The ClubHouse Reports

June 21 - 28, 2007

Well here we are on our June 24-28 trip date and would you believe it, the south east gales returned yet again, blowing us out to Lacy Island today! Winds howled a steady 35 knots with a good chop. The setup was again a drift from Mutton Bay out past Lacy and pretty much out until you started to see the albatrosses, a large gull like bird. Mutton Bay was named long ago after guide Paul, originally from New Zealand. Here he once claimed he was into 39 chinook by lunch and called the bite. We all headed begrudgingly deep into the bay after a early lunch break only to find our well prepared cut plugs gobbled up by black bass and various other bombers.

It turns out there is some chinook to be had on this tack, fishing relatively shallow, 40 to 50 feet on the cable or 20 to 25 pulls for the moochers. The chinooks averaged about twenty lbs but there were some larger in the mix up to the 33 lbs caught by Stuart Sasser fishing with guide Bud Stafford. Bud loves this tack in his 27 foot Boston Whaler Predator, as the wind just pushes him with ease out past Lacy where in a previous year he grabbed a 60 lber! I had a good look at the fish totes hitting the dock and the guests who hung in there were rewarded with very nice chinook and a few coho, which are now averaging 5 to 6 lbs.

The June 21 to 24 trip produced some heavy fishing with guides hitting the docks looking like they were almost exhausted. The Don Morgan Group was up and although the larger chinooks were harder to find the 18 to 25 lbers were stacked at Cohoe Point. Lots of guests released a half dozen chinook a day and easily retained what was needed for home. Again we were fishing a tight tack along Little Cohoe shoreline picking off great chinook at 40 and 50 feet on cut plug herring. I found just working the fallen tree to the eagle’s nest was very productive, as the needlefish were stacked in the bay. A lone humpback was pounding the bay feeding heavily, as well as a huge flotilla of auklets and assorted diving ducks. The best fishing was on the flood, and for the three days the chinook poured into Egeria Bay. great fishing and heaps of fun.

On the halibut front, the weather backed off for most of the previous week and wow, when it calmed down and the tides slackened the game was on. I must say what a great thing we’re seeing starting to become the norm here at Langara, releasing giant halibut! Without further delay the guides and myself want to thank the Don Morgan group of anglers and especially Kevin Mather for releasing a 200 lb plus hali with Matt Anderson providing the guidance. Matt told me easily 200 lbs, and they retained a 59,39, 25 for eating as well as releasing a 40 ling cod. Well done boys. Bud Stafford’s guests caught and released a 225 lb plus hali as well the same morning! Several other guides were on the halis including Ken Tsang landing a 175 lber and Pat Simmons...perhaps the guide who enjoys ground pounding more than anyone ever fishing Langara, seen dragging more than a few 60 to 120 lb halis down the dock.

The boys got together after work, and guide Dan Acherman fishing with fellow guides Bud, Matt and Korey caught and released a 86 inch halibut ( on the size charts this monster scaled out to 349 lb!) , after shooting some great video. These are big female halibut capable of producing a lot of eggs and many more fish in the future here at Langara. It sure is nice to see the guides onboard this idea of conservation, and thanks to all the guests who participate!

The bait continues to show up and large amounts of needlefish are holding on the east side of Langara. All the usual points will continue to produce, and we will see first hand tomorrow as the wind is predicted to change to a westerly flow. Some of the guides are buzzing down to Green Point and are finding good action with lots of 17 to 23 lb chinook and an amazing number of chicken halibut. Guide Korey Fletcher was up in arms ,flailing away, as all his lines were snapped up by 10 to 15 lb chickens as I drifted by. These halis were everywhere, 30 feet to 60 feet, no cut plug was safe. Guide Tristan suggested trolling at 30 feet, no deeper, to keep the cut plugs in the chinook zone. Korey did return to the dock with a 29 lb spring, looking happy and relieved!

In closing the guides look forward to getting you out on the water and experiencing this incredible fishery. Every week the chinook are continuing to increase in numbers and the coho are getting larger, a pound a week now. So get those arms ready and do not forget the cameras, see you all soon.

Screamer, Mike Tonnesen
Head Guide, The Clubhouse