July 14-17, 2006
The second of our Boeing groups were greeted by a beautiful, nearly-windless summer day upon their arrival at the Outpost this weekend. The great chinook fishing continued under perfect bluebird skies and on calm waters. Because of a friendly little contest going on with this group, they kept exact records of released fish and the results were fantastic. The group of 12 released more than 4800 pounds during the 3 days they were here … remarkable! There were a few 2006 season records shattered by this group:
- Tom Cogan …14 pound coho
- Paul Bride … 15.5 pound red snapper
- Brian Schmalz … 48 pound chinook
There was also a new unofficial Outpost record set by Dan Pietrzak for releasing 5 tyees in just 2 days of fishing. One of the best trips for both weather and fishing to date for this Boeing and Northwest Airlines group.

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

July 10-14, 2006
Wow … summer finally came to Port Louis on Monday July 10th. Guests were treated to nearly glass-calm waters and fantastic chinook fishing under clear blue skies. Monday produced 5 tyees in the first couple of hours of the fishing shift. With 8 of the Outpost’s 12 guests opting for the catch and release program, there were many, many springs released Monday and Tuesday. Fish were better sized than last weeks fish with most of them measuring out in the high 20’s to low 30 pound range. By Wednesday, a moderate southerly weather system had moved in, making offshore fishing a little tougher, though good numbers of Chinooks still being recorded. The tough weather continued to plague the anglers through Thursday. By Friday, the weather system moved on and conditions seem to be improving for the coming group. We are pleased to report a new season record for a released chinook posted by Larry Ganse, with the release of his 35 pound beauty. There were numerous humpback sightings, much to the delight of the guests and a good sized pod of killer whales were spotted as well. A number of our Boeing guests took advantage of our sea kayaks and witnessed one of the season’s best sunsets from out on the water. It was a great trip for this Boeing group and our old friends, the Ulvelands from Alberta and James Hutton and daughter Tayler.

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

July 7-10, 2006
The Huber Engineered Woods group (H.E.W.) from the eastern U.S. had some weather to deal with this weekend, but also some great fishing! The first day started with a bang with 4 tyees recorded in the first few hours of fishing. Half the group participated in our catch and release salmon program and many springs were released by the end of that first afternoon. The largest released spring belonged to David Saunders and taped out at 34 pounds. The weather on day 2 proved challenging and some of the group opted for an adventurous hike through typical Queen Charlotte Islands rainforest as an alternative to the mornings’ fish. By day 3 the weather had calmed down and everybody got into some great springs and bottom fish. Just a few anglers chose to fish on the last morning and Scott Sunday was glad he did, landing an 85 pound halibut. The Outpost was pleased to host the Huber group once again and it was a good trip for one and all.

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

July 3-7, 2006
The pressure was on this week at the Outpost with a ‘friendly’ $5000 derby, set up by the Hansen family and friends. This derby has grown in size and stature every year and had guests and guides in close contention. Strong northwest winds finally started to abate at Port Louis and we were all glad to see the tail end of these clear, cold winds! I can’t honestly remember the last time we had more than a week straight of NW 20 to 25 knot winds. It was a peculiar dry, cool weather pattern that now seems to be dissipating, but tested our patience for the 10 days it hung around. Waters were remarkably calm this week and the Hansen group from Atwater, California enjoyed some nice fishing weather. More than at any point this season, we are noticing very defined runs of Chinooks moving through our waters. Monday and Tuesday, tide and ‘freaky’ non-tide afternoon bites were producing nice springs in the 20 to 30 pound range. On Wednesday, all that changed as a larger, new run of smaller fish moved in. They were hitting almost anything, with chrome/brass spoons producing the largest numbers, with heaps of fish in the almost-20 pound range. It was a nice school of fish and anglers had lots of action on the water with these scrappy teenagers. It’s interesting to note that we heard about this school at our Clubhouse and North Island Lodges about 48 hours before they showed at the Outpost.

Great, flat, ‘water-skiing’ weather on Thursday proved to be the ticket for this group. Anglers finished ‘filling their dance cards’ with springs and halibut with some catching their limit of coho as well. Matt Hansen’s halibut had to be the catch of the day, weighing in at 161 pounds. What a great trip for this loyal, 7-year group of Outpost guests. Thank you Randy, Mike and friends and family for a great trip!

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

June 30 - July 3, 2006
Strong northwest winds continued at Port Louis this weekend due to a stalled high-pressure system sitting off the west side of the Queen Charlottes. Unlike last week, this weekend’s nor’westers brought clear blue skies, which the Kasteler group was happy to see. Tough seas conditions cut fishing days short on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday calming down nicely and boats able to get to the halibut grounds.

Reduced fishing time on the water produced smaller numbers of fish, but with most springs still showing in the high 20 pound range. There were a couple of size-XXL halibut hooked up as well, but not successfully landed in the bobbing water conditions. Some giant squid around, as well as one curious sea lion off the end of the Outpost dock for about 30 minutes one afternoon this weekend. The largest spring of the trip belonged to David Hutchison at 28 pounds. This Canada Day weekend trip proved to be challenging for this loyal West Coast Fishing Club group and their new guests!

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

June 26-30, 2006
Well, the northwest winds blew this week and didn’t bring the clear blue skies that we expect with this kind of weather system. However, the wet, west winds did blow some serious halibut to shore for the Multistack/Trane group. By the end of day two, there were some big-league contenders in the halibut division with Paul Amsler 128 and Cam Lowry’s 157 topping the leader board by Tuesday. At trip’s end there were 4 over 100 pounds which again, begins the tradition of the Outpost’s ‘big butts’!

The salmon bite is still sporadic as we see new runs of fish swimming by us every couple of days, still waiting for the ‘hogs’. The fish that go by aren’t fussy and are hitting bait and all-metal spoons with equal voracity, when they’re in the neighbourhood. A nice run of coho are in the area, with some 9,10 and 11 pounders in the mix, which are bonus fish for June. Big Humboldt squid are present in our waters, which seems odd for our normal 53ºF water. The salmon aren’t chowing down on them too much, but the halibut certainly are. The largest spring(s) of the trip were 31 pounders, caught by David Temple, Mike Ohlmann and Terry Connors. Overall, a great trip for this loyal West Coast Fishing Club group!

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

June 23-26, 2006
The Outpost was pleased to host the Garcia/Clary group this weekend and a good time was had by all. Jerry, Lonnie and Lonzo Clary represented 3 generations of Clary’s … and that’s a lot for one little lodge! The weather eased up a little bit and was kinder to this California group than most of our last few weeks guests. Overall, fishing was solid through the weekend with little spurts of greatness and also inactivity. Most of the group went home with their limits of springs and the halibut fishing was a surprise hit as well. Tony Martino set a new Outpost season record for 2006 when he cranked in a 177 pounder … the day after his birthday! The largest springs of the trip were a pair of 33 pounders for Rick Moorman and for long-time, loyal Outpost guest, Mike Garcia. The group left the lodge with more than 2000 pounds of dressed fish among them. Combine that with great food, lots of laughs and camaraderie and it was another memorable trip for guests and crew alike.

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

June 19-23, 2006
The Bell Trailer group visited the Outpost this week with most of the guests hailing from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Weather again, was a factor in determining which fishing spots the group could get to on some days, but the flatlanders toughed it out! There was some money on the line and the pace was quickly set on Day 1 with Bruce Danylchuk’s 39 pounder and Jeff Edward’s 41 pounder. Those 2 chinooks turned out to be the largest of the trip and most of the anglers had great luck with halibut fishing as well. We thank Bell Trailers for making the Outpost the last stop on their triathlon of West Coast Fishing Club visits!

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

June 16-19, 2006
Fishing on this trip started fairly strong with the boats having a good first afternoon on the water showing good numbers of springs. Then, once again, the wacky weather that has been plaguing us all season, reared its ugly head and fishing offshore became impossible. The weather eased up on Sunday and boats had a great day at Gillan Point, with three tyees taken that afternoon. Outpost guides noticed a new run of fish passing by as this weekends’ fish were larger than last weeks’ and were sporting a beautiful purple hue. Russ Sherman from Bakersfield, CA led the pack with his 35 pound chinook that holds the record for the largest-retained spring for the Outpost 2006 season.

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

June 12-16, 2006
What a great trip! The Outpost was lucky this week to host the Dallas Star’s tough defenceman, Willie Mitchell for a bachelor party that he hosted for his family and closest friends. Willie is from Northern Vancouver Island, so the attendees were a mix of NHL hockey buddies, long-time friends from Port McNeill and Willie’s family and family-to-be. The weather during the first 2 days made fishing offshore difficult to impossible. But the group toughed it out and managed to land a decent number of springs, considering the conditions. By day three, the weather was great and it was game-on for halibut. Most who were looking for flatfish brought their limit to the dock with Willie’s dad, Reid Mitchell leading the board with a 63 and a 70 pounder. There were also some great salmon caught with a new Outpost season record for largest chinook released set by Willie’s grandfather, Les Mitchell with his 30 pounder. Largest spring of the trip was caught by Willie’s long-time hockey buddy, ‘the commander’, Bill Muckalt. A great time was had by all and the Outpost will long remember this special event!

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

June 9-12, 2006
Well, the trip started off great with northwest winds blowing clear, sunny skies through the area for much of Friday. As Saturday and Sunday continued, that clear NW wind built to gale force making fishing tough anywhere except Tian and Athlow Bay. Anglers toughed it out though, and most went home with their limit of chinook salmon. Court McAuley took home the largest spring for this DeRose group trip at 34 pounds. The trip was made even a little more exciting with the night-time arrival of a US Coast Guard Jethawk helicopter, using the Outpost as a base to pick up an injured commercial fisherman from the area. On another note, it’s with great sadness that the Outpost acknowledges the passing of one of our long-term, loyal guests, Mr. John Keyes. We heard that John passed away doing what he loved … fishing … and our thoughts are with him in 50-pounder heaven.

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

June 5-9, 2006
Fishing continued to improve this trip over last week’s trip with the fish showing in slightly stronger numbers and the average size going up by 2 pounds or so. The Outpost finally saw its first tyees of the season on day 6 with Pat Hall, Tony Petretta and Kevin Bennett all landing beautiful 30 pound Chinooks. Guides are slightly frustrated by the fickleness of the Chinooks moving through with them seeming to prefer bait one day, then artificial lures the next. The Outpost’s first big halibut of the season hit the dock this week when Lloyd Larsen winched in a 107 pounder. Again, lots of wildlife in the area, but just the good kind – playful, noisy humpback whales ripping it up around the boats this week. Beautiful weather saw the group enjoying some nice clear calm days and even some sunshine! Good numbers of coho around, but most of them in the 3 to 4 pound range, with an occasional 7 or 8 pounder making a nice ‘bonus fish’ for the angler.

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager

June 2-5, 2006
Overall, a great opening trip for the Outpost with the Gearhart group this year. The first afternoon’s shift saw boats releasing up to 6 springs each with a few coho around as well for added excitement. Al Ainsworth, Jim Dempsey and Harry Dombroski all landed halibut over 50 pounds, which is good for this time of year as the large ones haven’t usually moved onshore. The largest spring of the trip was an oh-so-close-to-tyee 29 pounder landed by Jim Dempsey. The marine wildlife put on a good show this trip with killer whales, breaching humpback whales and boat-chasing pods of Dall’s porpoises. With a start like that, we are all looking forward to a great season once again here at Port Louis.

Best Fishes,
Lisa Winbourne
Outpost Manager