PHOTO OF THE WEEK. Sept-13-14 I had the pleasure of drifting wih Helga and Bob Knechtel on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Here is our group photo of Helga and Bob and I holding our catch on Thursday.
We hooked 14 plus Coho and landed 9. 5 were over 50cms and 4 were jacks (Coho between 30 and 50 cms) I landed one Coho to give to my friends at the Multi Level Care wing of the Kitimat Genral Hospital.
The Kitimat River has been very low and we received some much needed rain on Tuesday night. We were excited because we thought Wednesday morning would be outstanding fishing. We only hooked one fish on Wednesday morning despite the river level rising. The highlights of the day was seeing a grizzly bear up close (we were plenty safe in the driftboat) and that Helga landed the first fish. Bob and Helga have a little competition that she has to land the first fish.
My impression was that if Helga doesn’t land the first fish, it would be safer for Bob to hang out with the Grizzly bear. 🙂
The Coho we hoped would flood into the Kitimat River on Wednesday definetley came in on the Wednesday late afternoon tide or Thursday’s early morning tide. Sometimes fish don’t do everything we expect them to do when they are supposed to. I quess the fish didn’t read the manual or get the memo. It is sure a lot of fun when they do finally behave as they are supposed to. In our case, the bumper run of Coho happenned 2 tides after it was supposed to. Our smiles in the picture show how happy we were when the bumper run finally happened. Congratulations on your catch Helga and Bob. Thank You for using our Guide Services.It was a lot of fun fishing with you.
Anyone wishing to Book a Driftboat Trip on the Kitimat River, please call Ron or email wakita@telus.net
KITIMAT RIVER
Sept 11 Steve Hagman sent me these pictures and comment, “Ron this is my wife Brenda. Last night at coho flats she caught this fish while holding our baby. What a woman!” Wow! Steve you are a Lucky Man, Brenda is an incredible woman and angler. Congratulations Brenda! “Talk about dual tasking! Well done!
Steve is second generation of 3 generations of the Hagman family who have coming to fish the Kitimat River for 30 plus years. It has been a pleasure meeting your family so many years ago and getting to know the next generation of Hagman anglers. It is alway refreshing to watch 3 generations fishing together.
Thank You for sharing your pictures with our Fishing Report.
Sept 11 Tyrone and Joel fishing with Jacob Newman, Pro Guide for Reliable Guide and Charters hooked 3 Coho landed a jack Coho. Congratulations everyone. Great Job Jacob. Thank You for using our Guiding Services. Anyone wishing Book a Driftboat Trip with Jacob, please call Ron or email wakita@telus.net
Sept 13 Jacob Newman, Pro Guide for Reliable Guide and Charters fishing with Rob, Guy and Meagan 2 landed beutiful Cooked of the 4 they hooked. Congratulations everyone. Great Job Jacob. Thank You for using our Guiding Services.
Sept 14 Blaise Aussie fishing with Jacob Newman, Pro Guide for Reliable Guide and Charters caught this beautiful Coho on a fly. Congratulations Blaise. Well done! Great Job Jacob!
Thank You for using our Guiding Services
Anyone wishing to Book a Driftboat Trip with Jacob, please call Ron 250 632 1275 or email wakita@telus.net .
Sept 14 Mike Herzberg sent me this picture of a rod and reel he lost, “Hi Ron, not sure if you ever get found items turned in at the store. Lost my old 10.5′ Fenwick rod/Shimano Calcutta 250 reel yesterday between Riverlodge and the fishing spot at Pollution Control” Anyone finding this rod and reel please call Mike Herzberg 250 632 1022 or email Ron 250 632 1275 or email wakita@telus.net.
Sept-13-14 I had the pleasure of drifting wih Helga and Bob Knechtel on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Here is our group photo of Helga and Bob and I holding our catch on Thursday.
We hooked 14 plus Coho and landed 9. 5 were over 50cms and 4 were jacks (Coho between 30 and 50 cms)
I landed one Coho to give to my friends at the Multi Level Care wing of the Kitimat Genral Hospital.
The Kitimat River has been very low and we received some much needed rain on Tuesday night. We were excited because we thought fishing on Wednesday morning would be outstanding. We only hooked one fish on Wednesday morning despite the river coming up. The highlights of the day was seeing a grizzly bear up close (we were plenty safe in the driftboat) and that Helga landed the first fish. Bob and Helga have a little competition that she has to land the first fish.
My impression was that if Helga doesn’t land the first fish, it would be safer for Bob to hang out with the Grizzly bear. 🙂
The Coho we hoped would flood into the Kitimat River on Wednesday definetley came in on Thursday. Sometimes fish don’t do everything we expect them to do when they are supposed to. I quess the fish didn’t read the manual or get the memo. It is sure a lot of fun when they do finally behave as they are supposed to. In our case, the bumper run of Coho happenned 2 tides after it was supposed to. The smiles display our happiness when it finally did. Congratulations on your catch Helga and Bob. Thank You for using our Guide Services.It was a lot of fun to fish with
.
Sept 15 I had the pleasure of fishing with “Captain Des”, Reliable Guide and Charters’s newest Pro Guide. Des and I were doing a Pre client trip in the upper section in preparation for some client trips next week. Desiree did most of the rowing, hence the rank of “Captain”. Desiree put us onto 2 Coho, one I landed and one she landed. The Coho I landed comically escaped from the cradle. It was not one of our finest fishing moments but it was one of the funniest. 🙂
Thanks for an awesome trip “Captain Des”. It was a lot of fun. Great Job on the oars!
Anyone wishing to Book a Driftboat Trip with Des, please call Ron or email wakita@telus.net
Sept 16 I had the pleasure of fishing with Mayumi Nishiyama and Kevin Dobbin on a morning drift down the lower Kitimat. Mayumi who, now resided in Edmonton, is originally from Japan. (Real Japanese, made in Japan).and is visiting Kevin, her brother in law.
Mayumi has always dreamed of catching a Salmon and most of all wanted Ikura (Salmon eggs in Japanese) which is a delicacy in Japan.
Mission accomplished. Although we lost a bunch of Coho during the learning process, Mayumis landed 2 beautiful female Coho and one jack Coho.
Congratulations Mayumi. It was a lot of fun fishing with you and Kevin.
I was honoured to help you fullfill your life long dream.
Regards from Ron (Fake Japanese, made in Kitimat) : )
Summary
The Kitimat River received a couple bumps of rain this week , The second bump of rain brought a bumper load of Coho into the Kitimat River. Coho with sealice were caught up as high up as the Sawmill. Many Coho anglers have been waithing for the river to rise in anticipation of a lot more Coho to fish for in the Kitimat River.
I suspect this year’s Coho season will carry on into October but the question is, will the Kitimat River conditions be fishable. The Kitimat River is notorious for rising and turning brown and dirty in the fall.
Whether the river remains fishable or not, I foresee lots of Coho migrating into the Kitimat River.
Stay tunes!
SALMON QUOTAS AND REGULATIONS FOR THE KITIMAT RIVER
Please note: The Kitimat River is open for Bait including Roe Sept 1st 12:01am for Salmon but NOT for targeting Trout or Steelhead.
| (including tributaries) | All | May 15 to Aug 31 | Bait ban. | |
| on west bank between signs at Kitimat hatchery outfall. | All | Apr 1 to Mar 31 | No fishing for salmon. | |
| downstream of Highway # 37 bridge. | Chinook | Apr 1 to Jul 31 | 1 per day, 80 cm or less. | |
| Aug 1 to Dec 31 | No fishing for chinook. | |||
| Coho | Apr 1 to Oct 31 | 4 per day, only 2 over 50 cm. | ||
| Nov 1 to Dec 31 | No fishing for coho. | |||
| Chum | Apr 1 to Aug 31 | 2 per day. | ||
| Pink | Apr 1 to Aug 31 | 2 per day. | ||
| upstream of Highway # 37 bridge. | All | Apr 1 to Mar 31 | No fishing for Salmon.
|
Total Salmon Daily Quota is 4 Per Day with each Daily Species Quota applying.
Total Possession Limit to transport is 8 salmon Fresh and Salt combined.
DOUGLAS CHANNEL
Sept 7 curtis of Fishwestcoast Adventures provided these photos and this comment, “Excellent catches of halibut, ling cod, and other bottom fish right now in the Douglas Channel with some good sized coho salmon coming in. The larger salmon have been consistently hitting a flasher/anchovy combo fished at 30′-40′ on the riggers. Lots of whale activities in the mix as well to keep everyone entertained. Tight lines and bent rods… Fishwestcoast Adventures”
Congratulations to everyone on their catcfh. Awesome pictures of the whole Douglas Channel experience.
Anyone wishing to Book a Trip of a Lifetime with Curtis, please call Ron 250 632 1275 or email wakita@telus.net
September 12 John, Blue Heron Charters; fishing with Glen and Linda and catching halibut and salmon. Congratulations Glen and Linda. Great Job Skipper!
Anyone wishing to book a Saltwater Trip with John please cal Ron 250 632 1275 or email wakita@telus.net
Summary
The Douglas Channel continues to produce good numbers of Halibut.and the weather also coninued to be outstanding early in the week. The scenery and the Douglas Channel experience is amazing with Blue skies and calm seas.
Coho are still being caught in the Kitimat Harbour fishery albeit not the numbers of Coho we catch now are not the same as what we catch in August. It is more a situation of being in the right place at the right time.
We are forecast to receive some rain and as the rivers rise most of the Coho will head into their spawning creeks and rivers. Accordingly the catch rate for Coho in the Douglas Channel will continue to decline drastically. There have been a few reports of some Feeder Chinook being caught for the Salmon option on the menu.
Stay tuned!
Please Stay Safe!
Ron
