The photo of the week shows Kirk Vensel of Calgary, Alberta with a Big Northern Coho (Silver) Salmon landed while being guided by Andrew Rushton of Kalum River Lodge. Photo by Andrew Rushton
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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 October 12 – October 19, 2008
(Number 93)
Dear Fishing Friends:
SUMMARY: The weather has been about normal all week for this time of year. When it did rain most of it stayed in the mountain tops as snow. Just about all of the rivers are in good fishable shape for both Steelhead and Coho. We had a good bump of high water at the beginning of the week and this brought in some fresh Coho and Steelhead. The big Skeena River is a bit slow for "summer-run" Steelhead as most of the runs are now into their home tributary rivers. The fall and winter runs are still coming in. Coho fishing on the main stem remains pretty good at times. The Kalum is consistent for Steelhead fishing. Coho fishing is average so far for this year. The big northerns are coming in now. The Kalum River closed to guiding on October 15. The Kasiks and Exchamsiks and Exstew are fishing fair for Coho. The Zymoetz (Copper) River has been fishing well. The Kitimat River Coho fishing is peaking. Many of the fish in all of the rivers are in their spawning colours now. Coho closes to angling on October 31. Please check out the Ron Wakita detailed report below.
Randy Marshall had a good scrap on his hands with this wild Steelhead on the Kalum River on October 17, 2008. Cast here for a direct link to the Video Clip 0055 Randy Marshall - Tail Walking Steelhead New Oct 17/08. See below re Kalum River for a little more detail about our day.
LIST OF "New" ITEMS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE THIS WEEK:
- one New item posted on "Quality Waters Strategy" October 18/08
- one New video clip posted on "Video Clips" October 17/08
- one New item posted on "Special Guided Fishing Trips" October 16/08
- one New item posted on "Conservation" October 13/08
NOW BOOKING FOR 2008 and 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.
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, Coho and Trout for river. Coho, Halibut, Bottom Fish and Dungeness Crab for ocean.
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FISHING THIS WEEK: GOOD***
LARGEST FISH OF THE WEEK: Specie: 20-pound Steelhead. Angler: Jake Bippart. Where: Skeena tributary.
WEATHER: Periods of rain except rain heavy at times near Stewart. Amount 25 mm near Stewart. Becoming windy. High 7. Region normal: Max. Temp. 9 degrees C. Min. Temp. 3 degrees C. Sunrise 8:11 AM Sunset 6:27 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 is in good shape. The Zymoetz (Copper) River is in good shape. The Kalum, Kitimat and smaller coastal streams are also 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: is normal height and in good shape. The water has been steadily dropping since Tuesday. Fishing for Steelhead remains only "fair" as most of the summer-run fish have already gone through. The fall Steelhead will be coming next with most of them heading for the Kalum River. Coho fishing can still be very good in the lower river. The big Northerns are coming in now. Coho fishing up river will be slower as most of the fish are already in their tributary rivers.
KALUM RIVER: The water is normal height and in good shape. Good numbers of Steelhead and Coho (Silver) Salmon are coming in now. The larger fish are coming in now. We locals call these fish "Northerns". A Coho weighing over 20-pounds is not uncommon. Fishing for Coho closes October 31.
I fished with Randy Marshall of Randy's River Guiding on October 17th. We landed five Steelhead and four Coho (Silver) Salmon. Randy landed four Steelhead and I landed only one. I didn't land any Coho. I didn't fish too hard but there is no way in this world that I could ever out-fish Randy no matter how hard I tried. He is not only a good friend and an extraordinary fishing guide he is one of the best fisherman I have ever known. Book his guiding services and judge for yourself.
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: Lots of Coho are in now although it is difficult to judge the size of the run. Most of the fish are high up in the system now. Water heights have been good just about all week.
EXCHAMSIKS RIVER: Lots of Coho are in now but most are a long way up river. They like to gather in the big pools higher up and finding those pools takes a lot of work and a lot of running around in a jet boat. Sometimes, depending on how much rain we get, they move even higher up river to where jet boats cannot go.
EXSTEW RIVER: The water is normal height but a little clouded up at times. Sometimes this is a big advantage as the Coho do not spook when the water is this way.
ZYMOETZ (COPPER) RIVER: When the water is in shape lots of Steelhead are being caught with both the fly and spin rod.
KINCOLITH RIVER: Coho should be coming in on high tides and should be dispersed throughout the whole river. With each high water the fish move further up the river.
ISHKHEENICKH RIVER: This is a fantastic river for Coho this time of year. The water needs to be rising and falling to keep the fish moving up river.
MEZIADIN RIVER: Both Steelhead and Coho can be hooked on the same day plus numerous local trout and Dolly Varden char. To clarify: Fishing for Steelhead and Salmon are only allowed at the very low end of the river below the boundary sign (you are actually fishing the clean seam of the Meziadin River in the Nass River). Trout fishing is available throughout the whole river and lake. Please check the fishing regulations.
The fall colours in the Nass and trib region are absolutely beautiful this time of year. Cast to http://www.noelgyger.ca/for-sale-videos-dvd-photos.htm view some of the scenic photos.
In addition to scenic photos cast to http://www.noelgyger.ca/video-clips-web.htm to watch a few video clips from the beautiful Nass River system.
CRANBERRY RIVER: Both Steelhead and Coho can be hooked on the same day. Access to this river is not very good.
ECSTALL RIVER: Coho should be coming in now with the higher tides.
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: We have reached the last stages of our Coho season and the majority of the Kitimat Coho are now in their spawning colours. We have received reports of a few brighter Coho so it is still possible to catch some silver fish. The upper stretch of the Kitimat River from the 18 mile bridge to Sawmill seems to have the largest numbers of Coho "stacked up". The 18 mile rock, the Air Park and the upper Sawmill have been the better holes to fish this past week.
We have also received reports of a bunch of trout in the Powerlines hole. The Kitimat River has pretty good stocks of Dolly Varden Char and Hatchery enhanced stocks of Sea Run Cutthroat trout. Trout fishing on the Kitimat River will continue from now until spring only limited by river and weather conditions.
DOUGLAS CHANNEL: During every trip to the marina I notice more and more empty slips. The boats that are left are usually anglers who plan to fish through the winter.
We have received reports of winter Springs further down the Douglas but have not heard of any in the Kitimat Harbour yet. It is a great fishery when the fish are in but it is one of most difficult fisheries to predict timing. It just happens when it happens. The winter Chinook are following feed and when the feed arrives in the harbour so will the feeder Chinook. When the Chinook are in it can be a very exciting fishery. Stay tuned. Tight Lines. Ron Wakita
Fishing Report from: Steelhead Heaven
October 17, 2008 Skeena Steelhead Report
With our season winding down and the chance of snow predicted we are tying up the loose ends and putting the boats in storage for next season. We had an excellent October season on Upper Kalum which produced some chrome Steelhead and Coho, as well fish in the 20lb range. Attached are pics of our guests with some of the many Steelhead we landed on the fly.
Bookings for 2009 Salmon and Steelhead are coming in each day so we look forward to our repeat Steelheaders in the spring as well new guests for the 09 fishery. Tracey John Hittel, Kitimat BC Canada
Fishing Report from: Westcoast Fishing Adventures
Hey Noel just returned from up north! The fishing was better than I have ever had it. We landed a couple 20-pound "plus" Steelhead and averaged seven to eight Steelhead per day as well as Rainbow Trout and the odd Coho it was a real Westcoast Fishing Adventure. We fished on three separate water sheds in five days. I think I heard the one guest complain of a sore arm from catching too many fish. This is not a fish tale it really happened!
We are not just a one river show. I like to show my guests our beautiful country. Variety is the "spice of life" and catching 20-pound Steelhead is the "icing on the cake"!
Also fished the Skeena tribs for a few days and got the boys in some Northern Coho on the fly.
Tight Lines. Gill McKean
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)
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.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD FISHING!
Yours sincerely,
Noel F. Gyger
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Home page: www.noelgyger.ca