Bute Inlet in the spring

[IslandFisher]

Anyone have any advice on fishing Bute in the spring? When would be the best time to plan a trip? Never fished that area and was thinking of booking a room at one of the lodges in the area, probably take my boat and pay moorage etc. I hear there is an early chinook run in May?

 

[hambone]

There's an early run but they can be tricky to find.... We usually fished places like Moh creek, Fawn bluff, Amor point, Orford etc. but that's because it was a close run from Stuart Island for an after work evening fish. The early returning fish are usually big white springs

I forget when the closure goes into effect for the head of Bute, but a fun option would be to stay at the little lodge in Bear Bay up closer to the head of the inlet. It's pretty neat up there...

 

[Charlie415]

Have fished late May early June usually with success.

 

[Tyeefisher]

The place that Hambone mentioned is called Bear Bay Lodge which is operated by Brian Gage a very well known and respected guide in the Campbell River area for many years.

 

[hambone]

The place that Hambone mentioned is called Bear Bay Lodge which is operated by Brian Gage a very well known and respected guide in the Campbell River area for many years.

I wish I had stopped to say hi the one time I was up there and saw someone on the dock.

@islandfisher - I'd also recommend prawning in that area but watch out if its may-June because of the commercial season. The entire inlet is competitively fished by several commie boats.

Also IMO most locations in Bute inlet fish better on a flood tide... Good luck if you go, please post up a report.

 

[Tyeefisher]

IslandFisher, I don't know if you are aware of the fact that there is no fuel outlets anywhere near Bute Inlet and if you go you will have to pack all the gas you need with you and that usually means lots and lots of Jerry cans. Distances are often quite extreme between areas of good fishing, after all the inlet is around forty miles long and another eight at least to Blind Channel Resort the nearest place to fuel up. The other real problem are the intense outflow winds which are common in the Spring that can turn the inlet into one of the roughest stretches of water on the west coast and there is very little shelter in the inlet if you should be caught in one.