Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
1 877 314 6800
Winter in the Alberni Valley and the West Coast of Vancouver Island has had many
Unusually cool and snowy days. There have also been some clear bright and sunny days which have developed into some spectacular scenic opportunities for many people who have ventured up and down the Port Alberni Inlet and out into magnificent Barkley Sound. The Stamp River which is world famous for its salmon and steelhead runs has been a winter paradise for well over a month. There has been no rainfall for quite some time and the Stamp is getting remarkably low. With milder temperatures and rain in the weather forecast for the next 4 or 5 days the snow melt should create a dramatic rise in the water.
Stamp River
Winter Steelhead were coming into the system in fairly good numbers in mid December. School sizes had very good numbers of fish. The fresh fish coming in were biting and guests at that time were hooking into eight to twelve fish per trip. Many of the early fish were wild and have moved into the upper river. With low water these fish are rather sluggish and but for a few seemed disinterested in the artificial lures being thrown at them. Fresh fish coming into the system are holding off until the water comes up. The fishing has slowed down over the last week. The mild conditions which are now just developing and the snow melt of three and a half to four feet will create perfect conditions for fresh fish to come into the lower river. We are expecting some spectacular steelhead fishing by the end of this week.
The lower half of the river below “the bucket” anglers are reminded that natural bait can be used. Most of the guides are using salmon eggs in roe bags and shrimp. When above “the bucket” fishermen can only use artificials. Red spin-n-glows, corkies, gooebobs, and large pink worms are good to have in ones tackle. With the water currently still low remember to use small gear but a longer leader and light line. A #12 spin-n-glow in a cherise color seems to be really working the best. As this week progresses and the water gets higher anglers might want to switch to larger gear and a shorter leader and use bright lure colors. With high water it is also a good idea to try the large pink worms and if using a spin-n-glow go to a #8 or 10.
The expectation of the steelhead fishing through March is very good. Since early October the Stamp has had a very good year. You can e mail Doug for any fishing or accomodation inquiries. We are already booking next September and October River trips with people anticipating what has already been forecast as another great Coho and Summer Steelhead year.
Port Alberni Inlet
Port Alberni Harbour
The only type of fishing in the Inlet is the prawn openings. Please make sure this fishery is open by calling the local DFO office. Winter Chinook in past years have followed the bait right up into the Franklin-Nahmint area. A few local fishermen seem to have a knack of knowing when the bait is around only because they are out prawning and have found the vast quantities of bait in the area. We are anticipating a sport sockeye fishery in the summer of 2009. The sockeye fishery is a fun fishery for the family. When the Somass River reaches 18 degrees Celsius the sockeye begin to school in the Inlet and often are in 50 to 70 feet of water. It is at this time that vast amounts of avid fishermen invade the campground at China Creek and it is almost impossible to get in. It is almost impossible to launch ones boat from the Marina if you are not a guest. Of course by mid August the Chinook returning to Robertson Creek Hatchery begin to show and they are followed by Coho beginning in September. The Port Alberni Salmon Derby will be at the seasons’ peak this year as the Labor Day Weekend will be a little later (September 5, 6, and 7). Individuals should begin to make plans for a good fishery in the harbour and inlet during the summer of 09.
Barkley Sound
Ucluelet (West Coast)
We will begin our feeder Chinook trips in Barkley Sound and areas out of Ucluelet in January. The feeders can range from 8 and up to 20 pounds. They are often fairly deep. Those fishing areas in Barkley Sound like Pill Point, Swale Rock and areas around Vernon Bay will have success fishing from 100 to 135 feet. Samatao is also another good area and if patterns continue this is an area where the Winter Chinook are in shallower water (55 to 75 feet). It is always a good idea to have anchovy and we have found Rhys Davis Teaser Heads in Chartreuse as being very good. Hootchies in various blues and green and white hootchies are good lures if using plastic. Hootchie leader lengths should be 38 to 44 inches trailing green or red hotspot flashers. Of course anglers have so many flasher colors to choose from and may never use red or green. The first weekend of March is the Poett Nook Derby. Last year (08) and the year previous saw a Winter Chinook close to 20 pounds win. This Derby is often very close to the herring spawn which brings in vast numbers of fish.
Ucluelet can be a little iffy in the month of January due to weather but February and March can be spectacular months. If the weather is not good we still fish and take guests into the quiet waters of Barkley Sound. Ucluelet is also the area that we will continue on with our SEAFOD SAFARI. Guests are treated to some great days on the Pacific with salmon, rock fish, prawns, and crab. People often finish the day having a marvelous dinner using the barbecues and other features offered at local resorts and bed and breakfasts.
Summer Outlook
Chinook and Coho returns into the area are forecast to be good. It has also been reported that the migratory fish swimming down the coastline of Vancouver Island will be extremely good this summer. These fish come into Barkley Sound and feed on the rich sources of bait. It looks like the Sound and the areas of the surfline will have spectacular salmon fishing days in 09.
For more information
Contact
Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
1 877 314 6800
250 724 2502
250 731 7389 (cell)
e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
