2017 pink salmon plans?

[rena0040]

Anyone heading west for pinks this year?

I did the fraser/vedder in 2015 which was awesome but wanting to try something different this year.

Was wondering if there's any good rivers around sooke for pinks and if the island run is the same time as the fraser.

[Bemoredog]

I'm probably going to head out to the Fraser/Vedder for Pinks. If you decide to do that again and want a partner let me know. It'll be my first time so going with a more experienced partner would be nice. Might be open to the island as I used to live there, it's just a bit further away.

[Tom Pullings]

I went out in 2015 and bought a bunch of gear for it. Drove to Vancouver and they canceled the whole fishery. I had to settle for smallmouth bass fishing in the okanagan. First world problems.

[Bemoredog]

The hell? Was it due to low sockeye counts? I can't see why they would do that for pinks... cause they're insanely numerous.

[Tom Pullings]

I can't remember the details. Maybe it was just the Fraser. But the day I was set to go out they announced the closure.

[BigSwede]

I used to spend a pile of time on the cambell/quinsam rivers. Cross the loggin bridge up from river sportsman and fish the log jam by the pump house. You got yourself fish for days. Got spooled by a coho ( gottem close enough to verify) before losin an $80 dry line, $15 dollar poly tip n fly. Expensive fish! I do lovem though. Nothin more fun on an 8 weight rod

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[rena0040]

I can't remember the details. Maybe it was just the Fraser. But the day I was set to go out they announced the closure.

2015 there was a drought and all rivers were closed for a few weeks.

[Macdrizzle]

spend 300 dollars for a round trip to kitimat (don't need a guide). I am living here right now. Literally 1 pink per cast for 2-3 months straight. The locals here usually leave them for kids and the kids even get bored of catching them.

[fishman]

Quinsam Campbell river is always good

[SNAPFisher]

I.E. I think the OPs question about rivers near Sooke has been answered :)

I know it had me scratching my head. There is really only the Sooke River and that is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy down the list, and a long shot, compared to some of the other suggestions made here. Might want to think of somewhere else than Sooke.

[hawk-i]

We only keep the occasional pink (for smoking) if nothing else is available ....to the locals around here they're mostly considered a nuisance fish when you're targeting other species.

Why not plan a trip for sockeye, chinook, or koho instead of pinks?

[rena0040]

Part of the reason for trying the island this year was to grab a charter for a couple days to target other species.

The reason we go for pinks is the endless fun of pulling in 4-6lb fish on light gear. I prefer it to 2 or 3 bigger fish a day.

[saintsix]

Generally in Sooke we fish for pinks from boats not target them in the river. Actually most don't target them. They target the chinook and have to put up with the pinks taking the bait. But provides entertainment and ill keep some for the smoker. Mainland river fishing is probably better then island river fishing if that's your goal.

[saintsix]

just read your last post. 2015 the pinks came early summer and were slow come august. Definitely not hard to get your limit while also targeting other fish. feel free to PM if you have any other questions

[Bhflyfisher]

The big runs run in alternating years. Meaning, the island gets big numbers on even numbered years, while the lower mainland (fraser) gets big numbers on odd years. The fraser used to get pinks every year but that changed during the big slide so many years back.

Skeena region gets them every year. Some island streams that are hatchery enhanced (Campbell, Quinsam, Nile Creek, Eve, Quatse) all get fish on odd years.