It’s been a grind people, no doubt about it. That said if you put in the time, fish the right spots, depths and gear there are fish to be had, but you’re gonna have to work hard at it.
I’ve been chatting with guides, guests at the lodge and all manner of fisher folks here in Bamfield and yes I do agree fishing has been a tough slug however it’s worth being out there as I have noticed the quality of the fish have improved. Bigger fish for sure have been entering the Sound.
Let me share my thoughts on the how, where and when to help you make the most of your time on the water.
FIrst off, get your butts out of bed. The early morning bite has been steady. Not on fire, not lights out by any means but you can count on 1, 2 or maybe more hook ups if you can get your gear in the water before 6 am. We have been leaving the dock at 5;30 am and there has always been a bit of a bite going on through 7ish.
When the morning bite ends make sure you are fishing the tide changes an hour before to an hour after. There are days when the tide change bite is minimal or doesn’t even happen but usually something happens. You gotta have your gear in the water at this time. Maximize your chances.
Drag the right gear behind your boat. Everyone has their favorites for sure. I will share mine.
The squid spawn has definitely slowed but I am still finding most of my fish with opal squid in their tummies. Yes there are some immature herring and the odd needle fish but squid seem to be the main food source of the fish I have been catching. I have been pulling a combination of the 3 set ups: glow white flash flys with green inserts, white and or brown turds and the Amundson Skinny G knock off in irish cream. The flash fly has been working very well for me as it imitates squid and small bait fish. One of our guests, Sean, who comes up to Harbourside multiple times each number has had great success fishing the West Coast glow white turd with brown speckles. He’s made me a believer. Make sure you put a few in your tackle box!
This is where I have been dragging my gear: Little Beale has been my most productive providing the wind and waves allow. From Lawton Point west past Dagger Rock and then west again, keeping the boat in 70 to 80 feet of water. Most productive depths have been 55 feet to 75 feet on the downrigger. Kirby Point to Ohiat has also been worth fishing. Best depth on the riggger there was 53 feet for me, keeping the boat in 50 to 80 feet of water. The west end of Edward King has been rewarding for some and well worth your while. Austin and Cree has also been solid. I fish deeper here with gear between 80 and 100 feet.
Coho fishing is still hit and miss. If a school moves in you’ll catch them but they are so transitory it’s often hard to find them. They are thick offshore on the salmon highway but please be careful as it’s hatchery retention only.
The good news is offshore hali fishing still remains very good. Salmon bellies, extra large herring and octopus have all done the trick.
As I mentioned earlier, it seems some bigger fish have been moving into the Sound. I am wondering if these could be the first of the Nitnat fish. They are definitely larger and slightly darker on the back than the US bound fish that often haunt Barkley Sound early in the season. Regardless, it’s a welcome sight to see!
Shout out to my last guest Tom as he put our first tyee into the boat this past week just breaking the 30 lb mark. Hopefully this trend continues as the season progresses.
I am off the water today. It’s a fix it, clean it, tie it and organize it kind of day. You have to have one of those once in a while to keep up. Looking forward to my next crew, the Sandersons. arriving today from Calgary.
Expect some updates on the latest fishing news by Monday of next week.
In the meantime and in between time, Coach is out…
Jonathan..