The photo of the week shows Ron Wakita with a very bright Kalum River doe Steelhead caught Saturday, October 24, 2009. The fish was released after this quick photo. This fish is a “star” in my latest video clip…see below.
Noel Gyger - WEEKLY FISHING REPORT dated October 18 – October 25, 2009
Dear Fishing Friends:
SUMMARY: Weather was fair all week but lots of rain today. Some rivers have come up but most are still in fishable shape. The Coho runs are coming to an end and most fish are in their spawning colours. By regulation it closes for Coho on October 31. We’ve had a very good run of Coho this year. Both spin, conventional, spey fly fishing and single hand fly fishing have been working well. The Kitimat Coho run is really slowing down but catches can happen if you know where the fish are holding upriver. I think it is a good idea to release all dark Coho and keep only the bright ones. Another good idea, for conservation, would be to keep only males. Cutthroat Trout fishing on the Kitimat River is good. For all of the fine details and photos on the Kitimat River and Douglas Channel please check out the Ron Wakita report below. The Zymoetz (Copper) River is fishing “fair” for Steelhead. The Kalum is fishing only “fair” for Steelhead but “excellent” for Coho. Check out the Steelhead video clip on the Kalum River I shot yesterday, Oct 24. I was float fishing with Ron Wakita. Please scroll down to see the “new” Product Profile section…tackle you need to know about to catch more fish!
VIDEO CLIP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C98RpIASXjM
Video Clip preview: Ron Wakita and I were float fishing for Steelhead on the Kalum River Saturday, October 24, 2009. Ron landed this beautiful doe using Delta artificial “drifter” salmon eggs (aka space-man), white wool and a super sharp 2-ott Gamagatsu barbless hook. The rod was a 10.5 foot Skeena King Trophy XL graphite class 10 – 17LB. The reel was an Abu Garcia 6600 C4 filled with 15-pound Berkley Big Game. The foam float was made by Gibbs Tackle. Cast here for a direct link to the video. It is also listed on the Video Clips webpage: Title: Float Fishing for Steelhead and is Steelhead video Clip #0074
NOTICE Cast to http://noelgyger.ca/special-guided.htm to view open dates for guides and lodges. Their season is running short but they still have a few spots open.
LIST OF “New” ITEMS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE THIS WEEK:
- One New video clip posted on ''Video Clips'' Oct 25/09 - One New update posted on ''Quality Waters Strategy'' Oct 21/09 - One New item posted on ''Special Guided Fishing Trips'' Oct 21/09 - One New item posted on ''Conservation'' Oct 19/09
NOW BOOKING: Let me know if I can be of service to book you with the ''best'' fishing guide and/or fishing lodges for both river and ocean. There are NO extra charges to book through me, just a lot of free information and advice from a person with years and years of fishing and fish guiding experience. It is like hiring two guides for the price of one. I will promptly answer your questions and concerns. Cast here http://noelgyger.ca/special-guided.htm to read more of what I have to offer.
Many people book three trips per year to our area; one trip in the spring (March-April-May), one trip in the summer (June-July-August) and one trip in the fall (September-October-November). They love having the same guide but fishing for different fish in different areas.
Be sure to check out my website at www.noelgyger.ca for news bulletins, mid week fishing updates, conservation, my history, quality waters strategy, special guided fishing trips, video clips, podcasts, scenic river photos, wildlife photos and others, comments from past guests, informational articles, archived fishing reports from 1996 through 2002 and a sportfishing market place. I hope it meets with your entire satisfaction. I am at your service.
FISHING GUIDE REPORTS FOR THIS WEEK ARE FROM:
Ron Wakita, Todd Haynes, Ariel Kuppers and Chad Black
CURRENT REPORT and summary for Skeena and Tributaries:
TYPE OF FISH CAUGHT: Coho, Steelhead, Trout and Dolly Varden Char for river. Salmon, Halibut, Bottom Fish and Dungeness Crab for ocean.
Thank you for using barbless hooks!
FISHING THIS WEEK: GOOD
LARGEST FISH OF THE WEEK: River: Ron Wakita 12-14-pound Steelhead. Ocean: none reported this week.
WEATHER: Rain. Amount 10 to 20 mm. High 8. Sunrise 8:23 AM Sunset 6:14 PM. Today’s yearly average temperatures: Maximum 8 degrees. Minimum 2 degrees.
WEATHER REPORTS VIA TELEPHONE: Terrace 250-635-4192 Kitimat 250-632-7864 Prince Rupert 250-627-1155 Smithers 250-847-1958.
SKEENA RIVER: is borderline fishable. The larger runs of Steelhead and Coho are coming to an end. Time to target the tributary rivers.
Skeena River height: http://scitech.pyr.ec.gc.ca/waterweb/fullgraph.asp
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO): Tyee Test Fishery for the Skeena River.
KALUM RIVER: Fishing for Steelhead is “only” fair. Fishing for Coho (Silver) Salmon is “excellent”. The water coloured up on Friday and Saturday but is clean now.
KASIKS RIVER: is in fair shape. This is prime time to fish for Coho (Silver) Salmon.
EXCHAMSIKS RIVER: is in fair shape. This is prime time to fish for Coho (Silver) Salmon.
EXSTEW RIVER: is fishable. This is prime time to fish for Coho (Silver) Salmon. If Coho are there you can usually see them rolling.
ZYMOETZ (COPPER) RIVER: The water is in fishable shape. This is “prime time” to fish for Steelhead using Spey, Single hand fly rods and conventional gear.
Fishing Report from: Ron Wakita of Reliable Guide and Charters
Cast on link below to view flyer: http://www.noelgyger.ca/ads/Instore_Flyer_July_2009.pdf
KITIMAT RIVER: With a little rain that we received this week the Kitimat Creek (as we have called it lately) has started to flow at a level to be once again called the Kitimat River. The upside to very low water conditions is that anglers are able to find a bunch of fish grouped up in deeper pools and cut banks. The challenge is to find them. Many anglers fishing for Cutthroat Trout found them in good numbers and they also found lots of Coho stacked up in the same pools.
Oct 20 Dave Bergeron reports catching 9 Cutthroat. Three of these were in the 2 to 3lb range. “Wow!” He also reports catching Coho while he was float fishing for Trout. Be careful Dave, some of these big Coho can put a big hurt on your Ultra light Trout Rod. Dave was going to share some photos for this report but unfortunately they didn’t turn out. Thank You for your efforts Dave and congratulations on your catch.
Oct 21 Ariel and Brandon landed 6 Trout and 5 Coho. Ariel was Fly Fishing with his Spey Rod and Brandon was using a Spinning Rod. Ariel was using a #2 Silver Dick Nite with Type 8 Rio Sink Tip. Brandon was using a Gibbs Koho 45 Blue Illusion Lure. Well Done Ariel and good job Son.
Oct 21 Dave Olsen and his fishing partner report catching lots of Trout in the Nalabila Stretch. They also reported catching Coho while targeting Trout.
Oct 22 Greg Gardiner and James Wright report hooking a dozen Trout every time they went out this week. The biggest was 18 inches. They were using 3'' Berkley Power Worms and said that they fished “better than bait”. Greg said that they had better success with pink bubble gum impregnated worms than with real worms. The proof is in the results. Well done Guys!
Summary: The majority of Coho on the Kitimat River have turned to their spawning colours with fewer and fewer bright Coho. The Trout fishing on the Kitimat River has been excellent. Many anglers have reported good results using a wide range of lures. Float Fishing natural dew worms is still popular and now artificial worms such as Berkley’s Power Bait Worms are also catching some Trout. The Dick Nite were also fishing very well for Trout and Coho also love them. The Dick Nite Spoon is productive both on a Fly Rod and on a spinning rod. The Kitimat 32 Silver Red was also a hot lure this week. Fly fishing with minnow patterns continue to be excellent. Most Fly fishers usually tie their own version of a minnow pattern to catch Trout on the Kitimat River. Some anglers reported that the flies out fished tackle although they caught Trout using both types of gear. I subscribe to the theory of doing “whatever the fish tell you to do”.
There are a mixture of a lot of Cutthroat, Dolly Varden and Rainbow Trout in the Kitimat River right now available for anglers to catch using whatever preference of Gear type. The weather and river conditions will soon be a major factor so my advice is to get out and catch them while the conditions are good. Weather and river conditions in the North West can change almost by the hour.
DOUGLAS CHANNEL: There is not a lot to report from the Douglas Channel but a few boaters were talking about doing some fishing this weekend. The target was for Halibut or Crabbing with another boater testing the Winter Chinook fishing in the Kitimat Harbour. With the expectation of the up coming Winter Chinook Fishery in the Kitimat Harbour I am excited about two Lures that I saw while at the Redl Sports Distributor Dealer Show.
These are the True Troll Lures and Rhys Davis Strip Teasers Holders with Baitrix's new imitation Herring Strip.
The True Troll Lures have a bunch of new colours that I am looking forward to trying out for Winter Chinook. True Troll lures really got my attention in Coho Season and has become one of my favorite lures that has moved to the top drawer of the tackle box. They were dynamite for Coho! They should also be good for Winter Springs. Stay Tuned for Noel Gyger’s new “Product Profile” section.
Rhys Davis is one of the most popular bait holder lures fished in the Douglas Channel and has been around for decades. Rhys Davis has teamed up with Baitrix, a manufacturer of imitation Herring bait. Baitrix has developed a Herring Strip imitation that will fit Rhys Davis’s Super Herring Teaser and a Rhys Davis Large Strip Teaser. Trolling Herring Strip has always been one of the most popular lures of choice for Coho and Winter Springs in the Douglas Channel for years. Berry’s Bait stopped distributing frozen Herring Strip a few years ago and Herring Strip was no longer available. Accordingly Herring Strip was not fished as much because anglers were now forced to make their own strip by cutting up whole Herring. A few anglers continued to make their own strip but most switched to fishing anchovies or Herring minnows. Fishing Strip is back! Baitrix is very life like and can be impregnated with scent to complete the disguise. They are more durable than actual Herring strip and more important, they will be readily available on the market soon. Stay tuned to this report and Noel’s Product profiles section for the fishing results of the samples that Gord McKay from Baitrix and Tom Davis from Rhys Davis kindly gave to me to test. I am looking forward to fishing both True Roll and Baitrix with Rhys Davis Strip Teaser holders in the Kitimat Harbour Winter Chinook Fishery. Stay Tuned!
Special Report:
I had the pleasure of fishing with my good friend and associate, Noel Gyger on the Kalum River Saturday morning. As usual we had an excellent outing looking for our first Steelhead fishing together on the Kalum. Mission accomplished as we landed a beautiful Steelhead, a small Coho and a bunch of Trout. I consider Noel as the foremost authority on Fishing in the North West, especially the Kalum and he predicts that Steelhead will get better in the coming weeks. Thanks for a great trip Noel. Hope we can get out again!
Special Thanks to all the anglers who have contributed info and photos to this report.
Good Luck! and Good Fishing!
Sincerely Ron Wakita
Fishing Report from: Nicholas Dean Lodge
Gary Bartholomew and Deb Morrow pose with two Coho from one of 8 double headers they experienced en route to a 50 fish day. Astounding numbers of Coho landed by our clients point to one conclusion - this year's return is easily the best in the last 10.
Hello Anglers,
It's that time of year again. The forests of northwest BC are making their transition from the subdued shades of Summer, to more brilliant oranges, reds, and yellows, and mountain peaks gleam with a fresh layer of powder born from the previous night. It's Fall and the combined look and feel of the landscape just seems fishy. Maybe it's the knowledge that Steelhead and Coho are stacked in my favourite Skeena River tributaries in peak numbers. Or, perhaps it's because I force myself away from the demands of the office and fish more than I do at other times of year. Either way, I always find myself anticipating the late Fall, and getting out on the water serves as a great reminder of the wild spaces we get to live and work in. And it doesn't hurt that clients have experienced exceptional fishing this week either... The last few days, Gary Bartholomew and Deb Morrow have been guided by Dustin Kovacvich, lodge manager and head guide, and had arguably some of the best fishing of the year - perhaps in lodge history! On one of our favourite Lower Skeena Tributaries, the run of Northern Coho has been staggering this year, with multiple fish days the norm. In most years, competent anglers can expect to hook between 4 to 10 Coho per day on the fly, and anything over that is exceptional. Well, Gary and Deb surpassed this well and truly, landing over 50 Coho on Tuesday and 60 on Wednesday. Most of these fish were in the 10-15 lb range, but there were several landed just shy of 20 lbs. Regardless of where you are, those are monster Coho. All I can say is...well done!
Now when it comes to describing our fishing with clients, both Dustin and I always err on the side of being conservative, because there are all too many fishing operations out there who claim to catch ridiculous numbers of fish when, in fact, many times they do not. We always prefer to be up front and honest with our fishing, so when our clients get to experience legitimate days like this, it really highlights just how prolific our west coast fisheries can be.
Over the years, our guides here at Nicholas Dean Lodge have developed specialized techniques for targeting Coho Salmon in our rivers with flies, to the point where fly fishing is often just as productive as casting spoons and/or marbou jigs.
Until next week, tight lines and screaming reels... Chad Black, Operations Manager
Fishing Report from: Nautical West Fishing Adventures
Hi Noel, sorry I could not type a report for you. I am actually in Vancouver waiting to watch an NHL Hockey Game tonight. Please just remind the fishing folks I have some open dates for spring Steelhead 3rd week April 2010 and for them to contact you for more info and/or book it if they so wish.
Thank you. Todd Haynes
PRODUCT PROFILE:
I really enjoyed spin fishing with this “new” super braided line. It was engineered for spinning reels. The smooth coating on the line slips through the guides quietly and effortlessly. No more wind knots and tip wraps. My casting distance improved and I had instant hook-sets. It is small in diameter but extremely strong. I snagged up and had to pull so hard to break it that I pulled my anchored jet boat half way across the river. It finally broke. Actual break strength is 53 lbs. You will recover more jigs and lures as the hook usually straightens out. I fished all day and lost only one jig. So outstanding is Dura Cast’s performance that the line won the Best New Braided Line award at the prestigious European Fishing Tackle Trade Association show in June of 2009. Dura Cast will revolutionize your experience.
AREA RIVER RECORDS: Chinook Salmon: Skeena River, 92.5-pounds; Kalum River, 85-pounds; Kitimat River, 74-pounds; Steelhead: Skeena River, 45-pounds; Coho Salmon: Skeena River, 27-pounds.
FISHING REGULATIONS WEBSITES: 2009-2011 BC tidal waters and non-tidal (Federal) Salmon fishing information: www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish Effective April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2011
2009-2011 Freshwater (Provincial) Fishing Regulations Synopsis: www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish Effective April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2011 (Note regs good for two years)
GUEST FISHING PHOTOS:
***If any of you have special fishing photos, testimonials, scenic river photos, wildlife photos or articles I would love to see them.
Hi Noel, I always read your and Ron's Newsletter with great interest. Here's my first ''Northern'' caught two weeks ago during my short trip from Switzerland on a Skeena Trib. I believe you are always looking for good pics. Say hello to Ron from Alex (we were both in love with Maria from the Motel in Kitimat...). All best, Alex (from Switzerland)
Catch & Release formula:
- Chinook: girth squared x length x 1.54 divided by 1000 (inches) - Steelhead: girth squared x length x 1.33 divided by 1000 (inches)
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GOOD LUCK and GOOD FISHING!
Yours sincerely,
Noel F. Gyger
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