The photo of the week shows Mike Pashniak and Rob Keating of Alberta with a Steelhead caught with a Spey fly rod on the Kitimat River. More details and another photo below. Photos courtesy of their guide Ron Wakita
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Noel Gyger - Guided Fishing Adventures and Weekly Fishing Report
4012 Best Street, Terrace, B.C. 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 April 29 – May 6, 2007
(Number 17)
Dear Fishing Friends:
Weather has been good this week, most rivers are in good shape. This time of year I like to remind folks of the great possibilities of angling for both Steelhead and Chinook on the same day. This is an exhilarating experience! Check out the article I wrote about it. It was a few years ago, well more than a few, but I think it is still applicable today. The article is posted on my website at: http://www.noelgyger.ca/articles/Articles-May-2nd-on-the-Kalum-by-Noel.doc Greg Buck, angling guide for Nicholas Dean Lodge, has been guiding his clients into good numbers of Steelhead and Chinook on the Kalum River.
Even though it is late in the spring season, May is "prime time" to fish for Steelhead on the Kitimat River. You still have some fresh fish coming-in and spawned fish going-out.
The isolated, wilderness coastal rivers along BC's north and central coast are starting to fish "normal" for Steelhead. Waters are finally rising bringing in fresh runs. Fly fishing has been excellent under these conditions.
I have updated reports from Ron Wakita, Craig Murray and Chad Black this week.
MORE FIRSTS ON VIDEO: Over the last month, my two friends Mike and Silvio both landed their first Steelhead on the Kalum River. I did manage to shoot a video clip of both catches. The two "New" clips are now posted on my website at: http://www.noelgyger.ca/video-clips-web.htm They are Steelhead video clips number 0041 and 0042.
If I can be of service to find you the "best" guided fishing adventure let me know. Cast here to check out more of what I have to offer: http://noelgyger.ca/special-guided.htm
Be sure to check out my website at www.noelgyger.ca for more info on my history, Quality Waters Strategy, special guided fishing trips, video clips, scenic river photos, wildlife photos and others, comments from past guests, informational articles and archived fishing reports from 1996 through 2002. I hope it meets with your entire satisfaction.
CURRENT REPORT and summary for Skeena and Tributaries:
TYPE OF FISH CAUGHT: Steelhead and Chinook
Thank you for using barbless hooks.
FISHING THIS WEEK:
POOR FAIR GOOD* EXCELLENT
LARGEST FISH OF THE WEEK: Specie: (estimate) 30-pound Chinook and 17-pound Steelhead (on the same day) Where: Kalum River Angler: Bob Cusick
WEATHER: Cloudy with sunny periods. Highs to 10 degree C. Region normal: Max. Temp. 16 degree C. Min. Temp. 5 degree C. Sunrise 5:50 am Sunset 9:15 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: fair to good on most rivers except for the main stem Skeena which has started to rise big time. This is normal for this time of year. The spring melt off has begun. This should bring more BIG Chinook.
SNOW CONDITIONS: very little snow left near town but deep snow still exists where the guides like to walk into isolated rivers…but it's melting fast.
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
FISHING REPORT FROM NICHOLAS DEAN LODGE FOR THIS WEEK:
To me, one of the greatest fishing experiences in life is to explore new waters, whether they are new to you, or so remote that you might be the only angler fishing there over the course of the year. And it is even more special when that particular water happens to have Steelhead pushing against its flows, and other wildlife such as grizzly bears, moose, and bald eagles that move freely in environments as nature intended. The small coastal rivers that Dustin and the rest of our guides know intimately are one such place. These are small rivers that typically don't support runs like the larger Skeena tributaries; in fact, some rivers may only get 50 to 150 adult fish returning. So on these systems, it is never a game of numbers, but more of quality. And with the water being almost crystal clear in most cases, the game of sight fishing for big Steelhead is usually an option. Water flows are typically very fast, with large drops and pocket water scattered throughout. Such rivers require that fish are very strong, which, lucky for us, often means that they are of a good size. While you might not catch one every time you go there, it is an incredible sight to see a 20 lb plus Steelhead slowly finning in a long tailout. So when the fishing on the Skeena Tributaries near Terrace was slow last week, Dustin took a few lucky anglers to a coastal river and after a long day of fishing, Don Powell managed to land a great 16 lb buck Steelhead on the fly. Congratulations Don on catching your biggest Steelhead yet!
Angling guide Dustin Kovacvich and his guest Craig Dennis admire a 16 lb fly-caught Steelhead from the Kitimat River
Conditions in the Skeena Region have improved somewhat since I reported last week. Although the Skeena is still rising from rain showers and snow melt, the water has become a little cleaner, allowing anglers to target more prime locations that weren't fishable previously. Other Skeena Tributaries appear to be clearing for the time being, but as the temperature continually warms up (finally, after a long winter!!), it will only be a matter of time before the snow pack in the mountains inundates and colours up the rivers. The Spring Chinook run has been building over the last week and, as a result, are in enough numbers to be worth targeting.
Until next week, tight lines and screaming reels.
Chad Black
Operations Manager
Nicholas Dean Lodge…where every cast is an adventure!
SKEENA RIVER: since the river is rising fast fishing opportunities are lost.
KALUM RIVER: has an "excellent" run of Steelhead. Chinook (King) Salmon are also available in good numbers. Catching both Steelhead and Chinook on the same day is great fun. The river is rising but staying in fishable shape.
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: fishing for Coho will start again next fall. This is the river where a 27-pound record Coho was landed.
ZYMOETZ (COPPER) RIVER: is closed now for angling (as of December 31, 2006 above the lower canyon) to protect the "wintering over" wild Steelhead. Spring fishing is still available on the lower end below the canyon.
NOTE: additional rivers will be added "in season" when the fishing begins in the spring.
OCEAN FISHING PRINCE RUPERT: update coming soon
A summary of what is available year round can be read in the Archived Fishing Report dated April 13, 1997. For a direct link cast here: http://noelgyger.ca/archived-fishing-reports/Old%20Fishing%20Reports%201997.doc
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:
KITIMAT RIVER: Last Saturday I drifted with Mike Pashniak and Rob Keating
We had a great day. Mike and Rob were knowledgeable Fly fishers from Calgary and a pleasure to fish with. We fly fished mostly with a Nymphing technique using a strike indicator and an egg pattern as well as grease lined with a multi tip fly line. We also hot shotted a couple of spots after first fishing it with the fly. We hooked three Steelhead on the day landing one on the fly.
Angling Guide Ron Wakita, on the right, helping his client Mike pose this nice Steelhead landed with a fly
There has also been 3 chinook caught to date at the lower dike and one lost at the Pump house. These are both fishing holes in the lower Kitimat River. This is typical for Chinook to catch in late April and thru May. The main run of Chinook is in late June/July but there is an early run that we are starting to see now.
The Kitimat River was a little high and murky during mid week but is in great shape right now. There are plenty of Steelhead in the system and the conditions are perfect. Report and photos by Ron Wakita
OCEAN FISHING KITIMAT DOUGLAS CHANNEL:
Some boaters are still working the preseason quirks out of their boats. And then there are some who have not yet taken their boats out of Dry Dock. One of the more eager is Rob Lafferty and his group. They were rewarded for their enthusiasm with a 120lb. halibut. Congratulations Rob and group.
Pat Oliver, a guide and employee of the local tackle shop and his friend Clayton Harker also ventured out to catch a 80 lb halibut. They also brought home their full quota of crab and also a King Crab. "It only took a 20 minute set" says Pat. Bottom fishing and Crabbing will continue to be the focus of the saltwater anglers as more and more boaters ready their boats for the fishing season. Report by Ron Wakita
CURRENT REPORT and summary for Central Coast/North Van Island Wilderness Rivers:
May 3, 2007
Fishing report from Nimmo:
This weeks Fishing Tail.
Sometimes having a human being in a picture along with a beautiful fish, takes away from the fish. Let's give credit where credit is due here. This big male decided that a fly looked good, knowing not what was on the other end. Some say fishing is a jerk at one end of the line waiting for a jerk at the other end of the line.
What ever the case, fishing could solve all the problems mankind has to put forth. Just being there in the fishes habitat makes a better individual. One learns to appreciate natures offerings like clean air, sweet water, verdant surroundings and peace and quiet. Who couldn't benefit from this.
This steelhead was a mainland fish in one of the pristine rivers we fish and was caught by a guest named Dean, on the fly. It was a late April caught fish, where the snow still covered patches of sand along the river. Water temperatures had risen to just 42 F. The cast was less than perfect, but sometimes the art of angling is forgiving, and wham, a take. Then skill takes over. Sometimes the fish wins and sometimes we get a picture.
This photo was taken by the new Olympus 770 SW, which is waterproof to 33 feet and shockproof from 5 feet. This is ideal for the avid Angler and photographer. It takes great pics under water as well. With a LowePro case attached to your wader strap for easy access to this camera, you will always be guaranteed of a great shot.
Stay tuned folks for the next edition from Nimmo Bay.
To Fly is Human ... To Hover, Divine
Craig Murray, Owner
Nimmo Bay Resort
FISHING REGULATION WEBSITES:
2005/2007 BC tidal waters and freshwater Salmon fishing information:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish
Effective April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2007
2006/2007 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/regulations/intro.html
Effective April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007
NOTE: For In-season Regulation Changes posted on the web check the above URL's
2007 TV SHOW SCHEDULE FOR SPORTFISHING BC with host Mark Pendlington
CHANNEL Friday Saturday Sunday
Sportsnet Pacific 6:30 AM PST
(9:30 AM EST)
Knowledge Network 1:30 PM PST
(4:30 PM EST) 1:30 PM PST
(4:30 PM EST) 11:30 PM PST
(2:30 PM EST)
A Channel 7:00 AM PST
(10:00 AM EST)
World Fishing Network Check local listings
CATCH & RELEASE FORMULA: Chinook: girth squared x length x 1.54 divided by
1000. Steelhead: Steelhead: girth squared x length x 1.33 divided by 1000 (inches)
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
