Pinks in Cowichan Bay

[bigsbee]

Anyone see any pinks show up yet in Cowichan Bay? I'm thinking they should be around the marina any day now.

 

[knucklebuster]

You'd think. but last year it wasn't till september that they actually arrived in any numbers.

a total MILF.Man I Love Fishing

 

[traveller]

The Pinks are here, but on Cherry Point beach. They have been biting well on a fly known as the " handle bar"

 

[bigsbee]

Thanks Traveller I'll be out there this week.

 

[River Thug]

I called Bucky's today and they said the Pinks are at the gov. dock

 

[wbluscom]

Where is the gov't dock? Is that the one on the very south end of Boatswain Bank (Cherry Point)?

 

[bigsbee]

the gov't dock is right in Cowichan Bay where the breakwater is.

 

[wbluscom]

Thanks Bigsbee. Have you managed to get out there and check it out yet?

 

[bigsbee]

just got back from cherry point for an early morning fish. picked up one and saw lots schooling.

 

[wbluscom]

Will check them out tomorrow.
Are they right off the parking area? Or over on the other side off Aros Road staircase?

 

[bigsbee]

they are in front of the parking area and down towards Cowichan Bay. The schools are moving around and you don't have to go over knee deep to hook them. Was out this morning again and saw 3 caught and I picked another one up on a pink handlebar fly.

 

[bigsbee]

out again this morning, picked up 2 but was slow for the other guys as i only saw one more get caught. Fish moved out quickly and was pretty dead when we left at 8 am.

 

[wbluscom]

Was out Sat morning but got there after the sun had hit the water about 7am or so. 2 guys on the far right got 3 fish before and just as I got there but fish moved off as soon as we got into the water. I moved to the Chery Point end of the line and got a 6 - 7 lb coho, but no pinks. Guess you need to be there at the break of dawn to find them.

Bill Luscombe - Lord of the Flies

 

[traveller]

The Pinks were there again this morning, but early. Bill is quite right, it is an early light show right now, but as the high tide gets later, it should improve. Look for them to be moving in to the Cowichan Government Dock area soon, they have been in and out of there already.

 

[bigsbee]

Yes it's an early morning show all right. Been out every day this week at 6:00 am and caught fish every day except this morning. School seems to gather near the creek mouth at the parking lot. I think they will move out of there soon and into the bay. Nice to hear someone has caught a Coho already.

 

[traveller]

Talked to someone who was down at Cherry Point this AM......good bite but at day light on the high tide, after they move out again. Most frustrating as we told them to come into the Bay when we were feeding them...they just didn't listen.

The good news is there are several schools, some have gone up the river already, so there are a number returning, just not in the pattern of last year. At some point they have to move into the Bay, it just hasn't happened yet.

 

[bigsbee]

I wouldn't say it was good news if any had gone up the river. The DFO will put a stop to this 'put and take' fishery if too many pinks go up the Cowichan.

 

[traveller]

No problem there....over 1500 spawned in the lower river last year, but when I asked if any Pink fry had been seen this spring, the answer was no. In general Pinks need water Temperatures below 13 degrees C. or the eggs , even if laid and fertilized will not develop. On top of that, they are small fish, the redds are shallow, and shortly after they spawn the 140,000 Chum come in and dig everything up. They were never intended to establish a natural run, but just be a put and take fishery, much like trout planting in local lakes.