As for how seasoned guides cut plug up there, there are several different rolls..and the fast rolls catch more Coho and smaller fish. As for the example I had, as serendipity would have it, big fish took those because they happened to be swimming by and those Tyees weren't hooked where Tyees are normally hooked up there.
Chrome Dome..have you guided up there? I have several seasons under my belt, and using riggers or weighted rods is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT when it comes to fishing and hooking big fish--and the Langara operation is one of the first operations to knock downriggers as they're not necessary to catch fish up there. That's a fact..but they definitely DO make a difference. I've been in Bruin and hooked my guests into a double of 50's, landed 'em both, MEASURED and RELEASED both of those fish within 4 minutes of eachother. As for Boulder Bay being the Hot Spot...that's just 'cuz theres more surface area to fish relative to other spots along that shoreline..and it doesn't require as much knowledge of how to fish the other spots..and the Springs are chasing the needlefish and candlefish in there. By the way, if you've fished up there for long or worked up there for long, you'd know that certain guides catch more big fish than others combined, and have the area knowledge and know how to do it over and over and over again. I've seen more than a few contract guides and newbies get up there and pop off that they outfish everyone and slag downriggers this and downriggers that..particularly when it's the guys with the downriggers hooking fish at 10 to 1 over weighted rods. Anyways, I've fished weighted rods and downriggers in multiple operations up there, and I've done just as well either way.
I've worked for multiple operators up there using riggers and weighted rods etc.., everyone except Bob Wright's Oak Bay Operations and to be honest, that guy thinks he's god's gift to sportsfishing---and I will never work for him and I've told him that to his face. I still fume over how unsportsmanlike his ethics are....and I remember him fouling my guests' lines when we had a double on and he REFUSED to move out of the way. Let along asking his employees to go fish for his lodge's dining rooms.
Anyways...there's a whole lotta talk on these boards about big fish all over the place up there. yadda yadda yadda..and people are weighing fish with their eyeballs left right an center on these boards and to be honest it's kinda laughable for any guide that has really fished the waters up there...and actually..I'm kinda repulsed by big fish this and big fish that..that's just not the way it is up there among guides. A few years ago it was fantastic for big fish up there, but to be honest, that's not the way it's going to be forever. Years ago you NEVER EVER saw a 20 lb fish up there. Now, many trips, guests are taking out 2 salmon in the low 20's and "slot" fish and then bottom fish galore because there isn't a whole lot of bigger fish around or a lot going on. That's why the boats are changing to boats with shelter because the fishing is going downhill and you HAVE to keep your guests happy. It's an early warning sign.
Anyways...have fun at Langara, and I'd recommend if you're interested in producing HUGE fish, I'd recommend fishing solitary, and paying VERY close attention to how SENIOR guide boats fish some of those "special" spots. To be honest, I'll give you a little known secret, the best guides up there can hunt down and produce a lunker at will, and only take selective guests to those spots only and only if they commit to releasing the fish or the guide knows that a BIG tip is on the line. By the way, if a guide has only fished Langara for 1 or 2 seasons, he'll hook you plenty of fish, but probably lack the key area knowledge to find a lunker..and often times the "junior" guides up there are the ones popping off lots because they've never had it so good...and it's nothing to be popping off for all they are really only doing "par" for the course. Luck? Yes there is luck involved...but then again..skill is much more relevant and important to success for big fish or otherwise.
If you want big fish, go to Rivers Inlet and you have a much better chance of catching a monster over 50 or 60. As for looking for a HOG, and wanting to bonk it..that's your perogative..but it's not the reason you should be booking a trip to the Queen Charlottes IMHO, let along Langara. Langara bar none on any given day can and will provide you better fishing than ANY other location on the coast---and that's why you book a trip to Langara. If you're looking for a trip for meat hunting, be prepared that the owners may not sell you a trip next year--the owners pay attention..and so do the lodge managers. Anyways...if you really want to fish for HOGS I'd recommend QCL who prides themselves on slaughtering anything over 40 not to mention extremely rare 70 and 80lbers.
Anyways, the point of my post isn't to be criticize or chastise, but that's what I did in places in this post, but in a world where I believe a resource, location and sport I am passionate about is being trivialized and threatened even by well meaning sport fishers, it's upsetting and concerning to me.
Tight lines on your fishing adventure to Langara, take lots of pictures, and remember what will probably be the trip of your lifetime.
