PORT ALBERNI INLET, BARKLEY SOUND, UCLUELET  (WEST COAST) SOMASS-STAMP RIVER

Fishing Report

April 12^th 2007

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

Doug Lindores

Port Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound

BAMFIELD

       We are still a few months away from any fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet.  Port Alberni Located on Vancouver Island has been known as THE SALMON CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.  The Port Alberni Inlet has large returns of sockeye, chinook, coho, and chum, which swim its waters during the summer and early fall fishing season.  These salmon enter Barkley Sound and make their way into the inlet, the Port Alberni Harbor and finally into the Somass-Stamp River system where they travel to their natural spawning grounds.  Many of the chinook and coho spawn at the Robertson Creek Fish Hatchery. 

        This year returns of chinook and coho into Barkley Sound and the Port Alberni Inlet are forecast to be very good.  The sockeye forecast has not been announced by Fisheries, numbers look lower than in past years.  Chinook returns are numbered at 100,000, similar to 2006.  The difference is that the 2007 return will lack 3 year olds.  There will be predominantly 4, 5 and 6 year old fish.  The coho return is forecast to be somewhere between 75,000 and 85,000.  These returns are to the hatchery.  This does not include wild stock.  Chinook and coho are the two salmon species  targeted as sport fish.  People travel to sport fish Port Alberni and Barkley Sound to experience the thrill and power of a 30 pound chinook or watch the acrobatics of a 20 pound coho dancing on top of the water.  At the same time, people have opportunity to view some of worlds most beautiful scenery.

      Barkley Sound is a vast body of water protected by various islands has many secluded bays and inlets.  The tiny resort of BAMFIELD is found in a protected inlet on the south shore of Barkley Sound.  Bamfield is located in the heart of Canada’s Pacific Rim National Park.  The area offers hiking, beach combing, bird watching, and World Class Salmon Sport Fishing.  Even though this tiny hamlet is small it has shops, galleries, restaurants, and wonderful accommodations.  One can even explore the world of marine biology at the Bamfield Marine Station.

      Bamfield has a population explosion in the summer.  People are working in the tourism industry, or on holiday relaxing in one of the many lodges, or sport fishing from dawn to dusk.  A large number of individuals visit Bamfield to sport fish.  One can fish offshore and venture the waters of the Pacific or fish in the protected waters of Barkley Sound.  Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing is providing summer trips out of Bamfield.  Included in packages is choice of accommodation and fishing vessel and area to sports fish.  With the big return of chinook and coho and the many migrating salmon on Bamfield’s doorstep the summer of 2007 should be spectacular.  The migrating salmon come into Barkley Sound quite often as far as Diplock and Pill Point and feed on the vast amounts of  bait fish.  This creates ample opportunity in June, July, August and September for sport fishermen.  Halibut fishing is expected to be very good offshore.  Many people enjoy the opportunity to fish for both halibut and salmon.  Visit Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing at www.catchsalmon-ca.com and take time to find out more about the fantastic fishing opportunities of Barkley Sound and the picturesque community of Bamfield for your fishing opportunity this summer.

       Winter Chinook fishing in the Bamfield Barkley Sound area has been fairly active.  There have not been a lot of big fish.  The past week has had some beautiful spring days on the water with some of the best fishing along Brady Beach, the wall, Sarita Bay from Nanat Island to the Green Can.  Irish Mist, Green Spatter Back, white AORL 12 hootchies have been working very well.  Watermelon and various silver 4 inch coyote spoons have also been very good.  The fish are located in 70 to 130 feet of water and are averaging 8 to 10 pounds.  The Swale and Vernon Bay Area has some feeder springs up to 14 pounds with most of the fish in deeper water (125 feet).  Spoons and anchovy have been producing some nice salmon.  Local fisherman, Brad and fishing partner had their limit during the week on Super Strip in a clear rhys davis  teaser head  and a silver 4 inch coyote spoon.  The feeder chinook fishing should continue to be good as long as bait fish remain in the area.  The first runs of migrating salmon returning to their natural spawning area should begin within the next month.  Often Meares and Austin have some terrific fishing in May.

Ucluelet

      Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishng has started the ever popular SEAFOOD SAFARI.  We are offering prawn fishing, crabbing, bottom fish, ling cod fishing, which opens on April 15^th, and salmon fishing.  Currently the feeder springs we are picking up are 6 to 10 pounds.  Mara Rock and Begg Island have produced some nice fish and are in deeper water.  Coyote and Titan spoons in army truck and chartreuse colors have been working well.  There have been some reports of some halibut at Southbank and further offshore.  The largest halibut recorded to date is 44 pounds.   There has been some fairly decent salmon fishing offshore.  The salmon have been hitting anchovy in a purple haze Rhys Davis teaser head.  The weather pattern has changed and it is much easier to now get out fishing.  We are looking forward to some excellent fishing this summer.  By mid May we should be full swing into our summer fishing.  Usually numbers in summer salmon and halibut are up in May and most days sport anglers can get limits.  The halibut are attracted by large schools of needlefish and sardines.  Fishermen will also have great success using fresh bait, octopus, sardines, and salmon bellies.   Anglers bringing their own boat to Ucluelet in the summer season should make sure their vessel is equipped with all safety equipment.  GPS, radar, radar reflector, life jackets, and a VHF radio are all of importance.  Guides in the area have fished the Ucluelet waters for years and have all needed safety equipment aboard their charter boats.  E mail Doug at dlindy@shaw.ca for further information.

Somass-Stamp River

      The winter steelhead fishing has still been very good.  Guides through the Easter weekend were still getting into 10 fish per day for clients.  The upper river has a bait restriction.  Large pink worms, gooeybobs and spin’n’glos are all working very well.  Bait in the lower river or below the bucket as well as artificials has been also very good.

The season will be wrapping up very soon however.  There are of course still many steelhead in the system with a few fresh fish coming in but many have now spawned and

and those that have not died are heading back out to sea where they will feed vigorously before coming back in 8 to 10 months.  Steelhead do not always die like salmon after spawning.   Steelhead may spawn three or four times during their lifetime.  After spawning they often return to the North Pacific and feed before returning to their natural river.

Summer steelhead will arrive in the river as early as late June with the best angling for these great sport fish beginning in October and continuing through until mid November.  Plan now for any guided summer (fall) steelhead trip.

For more information

Contact:

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

www.catchsalmon-ca.com

www.catchsalmon.ca

dlindy@shaw.ca

250 724 2502