PORT ALBERNI INLET, BARKLEY SOUND, WEST COAST (UCLUELET)

FISHING REPORT

September 2006

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

SLIVERS CHARTERS SALMON SPORT FISHING
SEPTEMBER 18th, 2006

Reported by: Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

It is mid September and there are still lots of chinook, coho, chum and halibut in all areas. One big problem however over the
last five days is to entice the salmon to bite. Doug of Slivers Charters thinks that a bit of rain will definitely get the fish moving. At this time of the season moving into the rivers is very important for conservation but a weather change should also get the salmon thinking about biting. The past week has produced some nice fish in Barclay Sound. Pill Point, Gilbraltor, and Swale Rock have seen most guide boats pick up an average of four chinook per day. Most guides however are still wondering about the lack of coho. It seems that many of the early coho are not stopping and feeding in many of the usual areas in Barclay Sound but are moving through to the Port Alberni Inlet and into the Somass-Stamp River System.

The West Coast is still very good as guides Al and Mike are still picking up some very nice 25 pound halibut and lingcod which are averaging 20 pounds. The wreck, harbour mouth and Beg Island are still producing some beautiful chinook and coho.

PORT ALBERNI INLET AND BARCLAY SOUND
35th Port Alberi Salmon Derby

It has been two weeks since the opening of the three day salmon festival and derby in Port Alberni. The derby was a success with record attendance. Just over 2,000 salmon averaging in weight at 16 pounds were caught. Former Port Alberni resident, Dave Boxrud, who now resides in Nanaimo, won the Derby with a 44.6 pound chinook which he hooked at Bradys Beach which is close to Bamfield. Boxrud nailed the trophy fish on bait. Dave won the overall $10,000 prize and the George Berry Memorial Trophy. Local resident Doug McKillop was second catching his 43.10 pound chinook at Pill Point on a plug on the Saturday morning of the Derby. McKillop won largest fish of the day which netted him $3,000 and the Fred Duncan Memorial Trophy which is a trophy presented to a local Port Alberni resident with the biggest caught fish during the derby.

The Port Alberni Inlet and Barclay Sound saw some very spectacular sport fishing during the derby and into the first few days of September. However the inlet slowed down as the DFO had a commercial gill-net and seine opening. The nets have seemed to spook the salmon and the bite has not been as predominant over the last five days. Some anglers are picking up some nice 20 pound chinook and 12 to 15 pound coho in the first few hours of the morning and later in the evening. Large Pink bubble gum hootchies, bait, and green spider-back and t-rex hootchies have been producing some fish. Barclay Sound is the best area to fish. Chinook and Chum are in abundance with only a few coho being brought in. Over the past week guide Doug had some great fishing at Cross Point which is very close to Pill Point. New Jersey residents Mike and Dawn had a wonderful Monday pulling in a 25, 22, 18, and 10 pound chinook. They lost a few others but this being their first time salmon fishing, they were very happy with their day, which was absolutely spectacular. Guide John with guests Steve and Mark from Edmonton fished some of the same waters for two days and had some nice bright chinook but also picked up one of this years largest coho at 18.6 pounds. The largest fish of the week was picked up by guide Henri who had some guests from Red Deer Alberta. Their largest fish weighed in at 32 pounds and was picked up at Swale Rock. Most of the salmon are being caught on bait with a 6 foot leader and green hotspot or purple haze flasher. Purple haze and pearl teaser heads seem to be working the best. Fishing in the Sound should pick up even greater with some rain and should be fantastic if the coho show up in numbers. For more information contact Doug at dlindy@shaw.ca

Ucluelet

Guides Mike and Al are having some great days on the West Coast. Not only are the salmon still in abundance but the bottom fishing for halibut and Lingcod has been still very good. Beg Island produced last weeks largest salmon at 33 pounds. The Harbour mouth has plenty of fish. The beach has not been as good as it should be as the coho which should be flooding into Barclay Sound just are not there. Al had a 28 pound chinook on Thursday evening and two smaller coho. Fishing on the coast will be active through until mid October with boats fishing out to the Big Bank, South Bank, Wreck, and Harbour.

September is a fantastic month to fish. This is the month with little wind and fog. The days are wonderful on the water. These
are often the days that anglers dream of all winter.

Somass-Stamp

Drift boat fishing in the river has been slow. There are just over 5,000 chinook in the system. Some water either being released into the system or rain will get the fish moving up into the Stamp. This will pick the fishing up dramatically. There are also summer steelhead in the area. Look for further reports.

For More Information
Contact:
Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
www.catchsalmon.ca
250 724 2502 (home)
250 731 7389 (cell)
dlindy@shaw.ca