Reel Reports
Get the latest BC fishing report with our online Reel Reports – news from the front-lines of the best British Columbia salmon fishing grounds.
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Tyee season
Painter's Lodge and April Point Resort & Spa - September 15, 2008Tyee rowing season draws to a close today.
Here’s a photo of guest Ed Van Der Werf with the 25 lb. Chinook he rowed with Joe Watson last week.
Dave Gosnell
Marine Operations Manager
Painter’s Lodge and April Point Resort & Spa
Whales at our doorstep
Painter's Lodge and April Point Resort & Spa - September 12, 2008Here is a fantastic photo of “Pender,” a transient Killer whale cruising past the April Point docks.
His dorsal fin is over six feet high!
Michael O’Hara
Operations Manager
April Point Resort & Spa
Catch of the Week and a Humpback Whale
Painter's Lodge and April Point Resort & Spa - September 6, 2008Another beautiful week up here at Painter's Lodge. The Coho are really running, both wild and hatchery. They're always a lot of fun to catch as they put up a good fight, even if you don't get to keep them. In these waters and almost everywhere else, you are only allowed to catch hatchery Coho, which are easily identified by a clipped adipose fin.
The catch of the week goes to Tim Still with a 28 lb. Chinook. Right behind him is Dennis Dahlhansen with a 27 pounder and tied for third is Trina Cotrer and Kurt Warisley with 25 pounders! Good job guys!
A couple of nights ago a humpback whale came right through the passage, singing his song. It was really neat because both sides, April Point and Painter’s Lodge, were able to watch and listen to the humpback as it cruised down.
The weather has been great. Really sunny, with a nice ocean breeze. We haven’t had rain for a while now, which is a nice change.
That’s all for today. Thanks for checkin’ in. Hope you have a wonderful day.
Megan Lane
Dock Supervisor
Painter’s Lodge
Vancouver Island Fishing Update
Canadian Princess Resort - September 6, 2008We have had some wonderful days with weather up here on the west coast, and with the nice weather we've seen a turn for the better out fishing.
Yesterday almost every got their halibut limits and salmon fishing has also picked up. There a lots of Cohos this time of year and now the limit is up to 4 hatchery Coho per day as of September 1,2008. We have had several Ling cod coming in over the 30 pound mark and some very large Vermillion come in on our after noon bottom fishing.
Weather is great for the next week and on, so fish on and tight lines.
Dave Martin
Marine Operations Manager, Canadian Princess Resort
Ucluelet, Vancouver Island
A Whale of a Good Time
Painter's Lodge and April Point Resort & Spa - September 1, 2008It’s been a beautiful weekend up here at Painter’s Lodge. The sun is shining, the rain has stopped and the wind has died right down.
The wildlife tours have been seeing whales numerous times. They saw them on every trip yesterday! They saw a HUGE cinnamon bear on the beach, tons of eagles and numerous deer. Everyone had a whale of good time and got some great wildlife photos.
The fishing has been good. Lots of big Chinook, quite a few of Coho, hatchery ones of course, and a little touch of pink here and there.
The fishing times have been pushed ahead one hour, as we are slowly losing light. Which I personally LOVE, since me and the fisherman and fisherwomen only have to get up at 5am instead of 4am. That extra hour sure makes a difference.
There have been some great rapids tours. The tides are ripping and waves are rolling.
That’s all for today. Thanks for checkin’ in. Hope you have a wonderful day.
Megan Lane
Dock Supervisor
Painter’s Lodge
Queen Charlottes Fishing Update
MV Salmon Seeker - August 25, 2008Our penultimate trip of the season got off to a poor rough with our incoming guests having to overnight in Sandspit (not that there is anything wrong with Sandspit) and their fishing didn’t commence until late on the second day of the trip. However they made the best of it and the weather eased sufficiently to provide some good steady fishing for the rest of their trip.
The biggest salmon was a 38 lb. Chinook landed by the ever humble Geoff Glazier and the big hali was a 71 pounder by Larry Boudreau. The most notable prize, however, was for the largest Coho, which at 17 lbs. is also the largest of the season so far and was brought in on the last day by Michael Stuart Jr.
The forecast for the final trip of the season is for more gales, but we take heart in the knowledge that the forecast is produced by a branch of the federal government and consequently has considerable potential for being wrong. We may get a couple of good fishing days out of the final five.
Captain Ian
MV Salmon Seeker
Queen Charlotte Islands
Vancouver Island Fishing Update
Canadian Princess Resort - August 25, 2008A storm front came in early this week and scattered some of the fish our guests have been enjoying. It also made getting out to the prime fishing grounds of the Big Bank a little challenging.
Good news is on the horizon, though. A high pressure system is coming in for the long weekend and it won't take long for the fish to be found again. As the waters calm we will be going offshore once again to find the fish.
Fish on and tight lines,
Dave Martin
Marine Operations Manager, Canadian Princess Resort
Ucluelet, Vancouver Island
Langara Fishing Update
MV Marabell - August 25, 2008The solid fishing I hoped would continue in my previous report has not come to fruition. Rather than focus on this as a problem, I prefer to see it as an opportunity for our guests to refine their skills. Really, what fun would it be if the fish just jumped into the boat?
One of the major challenges we face right now is the abundance of needlefish in the area. The salmon we catch are literally choking on them, so I can’t help but think they are not very excited by our herring presentation. This is borne out by the increase in foul hooked fish I am seeing It therefore becomes more important than ever to handle the boat properly. Go slow, don’t troll and cut your bait so it has the slowest, most even roll possible.
Andrews Point continues to be the best spot and the fish are running deep, with Coho and Chinook found between 40 and 70 pulls. Guest Jack Seedhouse has just visited again and proved that careful application of time tested methods can still produce excellent Chinook fishing at Langara. As always, I am grateful to people like Jack who are so generous with their knowledge and experience when they visit.
Ken Beatty
Fishmaster, MV Marabell
Langara Island, Queen Charlotte Islands
Queen Charlottes Fishing Update
MV Salmon Seeker - August 21, 2008Kano Inlet is currently a paradise in the sun; a perfect combination of climate and scenery. The sea breeze dispels the heat and gave us some ideal fishing conditions. I don’t know how many times I’ve mentioned the magnificence of Kano Inlet and our anchorage at Givenchy, and the abundance of fish. It is so relaxing to sit on deck in the afternoon after returning from fishing and admire the scene with a glass of wine or a cold drink.
Jason Schrage of AB earned Master Fisherman status today for catching a 148 lb. halibut with guide Dave Beaton.
The following guests were awarded Captain’ Club status:
- Bonita Schmidt of OK — 34 lb. Chinook with guide Darin Craig
- Bill Facknie of AB — 36 lb. Chinook with guide Dave Beaton
- Betty-Lou Hendrickson of Grand Cayman — 44 lb. Chinook with guide Scott Beckett
- Roger Henderson of Grand Cayman — 32 lb. Chinook with guide Scott Beckett
- Paul Williams of KS — 31 lb. Chinook with guide Jim Granger
- Jerry Ewy of KS — 33 lb. Chinook with guide Clay Johnson
- Jason Schrage of AB — 33 lb. Chinook with guide Dave Beaton
- Jay Ewy of KS fore catching 32 lb. Chinook with guide Derek Resch
- Steven Ewy of KS — 30 lb. Chinook with guide Derek Resch
Captain Zak Farid
Master, MV Salmon Seeker
Queen Charlotte Islands
Queen Charlottes Fishing Update
MV Salmon Seeker - August 20, 2008With the wind continuing, guests are fishing up a storm inside Kano Inlet. They're sure making the best of it, though, with most coming back with their daily limit.
The catch of the day, despite the area being under storm warning, included 34 Chinook and 31 Coho.
The following guests joined the Captain’s Club today:
- Roy Kaneoka of CA — 46 lb. Chinook with guide Steve Ling
- Chase Cox of AB — 33 & 31 lb. Chinook (2 pins) with guide Brett Thomas
- Dave Coster of WA — 31 lb. Chinook with guide Richard Johnson
- Jerry Ewy of KS — 33 lb. Chinook with guide Clay Johnson
- Arnold Thiessen of AB — 35 lb. Chinook with guide Tom Clinton-Baker
- Frank Buher of AB — 32 lb. Chinook with guide Tom Clinton-Baker
- Tim Russel Jr. of WA — 17 lb. Coho with guide Richard Johnson
- Ryan Cox of TX — 30 lb. Chinook with guide Dave Beaton
- Matt Russell of WA — 15 lb. Coho with guide Shawn Counts
- Phyllis Williams of KS — 41 lb. Chinook with guide Jim Granger
- Paul Williams of KS — 34 lb. Chinook with guide Jim Granger
- Harold Schrage of AB — 30 lb. Chinook with guide Matt Fuller
Captain Zak Farid
Master, MV Salmon Seeker
Queen Charlotte Islands