The photo of the week shows pro angling guide Gordon (splash) McKean of Westcoast Fishing Adventures, holding up a "monster" Skeena River summer-run Steelhead caught while fly fishing. This fish took him into his backing twice and nearly got away. He caught this fish while guiding after his clients told him there were no fish in the run and he should show them how it is done! Well…I think they will listen to their guide next time. This is a fish of a lifetime!
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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
RIVER, LAKE, STREAM or OCEAN!!!
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Home Page: www.noelgyger.ca
Noel Gyger - WEEKLY FISHING REPORT dated July 20 – July 27, 2008
(Number 81)
Dear Fishing Friends:
SUMMARY: The weather was good all week. All rivers are in good shape. Skeena River has been dropping and is in perfect shape. Not only are the guides catching some very big Chinook (King) Salmon they are starting to catch more and more summer-run Steelhead, especially in the lower section. The Steelhead photos are starting to come in…please see below. The Sockeye fishing has started to pick up. The Kitimat River Chinook run remains fair to strong and fish are spread throughout the river but mostly in the upper reaches now. Pink and Chum are showing up also. Be sure to check out the Ron Wakita detailed report and photos below.
Since last Sunday, July 20 the Skeena river came up 6-10 inches, peaked on July 22 and dropped until July 27…but with all this up and down the water remained fishable.
Early Word on the Skeena – by Jeff Bright www.jeffbright.com
The Tyee Test Fishery at the mouth of the Skeena is showing very encouraging steelhead numbers. Since the test fishery opened early this month, reports have levels up 101% over the average index since 2000. If the trend continues it looks like we could see a major rebound for the Skeena system this summer, fall and early winter.
HOWEVER, accompanying the elevated steelhead returns is also a sockeye boom — currently projected at 3 million. This means the commercial fleet will be eager to ramp up harvest and, depending on how the fishery is managed, there is a very real danger that a significant percentage of the steelhead may end up as bycatch and not make it upriver.
To follow the season as it unfolds, and learn how to add your voice to the conservation cause, I highly suggest reading the daily installments at the North Coast Steelhead Alliance's Skeena Fisheries Blog. The link is http://www.skeenafisheriesblog.blogspot.com Check it out and lend your support. If enough of us make enough noise, we CAN influence how the net fishery is managed.
LIST OF "New" ITEMS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE THIS WEEK:
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- July 13/08 one video clip posted on "Video Clips" http://www.noelgyger.ca/video-clips-web.htm
- July 16/08 one item posted on "Conservation" http://www.noelgyger.ca/conservation.htm
- July 24/08 one item posted on "Conservation" http://www.noelgyger.ca/conservation.htm
NOW BOOKING FOR 2008 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.
Don't be disappointed - BOOK your preferred dates for fall Steelhead and Coho now.
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.
FISHING GUIDE REPORTS FOR THIS WEEK ARE FROM:
Ron Wakita
Randy Marshall
Gill McKean
PLUS – Guest photos and reports
CURRENT REPORT and summary for Skeena and Tributaries:
TYPE OF FISH CAUGHT: Chinook, Sockeye, Chum, Pink, Steelhead and Trout for river. Chinook, Coho, Halibut, Bottom Fish and Dungeness Crab for ocean.
Thank you for using barbless hooks.
FISHING THIS WEEK: **EXCELLENT**
LARGEST FISH OF THE WEEK: Specie: 67-pound Chinook Where: Skeena River Angler: Bill R. Schnupp
WEATHER: Cloudy with sunny periods. 30 percent chance of showers early this morning. Windy. High 17. UV index 5 or moderate. Region normal: Max. Temp. 23 degrees C. Min. Temp. 11 degrees C. Sunrise 5:38 AM Sunset 9:44 PM
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.
For current Terrace weather information please cast on:
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/cities/can/pages/CABC0292.htm?ref=wxbtnold
WATER CONDITIONS: Skeena, lower Kalum, Kitimat and smaller coastal streams are in good shape.
CURRENT WATER HEIGHTS FOR:
SKEENA RIVER:
http://scitech.pyr.ec.gc.ca/waterweb/fullgraph.asp?stnid=08EF001
KITIMAT RIVER:
http://scitech.pyr.ec.gc.ca/waterweb/fullgraph.asp?stnid=08FF002
SKEENA RIVER: The water heights have been up and down but stayed in fishable condition. Fishing for Chinook and Sockeye are excellent. I also have reports of summer-run Steelhead being caught.
The photo above is my good friend Cosmo Zavaglia and a couple of nice chrome Chinook Salmon he caught on July 21 and 22. He was up on a fishing holiday with his brother Robert. They had a great trip landing numerous Chinook.
KALUM RIVER: The water in the low end is fishable and I have had reports of Chinook being caught. Angling pressure on this river is low as most of the boats are fishing on the mainstream Skeena River.
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.
KASIKS RIVER: It is now possible to fish for Chinook at the mouth, in the clean seam, where it joins the Skeena. Sometimes the Chinook come out of the Skeena and into the clean water in search for scent of their home river.
EXCHAMSIKS RIVER: Same as above, it is now possible to fish for Chinook in the clean seam.
EXSTEW RIVER: Same as above, it is now possible to fish for Chinook in the clean seam.
Note: the above three rivers are closed to angling for Chinook except at the very low end. Please check 2007 – 2009 BC Freshwater Salmon Supplement (fancy name for regulations) at: www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish for details.
ZYMOETZ (COPPER) RIVER: The water is clean and fishing at the mouth is excellent. Fishing for Chinook closes upstream of Highway 16 bridge on July 23rd.
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.
CURRENT REPORT and summary for Northern Coastal Rivers:
Fishing Report from: Ron Wakita of Reliable Guide and Charters
KITIMAT RIVER: The quirky trend on the Kitimat River of the Chinook migrating through the lower Kitimat continues. The Pink and Chum are also showing signs of following the same trend. Our Mobile Tackle Van has logged Pinks caught at the lower dike on the morning incoming tide in pretty good numbers and then the bite goes off and the fish have moved through. It is the same situation for chum on the gravel bar below the Kitimat Hatchery and the Island across from the Hatchery. As the river height dropped towards the end of the week more fish seemed to hold in the lower holes and Sport anglers were able to catch more fish mostly Chum and Pinks. There were also the odd Chinook caught during the morning and evening high tides on the lower Kitimat.
July20. Richard, Anne and Alison Peard. Landed Coho, released Chum, lost two chinook, lost Pink. Had four species of salmon on.
I had the pleasure of taking the Multi Level Care patients fishing again this year. With the help of Marc and Bonnie Girard, O.B. Luey, Dianne, Al Smith, Paul, Mirna, Dianne and Mary Hampton we hope we help create an enjoyable fishing trip for the Multi Level Care patients. As always, Marc Girard and I brought our drift boats to increase our ability to catch fish for this special group. We lost a chinook and were only able to catch two pinks. Sometimes it is not only the end result of the catch that is important but the fun and enjoyment of the just getting out fishing that should be the focus. Mother Nature provided an excellent sunny day and I pulled my crab traps minutes before the fishing trip to provide additional culinary delight. The smiling faces of these folks shows how much they enjoy our fishing trips as much or more than most groups we take out. We all had a Great time and the "Chicken Lady" Mary came through again with some K.F.C. It truly was a special day for a special group!
Associate Guide Pat Oliver and his wife Lorri fishing with Associate Guide Marc Girard and his wife Bonnie caught a 26lb chinook on an evening drift Thursday evening.
July 26. Hooked three chinook landed a 27lb lost two others. Ron on a personal afternoon drift with fishing partners Jennifer, Natilie and Natilie's son Adan
Although there are still some bright Chinook caught as demonstrated by Mike Herzberg's catch, some Chinook are starting to turn to spawning colours. We are still catching Chinook in our drift boats and anglers fishing the middle and upper sections are also still catching chinook.
Bill R. Schnupp fishing the Skeena with his son Bill junior landed this beauty which weighed 67lbs while fishing on the Skeena. Bill junior landed a 35lb chinook as well. The North West is a good area to be fishing right now.
Sport Anglers are reminded that Chinook retention on the Kitimat closes on July 31st. Any anglers that have not satisfied their desire of catching Chinook on the Kitimat should get out and get them now! Good luck to all.
DOUGLAS CHANNEL: Fishing for Pinks at the Alcan boat launch casting from shore has become a more popular fishery. Pink Jigs, Pink Crocs and pink flies have become the most popular lures for catching Pinks. It didn't seem to matter what colour you use as long as it is "pink". Anglers are reminded that Tidal water licenses are required with a salmon stamp and the daily quota for pinks in tidal waters is four. The last two hours of the rising tide is the most productive time to fish.
The outer waters of the Douglas Channel is producing really good numbers of halibut. Todd Haynes of Nautical West Fishing Adventures brought in twelve halibut with the largest 50lbs. Todd reports catching 6 halibut at "Fish Trap" and had to catch and release a bunch of halibut because his clients had already limited out. "Gotta Love when that happens". Todd says, "Halibut fishing has been the best fishery this year".
Sam Avila of Ocean Breeze Charters also reports pretty good numbers of halibut. Sam and his client's boated five halibut with the largest being 90lbs. Sam also notes that his clients had their full limit of Rod Cod and Snappers.
Congratulations to Todd and Sam for creating awesome fishing experiences for their clients.
May you all be blessed with Bright Fish! Tight lines! and Smiling Faces!
Ron Wakita
Cast to this link for Kitimat tide tables http://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/cgi-bin/tide-shc.cgi?queryType=showRegion&language=english®ion=1
Fishing Report and Photos from: Westcoast Fishing Adventures
Blinding, bright, summer-run Steelhead landed and released on the Skeena River using dry fly technique. Angler is Aaron Vanpykstra from Vancouver, BC. This kind of fishing will change your life profoundly and for a long time.
July 26/08 Hey there Noel, the Kitimat River is still producing some very fine Chinook (King) Salmon and Pinks and Chum as well.
The fishing on the Skeena River has been "off the charts" with huge Chinook, Steelhead, Sockeye and Pinks. And the water is in perfect condition. What more can you ask for? Both the fly and spin guests are in paradise. It just doesn't get any better than this!
I have also spent a few days on the ocean out of the port of Prince Rupert and we had double-header Coho action! We caught so many Halibut that we got tired.
I think that about sums it up. What a season this is turning out to be. Tight lines. Gill McKean
Fishing Report and Photos from: Randy's River Guiding
Randy Marshall reports excellent Chinook (King) Salmon fishing in the Skeena River Class 2 section. The best bites seem to be early morning until noon. His biggest fish this year was one estimated to weigh over 70-pounds. Water has been up and down a little bit but staying in shape. As long as we don't get any extreme hot weather the good conditions should hold until the closure on August 7th.
FISHING REGULATION 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
NOTE: For In-season Regulation Changes posted on the web check the above URL's
GUEST FISHING PHOTOS:
*** If any of you have special fishing photos, scenic river photos, wildlife photos or articles I would love to see them.
Good day Mr. Gyger: Just to let you know, my fishing trip to the Skeena River, was a complete success. My brothers and I had a blast. We pulled in a few fish. All steelhead were released, of course. Please find attached pictures of some of our catch. Skeena river July 14th thru July 18th, 2008. Thanks for all your support, and information. Stephen Frandsen
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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To view the items currently listed please cast to: http://www.noelgyger.ca/market-place.htm
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GOOD LUCK and GOOD FISHING!
Yours sincerely,
Noel F. Gyger
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Home page: www.noelgyger.ca
