NORTH OF THE BOADER JULY 2008

(Number 80)

Dear Fishing Friends:

SUMMARY: The weather remained cool all week with just the odd sprinkle of rain. All rivers are in excellent shape and so is the fishing. Skeena River has been dropping all week and is in perfect shape. Greg Buck, angling guide for Nicholas Dean Lodge reports limits of big Chinook on the Skeena River, one estimated to weigh over 70-pounds. Sockeye fishing is good and I have reports of summer run Steelhead being caught also. The Kitimat River Chinook run remains fair to strong and fish are spread throughout the river. Pink and Chum are showing up also. Be sure to check out the Ron Wakita detailed report and photos below.

Tyee Test Fishery indicates the largest Chinook run in four years.

As shown above, the Skeena River has been dropping all week and is in fantastic shape and the fishing is “gangbusters”. It’s a little hard to see but the last date on the graph is today, July 20th.

LIST OF “New” ITEMS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE THIS WEEK:

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- July 9/08 one video clip posted on “Video Clips” http://www.noelgyger.ca/video-clips-web.htm

- 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

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

Tracey Hittel

Todd Haynes

Gill McKean

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:

POOR
FAIR
GOOD
EXCELLENT




J

LARGEST FISH OF THE WEEK: Specie: 70-pound “plus” Chinook Where: Skeena River Angler: Josh Buck

Weather: Rain. Amount 10 to 20 mm. Fog patches this morning. Becoming windy this morning. High 14. Region normal: Max. Temp. 23 degrees C. Min. Temp. 11 degrees C. Sunrise 5:26 AM Sunset 9:55 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 River is in good shape. Lower Kalum River is in good shape. Kitimat River is in good shape. Most of the 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 dropping all week. Fishing for Chinook and Sockeye are excellent. I also have reports of summer-run Steelhead being caught.

Kalum River: The water in the low end is fishable and I have had reports of Chinook being caught.

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 unique trend of this year's salmon season is that the fish do not seem to be holding in the Lower Kitimat. Chinook have been caught at the Lower Dike, Hatchery Island, Pump House and Haisla bridge on the incoming high tides but the chinook are migrating through the lower holes into the middle sections of the Kitimat. Accordingly our Mobile Tackle Van log shows the catch rates in the lower portion significantly lower than normal. Catch rates in the middle sections are definitely higher especially in our drift boats.

July 12th Areil Kuppers. Associate Guide Home work drift.

July 13th Clients: Steven Chadek, Bart Ulrich. Two Chinook jacks 15, 16lbs and a Pink, lost another Chinook. Guide Ron Wakita

We have been fortunate to put our clients onto exceptional numbers of chinook this season in these middle sections of the Kitimat. The "homework" drifts in the preseason have paid huge dividends for our clients. Every year we spend countless hours identifying new holes and new lures prior to the season. We just had Yakama bait custom paint a new colour that has already shown good results. The proof is in the pictures! We are proud to have helped to produce smiling faces and good memories for our clients.

July 14th Client: Bill Fulton. Hooked three landed two Chinook 24lbs and a Jack 14lbs and lost another big one. Guide Ron Wakita

July 15th Clients: Arimus, Zygimantas, Marius Macy. Caught and released a Chinook Jack Spring. Landed a 26lb Chinook and ten Pinks kept two Pinks. Guide Areil Kuppers

Early indications of the pink and chum returns are that they are showing the same quirky trend as the chinook. Pinks and chum are being caught on the rising tide in the lower holes of the Kitimat but they are not staying the typical numbers. They are migrating through the lower end in the middle and upper holes.

July16th Clients: Cheryl Green, Keith Pollie and Beatrice Green. Caught four Pinks and a 20lb Chinook. Guide Ariel Kuppers

July 19th Clients Tony Tiani John Harder. July18th Kris & Ron Link. Hooked 4 Chinook

Hooked 3 Chinook land 26lb &15lb land 32lb. Land 15lb Chum, 2 Pinks

Guide: Ron Wakita

Smart money says that when fishing the Kitimat this season, fish the lower holes on the rising tide and then move up river into one of the holes in the middle section of the Kitimat to fish the rest of the day. Complimentary maps and tide charts are available at our tackle store and from our Mobile Tackle Van.

DOUGLAS CHANNEL: Pinks are being caught on both sides of the Kitimat Harbour. Hospital beach boat ramp is one of the more popular spots. Anglers are having success on 3/8 oz. Gibbs pink crocs or pink 1/2 oz. jigs. Fly fishers are also catching quite a few pinks as well. This fishery has evolved since 2000 and was first fished by a couple of the kids that worked in our tackle store. It is best on the rising tide. The last hour of the rising always produces the most fish. Complimentary tide charts are available in our tackle store and from our mobile tackle van.

July 18th Dave Wahl of Eagle Edge Charters boated five Chinook including this 50lb beauty plus 13 Halibut, the largest 80lbs and 20 Coho.

Anglers are reminded that a Tidal water license is required to participate in this fishery. The daily quota for pinks in the tidal waters is four per day. Tidal water licenses are free for anglers under 16 years of age. In order to retain pinks in the tidal waters a salmon stamp must be purchased.

The outer waters of the Douglas Channel are producing very good numbers of halibut and Coho. Todd Haynes of Nautical West Sport Fishing limited-out his clients for halibut as did Sam Avila of Ocean Breeze Charters and Alain from Alain's Deep Sea Adventures. Dave Wahl of Eagle Edge Charters not only limited his clients quota in halibut but also boated a 50lb chinook as well as filling the coolers for his clients. We have received may other reports from happy boaters who are catching halibut as well.

Lots of Coho are also being caught down the outer waters of the Douglas Channel. This is a great sign for the Kitimat harbour fishery and the Kitimat River Coho fishery. The Coho catch down the outer waters of the Douglas is the first indication of the run strength of what we can expect later in August and September at this end of the Douglas Channel. It looks like this is going to be an exceptional year for Coho! Thank you 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

Hello Noel, here's a few photos for the report:

We are seeing more Chinook (King) Salmon this year in the river than we saw in the last two. The Sockeye and Steelhead are now starting to show in catchable numbers on the Skeena River as well. And the water is in great shape.

The Kitimat River is in transition from Chinook to Pinks and Chum however we are still catching some fine looking Chinook.

We were out on the Ocean yesterday. The commercial fishing fleet was out in full force from Eddy Pass to the Tree Knobs…it was crazy. I would assume they are catching Coho, Sockeye and summer-run Steelhead. I would guess there were between 80 and 100 boats but we still managed to catch 15 Coho.

That's all for now! Tight Lines. Gill McKean

Fishing Report and Photos from: Steelhead Heaven

July 17 Salmon Report Skeena Region Sorry for the late report, the time is going by fast and we are out on the water each day. River levels and fishing are excellent. Attached are pics of the fellas from Conoco Phillips with some feisty Kings for sure. These guys had some tight lines while staying with us and congrats John on the bringing some beauties to the net. The Jig master himself put on a discreet display before the flight home to Calgary to marry his biggest catch!

Also attached is Mary with a chrome fresh fish and smile to match, this lady fought some big fish and landed some of the seasons prettiest Chinook. The Edmonton Harley Davidson couple slammed some as well, as you can see these fish are minutes from the sea.

One of our larger fish for the week took Garvin three pools and a snag on a tree root to finally net this monster, what a catch and the fight was incredible. Finishing off our week of Chinook fishing our bearded man from England holding another fresh sea run Chinook. Hooking six fish in one pool and watching as a fifty pounder on its last few minutes of thrashing, make a desperate leap out of the water to bend the hook, not only straight but a 90 degree turn as well, something rarely seen without busting the line.

The Skeena is also turning on and Sockeye and Chinook are running in nice numbers, one fish today on the upper Skeena was sea liced, so a nice start to the fishery that is greening up in color and flyfishing is getting good.

Next week clients from the USA, Spain, Italy and England, tight lines. Tracey John Hittel

Fishing Report and Photos from: Nautical West Sport Fishing

Fishing Report for Week of July 13th - 19th

A couple from Calgary had a great trip out on the Douglas Channel last week and landed 5 coho, 3 Chinooks, a limit of crab and a nice halibut. Great weather, good times and lots of excitement. Thanks Noel - Todd Haynes

Hi Noel, This week has been fantastic! My group of gentlemen from Quebec had a great trip out on the ocean. We landed several nice Chinook with the largest being this 39#er caught at Money Point. The Coho have been sporadic around the point but we did hook into some good size ones. Halibut has been very good with several being landed each trip out. Hotspots for this last week have been mainly on the outside waters for the salmon - Otter passage, Eclipse, Fish Trap, I just finished a trip to the south end of Gil island and lots of coho are around there as well. Thank you. Todd Haynes

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)

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GOOD LUCK and GOOD FISHING!

Yours sincerely,

Noel F. Gyger