Vancouver Island Sockeye salmon generally begin to show up in mid July, and can often be caught well into September. There is nothing quite like feeling a large Coho strike, while witnessing the fish take the fly at the same time!Īlso referred to as the red salmon with the green head, the hard fighting sockeye is known for providing fine table fare. Many of our clients enjoy casting or buck tailing flies to hungry silvers, as the action can be incredible. Port Hardy is in the heart of Coho country, and we generally start catching Coho in mid to late June, and often catch them right into October. Coho salmon can be very aggressive, and sight fishing is not uncommon. The winter Chinook average between 8-20 lbs, with the occasional specimen reaching the 30lb mark.Īlso known as the silver salmon or blueback, the hard fighting Coho is well known for its acrobatics, and reel burning runs. In the summer, we usually see Chinook between 18 – 40lbs, with the occasional boat bringing in a 50+ pounder. Chinook fishing can be very addictive, as the powerful king salmon hits like a boxer, runs like a freight train, and can snap your line with a powerful head shake. When fishing for Chinook salmon, we generally troll, mooch or cast fly’s with sink tip line. ![]() Chinook salmon are quite possibly the most sought after game fish in the north Pacific, and the largest recorded specimen was 126lbs, wow! Our main season for trophy Chinook is June through September, but we also catch “winter” or “feeder” Chinook from November through February. Fishermen often witness huge balls of baitfish being terrorized by roaming schools of hungry salmon.Īlso referred to as the spring salmon, king salmon or tyee for fish that are 30 lbs or more. They all have to get past us first! With highly productive waters fuelled by cold up welling currents, hungry salmon like to stop and feed on the abundant schools of herring, pilchards and needlefish. What this means is that we get the first crack at all Vancouver Island Salmon traveling south to places like Campbell River, Nanaimo, Vancouver, Nootka, Port Alberni, Washington, Oregon and California. Park Creek and Park Lake have cutthroat and occasional steelhead.įor sport fishing regulations in and around Tahsis, check the latest regulations for Area 25 (Tahsis Inlet, Nootka Sound, and Esperanza Inlet) and Area 125 (offshore from Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet) at the Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s website.The geographical location of Port Hardy is perfect for intercepting all species of migrating Vancouver Island Salmon that are traveling down the inside and outside waters surrounding Vancouver Island. Fly-in lakes such as Crawfish Lake on Nootka Island and Power Lake northwest of Kyuquot offer excellent cutthroat trout up to 4 pounds year-round.įly-fishing is preferred for saltwater fishing for cutthroat in all estuaries, but favoured areas are the head of Espinoza Inlet, the Estuary of Park Creek in Queen Cove, and the mouth of Glory Creek in Mary’s Basin, south shore. ![]() The best time for lake fishing is during the spring and fall, as the summer months can be hot, and warm waters drive fish to deeper waters. ![]() It’s a steep but short climb down to Ceepeecee Lake (1/4 kilometre from an old logging road a couple miles south of town), but well worth it for cutthroat trout there as well. Malaspina Lake has rainbow and cutthroat trout up to 2 pounds. Locally, the Tahsis, Perry, and Leiner Rivers have some sea-run cutthroat (November through April), summer-run steelhead, and Chinook, Coho and Chum salmon in the fall months.īetween Gold River and Tahsis, there are excellent angling opportunities for steelhead and trout at Conuma River, Sucwoa River and Canton Creek. Some of the lakes have stocked rainbow and cutthroat trout, as well as wild fish. ![]() There are great freshwater fishing opportunities all within an hour’s drive of Tahsis.
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