PHOTO OF THE WEEK: KITIMAT RIVER
Sept 4 Gord Mckeen and I had the pleasure of drifting with Donna, Lesley and Bruce Bond and Bruce Cockerill on our 1/2 (4hr) Driftboat Trip. We landed 5 Coho and one very bright Chum during our drift. Fishing can sometimes be better but it should Always be fun. The best part of our drift was that when either boat had a fish on, the other boat was cheering them on. When there is family involved this is not always the case. It was refreshing to cheer each other on and most of all, it was fun! Congratulations on your catch everyone! Great Job Gord!
Thank You for using our Guiding Services!
Anyone wishing to Book a Driftboat Trip of a Lifetime with Gord or I, please call Ron 250 632 1275 or email wakita@telus.net
Sept 2 Dimitri, Pro Contact Fly Fishing Guide for Reliable Guide and Charters guided Larry and Glenda. Despite terrible river conditions, Dimintri managed to put Larry and Glenda onto a bunch of Coho on their fly rods. Exceptional Job Dimitri! Congratulations to Larry and Glenda! Dimitri commented that, “I really enjoyed Larry and Glenda as clients”. Thank You for using our Guide Services!
632 1275 or email wakita@telus.net
Sept 3 Gord Mckeen, Pro Guide for Reliable Guide and Charters guided Shiela and Kevin on a last minute afternoon drift. Judging by their smiles, their drift with Gord turned out exactly as planned!
Well done Gord! Congratulations everyone!
Anyone wishing to Book a Driftboat Trip of a Lifetime, please call Ron 250 632 1275 or email wakita@telus.net
Sept 3 Gino De Carlo caught this beauty at the 1st Washout on a 1/2 oz Scoopy Doo Thunder Jig. Congratulations Gino and Thank You for sharing your picture with our Fishing Report.
Sept 4 Lesley and Bruce proudly holding their Coho for their pictures showing their Coho with their heads on. Although we took a picture of the group holding all their Coho, I had already cut the heads off. Oops! Hope this makes amends!
Sept 6 Damon, Team member of Ron’s Tackle staff and his Mom, Natalie Chimko proudly holding the Coho they caught drifting with Daniel Chimko (his Dad and Nat’s husband) They caught most of their Coho on a silver K13X and float fishing Roe drifting from Cable Car to Radley Park. Congratulations everyone and ThankYou for sharing your picture with our Fishing Report.
SUMMARY
The Kitimat River received some exceptionally high water levels on Monday and Tuesday. The river was too dirty to fish until Wednsday evening and was exception Thursday through the weekend. The Kitimat River portion of Chamber of Commerce Derby was exceptional with lots of Coho caught during the weekend.
This year’s Chamber of Commerce Derby was in my opinion,was, “An Overwelming Success! The success of our Local Derby is largely due to the leadership, hard work and efforts of Laurel D’Andrea, the Chamber staff and all the volunteers!
All the sponsors also deserve recognition for their contributions!
Well done everyone!
Derby Results below!
| 2026 Derby Stats | ||
| # of weigh ins on Saturday | 61 | |
| # of weigh ins on Sunday | 86 | |
| # of ocean fish weighed in adult for the entire weekend | 26 | |
| # of river fish weighed in adult for the entire weekend | 102 | |
| # of youth fish weighed in for the entire weekend | 19 | |
| Prize Name | Donated By | Winner |
| VHF Marine Radio | RG’s Auto Marine | Tyler Flegel |
| Metal Detector | Kitimat Chamber | Etha Germaine |
| Milwaukee 4-piece kit – $650 | Emporium/Milwaukee | Steve Venman |
| Go Pro | Kitimat Chamber | Amelia Pawlak |
| KAILANI Cooler | WSG Energy Services | Sidney Penner |
| Drift for 2 people | Kingfish Adventure | Fabian Lueth |
| Drift for 3 people | Kitimat Lodge | Ryan Hansen |
| Ride the Bus Raffle Prize – 30 min helicopter ride bus donated by Transdev. | Canadian Helicopters | Kathy Leuze |
| Hidden Weight | Winner | Hidden Weight – 1st weigh in closest to the weight |
| Hidden weight $250 | Knox Shewchuk | 3 lbs 3 oz |
| Hidden weight $250 | Steve Dale | 5 lbs 5 oz |
| Hidden weight $250 | Tyler Flegel | 7 lbs 8 oz |
| Hidden weight $250 | Atti Zielinski | 7 lbs 15 oz |
| Hidden weight $250 | Taylor James | 8 lbs 6 oz |
| Hidden weight $250 | Emma Cabral | 8 lbs 13 oz |
| Hidden weight $250 | Donald Pacheco | 9 lbs 2 oz |
| Hidden weight $250 | Floyd Cambongga | 9 lbs 11 oz |
| Hidden weight $250 | Jeff Burkitt | 10 lbs 1 oz |
| Hidden weight $250 | Christopher Nuzzo | 10 lbs 7 oz |
| Youth | Winner | Weight |
| Youth 1st Place -$250 donated by Royal Canadian Legion #250+ Rod & Reel donated by Ron’s Bait & Tackle | Curtis Travis | 11 lbs 9 oz |
| Youth 2nd Place -$100 donated by Royal Canadian Legion #250 | Preston Rees | 9 lbs 9 oz |
| Youth 3rd Place -$50 donated by Royal Canadian Legion #250 | Jaymin Fertado | 9 lbs 4 oz |
| Adult – River | Winner | Weight |
| Adult 1st Place -$1000 donated by Sandhill & Rod & Reel donated by Bradley’s Bait & Tackle Wooden Board donated by Nathan Kearley | Seth Horsefall | 12 lbs 3 oz |
| Adult 2nd Place -$500 donated by Dal Monte’s Wood-Craft Ltd | Teddy Biggas | 12 lbs 1 oz |
| Adult 3rd Place -$250 donated by Brad Boyko, King of Springs | Jinu Vargheese | 11 lbs 9 oz |
| Adult – Ocean | Winner | Weight |
| Adult 1st Place -$1000 Rod & Reel donated by MK Bay Marina, Wooden Board donated by Nathan Kearley | Robert Sanesh | 14 lbs 1 oz |
| Adult 2nd Place -$500 – Den of Destruction | Hugh Fraser | 11 lbs 2 oz |
| Adult 3rd Place -$250 donated by Brad Boyko, King of Springs | Keaton Demelo | 11 lbs 2 oz |
| Random Prize Draws | 107 prizes given away |
DOUGLAS CHANNEL
DOUGLAS CHANNEL PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Sept 6 Andreas Handl of Kingfish Sprotfishing Adventures provided this photo of his clients taking advantage of the new increased dailly and possession quota of Halibut.
Link below in Summary.
Congratulations everyone! Well done Skipper!
Anyone wishing to Book a Saltwater Trip of a Lifetime, please call Ron 250 632 1275 or email wakita@telus.net
SUMMARY
Coho fishing in the Douglas Channel was not as good as expected. Early in the week, all the rivers and creeks in the Northwest especially the Kitimat River received a huge rainfall which rose the river levels significantly. The Kitimat River level jumped 2 metres. When this happens, the Coho schooling up in the Kitimat Harbour, run the river during the high water. By week’s end, the catch rates of Coho in the Kitimat Harbour were terrible. The same results were experienced in most of the typical hot shots, Jesse Falls, South Sue, Money Point were mostly void of Coho. A few boaters managed to catch a bunch but the majority of boaters struggled to find any good numbers.
Many boaters switched to Halibut to take advantage of the new increased Halibut quota of 2 under 112cms.
Public Notice here: https://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=365266&ID=all
Angler also Beware of the new Hook Restrictions:
Hook restrictions came into effect on September 1, 2026.
Public Notice here: https://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=360784&ID=all
KITIMAT RIVER SALMON QUOTAS AND REGULATIONS FOR THE KITIMAT RIVER
Chinook is CLOSED for Retention July 31st
Please note: The Kitimat River is open for Roe Sept 1st 12:01am for salmon but NOT to target 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.
