2024 Bamfield and Barkley Sound Reports

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Keith Brown said:
I thinking of heading up to the Barkley Sound/Bamfield with my wife and our Labrador Retriever for three days and two nights next week. Accommodations is no problem, we will be staying on our boat at anchor. We will be doing a bit of fishing, but scenery and checking out the area are the primary reason for the outing. I would like to move around quite a bit. Its also important (for my wife and our lab) to have at least two shore breaks per day, however if possible prefer not to bring my zodiac cause its a chore cycling it off the roof. I can beach on a sand or light gravel on a flood tide if its steep enough but would prefer a dock with or without services that allows dogs and has an trail to go for a walk. I realize this is a tall order. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
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Ross Ilets or there is a spot on the imperial side of flemming. reefy to get into but a nice beach and safe protected anchorage.
 
Keith Brown said:
I thinking of heading up to the Barkley Sound/Bamfield with my wife and our Labrador Retriever for three days and two nights next week. Accommodations is no problem, we will be staying on our boat at anchor. We will be doing a bit of fishing, but scenery and checking out the area are the primary reason for the outing. I would like to move around quite a bit. Its also important (for my wife and our lab) to have at least two shore breaks per day, however if possible prefer not to bring my zodiac cause its a chore cycling it off the roof. I can beach on a sand or light gravel on a flood tide if its steep enough but would prefer a dock with or without services that allows dogs and has a trail to go for a walk. I realize this is a tall order. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
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You may want to contact the Port Alberni Yacht Club about using their dock at Robbers Pass.
Stosh
 
Wrapped up a four day trip with three buddies on Sunday with 13 springs between 11-17 lbs and nine coho between 6-8 lbs. Mostly fished Sanford & Kerby; but also did a few passes at Whitlestone, Beale & Cree/Austin. We had pretty even action on anchovies and white hoochies, typically between 40-60 ft on the rigger. Encountered big swings in water temp & clarity as mentioned above. It was hard to keep the gear in the water for the morning bite on Saturday! There was a humpback feeding in the shallows at Sanford and Kirby over a few days that was launching ~8 ft in the air feeding on bait and putting on a show.

Back on Saturday for another four days with the family. Hope to put the kids on some nice fish!
 
Just finished up a 3 night and 3 day trip to Bamfield. It was my first time ever using guides and I can’t help but feel disappointed as did the guys that flew out from Calgary. The first day we spent 8 hours trolling around at 27 and 37’ never changed hooks or depths all day. We switched anchovies a couple times but the “guide” was actually straightening them out and they had zero action. No surprise we caught zero fish on that side of the boat all day. The next couple days we were with a new guide and we got all our salmon early in the am. He told us he doesn’t fish for lingcod and won’t clean rock fish… then we were told it was too windy to go off shore because it was blowing 15knots… we actually never touched a jigging rod all 3 days. I guess the lesson I learned is I shouldn’t have sold my boat and to expect very little if I use a guide again. We did end up with limits of Chinook and had a blast at the beach. Over all the trip was great. Just disappointed with the service and quality of the guides… thanks for listening to me vent!
 
ExFlyGuy said:
Just finished up a 3 night and 3 day trip to Bamfield. It was my first time ever using guides and I can’t help but feel disappointed as did the guys that flew out from Calgary. The first day we spent 8 hours trolling around at 27 and 37’ never changed hooks or depths all day. We switched anchovies a couple times but the “guide” was actually straightening them out and they had zero action. No surprise we caught zero fish on that side of the boat all day. The next couple days we were with a new guide and we got all our salmon early in the am. He told us he doesn’t fish for lingcod and won’t clean rock fish… then we were told it was too windy to go off shore because it was blowing 15knots… we actually never touched a jigging rod all 3 days. I guess the lesson I learned is I shouldn’t have sold my boat and to expect very little if I use a guide again. We did end up with limits of Chinook and had a blast at the beach. Over all the trip was great. Just disappointed with the service and quality of the guides… thanks for listening to me vent!
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I'm real sorry to hear about your negative experience...... there's no excuse for what you went thru. Unfortunately some guides get full of themselves because they can catch a few salmon when the bite is on and forget their job is to entertain their guests who are paying good money for a fun experience. I personally fired a dozen guides like these until i found guys that wanted to please their guests...... seeking feed back from them regarding their guide. I used to always make sure of what species was the primary target and try and address that using the tidal and wind patterns to dictate how we would plan the days ahead.

Finding a true professional is harder than it seems which is why some of the guides are booked 1-2 years in advance and others, with no repeat business (for good reason) can be booked a week or 2 ahead of time during peak season.
 
Arrived on Monday and fishing for springs has been very slow. Picking up the odd smaller spring but the big springs are hard to come by. Have caught six coho so far so atleast that's good. Hopefully the rain eases and the fishing improves.
 
ExFlyGuy said:
Just finished up a 3 night and 3 day trip to Bamfield. It was my first time ever using guides and I can’t help but feel disappointed as did the guys that flew out from Calgary. The first day we spent 8 hours trolling around at 27 and 37’ never changed hooks or depths all day. We switched anchovies a couple times but the “guide” was actually straightening them out and they had zero action. No surprise we caught zero fish on that side of the boat all day. The next couple days we were with a new guide and we got all our salmon early in the am. He told us he doesn’t fish for lingcod and won’t clean rock fish… then we were told it was too windy to go off shore because it was blowing 15knots… we actually never touched a jigging rod all 3 days. I guess the lesson I learned is I shouldn’t have sold my boat and to expect very little if I use a guide again. We did end up with limits of Chinook and had a blast at the beach. Over all the trip was great. Just disappointed with the service and quality of the guides… thanks for listening to me ven
Click to expand...

ExFlyGuy said:
Just finished up a 3 night and 3 day trip to Bamfield. It was my first time ever using guides and I can’t help but feel disappointed as did the guys that flew out from Calgary. The first day we spent 8 hours trolling around at 27 and 37’ never changed hooks or depths all day. We switched anchovies a couple times but the “guide” was actually straightening them out and they had zero action. No surprise we caught zero fish on that side of the boat all day. The next couple days we were with a new guide and we got all our salmon early in the am. He told us he doesn’t fish for lingcod and won’t clean rock fish… then we were told it was too windy to go off shore because it was blowing 15knots… we actually never touched a jigging rod all 3 days. I guess the lesson I learned is I shouldn’t have sold my boat and to expect very little if I use a guide again. We did end up with limits of Chinook and had a blast at the beach. Over all the trip was great. Just disappointed with the service and quality of the guides… thanks for listening to me vent!
Click to expand...
Sad to say, but if you’ve run your own boat for 5+ years, I doubt you’ll find a guide that will be better than you. But, you would hope your guide would be happy to at least listen to your suggestions since he IS working for you. With the new road, Bamfield is only going to get busier and will attract more inexperienced guides. Maybe an experienced guide should set up an off season fishing guide training program.
Stosh
ExFlyGuy said:
Just finished up a 3 night and 3 day trip to Bamfield. It was my first time ever using guides and I can’t help but feel disappointed as did the guys that flew out from Calgary. The first day we spent 8 hours trolling around at 27 and 37’ never changed hooks or depths all day. We switched anchovies a couple times but the “guide” was actually straightening them out and they had zero action. No surprise we caught zero fish on that side of the boat all day. The next couple days we were with a new guide and we got all our salmon early in the am. He told us he doesn’t fish for lingcod and won’t clean rock fish… then we were told it was too windy to go off shore because it was blowing 15knots… we actually never touched a jigging rod all 3 days. I guess the lesson I learned is I shouldn’t have sold my boat and to expect very little if I use a guide again. We did end up with limits of Chinook and had a blast at the beach. Over all the trip was great. Just disappointed with the service and quality of the guides… thanks for listening to me vent!
Click to expand...
 
Aces said:
I'm real sorry to hear about your negative experience...... there's no excuse for what you went thru. Unfortunately some guides get full of themselves because they can catch a few salmon when the bite is on and forget their job is to entertain their guests who are paying good money for a fun experience. I personally fired a dozen guides like these until i found guys that wanted to please their guests...... seeking feed back from them regarding their guide. I used to always make sure of what species was the primary target and try and address that using the tidal and wind patterns to dictate how we would plan the days ahead.

Finding a true professional is harder than it seems which is why some of the guides are booked 1-2 years in advance and others, with no repeat business (for good reason) can be booked a week or 2 ahead of time during peak season.
Click to expand...
ExFlyGuy said:
Just finished up a 3 night and 3 day trip to Bamfield. It was my first time ever using guides and I can’t help but feel disappointed as did the guys that flew out from Calgary. The first day we spent 8 hours trolling around at 27 and 37’ never changed hooks or depths all day. We switched anchovies a couple times but the “guide” was actually straightening them out and they had zero action. No surprise we caught zero fish on that side of the boat all day. The next couple days we were with a new guide and we got all our salmon early in the am. He told us he doesn’t fish for lingcod and won’t clean rock fish… then we were told it was too windy to go off shore because it was blowing 15knots… we actually never touched a jigging rod all 3 days. I guess the lesson I learned is I shouldn’t have sold my boat and to expect very little if I use a guide again. We did end up with limits of Chinook and had a blast at the beach. Over all the trip was great. Just disappointed with the service and quality of the guides… thanks for listening to me vent!
Click to expand...
Guys from work had a similar story out of port hardy this summer and the hitch was they went with two boats from the same guiding company. Imagine getting back to the dock and your boat is skunked while your buddy boat has limits of ground and salmon.
 
ExFlyGuy said:
Just finished up a 3 night and 3 day trip to Bamfield. It was my first time ever using guides and I can’t help but feel disappointed as did the guys that flew out from Calgary. The first day we spent 8 hours trolling around at 27 and 37’ never changed hooks or depths all day. We switched anchovies a couple times but the “guide” was actually straightening them out and they had zero action. No surprise we caught zero fish on that side of the boat all day. The next couple days we were with a new guide and we got all our salmon early in the am. He told us he doesn’t fish for lingcod and won’t clean rock fish… then we were told it was too windy to go off shore because it was blowing 15knots… we actually never touched a jigging rod all 3 days. I guess the lesson I learned is I shouldn’t have sold my boat and to expect very little if I use a guide again. We did end up with limits of Chinook and had a blast at the beach. Over all the trip was great. Just disappointed with the service and quality of the guides… thanks for listening to me vent!
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear that!!!!!
 
Bottomfeeder1 said:
Was he a guide from a lodge or an independent!
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The first day was independent and the second and third day was from lodge. The lodge guide was great at salmon just didn’t want to do anything else. Independent guy only had salmon gear and we weren’t allowed to touch it. It was hard to watch as he wouldn’t check gear regularly and would only stick to his program.
 
ExFlyGuy said:
The first day was independent and the second and third day was from lodge. The lodge guide was great at salmon just didn’t want to do anything else. Independent guy only had salmon gear and we weren’t allowed to touch it. It was hard to watch as he wouldn’t check gear regularly and would only stick to his program.
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That is sh*tty all around!!!!
 
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