bait fish as do the many banks off the Vancouver Island West Coast that hold these migrating salmon which normally feed heavily before continuing their long migration. Returns of West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook hatchery fish are forecast to be more than double the average returns. These salmon begin to show along the west coast and into Barkley Sound in early August and peak from mid August into early September. Salmon fishing on the surf line and inner portion of the sound will be excellent through the late spring and all of the summer months as these waves of salmon make their way to their natal river systems. Many of the transient and local returning salmon will be predominately four year olds which means there will be opportunity to land some good sized Chinook in the upper twenty to low thirty pound range. Some of the early summer run Chinook have showed up along the Barkely Sound surf line and the islands outside the Ucluelet Harbor. A large wave of salmon should begin to occur in the second half of May. The early salmon usually migrate relatively close to the beach in May and then along the various sandy banks off the coast in in the summer months. Salmon fishing in the out and inner portion of the sound should be very good through the late spring and all of the summer months as these waves of salmon make their way to their natal river system. To date a low number and Barkley Sound until mid May. The salmon usually migrate fairly close to the beach in May and then along the various sandy banks off the coast in the summer months.

This group of happy anglers fished with Al out of Ucluelet and landed this fish at Great Bear. The guest were from Vancouver B.C. and Montreal.

Sockeye Salmon returns to the Aberni Inlet this year will not likely be that of the 2015 returns which was absolutely incredible. Returns this year are looking historically good. The pre season forecast is for eight hundred thousand to one million. There has been suggestion that by mid season due to many indicators that the run size could be upgraded. The Sockeye Sport Fishery usually gets underway by mid June and is a fabulous opportunity for families and al avid sport fishermen of all ages.

The summer of 2016 looks absolutely phenomenal in terms of sport fishing opportunities. Those fisher persons that prefer open water or for those that enjoy areas that have protection from prevailing wind patterns the saltwater salmon fishing no matter where individuals decide their destination on Vancouver Islands west coast, the opportunity to land a Pacific salmon from six pounds to thirty-five pounds should be a dream come true.

Port Alberni Inlet

Barkley Sound

The Alberni Inlet is currently very quiet. By mid June however there will be plenty of excitement as sports boat travel the inlet in search of Sockeye Salmon. The returns are expected to to be very good. Environmental conditions are excellent. The sockeye should begin to school in the Inlet in early June. Water conditions should be relatively good for a decent flow into the Somass River and also because of a low snow pack the warmer river and inlet water will likely slow the migration down. Early in the season the Sockeye travel in relatively shallow water but will move into the deep as the air and water temperatures increase. Water temperature of eighteen degrees and above normally slow the migration down. Normally good Sockeye Sport fishing can contine from mid June to the first week of August. Sockeye fishing is a lot of fun and is a great time for families to get out on the water and take part in one of British Columbias best sport fisheries. Sockeye like a slow troll and are attracted to the boats with lots of color in the water fairly close to the boat. Most experienced Sockeye fishermen will have six to eight flashers in the water. Most of the lures are on a short leader from eighteen to twenty-eight inches in length behind a red or green glow hotspot flasher. Sharp hooks are very important as the sockeye gum structure is very soft.

Captain Mel and guest show off their Sockeye catch in the Alberni Inlet. The Sockeye Fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet in the summer of 2016 is forecast to be very good. Numbers are termed abundant and sport fishing for the number one commercial salmon should be excellent for two months

The early transient summer run of Chinook and Winter or feeder Chinook fishing in Barkley Sound has been off and on during the last few weeks The feeder chinook will always be found wherever the bait is found. Feeders are just what they are termed as these hearty salmon feed heavily especially on tides changes. Austin Island, Village Reef, Vernon Bay and Swale Rock have had some good days with Chinook up to seventeen and twenty pounds but on average a lot of the salmon have been ten to thirteen pounds. The salmon have been a mix of transient and feeder Chinook. Anchovy in Rhys Davis green glow and chartreuse teaser head holders have been working as have a variety of coyote spoons with the three and three and a half inch Irish Cream being productive. The green splatter needle fish hootchies and blue and silver gold star spoons have recently been the best lures. Meares and Austin Island from ninety to one hundred and twenty feet have both been fairly with the best fishing opportunity on the tide change when the bait rolls in. Closer to Bamfield, Cape Beale, Whittlestone and the west side of Edward King down to Kirby Point have been very consistent for those sport fishermen out on the water. However like the west side of Barkley Sound an area can be hot one day and completely dead the next. The salmon have been in 140 feet of water but up against the rocks closer to Edward King the feeders have been in twenty-five and thirty-five feet of water. Bait is important if fishermen are to find the salmon. Army Truck Hootchie, needle fish hootchies in blue and green, Irish Cream and Army Truck spoons in smaller sizes, have all been working well. Cape Beale and the protected side of Folger Island have also had some relatively decent Halibut fishing. When the weather has been good the three and seven mile and an area called the chair has produced some salmon and halibut catches off the bottom.

The summer fishing opportunities look more than fabulous for Barkley Sound and the surf line and of course offshore waters. The big numbers of Chinook that will migrate down the Vancouver Island coastline will produce some very good fishing opportunities for local fishermen and of course guides and their guests.

Philippe landed this twenty pound Chinook using a needle fish hootchie. Trip was in early May 2016 out of the Ucluelet Harbor

Ucluelet

Ucluelet offers magical salmon sport fishing and it is one of those places that one can have opportunity to land a twenty pound salmon twelve months of the year. The salmon fishing continues to be relatively consistent close to the Ucluelet Harbor Mouth. There have been some nice sized clipped Chinook bound for distant rivers. The first big wave of migratory fish will show up in the middle of May. We are expecting some great fishing out on the various banks. Usually in May the fishing will be closer to the Harbor with good spots being The Alley, Beg Island, Great Bear, Mara Rock, Sail Rock and the Red Can to name a few. As we get into June however the hotspots will become the Turtle Head, Inner and Outer South Bank, the Wreck and perhaps for some out as far as The Big Bank. Recently The Alley, Sail Rock and Great Bear have provided some good fishing with limits being bagged on Chinook salmon. The Spatter Back Hootchie and needle fish hootchie in blue, green and a bit of silver have been working very well There have been a few nice fish taken at South Bank that are migrating and these fish have been in the mid teens and have been taking smaller coyote spoons. Green Nickel and Knight Rider have been working fairly well behind a green or red glow hotspot flasher. Needle fish hootchies and army truck hootchies have also been working well with 42 inches of leader behind a flasher. By the middle of this month we should really start seeing the migratory push and by June there will be plenty of tales about the numbers of salmon in the nearby waters and the big one that got away. This will definitely be the year that anyone that desires to land a Pacific salmon will have a genuine opportunity to have this dream come true.

For more information

Contact:

Doug Lindores

1 888-214-7206

1 250 724 2502 (home)

1 250 731 7389 (cell)

dlindy@shaw.ca

www.catchsalmon-ca.co