The Dominator
Member
Nootka Report 7/16 to 7/20
Back from Nootka, two days early. The fishing was fantastic. The best fishing I have seen since I started going eight years ago. Ended the trip with 12 Chinook, most in the cookie cutter 20lbs range. Eleven coho, 3 lings, 2 hali, and a limit of rock cod.
Fish had just started entering the sound we got there. By the time we left they were all over, most being picked up San Carlos or Hoist. Heard that most were fishing deeper (50-60'), but we picked up all of ours in the 30-45' range. Most fish seem to be the 3 year old fish in their teens, but there are the few Tyee out there. A lot are turning back the small, holding out for the 25+ fish. Coho are really a nuisance. I can't tell you how many take downs or releases we had. Bait almost became a problem, so go big if you don't want the Coho. Outside was like a mill pond.
Here is the details of the trip:
Left Friday the 15th and made the full run to Critter Cove. Normally we stay the night in Gold River, but with a low tide in the AM and favorable weather conditions, we made the run out and were in camp by 7:30. I will say that there were considerably less vehicles at the ramp. Maybe due to how early it was in the season, but a lot due to the weak US dollar.
Up early on Saturday morning and head out to Burdwood. Only us and one other boat there. Fishing is slow not only here, but on the radio too. Fished a green hootchie with a green/red hot spot flasher with 26" leader on one side. Fished a purple haze flasher an purple haze (white) hootchie with 6' leader on the other. Hit a couple of small fish on the white, before changing the otherside up to herring with a helmet. Fished 30-45 feet. By 2:00 we had scratched out two with one at 29lbs.
Sunday, head out to the lighthouse and fished just inside the over under marker. At this point we pretty much stick with a white hootchie and bait setup. Picked up two in the 20's by 9:00. Outside is dead calm so we run out to the hali grounds. Pick up two around 20lbs and two lings in couple hours of work. We decided throw out the salmon gear and troll back in. It ends up being productive with a hand full of hatchery coho and two Chinook in the upper teens.
Back to the lighthouse the next day. This ends up being the hotspot of the day. We land 3 in the upper teens low twentys by 8:00. All are over the 77cm limit, so we have to make change in venue. Outside is dead calm again, so to the can we go. Coho are pain in the butt out here. Ended up dragging a couple of big tomic spoons with no luck. Decided to anchor up and bottom fish north of can on the reef. Get a few rockcod and a nice ling. Picked up the rest of our cod limit with a drift through the kelp beds for black bass.
Tuedsay it back to the lighthouse. The word is out as it's thick with boats. We loose a couple of nice fish right off the bat. First time all trip. Land a couple of cookie cutter and five nice size coho. Down the last fish and my 8 year old son Luke is on the pole. At this point he has 12, 18,19 under his belt. We foul hook a teener in the dorsal fin. It was a kick butt ride as this guy is jumping a flying around the back of the boat. Eventually it gets off so we reset gear. A couple of more passes and coho take downs. As I'm re-baiting, the hootchie pole go off and it obvious this is hog. Luke took the pole and plays the fish for 5-10 minutes before we land what ends up to be 31lbs Tyee, his first. The kid learns quick and did a great job. You can check out his fish on the Critter page http://www.crittercove.com/current-infoTo He's hooked and ready to back next year.
The trip on the way back was not without it own issues. The RCMP had a safety check stop between Gold River and Campbell River. You were right Holmes, this guy is out to make a name for himself. We get the third degree and end up with a ticket for not have the trailer registration on us. We left that in my dad's truck which we use to tow the boat as well. Others got by without a glance. To say the least, I was a little peaved. If your coming through, make sure you have all your ducks in a row. Papers, lights, brakes, etc.
A great trip in all!
Back from Nootka, two days early. The fishing was fantastic. The best fishing I have seen since I started going eight years ago. Ended the trip with 12 Chinook, most in the cookie cutter 20lbs range. Eleven coho, 3 lings, 2 hali, and a limit of rock cod.
Fish had just started entering the sound we got there. By the time we left they were all over, most being picked up San Carlos or Hoist. Heard that most were fishing deeper (50-60'), but we picked up all of ours in the 30-45' range. Most fish seem to be the 3 year old fish in their teens, but there are the few Tyee out there. A lot are turning back the small, holding out for the 25+ fish. Coho are really a nuisance. I can't tell you how many take downs or releases we had. Bait almost became a problem, so go big if you don't want the Coho. Outside was like a mill pond.
Here is the details of the trip:
Left Friday the 15th and made the full run to Critter Cove. Normally we stay the night in Gold River, but with a low tide in the AM and favorable weather conditions, we made the run out and were in camp by 7:30. I will say that there were considerably less vehicles at the ramp. Maybe due to how early it was in the season, but a lot due to the weak US dollar.
Up early on Saturday morning and head out to Burdwood. Only us and one other boat there. Fishing is slow not only here, but on the radio too. Fished a green hootchie with a green/red hot spot flasher with 26" leader on one side. Fished a purple haze flasher an purple haze (white) hootchie with 6' leader on the other. Hit a couple of small fish on the white, before changing the otherside up to herring with a helmet. Fished 30-45 feet. By 2:00 we had scratched out two with one at 29lbs.
Sunday, head out to the lighthouse and fished just inside the over under marker. At this point we pretty much stick with a white hootchie and bait setup. Picked up two in the 20's by 9:00. Outside is dead calm so we run out to the hali grounds. Pick up two around 20lbs and two lings in couple hours of work. We decided throw out the salmon gear and troll back in. It ends up being productive with a hand full of hatchery coho and two Chinook in the upper teens.
Back to the lighthouse the next day. This ends up being the hotspot of the day. We land 3 in the upper teens low twentys by 8:00. All are over the 77cm limit, so we have to make change in venue. Outside is dead calm again, so to the can we go. Coho are pain in the butt out here. Ended up dragging a couple of big tomic spoons with no luck. Decided to anchor up and bottom fish north of can on the reef. Get a few rockcod and a nice ling. Picked up the rest of our cod limit with a drift through the kelp beds for black bass.
Tuedsay it back to the lighthouse. The word is out as it's thick with boats. We loose a couple of nice fish right off the bat. First time all trip. Land a couple of cookie cutter and five nice size coho. Down the last fish and my 8 year old son Luke is on the pole. At this point he has 12, 18,19 under his belt. We foul hook a teener in the dorsal fin. It was a kick butt ride as this guy is jumping a flying around the back of the boat. Eventually it gets off so we reset gear. A couple of more passes and coho take downs. As I'm re-baiting, the hootchie pole go off and it obvious this is hog. Luke took the pole and plays the fish for 5-10 minutes before we land what ends up to be 31lbs Tyee, his first. The kid learns quick and did a great job. You can check out his fish on the Critter page http://www.crittercove.com/current-infoTo He's hooked and ready to back next year.
The trip on the way back was not without it own issues. The RCMP had a safety check stop between Gold River and Campbell River. You were right Holmes, this guy is out to make a name for himself. We get the third degree and end up with a ticket for not have the trailer registration on us. We left that in my dad's truck which we use to tow the boat as well. Others got by without a glance. To say the least, I was a little peaved. If your coming through, make sure you have all your ducks in a row. Papers, lights, brakes, etc.
A great trip in all!
