Reliable Guide and Charters and Ron’s Mobile Fishing Tackle and Bait Shop Fishing Report Week ending July 26th 2026

Kitimat RIVER PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

July 17 I had the pleasure of drifting with my good friend, Steve Stangroom, and 2 members of Ron’s Fishing Tackle Shop store staff, Damon Chimko and Mason Hinton.  I combined this driftboat trip by fishing with my very good friend and with doing a little tackle testing and sharing a little fishing experience with my store staff.
Damon caught and released this very large Chinook on a bottom bouncing rig we affectionally named “Aiden’s Geisha Girl”.   Well done Damon!  Congratulations!
Mason also landed a Chum on a Pink Hot Shot, that Steve passed off his rod to Mason.
We also landed a PInk on a pink jig.  SRMD Senior MD Fishing Team!
It was an Awesome drift guys!  Thank You!  I am pretty sure Damon and Mason learned  a lttle fishing knowledge and the finer art of trash talking!  🙂
Great Job Team!  

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“Aiden’s Geisha Girl ” Bottom Bouncing Rig

Mason Hinton

2026_July 21 Ron Taylor,Jonevan and Bailey Chum bottom bouncing nickel chartreuse spin n glo with chartreuse geisha squid

Here are photos from yesterday trip. It was great afternoon. Carla caught her first salmon 95 centimetres. Here are the photos.

Micheal Champagne chum red black jig

2026_July 18 Photo of the Week I had the pleasure of fishing with my good friend, Steve Stangroom,  Damon Chimko and Mason Hinton

2026_July 18 Gord McKeen Jacob, Mads. Jesper and Jacob Denmark group

2026_july 15 Pro guide for reliable guide and charters drifting with Michael Lundle and Wyatt Stefura landed this beauty.

July-12 Corey wakita pro guide for Reliable Guide and Charters fishing with Dylan left and David right David landed this chum on 14mm Red soft bead in the pool below Coho Flats

Good afternoon Ron, here’s the pictures from the drift on July 11th with gord

July 11 Gord Mckeen Pro Guide for Reliable Guide and Charters fishing with Brandon Francis and Dino

Lumbrisic landed this beautiful Kitimat River Chinook.  They also hooked hooked and landed 3 other Chinook and a couple of Pinks.  Congratulations on your catch!  Amazing Job Gord!
Well done everyone!

Anyone wishing to Book a Driftboat Trip of a Lifetime with Gord, please call Ron 250 632 1275.

July 11th Carley Roller and Dave Roller Lower Dyke 88cm Chinook

July 10th Noah Marasco Lower Dyke .82cm Chum Salmon.

July 10th Ty Reszel 83cm Chinook  Lower Dyke

July 1 Gail Webb caught this Spring July 1st on the lower dyke of the Kitimat River.

SUMMARY
Firstly I apologise that this Newsletter has not been emailed as frequently as normal.  This is our busy time, time is precious and sleep is rare!
Subscribers are reminded that our Fishing Report is available on our website but there are times like this that our Newsletter is not always emailed out.  Subscribers be know that we update our Fishing Report on our website frequently during the week but do not always send out the Newsletter.  For frequent undates, please visit our website  Reliable Guide and Charters and Ron’s Mobile Fishing Tackle and Bait Shop Fishing Report Week ending July 26th 2026 – Reliable Guide and Charters

 

Now  is the best time to be fishing the Kitimat River.  All five species of Salmon are in the Kitimat River.  Depending on the species, they are in different stages of their spawning cycles.
Chinook are in the later stages of their cycle.  Anglers are reminded that Chinook closes for retention July 31st midnight.  It has been an outstanding run of larger Chinook but unfortunately we didn’t receive the excellent numbers of 3 year old Males that we did last year.  The 3 year old males are the Chinook component that are under the 80cm max length for retention.  On the bright side, the 4 and 5 year old females that will spawn this year will only strentghen Chinook stocks for the future returns.
Pinks returns to date have been lower than normal.  We are hopefull  that  the peak tides at the end of the month will produce Pinks stocks later than normal.  Stay tuned to this report.
Chum stocks have been outstanding.  In short the Chum numbers we are seeing are normally the Pink number we usually enjoy.  The run strentghs of Pink and Chum are reversed and vice versa.  It is “Days of old” for those anglers who been fishing the Kitimat back in the late 80’s, early 90’s.  The Kitimat Hatchery as done exception job rebuilding Chum populations and deserve the appreciation from all of us who enjoy the fruits of their efforts.
Worthy of note is Mr Vince Sealy ( recently retired Hatchery manager) Vince dedicated his carreer to enhancing the Kitimat Salmon and Steelhead stocks as well as on the Kildala and other rivers.  Vince has earned his retirement and the recognition of a Job Well Done!
On behalf of the Kitimat River and Douglas Channel  Sportfishing community , I saY, “THANK YOU for your time, efforts and commitment to enhancing the Salmon sotcks we all enjoy.”
There have been a few Sockeye caught on the Kitimat River.  The KItimat River has a skeleton return of Scokeye.  Anglers are reminded that Sockeye salmon are closed for retention on the Kitimat.
There have been the odd Coho already caught.  In perspective, the main Coho return on the Kitimat River, will not start until late August into September and October.
In closing, we are indeed fortunate to be Blessed to be fishing the stock abundance of Salmon stocks on the KItimat River.  A Huge Thanks to the management and staff of the Kitimat River Hatchery.

 

Congratulations on your catch and Thank You for sharing your pictures with our Fishing Report.  Any one wishing to Book a Trip with Curtis , please email Ron wakita@telus.net of call 250 632 1275.

2026-July 16-John@ Blue Heron Charters fishing with Kevin and catching halibut.

July 12 2.5 oz Mac fish and green mudraker bishop bay

SUMMARY
The Douglas Channel simular to the Kitimat River is showing off her Stock abundance of all species of salmon but the Salt fishery has more to show off.  Halibut, bottomefish and all species of Salmon are showing excellent catch rates as are the crab and prawns.
The other advantage of the Douglas Channel are the 3 Natural Hot Springs.
Coho are starting to be caught in good numbers in the outer waters of the Douglas Channel.  Prince Rupert Coho catch rates have been excellent for a couple weeks.
Late July, early August is typically the best time to fish for Halibut in the Douglas Channel.  Especially this end of the Douglas Channel as all Bottomfish migrate up to end to feed on the Chinook, Pink and Chum carcasses that will be washing out the river and creek mouths.
Anyone who has catching Halibut on their “Bucket List” , this is the bes time to check it off the list.
Anyone wishing to Book a Saltwater Trip of a lifetime, please call Ron 250 632 1275 or email wakita@telus.net