The ClubHouse Reports

MAy 31 - June 21, 2007

The Hippas are in now.....a term used by guides to describe the large strain of chinook holding in the Langara Island area. Excitement and big smiles are all over the dock tonight as a second large Hippa Hog was weighed in by Jim Kessler, 41 .5 lbs. Jim was fishing with the suddenly hot Ken Tsang at Cohoe Point and successfully boated the monster. The weather was testy, bordering on extreme, southeast gales and a six foot swell with a heavy chop. Evidently no problem for these big Boston Whalers we are guiding out of, as most of the afternoon we had Cohoe Point to ourselves, and the fishing was awesome. Lots of springs in the 18 to 28 lb range with three other tyee hitting the dock.

Yesterday was a awesome day weather wise and fish wise with Ron Bruhaug grabbing a 46.5 lber to take over fish of the year honours again caught at Cohoe Point fishing with world famous Ken Tsang. Springs averaged 20 lbs with several tyee class fish landed. For the trip we are at six tyee and counting, with another full day to go.

The weather has been unpredictable this spring with more gales than normal, but the guides are certainly all working hard and finding lots of great chinook. We are trolling and mooching 40 to 50 feet deep, mostly using cut plug herring, although a few of us are trolling whole herring in teaser heads with great results. Purple Haze and the glow green heads do the trick nicely. Lots of good comedy with the gale force winds, as many guides are finding themselves in the kicker motors at times, lines wrapped around downrigger cables. The odd nice chinook is escaping to spawn as they scream through the boats and find other guides lines. We all have been kidding Kenny, asking him if he has been sharpening his rigger cables.

The fish are now here and right on time. The coho are in the mix but still on the small size, four to six lbs. Lots of needlefish in most areas. Boulder Bay and Gunia Point producing some great chinook in the mid twenties to low thirties. We are fishing the shallow tack along the kelp beds pulling very nice chinook out of the needlefish schools. Any time now the first large Hippas will be hit in this area.

Halibut fishing has been tougher with the big winds but veteran guide Matt Anderson set the anchor out on the west side and produced some great halis in the seventy pound class. He commented it was slower fishing but productive in the weather window. Guide Pierre hauled a nice ninety two lber over the side in Boulder Bay while fishing for chinook, a great catch on a salmon rod for sure.

As we hit our longest days of the year fishing is very good with a lot of excitement on our dock. The guides are pumped to see these large fish passing through and as always we look forward to releasing these giants to spawn and continue this gene pool for the future. The guides all carry digital cameras and will measure your trophy and take a great picture of your monster chinook if you choose to release it, always a fantastic feeling.

So in closing we can hardly wait to see you all and what a year it is shaping up to be. On behalf of all the guides we look forward to getting you out on the water and showing you firsthand one of the greatest chinook fisheries in the world.

Screamer, Mike Tonnesen
Head Guide, The Clubhouse

May 27 - 31, 2007

A big hello from the West Coast Fishing Club as the 2007 season begins. Great improvements have been made and all returning guests will be surprised with our new Marine Centre. The fish cleaning and processing area is amazing and in my opinion second to no other at any lodge.

With fishing underway, the guides are having lots of success landing chinooks in the 17 to 24 lb range. Most of the fishing is concentrated on the east side of Langara, with all the usual spots producing. Highlights included Ted Walter landing a 40.5 lb beauty on May 29th at Cohoe Point, a fish that jumped six times in extremely rough water with Ted kneeling on the floor of his 27’ Boston Whaler - rod tip up of course!

Also notable, guide Ken Tsang went old school and took Ben Lindbergh into Bruin Bay on the ebb tide and mooched a nice 31 lb chinook out of the kelp, well done Ben.

Todd McIntyre took advantage of a nice day with our Mercury engine reps, and ran east to Cape Edensaw, and successfully guided Eric Nelson into a 37 lb chinook that was measured and released, largest released chinook to date and always a great feeling to see these giants swim away to live another day!

On the halibut front Pat Simmons took long time fishing partner and guest Anthony Lawler to the west side June 4th and battled a monster hali some 244 lbs, largest to date. Our other guided boats did well on the eating sized 20 to 45 lb halis. Weather permitting, all signs point to another great halibut season, so get those arms in shape and ready.

So, look forward to seeing you all this season and on behalf of the guides and staff we can’t wait to get you out on the water enjoying the incredible Clubhouse experience.

Screamer, Mike Tonnesen
Head Guide, The Clubhouse