Hmmmmmm.... Typed out a somewhat lengthy reply yesterday, but it seems to have dissapeared into cyber-space
So...
Places to stay: I highly reccommend the Somas Motel (250) 724 3236.
Right on the river, they offer clean, comfortable kitchenettes at a very reasonable rate. The rooms are large, and set up kinda cabin style. Kitchenettes allow you to cook for yourself, severing the need to dine incessantly in restaraunts (although there are a few
GREAT ones in town!). The majority of my buddies who come here to ply both the ocean and the river stay there, when they ain't staying at my
Hacienda that is
The best time to go: The winter-run season runs from December through April. Best timing the last few years have been late December/early January (initial wave) then a bit of a lull, and February can
REALLY shine! That said, we generally do quite well through March as well. The run here is actually a series of waves, so the best bet is to have a local contact inform you of when the next one has arrived. The guides are also a good source of information in this regard.
Pressure: the last couple of years have seen a lot of increased pressure on the Stamp. There's many reasons. Closure of nearly all EC systems and run failures in many other Island systems coupled with the knowledge that this system is doing comparably well draws displaced anglers from all over the Island and BC as a whole. That said, the pressure isn't anything near what I witnessed on the singular occasion I visited the Vedder (85 folks on a Thursday!) Of course the usual
Gong Show can and does develop in the more popular spots - such as the intense fishery at the Falls Pool. That area is one of the very few that can be worked under the current high-water regime we've been facing down. And while it has really only room for less than half a dozen anglers, many mornings see up to 18-20 vying for position to get a cast in! Weekends are of course the worst (and I largely avoid them now as a consequence), but there have been many weekdays we've run into a fair number of folks out there. That said, one can often find areas to work that are deviod of others, or simply have but one or two in the area, by hiking/bushwhacking to to less accessible areas.
Is there a lot of shore angling room: Yes and no. A weekend she will be often crowded conditions as noted. Weekdays obviously better. And the more distance you put on from your parking space, the greater the liklyhood of finding "
room". Two of my buddies have boats, one a drifter which I can use anytime, the other a jet that he generously takes me out in from time to time. And while I do enjoy those times afloat, I have caught many more when angling from the shore. That's the way I got to know this river, so no real suprize there.
Gooey nailed it with the road access matter. The vast majority of the system is removed from convenient parking (which I happen to right like!). Couple that with large areas of no accessibility (private holdings who have seen their share of grief, and closed access off permanently, gated gov't holdings, and areas that simply require strenuous and long hikes) and it can be a real test to find access that is suitable. That said, there are still many options open to the general public. The Rifle Range has decent trails up to the Bucket, and rough trails up beyond. The old Store pool has a good trail leading down (and a rough one leading up) that gets you into the area above the Bucket and upstream of there. The Falls Pool is a very easy hike, but often too crowded as a consequence of that. The Falls campground offers another relatively easy access for that area and a ways upstream. Dunno if public access is still available into Moneys (heard there were some issues there this year) as I haven't been in there for a couple of years now. The largest problem we all face with access is the increasingly disturbing actions of
The Slobs, wrecking havoc, vandalism and litter to the point those that own the access become disgusted and shut it down. Since moving here, I've seen a considerable amount of access points closed due to that very obnoxious behaviour. So please, when you do come, respect the river and the land surrounding it! We can't afford to lose any more!!
Gooey and goblin touched upon a very good reccommendation. It is
VERY worthwhile to engage a guide when first visiting this system. The amount of information regarding where and how to fish, what to use under varying conditions and more are invaluable! I would highly reccommend doing so to anyone considering their first foray here. Many become addicted to the fantastic opportunities offered by the experienced local guides from their jets, and rarely work the banks as a consequence. There is no question that they will cover more water, and that generally translates to more hook-ups on any given day. Dave Murphy and his excellent crew are the most recognizeable here of course. But there are a couple others of excellent caliber who know the system and her fish equally as well. If Dave is booked up when you call, he'll often refer you to one of these fine Gentz, or drop me a line if you need more information in this regard.
Gooey's last post notes this year's conditions well. It has been a
VERY wet beginning, and the
Lady Stamp has been much more well up into the timber than not. Bank angling has been largely an excercise in frustration, running from spot to spot simply trying to find an area you can get anywhere near enough to fish. Yes, we're used to seeing high water from time to time, but never this high for such a sustained period. Damn tough on the anglers, but beneficial for the fish - less of them being caught and more up to the spawning grounds as a consequence. She will hopefully drop soon, and then She will most likely show well why many refer to her as
The River of Dreams!
So enjoy your visit, have fun, play safe, and remember to respect the landowners, the river and the land. 'Tis indeed a rather
magical flow...
Cheers,
Nog
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Topic: Stamp Details???? (Read 4306 times)