My Salmon trip 2010 (Part 2)

[Jamie]

Well our first trip of the year was a rough go.. Huge waves, and the fish were not biting as expected. This time around, I went to Prince Rupert with my Cousin Kevin. I had purchased this trip at the AHEIA auction last spring.
Original we were suppose to fish with Stan Reiser of Alberta Trophy hunts. Unfortunately, his work schedule ended up getting in the way so Stan arranged for us to have our trip done by 2 different guides. To bad as we were really looking forward to fishing with Stan.
This was my first go fishing as a "Day Tripper" we stayed in a hotel and picked up lunches at Timmys first thing in the AM. I was some what interested in seeing how things worked from that type of trip POV.

I doubt I will ever be a Day Tripper again. What a HUGE pain in the azz. Though the guides were friendly, I do appreciate a lodge type atmosphere. I hated having to get up a hour early, find a cab, head to Timmy's ECT ECT
The ability to be in a lodge will now be paramount for me.

We battled hard with seeing us on the water the first day for 17 hours.
Second day had us out for 14 hours
Third day had us out for yet another 13 hours.
We were exhausted. No drinks after fishing just time to get a bite and fall asleep. After our final trip, we didn't even eat, we hit the sack and slept till the plane left the next AM. Fish count was OK.. Not great, but I have seen worse.

Weather on the Saturday was scary bad. We were trying to head to Dundas Island in a 28 footer. It looked like the opening sequence of "Dangerous Catch" We weren't going over those waves, we were plowing through them. A few times I caught the Bow under a great deal of water only to have the wave wash over the cabin and deposit its self on the fishing deck.
Kevin was standing up singing "The Edmond Fitzgerald" with the words changed to reflect our trip. I leaned over and asked the captain if he wanted to be George cluny and I could be Mark Wahlberg from the Perfect storm. Lots of laughs and a hell of a Rodeo.

Next up is a surprise trip that will see Heidi and myself heading to the Charlotte Princess for a self guided trip at Langara Island. Heidi enjoys the finer things on a fishing trip that include sleeping in till 10 AM and then fishing till dusk. It works better when we are self guided. I get up early, catch the morning bite, she sleeps in and has a great breakfast, then calls me on the Radio to come pick her up. By far and away my best trip was with her last summer and I hope for the same experience this time around. It's a last minute trip and we leave in 2 days. Hopefully I can chase some Coho with my new Fly Rod, but I have no idea what to use for flies in order to try and cast to these rocket ships.. Any suggestions guys???

Thanks
Jamie

[Tofinofish]

Hey Jamie,

Sorry to hear about the day trip thing being a downer for you. We do day and multi day charters, and likley a little more streamlined than what you experienced. No cab rides or Tim Hortons as fully contained guest suites are 2 minutes walk fron the dock...
Hope you QCI trip is the icing for you and your wife though.

Regarding the flies for Coho, I have trouble posting the images on hear, but do have a number of excellent patterns for you to consider that are easy to tie, or we can custom tye them and send to you.

I just spent the last two days filming a Fishing Show for Saltwaater Fly fishing, and am happy to share a few of my hot custom patterns with you to try. We filmed a segment on the vise for my main pattern that will be aired with the show, but it won't be on the air until late Aug or early September. So that won't help in time.
If I get the process of posting the pics, that willl be easier to share with others that are waiting for tips/patterns, but if you want them direct, send me a PM with your e-mail so I can forward.
I'll be posting another thread about an unreal event from this weekends filming...a first for me in over 15 years of guiding on the fly and gear.

Jay

[Kingfisher]

Sounds like an adventurous trip to say the least. I've been on those type of trips before and although I always enjoy being out on the water, I am always to get back to shore and be on firm ground again.

As for flies most times I use streamers for coho. There are lots of patterns to choose from. But since you don't really have much time I'd say use the basic colors. White/silver and blue. You can tie a simple fly using just white bucktail then some silver flashabou and blue flashabou and blue bucktail on top. That's probably the most basic coho fly that money can buy. Nice and flashy. But don't make it too bulky. I find the slimmer one's work best. There are plenty of baitfish out there and that's really what your trying to imitate. You just want yours to stand out in a crowd. Other color variations can be good also. Pinks, greens, greys. One thing I forgot to add is that I always make the body from silver mylar. I always use a bit of red in the fly at the head of the fly. Even if I just use red thread. I always like to have some red. My though is they key in on the red. But who knows? I'm no fish. But my friends say I think like them.


As for fishing them you can either troll them just back of the prop wash. Or you can drift along by some kelp beds and cast away. I've had some amazing fights with coho on the fly in the open ocean. Make damn sure you have lots of backing on your reel and a driver who's ready and willing to head out after the fish. I've come close to being spooled.

What wt of rod are you bringing? I have always used a 9'6", 8wt. It's a great rod for coho. But not so great if you get a spring. I've landed a few springs. but also felt way undergunned with some of them.

Have a great trip.

we are heading up to Alaska in a few weeks and will be trying for some salmon on the up there. I don't even have time to tie half the flies I want to bring. I think I'll bring some tying supplies and tie some on the way.

Hey Tofinofish send me those fly pictures and I'll be happy to post them for you.

Rob

[Jamie]

Ok boys, thanks for the help.
Jay I tried you at your store today. Unfortunately, you were not around.
Any way you can figure out how to get me some flies to a hotel in Richmond before 8:00 AM on Thursday?

If not, can you recommend a store in Van that I could drive to on Wed? We will be in Van Wed morning and plan on spending the day driving around and eating on outdoor patios.. YAY!! No kids.

Sorry guys, brand new to this Fly fishing game. I don't tie my own. But I do have some nice gear.

Jamie

BTW the Rod is a Temple forks Outfitters AXIOM 8WT 9'0 4PC
Reel is a Islander LX3.8

I tried Bucktailing in the wash in Rupert.. Not a nibble. But perhaps it was due to the not so great fishing. OI am hoping that Langara has a few more Coho around, but from reading the latest Reports, it doesnt sound great.

[Jamie]

Some pics of the first trip including A/O's second octopus.

[Tofinofish]

Jamie,

It might be really tight to rely on a courier to get them there for Thurs. A.M.
Are you flying out of the South Terminal? This may work for me to get a package off from Tofino to the South Terminal by Air.

Are you just trolling Bucktails or casting as well? Coho action lit right up yesterday, with a huge run of bigger fish hitting hard on the surface.

Springs and Halis have been going off for months, but Springs are bigger for sure..

I will try and get time today to post my recent article about filming Fly fishing this past weekend. Who says you can't land a Tyee on an 8wt and 12lb test?.......:budo:

I'll help you with the flies if possible.

Jay

[Jamie]

Just spoke with Jay from Tofino.
He is gracious enough to package me up a set of flies and buck tails for this trip.
Not only is he doing that, but he is shipping them to the South terminal in time for our flight to leave for Langara.
Great service..

OH YEAH, he is also putting in something that he promises will catch me a 30# plus Salmon.. I am holding him to this promise. It's been way to long for me not to catch one of those bad boys. I am so confident that I have arranged for the Taxidermist to meet me at the Airport on the return trip.:sHa_shakeshout::thinking-006:

I know this is the trip!!!
SO Heidi and I have booked into the River Rock and plan on renting a car for a full day in Vancouver. This is going to be great. I get to hang out with my wife, go fishing in a world class location at a good time of year (with my Wife), I get to do some fly fishing, I get to stay at a Casino... Is this a dream trip or what???

Jamie

[Tofinofish]

Hey Jamie,

The Pilot in Tofino told me that he would hand deliver your package to the Oak Bay counter himself. They should be there right now.

I added a couple extra goodies, and the "promise" is as good as the cooperation of big Chinook on any given day. Hopefully what I sent should increase the odds though.

Regarding the Flies, it is pretty straight forward. The only suggestions are you may want to knock off the front/main hooks on the larger bucktails if you are fishing around any floating weeds etc. as well as them tracking better in the water.
The Articulate Clousers that I put in are the same as the one I used this past weekend to slay the Slab Chinook that will be aired on Sportfishing BC this summer. I've had a few ask for patterns today, so will post or send images direct to e-mails.
About my Clouser pattern, you can cast it with an 8 weight, but also don't hesitate to just troll it on the surface as well. It is surprising how it can bring up Coho (and even Chinook) especially when there are Needlefish around.

Glad to help you out and hope you and your wife have a great trip. For others looking for some custom patterns for trips to the coast yet this season, we'll help if we can, just maybe not as quick as Jamie's package :)

Our Saltwaater Fly fishing has two months of peak yet, and have some prime space for those interested in checking it out at this part of our site. (http://www.tofinofishing.com/sal****erflyfishing/index.php)

Good Luck Jamie and I'm sure we'll see a report when you get back.

Jay

[Jamie]

Hey Jamie,



I added a couple extra goodies, and the "promise" is as good as the cooperation of big Chinook on any given day. Hopefully what I sent should increase the odds though.



Jay


I have faith in what you are sending... After all these trips, thats all I have.
Elk and Big Salmon HATE ME!!!!
I am heading to church as we speak.

It`s going to be a great time. My Wife is so excited about all this

Thanks for your help
Jamie

[Jamie]

Good trip once again.
Though its tough trying to learn all the nuances about the area in such a short period of time. I did get our crap together and managed some Salmon on the final tide.
Overall a Ok to good trip in the fishing department. Weather didn't help but there were some bigger fish around. SO I picked a good spot and at a good time, unfortunately the big one just never hit our rods. Largest of the trip was a 48 pounder with a 46 in close second place. To rough to head for Halis, but we did scoop up a couple of small ones.
Many thanks for the new gear from Jay. It arrived as promised. To windy to try and casting for Cohos and they were all to deep for the Bucktail. Perhaps next trip I will get fortunate enough to catch one of them on a Fly.

A fantastic weekend with Heidi though. Plenty of laughs and some great times on the water. I must tell you all just exactly how proud of my wife that I am.
She really picked up her end of the bargain. She drove the boat, insisted I teach her how to rig up, she cut bait, she ran the rods and it goes on and on. She also really picked up the art of fighting Salmon with a "Knuckle Buster" Her last fish was a feisty 12 pound Northern Coho hooked just on the corner of the mouth. Heidi fought that fish for 15 minutes. No mistakes and played well.(Largest Coho of the trip for all guests) She was dashing around the boat, I was turning us around that fish.. It was great. Her netting skills improved dramatically and we never lost a fish due to bad netting. I am very proud of my wife, she listened, she learned and she applied these new found skills. She has once again proven she is the best fishing partner I have ever had. Now if I can just convince her to constantly give up sleep for the early morning tide, we would be in great shape.
Pics when we find the Cam.

Langara Island is a place that all must experience, but I don't think the fishing is any better than Rupert and in fact, I believe that Rupert is a better call and much easier and cheaper to get to. Watch for Prince Rupert to be crowned as the next Salmon fishing destination. Rivers and Haki are dead, Lanagara is different than it once was. The west side of the Charlotte's is not producing like it was. Next up PRINCE RUPERT!!

A few notables. I lost my first fish to a sea lion, then got it in my head that I could land the Sea Lion.. YEAH RIGHT!!! To bad as it was a good Chinook.
A fellow guest hooked a baby seal
Lots and lots of Whales

And on a final "Bragging" note, I pulled off a double header all by my lonesome. a Chinook on one side and a Coho on the other. Interesting to say the least!! (Heidi was sleeping)
A accomplishment I have always wanted to see if I could get done.

So yet the 30# + still eludes me. Perhaps next year.....

Anyone here ever fish with West coast adventures on Lanagara? If so whats with all the attitude towards the self guided people? That attitude has definatly made me cross them off the list of people to fish with.

Jamie and Heidi

[dss44]

I dunno about the Rupert as crowned as salmon destination of bc....may be pushing it lol But sounds like a fun time...and gotta agree...man o man has the weather the past 5 days been insanely rough!!! Almost insanely rough :P lol

[Jamie]

I made a mistake.
It was NOT West coast adventures, it was Langara Lodge.
Sorry for the confusion.

Jamie

[oilngas]

I kinda give up casting with the fly rod and have gone to a system that i till use the fly rod and reel loaded with 8#, but fish with a small (3") cutty in the prop wash for cold holes or a slightly bigger (4") cutty on 1/2 oz. and say 20' of line for springers. Just use the prop wash bait when we decide to troll, and my preffered is to drift just off the kelp / rocks / current / etc. with the two Springer lines out at 10 and 15 pulls and the small cutty straight back at 6' from the boat.
Lots of fun, the best so far is a 38.5 #'r on the small cutty 6' from the boat. That was exciting, they seem to like to jump and stuff with the light or no weight on the line.

[spopadyn]

I made a mistake.
It was NOT West coast adventures, it was Langara Lodge.
Sorry for the confusion.

Jamie

You scared me - I am about to go on my second trip this year as well - with West Coast Adventures. I must say everyones salmon trip this year has been the same - insane gale force winds - when will it let up? Oh well, I fished the ditch in Alberni and it was easy soickeye time.

[Jamie]

You scared me - I am about to go on my second trip this year as well - with West Coast Adventures. I must say everyones salmon trip this year has been the same - insane gale force winds - when will it let up? Oh well, I fished the ditch in Alberni and it was easy soickeye time.

Great to hear you are going out again.
WHere are you off to this time?
The trip after ours at Langara nailed a 64 Pound HOG!! It seems some big ones are around Langara right now.

I MIGHT MIGHT MIGHT make it out again. Perhaps Rupert again, but lets see what happens.
I am getting tired of being beat up on the water thats for sure. Rough year..

Jamie

[spopadyn]

Haven't been confirmed which lodge yet - but it is either Engelfield Bay (the Charlottes) or Walters Cove (the island). I will know soon. On a positive note, my trip to Eaglepointe did land a 39.3lb slab.

[Jamie]

Haven't been confirmed which lodge yet - but it is either Engelfield Bay (the Charlottes) or Walters Cove (the island). I will know soon. On a positive note, my trip to Eaglepointe did land a 39.3lb slab.

Eagle point is one of the places I wish to visit.
I can only asume it was a great experiance.

39 pound slab.. I WISH!!!!! I am telling you, I am cursed. I fished side by side with Eagle pointe this year, so I know I am hitting the right places. Right places, right time, just not MY time yet.
So far this year, I have seen 10+ 30 pounders caught, a 44 pounder a 46 and then they nailed that 64 2 days after I left.
Perhasp next year I am going to try Rupert at the end of May. Though the amount of fish is down slightly (No Coho) and the weather is rougher, the size of the Salmon is just outstanding. This might be my target for next year.
Just look at the locations I hit this year
Bruin Bay (Langara)
Coho Point (Langara)
Mcpherson (Langara)
Dundas Island (Prince Rupert)
The Balls (Prince Rupert)
Hunts Inlet (Prince Rupert)
Andrews Point (Langara)
Boulder bay (Langara)

All of these places are legendary hot spots. But yet NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 30 pounder for me. I think the best I did this year was a 25 pounder or so.

Damn.. Now I want to go again. Perhaps a call in the next few days will allow me to head back out.

Jamie

[dss44]

That 64 ties my Chinook this year....pretty sure those are the two biggest taken on coast so far by quite some margin...lotssss of big fish around these days...today was insane from 1pm-3pm...literally rods couldn't be in water for more than 2 min and a big fish on...all over 20lbs, lotsss between 25-35lbs Will make new post about this tomorrow with pics. Jamie...you are cursed my friend...especially with how much you get out to the coast!!!

[Rigg dogg]

Jamie,
I can feel your Heartbreak. Biggest I have managed is 32 lbs, it's not that we can't catch fish it's just the BIG one's seem to Elude us.

We have a WACK of 20- 23 lbs fish. Everyone IS a CARBON COPY. I hooked one in the toque the other day. WHAT a BATTLE, I thought I had the 40 lber. Get him to the net, decision time . He's FOUL hooked, let him go ( the right thing to DO ) CLUB him, cut him and put him on ICE. I let him see another day, all be it I just managed to get BY.

ANYWAYS, enough BS. I am going back up 1st week in Sept. Will be a quick trip. Grab the boat in Sandspit fish in Masset or QC city. ALL i want to do is get some Hali. Once I have that filled I will try for some Salmon. Might even give the rivers a try.
Let me Know. I buy diesel you buy Booze.
Might bring my boat home, gotta check on the ferry issue

[Rockymtnx]

[QUOTE=dss44;641589]That 64 ties my Chinook this year....pretty sure those are the two biggest taken on coast so far by quite some margin...QUOTE]

64 is a big one.
Here is a pic of a 62 pounder off the Skeena last week.
http://www.steelheadheaven.com/images/072310-6.jpg

[Jamie]

That 64 ties my Chinook this year....pretty sure those are the two biggest taken on coast so far by quite some margin...lotssss of big fish around these days...today was insane from 1pm-3pm...literally rods couldn't be in water for more than 2 min and a big fish on...all over 20lbs, lotsss between 25-35lbs Will make new post about this tomorrow with pics. Jamie...you are cursed my friend...especially with how much you get out to the coast!!!

Dss That was PIG of a fish you guys caught. Look at this report from another lodge fishing right beside us at Lanagara. This was from the week I was there

"Our largest salmon of the season was caught this week: a 57.5 pound Chinook, taken from Boulder Point by a young angler who was fishing for the first time and catching his first ever salmon – a bit of a fairy tale!"

BTW DSS I looked again and that fish that was caught at Langara was only a 62.. Your still number one by my reckoning. Do the guides have any sort of awards set up?

I swear, there is no JUSTICE what so ever in this world. LOLOLOLOL
Great on that kid. I wish I could have watched it being caught. Sometimes I think that I enjoy watching a great battle as much as I do getting into one myself.

Rigg. we should talk. I might be up that way anyhow. Depends on how the conversations go in the next few days. If it goes the way I am praying, you could come by the new place for a day or 2.

I hear tell of a trophy Hali fishery up that way come September. Or perhaps we could smack some 20 pound Coho.

Jamie

[SNAPFisher]

Jamie, all you get from me is one of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDwyGwyglMg&feature=related

Sorry man but from the list you have included of places you have been on the coast, no way can I feel badly for you. Just think of the experiences. I would take a 15 lb coho on the line over a 30 lb+ chinook any day.

Just bustin nuts :fighting0030:

I do owe you a thanks for your original post. I sent the last paragraph to my wife and that has finally conviced her to go to Langara with me - thanks!!!! You should try Sooke one day if you want calm waters. I was there at the end of June and it was like calm lake fishing. I take my own 16 footer.

DSS, I can't take the posts about Hardy anymore. That is where you are based out of correct? I gotta make it up there. If you could PM me some info about a possible trip, that would be appreciated. Thanks for always keeping the blood going. Cheers!

[Jamie]

Jamie, all you get from me is one of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDwyGwyglMg&feature=related

Sorry man but from the list you have included of places you have been on the coast, no way can I feel badly for you. Just think of the experiences. I would take a 15 lb coho on the line over a 30 lb+ chinook any day.

Just bustin nuts :fighting0030:

I do owe you a thanks for your original post. I sent the last paragraph to my wife and that has finally conviced her to go to Langara with me - thanks!!!! You should try Sooke one day if you want calm waters. I was there at the end of June and it was like calm lake fishing. I take my own 16 footer.

DSS, I can't take the posts about Hardy anymore. That is where you are based out of correct? I gotta make it up there. If you could PM me some info about a possible trip, that would be appreciated. Thanks for always keeping the blood going. Cheers!


Snap.. Thats great your wife wants to come with you. She is more than welcome to get in touch with my wife. I am sure Heidi would love to share her experiances.

As for the list. That was only 2 trips this year. You should read my WHOLE list over the past 10 years. The only place I haven't been yet that I want to go is with DSS. (Other than Alaska and trying some river fishing)
I love the adventure of seeing new places and revisiting some old ones.

BUT IT"S BEEN 10 FRICKEN YEARS!!! You would have thought I could have at least found a dead 30 pounder by now. LOLOLOLOLOLOL
It gives me a goal to think about every year.
As for the 15 pound Coho. Man is a big Coho a fantastic fish. My largest is 17 pounds. Unfortunately, I don't have those pics any more. Coho by far and away is my favorite fish to fight. Everyone (Including myself) wants a huge fight with a 60 pound Chinook. But I love a Coho fight.

Please let me know if I can be of any help with heading to Langara or pretty much any other place up that way.

Jamie

[SNAPFisher]

Thanks Jamie. I'm good to go on Langara. I'll book with the West Coast Fishing Club - semi guided. Did that last time and enjoyed every second of it. They aren't cheap but treat you really well.

The weather was so nice last time I made two trips around the island on one day (open water and all). Have you ever landed at the pebble beach inside of Keyhole Rock? Heaven!

My biggest were both at the same trip to Langara - 27.5 and 29.5. Close but no cigar but I also don't care if a ever catch one over 30. The 27.5er was my first bigger fish and one that is burned into my memory for life. What a fighter!!! Caught off of Andrew's point and the 29.5er off Lacy Island. Can't wait until next time.

Pic of the 27.5 lber:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/QCI2008030.jpg

Some pics from this June at Sooke:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/SookeTrip018.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/SookeTrip016.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/SookeTrip035.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/APetesky/SookeTrip033.jpg

Cheers!

[dss44]

I wish we had an award...that'd be sweet! But this is the first year i bet $100 each with 2 other guides on biggest salmon :lol: Soooo worked out ok I guess! PM sent