How's fishing around Winter Harbour??

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igonefishing

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Hi Everyone!

What a fantastic forum!. I had ho idea such a useful database existed for the westcoast. I have no choice but to "untangle" my fishing rods and now head for the water. :)

Now, for my question. A couple of buddies and I are thinking of fishing around Winter Harbour for a couple of days. Has anyone been having any success out in that area? What are you catching/using?? I have never been up that far, so I'm very curious....:) Please let me know any feedback, we are planning to be up in the end of the month. Oh, and we are by no means "expert" fisherman, some of us are rookies, so simple fishing lingo is always appreciatted, but we have a motto in which we live by, "A bad day fishing is still better than a good day at Work...." Thanks for any advice.
 
Fished it a month back. Lots of feed and some small springs but the weather was crappy so not out that long. Fished the inside (Ledge Island) later and had no luck. I have heard that there is some good spring fishing off Cliffe Pt but again that was a couple of weeks ago. I will be heading back out there in May, when the hali's are around and maybe some better weather.
 
Thanks for the info. I just spoke to the fellow at the General Store and apparently it's good fishin', so we are definatly going. I'll report on our progress. Should be a lot of fun.
 
Been there... done that! It's a great "pink" fishery and good for hali, but Springs? I think would be off Ucluelet's South Bank this early in the time of year?

Cheers & Good Luck!
 
Believe me...if the fish are around Uki this time of year...there off winter harbour as well...
Problem most of the time around winter harbour is weather at this time of year...
The last month was probably O.K. as they have always had a small herring spawn up that way and that is decent feed for the month...it ain't huge but is enough for the feeder springs to mow on for a while...
We used to do O.K. this time of year along time ago but most rarely fish it this time of year anymore...it will turn on soon though
 
Hey all, Long time reader.., first time writer...

My family and I are planning on heading up the end of July and first part of August. Our initial plans are to try and make to Winter Harbour. I plan on dragging my boat (unless diesel hits $10) and a slide in camper. I am curious if this is a good time weather wise and also what the fishing will generally be like?

I know, I'm a total greenhorn (I deal with them daily in my job down here in Montana)

Thanks in advance for any info.
 
Not the best road in the world to take a truck and camper and boat to. How big is your boat? Theres not much of a launching ramp. you may be better to stay in Port Alice and boat out.
 
We put the boat in at Coal Harbour and ran in from there. We had heard that the road in was not very good. We stayed at Dick's B and B.
It would depend how big your boat is, and if you can read charts ok to get to Winter Harbour.
We were there last year about this time, limited out on halis and ling cod. First time I have ever upchucked while fishing,be prepared, Dick does have good pills for not getting sick.
Don
 
OK, maybe I'll back up a bit. This will be my first BC saltwater trip, Can you recommend a place that will have good fishing in late July/early August that may be closer? I have heard good things about Tofino (except for the price of beer).

I have an 18 foot Lund boat that I'll be dragging up and I'm planning on a lot of camping (I have a slide in camper in my truck)
 
Port Renfrew near Duncan/Victoria offers great West Coast fishing that time of year, and is a simple drive with any vehical/boat combo. You can fish salmon and bottomfish along the shoreline, or on a good day, run offshore for Halibut. I don't reccommend the offshore trip unless you go with a buddy boat, or even better yet, hire a guide for the first day to see the tricks!
 
You could head up to Pacific Playground. It is a campground at the Oyster River. Or alternatively Salmon Point also has a good campground, it is just north of the Oyster, on the way to Campbell River.Your boat 95% of the time will be very adequate for fishing from, if you don't want to fish from shore.
Pinks and chinook ( Springs ) would be available.
Get an RCA book to show closed fishing areas.
Don
 
Since this is your first salt water trip I would be inclined to go the inside waters. Head to Campbell River area and try a few days salmon fishing there in Georgia Strait, there is generally a run that comes through late July early August. Once you've got your appetite wetted and you maybe want to try bottom fish you can always drive North about 6 hours to Port Hardy and go Hali fishing from there.
I,m not trying to put you off Winters but for someone just starting out open water can be quite the experience and also you can get fog starting to roll in.
Georgia Strait is the weather protected waters between Vancouver Island and the mainland. It can still get nasty in the weather but that time of the year is a safer bet.
There are some great areas to camp and fish from Courtney to Campbell River and across to Powell River.

And nothing beats a lazy warm afternoon when the sun goes down, the fish are biting and BBQ is just minutes away on the beach.

If you decide to try this area, post closer to your arrival and we will give you some inside info on where to fish and what to use.
 
Be ready for fog and I highly recommend charts & GPS on the westcoast. Keep an eye on the weather! You will have winds picking up every afternoon that will make it choppy for you. I personally think the best fishing is going to be the last week of July... first week of August, so your timing is great.

With your size of boat I wouldn't recommend Winter Harbour for your first trip. It's a long slow drive in. But if you go, you will be able to fish the inside without any problem, but don't recommend going offshore without checking the weather very carefully! Early morning fishing will be best for you... I would get inside before the afternoon winds!

Tofino/Ucluelet wouldn't be bad places to start. I started fishing in Ucluelet years ago with about the same size boat. Again, I would try to get in protected areas before the afternoon winds. Check the following link. I have spent many past years with these folks. They have a nice camping area. http://www.islandwestresort.com/

Also, check out this link! http://www.portrenfrewmarina.com/ This has a nice camping facility for a family and has some nice fishing areas close in. You can fish close to shore and it is a very short run to the fishing. Crabbing is great!

The last, but not least I would recommend is located here! Cougar Creek. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/dcr/Rec/grid-r.htm It is close to Critter Cove http://www.crittercove.com/ and is in a more protected area. And... the fishing should be very good that week! I have also spent many a year in this area, but I go a little farther north and mostly fish farther out!

Everywhere and anywhere you go during this time frame you can expect it to be very crowded. You will be fine whereever you go and the fishing will be good! Just rememmber to keep an eye on the weather. And the good thing about fog is the seas are usually flat! [:p]

Charlie
 
Hey Kisinana, I am moving to CR at the end of June and would like to tap into some local knowledge as well. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
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