Chinook Season Is Up And Running
Capt. Noel Gyger
May 4, 2011
Terrace - Freshwater Fishing Report
http://www.noelgyger.ca
Weekly Fishing Reports (Smithers, Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert and Meziadin North)
Noel Gyger
April 24 to May 1, 2011
Dear Fishing Friends:
SUMMARY: Weather was good all week and the temperatures are warming up. The rivers are rising and some are staying in shape. This is just what we need to pick up the fishing.
The Skeena River is in borderline shape and "stained" with a little brown color. This river usually has a good run of spring Steelhead. I have reports of some good catches of bright spring fish. So get out there and try your luck. The Trout and Dolly Varden Char are available year round.
The Kalum River is in good shape both upper and lower. Steelhead fishing is excellent. Chinook should be
coming in.
The Zymoetz (Copper) River is in borderline shape and fishing for Steel-head is slow. The upper section is closed for fishing January 1 to June 15.
The Lakelse River is in good shape and fishing for Steelhead and Trout is fair.
The Kitimat River Is producing Steelhead but the catch numbers are not what they should be during this time of the season. With the rising water more Steelhead should be coming in. Smithers Lakes are included below for the first time this season.
Douglas Channel; more boaters have been enjoying the stock abundance of the Douglas Channel. Many are enjoying the Crabbing and Prawning while others are venturing out further for Halibut and Bottom fish. See Important Halibut Information below.
Prince Rupert; there has been lots of activity on the water in the past week with fishermen reporting numerous Chinook showing up in the high teens to mid twenties.
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New Items on Website http://www.noelgyger.ca/news-bulletin.htm to find New items:
April 22, 2011 Announcing we landed our first Chinook (King) Salmon of the season.
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River Reports
Skeena River Steelhead, Trout, Dolly Varden Char and Chinook Salmon are being caught on some of the most popular river gravel bars. More and more fishermen are trying their luck before the water gets too dirty from too much spring run-off. It is borderline fishable right now. The folks who want to bring home a fish are targeting Chinook. They are all fresh this time of year. All wild Steelhead are "catch and release". Where: You could try your luck at "China Bar" or "Split Rock" which is west of Terrace. Regs: Check your regulations for Trout and Dolly Varden Char retention. How to: If you are into conventional float fishing or bottom bouncing I would suggest the following gear, Rod: G.Loomis STR 1265c, 10' 6" MED-HEAVY, Moderate Action, 8 – 17lb, 3/8 to 1oz. Shimano Calcutta 400B, Gold Colour, 20lb Maxima mainline. How to: If into spin fishing, Rod: Berkley Canadian Specialist Series CSS902M 9' Medium Spinning line Wt. 10-25, Lure Wt. 3/8. Reel: Shimano 4000 FE Spirex …or…Rod: Trophy XL Graphite TG270C 7' Marabou Mauler, Line Class 8-15lb. Reel: Cardinal Stamina Drag. Line: Tuf-line Duracast Braided line. Some of the best spinners are made by Mepps
Kalum River Is in good shape both upper and lower end and fishing for Steelhead and Trout is good. There is enough water now for the jet boats to get around. How to: Try using spoons the next time out. Some of the best spoons are made by Gibbs. Some of the best rods are GLoomis. Shimano makes excellent spin reels. Tuf-line makes excellent braided line. Duracast line is coated and slides effortlessly through the guides and won't wrap on the tip. I have reports of Chinook being landed now. Steelhead and Chinook on the same day…WOW. Tip: If the Chinook are in a pool you should see them rolling. Try casting spoons. They love spoons and by using Tuf-line you have a better chance of landing them. Info: Check out an article I wrote about catching both Steelhead and Chinook on the same day. Cast to the link to read http://www.noelgyger.ca/articles/Articles-May-2nd-on-the-Kalum-by-Noel.doc
Lakelse River The water is low. Fishing for Steelhead throughout the whole river is fair. Most fish are in their spawning mode now. Tip: Float fishing a bright red corky and a little bit of white wool works well. Choice of hook would be a small Gamakatsu barbless or with barb pinched down. Spin or level wind reels filled with Power Pro braided line works well. Use the thinnest line possible. It is still very, very strong. Tip: The Salmon fry are hatching so the fly fishermen should match this by fishing minnow patterns and streamer flies. Reg: Fly fishing only between Lakelse Lake and CNR Bridge, Mar 1-May 31. I have reports that fly fishing for Cutthroat, Dolly and Rainbows in the upper end is very good right now.
Gitnadoix River This beautiful Skeena tributary usually has a very good run of spring Steelhead. This river is located in a Provincial Park. It is a very rough, rocky river in the lower end and jet boating can be dangerous. Please be careful! Regs: Class 1 water all year; Steelhead Stamp mandatory April 1-May 31. Fish guiding on this river in this park is limited, for details, advice and suggestions please contact me. Tip: Fly fishermen please wade safely by using a wading staff. Trophy XL makes a nice one in 7 sections. Easily folds up and stores in a pouch on the waist.
Zymoetz (Copper) River The water is in good shape. Fishing for Steelhead is fair. Reminder: No fishing above the sign at the transmission line crossing (below) Zymoetz Canyon Jan 1 – June 15. You can still fish below the sign all winter and spring. Fly fishing is the choice of many on this river. Wading with quality Simms waders and accessories is the way to go. A friend of mine is very happy with his new Islander fly reel. Trophy XL fly rod, Cortland Line and Maxima Tippet completes his set.
Zymagotitz (Zymacord) River The water is in fair shape and access has improved with the melting snow. Fishing for Cutthroat Trout and Dolly Varden Char is good. This river has some big Bull Trout and a fair run of spring Steelhead. Tip: The best way to practice catch and release and do the least amount of harm to the fish is to use a small hook. Size 1 or 2 Gamakatsu is a good choice. Big hooks harm fish. This is common knowledge so why is the use of small hooks NOT in the regulations? Gear suggestion: Kamloops Dragon fly rod, 10' Kamloops fly reel, AFTMA #8line. Backing Dragon Fly "Bright Orange" 30lb, 150 yard spool. Fly line SA Sharkskin Steelhead WF-8-F.
Kitimat River Is producing Steelhead but the catch numbers are not what they should be during this time of the season. With the rising water more Steelhead should be coming in. Steelheading on the Kitimat River will continue well into May. There will also be some Steelhead kelts. Kelts are Steelhead which have finished spawning and are migrating back down the Kitimat feeding on their journey back out to the saltwater. There should also be an early run of Chinook starting to show in the Kitimat River. May is an exciting time to be on the Kitimat River. Trout fishing is still very good. Bubba's Bait Dew worms continue to be the most productive lure for Trout on the Kitimat River. This river has a power boat ban. More and more float boats are heading out now that there is some water. The drift boats love to "pull plugs". The most popular plugs are the Hot-Shot and Kwikfish made by Luhr Jensen.
Apr 26 Ariel Kuppers landed this Kitimat River Hatchery Steelhead at the secret hole this week Tip: He was float fishing with G.Loomis str1024c with an Ambassadeur 6500c3. 15lb Maxima Ultra Green line. Fishing roe with Gamakatsu 1/0 hook and Gibbs floats. Ariel is an associate angling guide for Reliable Guide and Charters.
Smithers Lakes The recent melts have allowed a few open spots on Rainbow Alley, Lake Kathlyn and Tyhee Lakes for anyone who wants to cast onto the ice, and let your fly/lure drop into the cold waters for the first Cutthroat, Rainbow and Lake Trout of the year!
Douglas Channel More boaters have been enjoying the stock abundance of the Douglas Channel. Many are enjoying the Crabbing and Prawning while others are venturing out further for Halibut and Bottomfish. On sunny days the Douglas Channel really shows off her "breath taking natural beauty". To be able to watch rods bent in the shadows of snow capped mountains and blue sky is an experience. There is a group starting a promotion branding Kitimat as the "Playground of the Pacific Inland Coast". Tip: Use the Ace Line Hauler to pull your traps. Reg: When travelling with Crab you must leave the shell on. Note: Chinook (King) Salmon fishing won't start until mid May although there is always feeder Chinook wandering around the outer waters of the Douglas in search of baitfish.
Prince Rupert Reports some excellent catches of Chinook Salmon. There has been lots of activity on the water in the past week with fishermen reporting numerous Chinook showing up in the High Teens to Mid Twenties.
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Fishing Guide and Tackle Shop Reports
Summary for Skeena and Tributaries
Fishing This Week
FAIR
Type of Fish Caught
River: Chinook, Steelhead, Cutthroat Trout and Dolly Varden Char.
Ocean: All five species of Salmon, Halibut, Bottom Fish and Dungeness and King Crab for ocean.
Largest Fish of the Week
River: 18-pound Steelhead – Kalum River Ocean: 27-pound Chinook Rupert
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Noel Gyger 96 fishing video clips on YouTube
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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=noelgyger Over 503,694 uploaded views.
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Contact information
GOOD LUCK and GOOD FISHING!
Yours sincerely, Noel F. Gyger
Guided Fishing Adventures and Weekly Fishing Report
E-mail: [email protected]
Home Page: www.noelgyger.ca
Fishing Reports: www.noelgyger.ca/past-fishing-reports.htm
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It is NOT too late to book a guided river or ocean fishing trip
RIVER FISHING Lots of lodge or day bookings still available on classified or non-classified waters. Guiding fly or spin fishermen with raft, drift-boat or jet-boat. Contact Noel to book NOW! [email protected]
OCEAN FISHING Chinook Salmon, Bottom Fish and Crab in Prince Rupert or Kitimat Douglas Channel has started. To book warm, covered charter boat please contact Noel Gyger anytime. Phone: 250-635-2568 E-mail: [email protected]
NOW BOOKING for 2011: 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. Contact Noel Gyger to book NOW [email protected]
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