The ClubHouse Reports

August 21, 2008

Finally a calm day, what is going on? When I last reported we were fogged out, had to do a changeover via Boston Whalers to Masset return. Went without a hitch, thanks to the clubhouse guides and Terrys organization on the fly. Not to leave out Rick Grange and the Masset team, who were standing on the dock to receive us and hustle all 63 people onto buses and out to the airport. Fortunately the water was glassy calm and the boat ride painless.
 
Which brings us to the trip Aug 17 to 21. We had quite the wind event on Tuesday, South East winds gusting up to 50 knots. We all got out for a couple hours in the am , but were blown back to the dock before 10 am for the most part. Kory and I braved Coho point for a pass, no luck and 10 foot combers, so off to Noname, where the water was fishable, and we did grab a fish, but the winds were increasing by the minute, so we ran around the top end of the island and returned to camp via Lacy Island where it was easily gusting 40 knots!  We did see Bud with a 24 lber in the net as we passed by. The afternoon was not fishable, and the comfy lodge came in to play for sure.
 
The fishing has been good for chinook, slower for coho. We have 15 tyee for the trip, topped by three in the forties. Jeremy Van Staalduine released a 41 lb chinook with Jordie on the Sunday, part of a double header with Christine Simpson, who reeled in a 32 lb tyee, and had Jordie release it as well. What a great start to the trip. I fished with John Simpson,a long time guest and favorite, and Jollean Hancen  who showed us her skill in landing a hard fought 33 lb fish at Coho point. We took this chinook at 60 feet off the rigger right on the low slack, and gee was there ever a lot of kelp around. Not to mention sea lions. Hungry sea lions grabbing plenty of chinook and coho. Of course Luke Simpson did not want to be outdone, snuck out to the west side with Kory Fletcher and loaded up on halibut , grabbing two halis just over 100 lbs! Jeff Thomson had a 30 lb chinook to round off the tyees for the Simpson group, way to go.
 
Kuiama had the Zivots out and into great fish as well, topped off by a released 40 lb chinook for Harrison Zivot. They took this fish at Coho point on a 602 Plug I believe, and this fish was a real scrap! I also see Debbie Zivot had a nice 32.5 lber as well. The Zivots had a wonderful trip.
 
Scott Baker found a couple nice tyees with the Bosas. Robert has been fishing with North Island for forever and came up to the clubhouse for a visit, with Lori Bosa, and she put on a clinic, grabbing 33, and 32 lb fish. Wow, well done. Ben Lindbergh fished with Clear cut, Todd, and managed a huge 40 chinook which was the largest retained tyee of the trip. Mark Bemister a frequent visitor, had a nice 30.5 tyee to squeak into the club. There were lots of names and happy faces this week.
 
Fishing this am was decent for John, Jollean and myself, we worked Coho point after the low slack and the boats cleared out, grabbing our limit of chinook, which is four fish, 18 to 24 lbs. We took these fish in about a hour and a half, trolling usual shallow depths in 80 feet of water. When this is not working, try out in 200 feet of water, trolling 90 feet on the rigger. The boys also have been getting fish on the troller tack off Pillar bay, in 150 feet of water, not my kind of fishing but it is working. I like being within casting range of shore for sure! The guides are fishing as deep as 110 feet here searching bait balls and feed. Remember, commercial fishing vessels have the right of way! Please move well out of the way for every ones safety.
 
Well tomorrow looks good, no wind! The weekend could be blustery though, the stinking wind is chasing me everywhere I go. So off to bed to get my sea legs and up early, the fishing guides life haha, cheers for now.

Screamer, Mike Tonnesen
Head Guide, The Clubhouse