Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[canadiansoul]

HI Everyone,
I'm new to this forum...not new to fishingwithrod.com   
Anyways....I'm an avid fisherman...I fish every chance I get. I have yet to catch a steelhead or even a coho, but those are two of my goals for this year.   
So, I'm planning my vacation(s) for this year and was wondering if anyone could give me a tip or two for a good place to go fishing.  I already been to most places in the Lower Mainland, so I'm mainly looking for a trip somewhere outside of the mainland.
I've got a 16ft boat w/ a 55hp on it, and I also have a 12 aluminum boat w/ a 9.9hp, so I can basically go anywhere, cept the wide open ocean of course.    A friend of mine mentioned going fishing in the northern Vancouver Island area, but I do not know where to go. I'm willing to tow my boat up to Powell River, or Prince George to enjoy a fish filled vacation.  The biggest fish I've caught since being in B.C. (20 years now), is a 20 pound salmon, so ideally I would love to catch a few bigger ones.  I'm not interested in a charter, at least not this year.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for any help.

[Funeral Of Hearts]

If you want to catch bigger fish, why not try sturgeon on the Fraser?

[skaha]

--go to bcfroa.ca site and use search engine to select area via fish size, accommodation etc. in BC... these are mainly freshwater destinations..
--larger interior lakes if you like to troll
--this weekend big fish derby Arrow lk at Nakusp, minimum entry is 10 lbs. qualifying fish are posted so those fishing can release non winners.
--they're near the surface now... bucktails and Lyman lures summer might have to use downriggers to get to the big guys in cooler water.. check out lyman lure site for pictures of fish caught last few weeks.
--Big fish in the big lks now and last few days it's been +5 degrees great for January here, little cooler today but no wind and sunny.

[VAGAbond]

Try Winter Harbour on the north end of the island.    Longish bumpy road from Port hardy but there is a private campsite and a 5 mile run in your boat in protected water gets you to fishing grounds right on the edge of open water where it can be pretty good near the Kains Island light.  Coho, chinook, rockfish, ling and even halibut are possible.

Be careful about going further without appropriate caution and equipment.    Fog and weather can come up quickly and it is one huge piece of water.

[canadiansoul]

Well, that is a wealth of knowledge you guys just gave me. Thanks so much!!!
BCFROA.ca is a great site....it will definitely be in my favorites now!
I'm not into catching Sturgeon at the moment. Maybe I'll try it out this year at some point.
Thanks again for the info! 

[Fonda Fishing]

Your best bet would be paying for a local guide to guide you on your local water.

Not only will you get a rewarding day, you will get to keep the tips and tricks that would have taken years of trial and error to figure out.

Good luck!

[Dogbreath]

Try Winter Harbour on the north end of the island.    Longish bumpy road from Port hardy but there is a private campsite and a 5 mile run in your boat in protected water gets you to fishing grounds right on the edge of open water where it can be pretty good near the Kains Island light.  Coho, chinook, rockfish, ling and even halibut are possible.

Be careful about going further without appropriate caution and equipment.    Fog and weather can come up quickly and it is one huge piece of water.

Outstanding advice I hope you  take it.

And if the ground swell is a bit much you can always head back to Port Hardy, set up camp and fish there.

[canadiansoul]

You're right FF, advice from a local is gold. I will probably go out with a local at least one day.

Yes, Winter Harbour looks great! I was checking online about it....how long of a drive it is, the area, the fishing.  Wow...it looks amazing!      I think I will have to check that place out. I'm going to look around and find out which time of year is best to go and put that on the itinerary for sure!   

[Fisherama]

If you're considering going up to Prince George, why not drive another 6 hrs further to the Terrace/Kitimat region?  Especially if you're interested in coho and steelhead.  I just got back from Terrace (didn't do any fishing), but it's interesting listening to the locals talk; something to the effect of "I was trying to get a coho but all I could hook onto was steelhead after steelhead"  .  It seems like practically every decent sized tributary of the Skeena is salmon/steelhead bearing...   

[k.c.]

HI Everyone,
I'm new to this forum...not new to fishingwithrod.com   
Anyways....I'm an avid fisherman...I fish every chance I get. I have yet to catch a steelhead or even a coho, but those are two of my goals for this year.   
So, I'm planning my vacation(s) for this year and was wondering if anyone could give me a tip or two for a good place to go fishing.  I already been to most places in the Lower Mainland, so I'm mainly looking for a trip somewhere outside of the mainland.
I've got a 16ft boat w/ a 55hp on it, and I also have a 12 aluminum boat w/ a 9.9hp, so I can basically go anywhere, cept the wide open ocean of course.    A friend of mine mentioned going fishing in the northern Vancouver Island area, but I do not know where to go. I'm willing to tow my boat up to Powell River, or Prince George to enjoy a fish filled vacation.  The biggest fish I've caught since being in B.C. (20 years now), is a 20 pound salmon, so ideally I would love to catch a few bigger ones.  I'm not interested in a charter, at least not this year.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for any help.google fishing in campbell river

[wizard]

--go to bcfroa.ca site and use search engine to select area via fish size, accommodation etc. in BC... these are mainly freshwater destinations..
--larger interior lakes if you like to troll
--this weekend big fish derby Arrow lk at Nakusp, minimum entry is 10 lbs. qualifying fish are posted so those fishing can release non winners.
--they're near the surface now... bucktails and Lyman lures summer might have to use downriggers to get to the big guys in cooler water.. check out lyman lure site for pictures of fish caught last few weeks.
--Big fish in the big lks now and last few days it's been +5 degrees great for January here, little cooler today but no wind and sunny.

Skaha, do you know any websites or other sources where I can find out more about this fishery?

Also, have you ever heard of simialar tactics working on a lake like Nicola? I know there's some obtainable big 'bows in there that feed on kokanee and such. 
When fishing this big lake style, is a depth sounder crucial? are you trolling in middle of the lake or near shore, etc?
thanks.

[skaha]

-Now to early spring we are fishing near and on the surface, often middle of the lake.
--summer downriggers to hit fish so would need a sounder so you don't hang up as well as a fish locator's. I use a fish finder with side range so can pick up fish a fair distance to the side of the boat.

--would have to know the lake.. I've only fished Nicola for kokanee years ago. Often windy there.
--As to middle or shoreline I'd say both as I usually fish shallow or drop offs but others on the same day will fish the middle with much success. I think big thing is... if it isn't working change up.. colour,depth speed etc.
--what really helps is to team fish with other boats.. this will help you to dial in quicker.
--the problem with fishing the shoreline or shallow breaks is the chance you will get several hook ups of smaller fish.

--targeting big fish can have many hours of nothing but well worth it.
--attention to detail..cannot afford to loose one when you get the chance with reel or line that hasn't been maintained or trying to find the net at the last minute.
--I'd say most don't use lures out of the box..they tune them.. different hooks, add bends or beads all thing to change the action to their favourite.  would also ad that I've often fish with others... different boats as difficult to fish same boat with different gear and each of us has done well in same area. 
--I also use the downriggers for fishing shallow as they give good depth control and keep the lines spread without tangles.. haven't mastered the side planers which many use this time of year.

--for kokanee try fishwithgary.com
--I cant think of many sites but if you go to the Lyman lure site then link to the guides and pro-staff they often have tips and current information on them.

[Silex-user]

My friend and I are planning to fly up to Haida Gwaii aka Q.C. Island late Feb. to do some steelheading over Graham Island. My friend use to live in Port Clements and that where I caught my biggest winter (buck) steelhead ever 24 lbs and zipper mouth river's cutthroat about 5lbs. Measured and C&R.



Silex-user.