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

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
January 13^th, 2006
Doug Lindores

       It is the winter season and fishing in the area is as expected.  Ucluelet has been difficult to fish as the wind has really been a problem.  Barkley Sound has had some fishable days and has had some production on Winter Springs (black mouth chinook).  The Somass-Stamp River system has been very good although the very high water last week slowed things down for some anglers.  The Port Alberni Inlet is very quiet with no fishing.

SOMASS-STAMP RIVER

     Stamp River steelhead fishing slowed down somewhat during the last week of the holiday season.  There were a couple of bright sunshine filled days but the 4 inches of rain received early in the week made fishing difficult for some anglers.  Steelhead are in the upper and lower river.  Guide boats have been doing much better than the recreational angler.  Guides are on the river daily and have a keen sense of the whereabouts of the fish.  Bait and some artificial lures have been excellent.  The Upper River, which is above “the Bucket” has had quite a few steelhead showing.  Anglers are only permitted to use artificial lures.  The best choice of lure has been Janson Eggs, spin-n-glow, and large pink worms.   When the river is high anglers should use larger gear and heavier but shorter leader.  When fishing with spin-n-glows use a #8 or 10 with a luminescence finish.  Fishing below “the bucket” of course does not have a bait ban but for some anglers it has been not easy to find the fish.  Guides in the early part of December were hitting 12 to 17 fish per day for clients.  With the higher water the average over the past few days has dropped to 8.  With the weather changing and cooling to below Celsius 0 for daytime temperatures the river will drop and fishing should once again become very good.  We are expecting many unbelievable fishing days in January, February, and March in the Somass-Stamp system.  For more information on guided tours or sport fishing call Doug a t 250 724 2502 or e mail dlindy@shaw.ca

BARKLEY SOUND

       Barkley Sound had some wonderful sunny weather in the late part of January’s first week.  However there were still windy conditions.  Guides Mike and Ken had success however hiding out of the wind in the back of Vernon Bay, Canoe Pass, Junction Pass, and Samatao Bay.  Samatao Bay was perfectly protected on Saturday and Sunday January 6^th and 7^th as many black mouth chinook (feeder springs) were hitting white and white glow hootchies.  The best of the white hootchies was the aorl12 which turns a blue-white color when in the water.  Most of the keeper salmon ranged from 8 to 10 pounds with many throw away 5 and 6 pound fish in the area.  Anchovie with a green glow Rhys Davis teaser head did not seem to be as effective as it should have been.  The largest salmon was caught at the back end of Canoe Pass and weighed 13 pounds.  This bright beautiful salmon was caught on a 4 inch cop car coyote spoon.  There were also reports of fish being caught on the Bamfield Wall and in the Bamfield Harbour. The fishing this year for winter springs looks very good.  Water conditions seem to be excellent with bait in many areas very ample.  January and February fishing should be excellent and will pick-up with the herring spawn in late February or early March.

        Barkley Sound chinook and coho fishing this summer is predicted to be very good.  The outlook on hatchery return fish is very good.  Robertson Creek return jack coho in the fall of 06 was nearly 10,000 which helps with the prediction of adult coho in 07. 

         Individuals planning trips to the Port Alberni and Barkley Sound areas should do so fairly soon as the sport fishing season looks very good for this summer.

UCLUELET (WEST COAST)

        Fishing has almost been impossible for the sport fisherman and the commercial troll fishery.  The winds offshore have been often at gale force, which have

Led to high water most days.  People wanting to fish out of Ucluelet could run to Begg Island, Mayne Bay and even Sail Rock.  It is not recommended to fish when the seas have not calmed down.  Remember that if you are in your own boat that it should be equipped with a GPS, radar and radar reflector.  Safety is of most importance when on the west coast waters.

         We will be winter spring fishing later in January.  When the winter storms cease salmon fishing should pick-up.  We are offering our Sea-Food Safari beginning late in January or early February.  This is a great opportunity to fish for prawns, crab, oysters, bottom fish, and salmon.  E-mail slivers charters at dlindy@shaw.ca

 for more information on this remarkable fishery.  We will also be offering a Grand-slam Package with fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet or Barkley Sound followed by a day of halibut and bottom fishing the following day out of Ucluelet.  This fishing experience will occur in June, July, and August during the summer of 2007.

PORT ALBERNI INLET

       There currently is not any fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet.  The first sockeye will arrive in late April or early May.  Angling for the sport fisherman should begin sometime in mid to late June.  The Port Alberni salmon Festival will occur during the Labor Day weekend.  Plan to attend this years derby as the sport fishing is forecast to be excellent.

For more Information

Contact

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

www.catchsalmon.ca

dlindy@shaw.ca

250 724 2502