Holiday Quandry

[Bassblaster]

Hey everyone,

I have to book my holidays from work by the end of this week but I'm stuck for when I should take them.

I plan on spending them close to home ie on the Island, and in two one week blocks.

My question is, if you only had the two weeks to fish, when would you schedule them to maximize your opportunity to target the best number of species and trophy possibilities?

Any and all feedback on this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Pippen]

Lots of things to ask that may help others out;

• Are you fishing freshwater or the chuck?
• Are you fishing from shore or in a boat....no matter where you are (fresh vs salt)?
• If "freshwater" are you looking to hit the returning salmon runs in the rivers?
• How far do you want to travel around the Island?
• Are you looking for anything from crappie to halibut and all inbetween?

I am sure there are a lot more questions that people may ask to clarify some things to help ya out...but these are just quickly off the top of my head.

 

[Fish Assassin]

Size of boat? Can you go off shore?

 

[Bassblaster]

Thanks for the quick response guys.

I would probably be fishing fresh and the ocean. My boat is only 15 1/2 feet so the chuck has to be calm or light wave. Definitely not an off-shore unit (the swells off Bamfield this past weekend would be a definite No-go) so I'd probably be fishing the channels like between CR and Quadra, Port Albernie, Nootka, or around Sayward. If the chop was too bad I could drop the boat in one of the lakes as an alternative. I also have a canoe for the No motors lakes for trout and Bass.

As for species, that's tough since I'll catch and eat ALMOST anything that swims that's legal. The wife loves fish so I don't get any complaints. (unless I'm comin' home empty! LOL)

If I were to target one week for freshwater for Bass/trout/crappie, (maybe July?) and another for Salmon and bottom fish, (September for the returns?) would that help out the selection guide lines?

Thanks again

 

[Derby]

last week of july and first week of august....holmes*

Fully agree X 2

 

[swamp donkey]

if the past years hold true again this year i would go when im not there! i always seem to miss it by a few days on either side of my trips! july 18-23 bamfield is when im headed out. who knows maybe this is the year where im finally in the right place at the right time!!

 

[trophywife]

holiday on quadra,, run up to big bay/ sonora.. overnighters up there are beauty... in denam bay someone is starting up a small group of cabins with an outdoor common cook area.. tied up there last year and got to know the guys working on it... caught four in two days all between 20 to 25 lbs. great time of year.. and quadra has some nice lake fishn too if you do that... WE WAI KAI in rebecca spit.. talk to wendy, nice cheap trailers for rent there also. Set the family up in camp and then do a few trips north.

 

[Duffer]

Try China Creek the week before the Derby for Chinook fine for your boat. They have all the amentities you need there. Try Coho up North in late August. Cliffe Point. Alder Bay June-Sept? Telegraph Cove same. End of Nit Nat Lake late August. Victoria-Sooke. Hell ya got the whole Island for that matter your just limited to not going Offshore where all the fish are.

 

[tubber]

Stay home, and do day trips from home to save money so you can do a one or two day offshore charter out of Ucluelet with Nog or someone he recommends around Aug 10th. If it's like last year, it will be well worth it.

Or both of these are very doable in your boat:
First week of July Alder Bay- salmon, halibut, prawns, crab if you ask around
First week of August Moutcha Bay-Nootka- salmon, prawns, crab

 

[Bassblaster]

Thanks guys,

I'm going to see what I can do for July and August, but just out of curiosity, if I dray the short straw and can't get those two months, what would you say is the next best alternative?

Thanks in advance

 

[Dogbreath]

September since there's a better chance of Coho and of course it's Pink year & you'll have options for targeting them.

 

[Bassblaster]

Thanks everyone. I should be able to pull something together in those timeframes. See you on the water.

 

[Bassblaster]

Hey guys,

Well I got the first week of holidays confirmed, July 3-11th. I hope the fish co-operate and come through on schedule!

I have two options for the second week. August 6-14th, or any time after Sept 17th. I was originally hoping to spread them out a bit, but wanted some more feedback. Which time would you go for if it was you?

 

[King_Cod]

September is good for Coho and some Chinook are still lingering around too. Chum start to show up late September and through to November in the CR area. Since you like bottom fishing you should try doing some jigging off the CR hump. There are a lot of Pacific Cod out there and the rare Halibut.

 

[Deewar25]

i'd go to malcolm island for that august spot - was real good there last year at that time (last 2 weeks july to first 2 of august were best) and there are always ways to fish protected if its blowing - I used to fish solo in a 14' tinny with 40k winds...just depended on direction. Could perhaps base at Alder Bay to have freshwater access as well. North side of the island is best - Lizard Point to Donegal Head, then down around Hanson Island/Baronet Passage...they have a chicken ranch there as well, I'd have to confirm where exactly that was. I'd imagine up north is probably best for beginning of July as well - maybe Hardy (haven't fished it)...I just assume its too much dice rolling with a 15' boat on the west coast - you may only get 1 fishable day on the water!

 

[Bassblaster]

Thanks guys.

August it is.

 

[Charlie415]

holiday on quadra,, run up to big bay/ sonora.. overnighters up there are beauty... in denam bay someone is starting up a small group of cabins with an outdoor common cook area.. tied up there last year and got to know the guys working on it... caught four in two days all between 20 to 25 lbs. great time of year.. and quadra has some nice lake fishn too if you do that... WE WAI KAI in rebecca spit.. talk to wendy, nice cheap trailers for rent there also. Set the family up in camp and then do a few trips north.

Hey TW
When were you up at Sonora? I am heading up there at least a couple of times this year. Just trying to figure out when to take time off work. Maybe see you up there. I know a group of guys who have a cabin in Vancouver bay.

 

[Charlie]

Fully agree X 2

X3
Message to short, so I add: X4...