The photo of the week shows Chad Black, operations manager and guide at the Nicholas Dean Lodge with a beautiful, bright spring Chinook (King) Salmon released back into the river to spawn. It does not get any better than this my friends.
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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 May 11 – May 18, 2008
(Number 71)
Dear Fishing Friends:
SUMMARY: The weather has been "extreme" this week. A couple of days of heavy rain and a couple of days of hot weather triggered a snow melt-off from the mountains. Most all of the rivers are very high and not fishable (i.e. Skeena and Zymoetz) now. The only river left in fishable condition is the upper Kalum. It is also very high but the water is relatively clean. From my experience, some of the best Chinook (King) Salmon fishing happens on the Kalum River when the water is high…and high it is today. Most of the isolated coastal streams are high but still fishable. Fishing the "clean seam" of a tributary river where they enter the Skeena is also a good bet (i.e. Exstew, Exchamsiks and Kasiks) under these conditions. Sometimes the BIG Chinook in the main stem Skeena swim into these clean pockets to clean their gills (at least that is the local fishing lore). Lake Trout fishing is good now. Also, might be a good time to consider ocean fishing for Salmon, Halibut, Crab and Prawns. Kind of a plan "B" wouldn't you think?
And, pardon me for bringing it up again, but my friends and I landed an 83-pound Chinook on the upper Kalum River on May 24, 1983, in high water conditions. This fish changed my life. http://www.noelgyger.ca/articles/Articles-LANDING-A-RECORD-CHINOOK-by-Noel.doc
Sorry, but may I politely "push" you to read the May 17/08 item regarding "Conservation" because without fish we have nothing. This is the best news I have heard in a long time. The folks directly involved with this initiative deserve our heartfelt thanks. Cast below for the direct link and happy reading:
LIST OF "New" ITEMS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE THIS WEEK:
- May 9/08 one item posted on "Market Place" http://www.noelgyger.ca/market-place.htm
- May 14/08 one item re last minute Chinook and Steelhead opening for guiding on the upper Kalum http://www.noelgyger.ca/special-guided.htm
- May 17/08 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. 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, 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, Chinook and Trout
Thank you for using barbless hooks.
FISHING THIS WEEK: FAIR
LARGEST FISH OF THE WEEK: Specie: 30-pound Chinook Where: Skeena Tributary Angler: Randy Marshall
WEATHER: Cloudy with 30 percent chance of showers early this afternoon. Clearing this afternoon. Region normal: Max. Temp. 17 degrees C. Min. Temp. 6 degrees C. Sunrise 5:23 AM Sunset 9:38 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: The Skeena River is very high and not fishable. The lower Kalum River is high and in poor shape. The upper Kalum River is high but in good shape. Kitimat River is high and dirty. Zymoetz (Copper) River is dirty. Most small 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 is very high and not fishable. This is what is needed to bring in the Chinook (King) Salmon runs.
KALUM RIVER: The water in the low end is very high and dirty. The dirt is coming in from small creeks. The upper end is high but still fishable.
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 2005 – 2007 BC Freshwater Salmon Supplement (fancy name for regulations) at: www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish for details.
ZYMOETZ (COPPER) RIVER: The water is high and dirty now.
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 Report from: Nicholas Dean Lodge for the Week of May 11 to March 17/08
Hello Anglers,
Even in high water the best guides can get you into Chinook, pro guide Greg Buck holds the tail square so his client can get a good photo. This is one huge fish!
We are now faced with some very challenging fishing conditions. Earlier in the week, there were severe rainfall warnings for the North Coast, particularly in Prince Rupert and, to a lesser extent, inland areas like Terrace and Smithers. All told, Terrace was supposed to have received 50-60 cm of rainfall which, when combined with two days of hot weather and melting snowpack, has elevated rivers beyond fishable levels. The Skeena is high and dirty, as are most of the tributaries which feed it. Once the meltwater influence has dropped, clean seams on the main channel Skeena will likely be good areas to try for Chinook fishing.
Alternatively, many of the lakes surrounding Terrace start to have excellent trout fishing this time of year, and taking a pontoon or belly boat into hard-to-reach places can provide rewarding fishing.
Until next week, tight lines and screaming reels…
Chad Black
Operations manager
Nicholas Dean Lodge…where every cast is an adventure!
CURRENT REPORT and summary for Northern Coastal Rivers:
Fishing Report from: Ron Wakita of Reliable Guide and Charters
KITIMAT RIVER: Early this week the Kitimat River was still producing some bright Steelhead particularly in the lower river.
Jesse Houston hooked two Steelhead on the fly Sunday at the Kitimat Hatchery Run. Jesse also landed another one on Tuesday. Alfie Tome landed one on Tuesday May 13th as well. These were bright fish and Jesse reports other bright Steelhead being caught by other anglers.
I had the pleasure of drifting Sunday and Monday with two good friends, Greg Funk and Kelly Auld. We landed four steelhead but Kelly landed the brightest most pristine Steelhead I have seen this season. In my humble opinion Steelhead especially females are truly amongst nature's more beautiful creations. It is always a treat for me to fish with friends who have moved away but return to share the passion of fishing Kitimat River. Thanks for the memories Greg and Kelly.
There seems to be a late run of bright female Steelhead migrating into the lower Kitimat this week. The middle and upper Kitimat is producing the odd bright steelhead, some not so bright and a larger number of kelts. (spawned)
Typically the Steelhead catch tapers off dramatically during this time of year but with the abnormally low water we experienced earlier in the run may have delayed some fish and caused this late surge of fish we are seeing in the lower river.
There was a chinook lost at the pump house on Thursday. Many anglers were anxious to fish for the early Chinook run this May long weekend but we received a healthy amount of rain on Friday followed by some hot weather and the river water level rose 4 12 feet. At the time of writing this report (Sunday morning) the Kitimat remains high but is dropping. The forecast is calling for lower temperatures on Sunday and Monday so hopefully the river will drop enough to fish for the last part of the May long weekend.
DOUGLAS CHANNEL: We received reports of a couple chinook caught in the harbour early in the week but a large number of boaters were launching to fish the May long weekend. A favorable forecast and a long weekend is the perfect recipe to enjoy an extended trip down the Douglas Channel. For many local boaters is has become an annual event. Stay Tuned to this report for the results of this weekend's catch.
Good Luck and Good Fishing to all! Ron
Cast to this link for Kitimat tide tables http://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/cgi-bin/tide-shc.cgi?queryType=showRegion&language=english®ion=1
CURRENT REPORT and summary for Central Coast/North Van Island Wilderness Rivers:
Fishing Report from: Nimmo Bay Resort
This picture proves that there is value in History. Father Jack and daughter Heather Morgan have been guests at Nimmo Bay since 1985.
There are Steelhead fishing again, but paused to once again be immortalized. I have never met a more dedicated father and daughter angling team than the Morgans. They have caught a lot of fish over the years, both Steelhead and Salmon. We should see them for a few more years as they both are in good health and still love to fish.
Craig Murray, Owner
Nimmo Bay Resort (Est. 1980)
To Fly is Human ...To Hover, Divine
Note from Noel: This year in 2007, out of 10 Heli fishing and tour resorts and lodges from around the world, Nimmo Bay Resort was voted number one by the prestigious, New York based Forbes Traveler magazine. Congratulations Craig, Deborah and staff.
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.
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)
MARKETPLACE (Sportfishing related items only please) Contact me anytime to list your items
Buy, sell, trade or swap your item or items by listing them here today
Your Ad will receive LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL exposure:
• Your Ad will be posted on my website
• Your Ad will be promoted in my Weekly Fishing Reports
• Your Ad will be posted on other websites who host my fishing reports
Examples of what to list: Boats and accessories, Motors, Vehicles, Air Craft, Rods, Reels, Tackle, Real Estate (i.e. fishing lodge), Rentals (Cabins Cottages), Lakeshore, Tourist accommodation, ATV, RV's, RV sites, Taxidermy, Books, Magazines, Videos, Photographs, Antiques, Artwork, Clothing, Employment, Trade/Swap and Wanted, Help Wanted, etc.
To view the items currently listed please cast to: http://www.noelgyger.ca/market-place.htm
To receive my WEEKLY FISHING REPORT and PHOTO via e-mail please send your name and e-mail address to: Noel Gyger noel@noelgyger.ca
GOOD LUCK and GOOD FISHING!
Yours sincerely,
Noel F. Gyger
Back to: http://noelgyger.ca/past-fishing-reports.htm
Home page: www.noelgyger.ca
