The photo of the week shows the first Chinook (King) Salmon landed and released on the Kalum River this season. The lucky angler is Cal Nakanishi. He hooked it on a Silver Mortac lure. The photo may not be the very best 5 star photo, perfectly framed or posed, but I don't think it matters, it is the fish that counts…and that these beautiful fish are on their way again is very special. Are we lucky anglers or what? Photo credit: Nicholas Dean Lodge
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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 22 – April 29, 2007
(Number 16)
Dear Fishing Friends:
The weather turned against us. It was raining lightly and windy most of the week and not a lot of sun. Combined with warmer temperatures and light rain, it was enough to colour up and raise the rivers. Even the cleaner waters were full of suspended debris picked up from the shore. The fish dodge this and are usually not interested in biting your hook. I don't think they can distinguish between the two. If the water stabilizes (or starts to fall) the debris will flush out fast and the bite should be back on. Sad to say fishing has gone from excellent/good to only fair, some rivers even worse than that but the weather has improved for the weekend…and did I say the big Chinook are on their way? I have updated reports from Ron Wakita, Craig Murray and Chad Black this week.
In the last couple of weeks, my two friends Stefano and Dr. Botha 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
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) 25-pound buck Chinook Where: Kalum River Angler: Cal Nakanishi In addition to this Chinook, two 16-pound Steelhead were landed by Don Powell and Craig Dennis.
WEATHER: Cloudy with a 60% chance of showers. Highs to 8 degree C. Region normal: Max. Temp. 15 degree C. Min. Temp. 3 degree C. Sunrise 6:01 am Sunset 9:02 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: much improved from a few days ago
SNOW CONDITIONS: very little snow left near town but deep snow still exists where the guides like to walk into isolated rivers.
FOR CURRENT WATER HEIGHTS ON THE SKEENA RIVER PLEASE CAST ON:
http://scitech.pyr.ec.gc.ca/water/StnFrame.asp?stnID=08EF001
NOTE: this site usually works best in-season.
FISHING REPORT FROM NICHOLAS DEAN LODGE FOR THIS WEEK:
We are nearing the tail end of our Spring Season here at Nicholas Dean Lodge, and to this point we have had some very good fishing, including last week. Previously, we had a cancellation in this prime week, and had to somewhat scramble to fill it, but in the end, 7 very eager anglers made it to the lodge. Although the fishing was somewhat challenging for them, our guests still hooked at least a few fish every day, ranging from darker males with the characteristic double-red stripe, to fresh, nearly white chrome hens. The largest Steelhead landed were two bucks of about 18 lbs, one from the rising Skeena River, and the other from a secret, not-to-be-named coastal river. And for one lucky angler, Cal Nakanishi, he even had the pleasure of tying into a fresh, chrome Spring Chinook that proceeded to pull doggedly as it moved down the pools, requiring him to chase it very quickly! Water levels were slightly on the rise, and the changing conditions seemed to have made the fish a little more aggressive.
However, this week has been a different matter. For whatever reason, the fish seemed to have stopped biting altogether, or simply aren't there. Since we are approaching May, it is likely that some fish have moved through the Skeena system and into tributaries and creeks to spawn (last week a guest caught a female drop-back Steelhead that, while very slender, was surprisingly chrome); although the guides have mentioned that it may also be due to large quantities of algae moving through the rivers (which makes it a little more difficult for the fish to see your bait, and fouls up your bait as well!), fewer numbers of fresh fish, and angling pressure. Still, the possibilities are endless here in the Lower Skeena Region, so while one river or system might have tough fishing, there are always a few other options as well…
Until next week, tight lines and screaming reels.
Chad Black
Operations Manager
Nicholas Dean Lodge…where every cast is an adventure!
SKEENA RIVER: is now fishable for Steelhead and Chinook. The water is in borderline shape, with some colour to it.
KALUM RIVER: has an "excellent" run of Steelhead and the first Chinook was landed last week. The Steelhead are wintering over and will start spawning soon. The water is rising and is borderline fishable. A lot of debris is suspended in the water. This sometimes (usually) turns off the bite. In general, the upper river is still fishable but the lower river is too dirty although cleaning up by weeks end.
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. Winter 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: (report from last week, sorry to be late) As we progress into the Steelhead season the elements of the late winter break up are creating some very erratic fishing results. I drifted with Kevin, Dave and Jeff last Saturday and we hooked seven Steelhead and landed four beauties.
Photos of Kevin and Dave Hubner's catch
The next day with huge anticipation and even greater expectations we hooked only one. The water clarity was even better on Sunday but the water temperature dropped three degrees. Those anglers who subscribe to the warmer temperature theory when fishing for Steelhead should definitely move to the front of the class. The rest of the week brought similar results. There are steelhead being caught through out the Kitimat system but spotty when the water temperature dropped.
A very special group of anglers from 100 mile house led by Gord Brownell and Ken Jervis were fortunate to catch a few during their trip culminating with a 18lb.female on their final day. Gord landed this prize drifting with his son Andrew and one of his best friends, Wayne and his son. This precious moment created a page in the history book of life that touched us all who were involved. Congratulations Gord, Ken and group. 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 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:
April 26, 2007
Fishing report from Nimmo:
Yikes, the winter weather is still with us. The fish are biting but the water is cold 38 / 39 degrees and the Steelhead are new in the systems. Things could be a bit late this year.
Fishing however, is not always about catching. It is about the wonderful experiences we all take home with us. Of course it is always great when a chromer decides to end up on your line as opposed to someone else's, but sometime we have no control over that. The One thing I have learned is that women and kids are great catchers. They listen.
But back to the experiences. On our last trip we had one of THE best trumpet players in the world as our guest. He wasn't necessarily an angler, but he was there as a guest of someone who was. Now over the years, Music has been one of our reasons for success at Nimmo Bay, along with Humour and Detail. So it was just perfect that this fellow brought his trumpet along, with the idea of jamming one night with us.
What happened was even better than fishing. Well, different anyway, but just as thrilling. It was what memories are made of. We arranged to fly in a very accomplished musician, who just happened to play piano along with 9 other instruments, from Calgary to accompany our trumpet virtuoso. We did this all in the space of 20 hours.
The piano player was picked up at Port Hardy airport by my wife Deborah, who in turn drove him to Port McNeill. There we picked him and Deborah and Sharon up in a helicopter and brought them all to Nimmo Bay.
Our trumpeter arrived back from a days fishing to meet his piano playing partner, and together they planned an evening to be remembered. It was also my daughters 23rd birthday. She is a singer / songwriter and was also very excited about what was to transpire. She would get to sing with two professionals, who had made it, in the world of music. I also play a 12 string guitar and sing and accompany my daughter with a routine we have done for years at Nimmo.
The stage was set, as it were, for a fun filled evening. The games began at 10 Pm after an unforgettable feast of coastal crab. The first song from that golden horn was Georgia on my mind, as that is my daughters name and it was her 23rd birthday. How cool for her. The tunes got progressively livelier and the notes seem to hang suspended between the fir floors and the red cedar ceilings, and just stayed there.
How does one describe perfection? The term I use to describe Nimmo Bay comes to mind, Temporal Nexus. It is like being inside of Joy. The trumpet and piano were one. Then Georgia and I sang a couple of tunes that most everyone knew. Then it was the rest of our guests turn to make fools of themselves, while trying to carry a tune. Then once again the air was alive with melodies made from the magic fingers and lips of two most gifted individuals, whom I will never forget.
The night went far too late and the next morning came far too early. It was time to get the piano player to Port Hardy for a 6:45 AM flight to Vancouver, then on to Calgary. Thank goodness for helicopters. They not only take you to where the fish are biting, but they provide the moments in life that are truly great and worth remembering.
Did we catch any fish. Yes, some. Did we have the time of our lives. No doubt in my mind. You know it was fabulous because guests were rebooking for later in the year and for 2008. Wow, isn't fishing fun!! Keep the memories and release the fish.
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
