The photo of the week shows a huge summer-run Steelhead landed on the Skeena River last August. This fish was landed on a single handed fly rod. Now available: PRIME TIME dates for Steelhead and all specie of Salmon: Aug 9 to 15 for 6 or 8 anglers...and...Aug 30 to Sept 5 for 4 or 6 anglers. Fall Steelhead and Coho (Silver) Salmon up to 8 anglers. Contact me noel@noelgyger.ca to book soon…
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Noel Gyger – Guided Fishing Adventures and Weekly Fishing Report
4012 Best Street, Terrace BC V8G 5R8, Canada
Tel/Fax: (250) 635-2568
Cell: (250) 631-2678
E-mail: noel@noelgyger.ca
Home Page: www.noelgyger.ca
Fishing Reports: www.noelgyger.ca/past-fishing-reports.htm
RECORD SALMON & STEELHEAD Spin or fly-fishing
RSS - News Bulletin http://www.noelgyger.ca/newsbulletin001.xml
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Home Page: www.noelgyger.ca
Noel Gyger - WEEKLY FISHING REPORT dated March 1 – March 8, 2009
Dear Fishing Friends:
SUMMARY: The weather has been pretty good all week. Spring is on its way. More and more folks are getting out to fish. Both the upper and lower Kalum and lower Zymoetz (Copper) Rivers are open to Steelhead fishing. The Kalum River opens up to guiding on March 15th. We still have a few spots open. For the Kitimat River and Douglas Channel please check out the Ron Wakita report below. Lots of new stuff posted on the website this week…
March 5, 2009 One "New" clip posted on http://www.noelgyger.ca/video-clips-web.htm
Rob Vodola, Chad Black and I were fishing for Steelhead on the Kalum River last fall (November) and Robby landed this nice fish with a spin rod. Cast here to watch the video under Video Clips (Title: Steelhead Lap Release and is 2009 Steelhead Video Clip #0067)
LIST OF "New" ITEMS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE THIS WEEK:
One New item posted on "Conservation" March 7/09
One New item posted on "Quality Waters Strategy" March 6/09
One New video clip posted on "Video Clips" March 5/09
One New scenic photo posted on "Scenic Photos" March 3/09
One New item posted on "Special Guided Fishing Trips" March 2/09
One New item posted on "Conservation" March 1/09
NOW BOOKING FOR 2009 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.
BOOK EARLY and save money! The Canadian Dollar is low right now. Which way will the Canadian Dollar and the exchange rates go? The answer is no one knows. The Canadian Dollar is low at this time (as of today, March 8) A typical Weekly Lodge Package for 7 days/6 nights/5 days of guided fishing will cost $3500 Canadian Dollars in 2009. With the current exchange rate it will now cost $2732.13 in United States Dollars. A savings of $767.87 (most so far this year) I would suggest you BOOK NOW before exchange rates go the other way. Cast here for current money conversion rates. Contact me anytime for package details.
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, 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.
CURRENT REPORT and summary for Skeena and Tributaries:
TYPE OF FISH CAUGHT: Steelhead and Trout for river. Salmon, Halibut, Bottom Fish and Dungeness Crab for ocean.
Thank you for using barbless hooks.
FISHING THIS WEEK: FAIR
WEATHER: Clearing this morning. Windy. High minus 1. Wind chill minus 17 this morning. Sunrise 8:06 AM Sunset 7:24 PM. Today's yearly average temperatures: Maximum 6 degrees. Minimum -1 degrees.
WEATHER REPORTS VIA TELEPHONE: Environment Canada taped messages constantly updated, giving current conditions and three-day forecasts. Terrace 250-635-4192 Kitimat 250-632-7864 Prince Rupert 250-627-1155 Smithers 250-847-1958.
SKEENA RIVER: Is in good shape, low and clean but still frozen over in spots. Be very careful walking on those ice shelves. The spots that are open can have some drifting ice. Should be a few Steelhead and Trout one can catch.
KALUM RIVER: Is in good shape. Good numbers of Steelhead are in the river now. Fishing for them with fly or spin tackle works well. The water is extremely low and the fish are easily spooked. Walking around is getting a little easier as a lot of the snow has melted. The boat ramps are getting easier to access.
This is a Classified River year round and can be guided from March 15 through October 15 only. The Steelhead record is 32-pounds. To see a photo of this fish cast to: http://noelgyger.ca/records/Record003.jpg The angler is Dennis Therrien.
ZYMOETZ (COPPER) RIVER: Is fishing well for Steelhead right now. The upper section is closed to angling as of December 31 but the lower section below the first canyon will stay open for the winter Steelheaders to enjoy.
Fishing Report from: Ron Wakita of Reliable Guide and Charters.
KITIMAT RIVER: We are still receiving the odd snowfalls. There has not been enough snow that temperatures have been warmer, in fact during most afternoons this week the sun has come out requires shoveling but enough to remind us that it is still winter. Despite the snow the and created some very nice days to be out fishing.
Trout fishing on the Kitimat continues to be good especially during the warmth of the afternoon sun. A local fly fisherman was talking to Ariel Kuppers in our tackle store said that he landed ten trout on minnow patterns in Hirsch Creek.
Ariel and another staff member of our tackle store, Jesse Houston went out fishing on Wednesday and Jesse hooked but lost a Steelhead.
We received another report earlier this week of another steelhead landed although this info was second or third hand. News of the odd steelhead being hooked has tweaked some excitement and has caused a few anglers to start organizing their tackle. We have some in-store specials to help start the season. Please click here or on the Home Hardware logo on Noel's website www.noelgyger.ca if you wish to view our in-store flyer.
Steelheading on the Kitimat usually starts later into March and will get better every day especially if the temperature continues to get warmer. The challenge for this year's season will be searching for new hot spots as there have been significant changes to the river over the winter. Anglers should beware during the first few drifts to be on the watch for these major changes. The most significant change is in the Sawmill to Nalabila area. We will report other changes as they become more exposed as the snow melts.
DOUGLAS CHANNEL: There was only one twelve pound feeder chinook reported early in the week. There have been increasing numbers of Sea Gulls, Seals and Sea Lions sighted in the harbour. These are signs that the herring are starting to migrate into the harbour to spawn. When herring come into harbour usually feeder chinook follow and the Kitimat Harbour winter chinook fishery should pick up. I spoke to Wes Owens and some other boaters who were planning to fish this weekend but we have no results to report at this time. Stay tuned to this report for updates. Good luck to all, Ron Wakita
Fishing Report from: Chad Black of Nicholas Dean Lodge
Though hiking and wading along a rugged coastal tributary can prove to be a difficult challenge, the rewards are often worth it. Here, Jason Smith cradles a well earned 18 lb Steelhead, which took a lightly weighted Comet. Heather Smith Photo
Hello Anglers, I hope this newsletter finds you all doing well and pursuing your fishing addictions with rod and reel. Though there are a variety of reasons why, I must unfortunately report that my fishing adventures have been much too few and far between. This would, in all likelihood, explain why I've been experiencing this nagging twitch every now and again - cabin fever is certainly getting the best of me! Kidding aside, my lack of fishing has translated into some much needed time at my fly tying vise, and dreaming of those picture perfect days on the river. A day where I can feel the warmth of the sun as it rises over the mountain peaks, and sense my homemade Intruder fly, most likely the fishy two-tone pink colour that worked so well last Fall, as it swims its way through the deep slot in front of me. The tug of a Winter Steelhead -whether it's the smashing grab of an aggressive buck, or a simple tightening of the line- is one that I think of often, but do not necessarily need for a successful day on the river. Simply spending time on the water on one's favourite run, making long, graceful casts to the far bank, and smelling a forest coming to life after a long, cold winter are some of the other great experiences that Steelhead fishing offers. Witnessing the sound of a reel as it screams in protest under the pull of a strong fish, and admiring a chrome bright fish brought to hand isn't all that bad either...
Thankfully, Winter seems to be loosening its grip in the Lower Skeena valley, giving way to warmer Spring conditions. Though it's still possible to get those rogue snowstorms in this part of the country as late as early April, the general trend is for warming temperatures and longer daylight hours. Translation: better Steelhead fishing conditions. After a long, cold winter, water temperatures are just a few degrees above freezing and Steelhead can be very sluggish on the Skeena and its tributaries, but as these temperatures increase, so too does the activity of Steelhead.
So, based on the present conditions, what do I anticipate for the early season? Because the Spring season through late March and early May sees some of the most reliable, consistent water flows over the course of the Steelheader's year, and the bulk of the Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring run fish are holding in classic runs and pools, I expect the fishing to be good. On our favorite local river, in most cases, we don't have to guess whether there are Steelhead in a particular run, or not. We know they're there. It just depends on the mood of the fish that day, and if you have the fly or lure that that particular Steelhead wants. Moreover, reports from regional biologists have suggested that when a river's Summer and Fall Steelhead runs are strong, this often correlates with Winter and Spring run fish as well. Given that the 2008 Steelhead run was one of the better ones in the last 5 years suggests that this Spring should provide reliable fishing.
Plus, the last few days that our guides have been out fishing could best be described as "epic." Sky Richard and Cam Thiessen floated a wilderness river a few weeks ago using pontoon boats and Abel crafts, which enabled them to reach waters seldom fished this Winter, and the results were worth the extra effort. Cam landed 3 Steelhead, ranging from chrome bright to lightly coloured, and Sky landed 6 of the 10 Steelhead he hooked. A week later, Dustin landed 2 Steelhead out of the 4 he hooked in a mere 3 hours of spey fishing. One was a smaller hen of 7-8 lbs, and the second of the two bright fish were 14 lbs. With water conditions only improving as we approach our March 22 Spring opener, we look forward to another great season ahead as we provide the very best in guided fishing adventures in Northwestern BC.
Until next week, tight lines and screaming reels…Chad Black
Fishing Report from: Gill McKean of Westcoast Fishing adventures
Hello Noel, Mandi and I were out on the Kitimat yesterday just checking out all the changes mother nature has made to "HER" river. It is really something how the river can move. It was a very nice day with a spring like feel to it. The water was a little low but fishable, was nice just to get out and wet a line. We did not have a touch however it was more a walk down a new section of water just doing my homework for the guests that are showing up this spring.
I am looking forward to the start of a new season!
Will have photos of chrome steelhead soon ...
Gill McKean, Fishing is our addiction - Guiding is our passion- Adventure is in our blood
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:
2007-2009 BC tidal waters and freshwater Salmon fishing information:
www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish
Effective April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2009
2008-2009 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis:
www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish
Effective April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009
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.
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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PARTNERS IN CHANGE SkeenaWild Conservation Trust has been working on a certification mark program designed to encourage selective commercial fisheries in the watershed, which release unharmed steelhead and non-target salmon such as chinook and coho. By purchasing SkeenaWild Salmon's selectively harvested Skeena River sockeye you are partnering with Gitxsan and the North Coast Steelhead Alliance to help transform the Skeena River salmon fishery. Order your SkeenaWild Certified hot-smoked sockeye fillets NOW! They will ship directly to your home.
Cast here for more detail and colour poster
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GOOD LUCK and GOOD FISHING!
Yours sincerely,
Noel F. Gyger
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