The ClubHouse Reports

August 24 - 27, 2007

What a day up at Langara, the weather was screaming south east this morning and we all took a good beating. I was ecstatic my guide boat of choice was a 27 foot Boston Whaler, as the east side of Langara was closed to fishing as a safety precaution for all other Langara lodges. Once again these big Whalers showed their value, as guides Kenny, Dan, Serge and myself spent the morning alone at Cohoe Point. The weather was nasty, and it was a two rod situation, it was all I could do to clip my mainline into the rigger release clip without propping myself!

I fished in tight where the swell was huge, trolling 60 feet on the rigger, and with all that room had some awesome fishing for twenty lb springs, in fact limited out three guests on Springs in two hours. We had some fine coho to, including a 14 lb northern with a huge hooked nose. Some of the boats only stuck in there for a couple hours, but everyone was on some fish. Most of the other boats were out at Lacy, where it was extremely slow. This time of year the west side of the island is barren we find, but they gave it a good try.

On another exciting note, on Aug 25th Kenny Tsang was shocked to fill his net bag with a 52 lb spring at Cohoe Point, with a very happy Phil Dreaver landing this monster. Ken was trolling 84 feet with his cut plug carefully prepared in about 120 feet of water. I know this because I was behind him observing and was a bit envious when that downrigger rod buckled and the line screamed. I picked up my lines and tied up alongside Kenny as he measured and released this fish, and we all took amazing photos. That Kenny has a big grin when a monster over 50 is aboard. Kenny told me it is as good as a Stanley Cup......although how a good boy from Vancouver would know, I’m not sure.

Phil fished with me the day before and grabbed a 34 lb spring, 125 feet off the rigger in the same area. The PCL group led by Brad Nelson had a awesome trip with limits of Springs and lots of Coho. The Coho have appeared again and we are regularly grabbing them while trolling for Springs. Try a back rod or mooching rod, 12 to 15 pulls out the back, Chums are whacking the cut plug shallow too. The first run with a big Chum is crazy...often guides having to start the main engine and give chase, only to be mocked on the radio as they are fooled thinking the Chum was a world record Spring. A foul hooked Chum - look out, what a thrill......these fish are underrated.

We are now on the third day of our trip which started Aug 26th. Our biggest tyee is 37 lbs caught by Ashfaqul Haq and guided by Ian Barbour. Linda Blair released a 36 lber fishing with Happy Jack, also from Coho Point. Alain Charette had a 33 lb tyee fishing with Todd, and Ewam Downie with the Canaccord group grabbed a 32 lber.

Fishing is still good for Springs and Coho, with all of our efforts at Cohoe Point. Boulder / Gunia has dried up completely with NO FISH being hit in this area. This is a pattern I have seen for years, with the first tyees of the season and the last tyees all coming from Cohoe Point. Try your downriggers at 60 and 80 feet early morning then drop one down to 90 or 110 feet and keep a sharp lookout for bait balls on the sounder. Bait is the key when fishing slows down, you must locate baitfish to mooch around or troll threw.....I like to fish on the edges of the herring or just above the bait.

So this week should see lots more Springs coming threw, as we are getting closer to spawning time. This is one area where you get good Springs right into mid September, with tyees a common sight on the dock. We are spoiled here at Langara, the Chinooks start going by here in numbers from early May, right into the third week of September. So get ready for some Chinook action, all of the guides look forward to making this happen. This is a great time to fish up here, see you all soon

Screamer, Mike Tonnesen
Head Guide, The Clubhouse