WCL Self Guided

[Flywheel]

I’ll be going to Queen Charlotte Lodge on a self guided package first week of July. I’m very experienced fishing on the west coast of VI, but this will be my first trip to QCL.

I’ve searched the forum, but have a few questions for those who have been or know the area:
1. Is it worth bringing any of my own tackle to run?
2. I have experience cut plug mooching as well as running traditional downrigger set ups. Which should expect to do more of assuming weather isn’t a factor.
3. Are there any typical hot spots in the area or any other tips? Hoping to find some bigger springs.

Thanks!

 

[Dogbreath]

1-a favourite spoon or three Yes ditto hootchies/flashers but don't over do it they don't skimp on tackle.

2-Whatever you prefer I learned to cut plug back in the 80's & 90's up in the Gwaii but prefer downrigging.

3-Dial back your expectations fishing there is nothing like it was back in the day-expect to be lied to.

 

[Old Blue]

Might as well bring a few spoons as Dogbreath suggested. I think they're using chovies more and more up there these days to boost # of catches cause it can be slim pickings.

Was up in the area 09 and 10 and it was more of a right time right place at Snake (Bird 2 QCL calls it) or Parker for the big ones on a slow roll cut plug also sometimes zero fish and have to chase the tide lines offshore for fish. Bird 1 has an awesome ledge off the rock a little ways and fish hang on either edge waiting to ambush prey.

Shag rock can have great ling fishing if you're careful not to end up in the rocks or worse on the rocks.

Klash to Green Pt can hold a lot of bait and a big mixture of springs, coho, lings and even Hali's.

Here's a handy map:

https://fishqcl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/QCL-Chart-2013w.jpg

 

[Hardy Guy]

Fish and have fun. Their tackle will work ... they want you to catch fish.

 

[spoiler]

I have been there a few times. Running cut plugs off the downriggers or an anchovy in a teaser head naked (without a flasher) has been very effective. My favorite spot is Bird Rock 2. If you can get into the pocket in the kelp bed that's between the little island and the main island sometimes there's a big one living there. I saw a 55lber pulled out of there the first time I fished it.

 

[BeTheHeron]

I’ll be going to Queen Charlotte Lodge on a self guided package first week of July. I’m very experienced fishing on the west coast of VI, but this will be my first trip to QCL.

I’ve searched the forum, but have a few questions for those who have been or know the area:
1. Is it worth bringing any of my own tackle to run?
2. I have experience cut plug mooching as well as running traditional downrigger set ups. Which should expect to do more of assuming weather isn’t a factor.
3. Are there any typical hot spots in the area or any other tips? Hoping to find some bigger springs.

Thanks

You can fish flashers and gear off the coast of VI or in the Georgia Straight or literally anywhere, but coaxing a monster chinook out of the kelp beds with a slow rolled cut plug herring is pure Haida Gwaii heaven and keeping with a long established tradition in those waters.

 

[Aces]

My nephew is one of the head guides there and he said yesterday that not many fish over 20 so far

 

[chinnok]

It's a long way to go and expensive for 1 chinook per day, 2 in position!

 

[Dogbreath]

coaxing a monster chinook out of the kelp beds with a slow rolled cut plug herring is pure Haida Gwaii heaven and keeping with a long established tradition in those waters.

This is 100% Bee Ess those kelp beds are empty now.

Last I was out on the Driftwood there were some guys who were guided who told me 'Oh we fish in 15 feet of water' and I was too polite to laugh in their faces since I know for a fact apart from a few stray Rockfish there's exactly SFA there-you know what they caught?

One (1) little Cabezon with a price tag of over $15,000!

So much for 'tradition'.

What did work was fishing right in front of the ship for a half decent mixed bag of Coho and a few small Chinook- 40' to 60' down with the usual spoons & hootchies but Apexes were working too not Plugs so much for whatever reason.

The warning about fishing alone for bottomfish shouldn't be ignored it would be all too easy to slip over the side of one of those skiffs and Hello Eternity.

 

[Tips Up]

@Flywheel I hope you have calm seas and a great experience!

 

[BeTheHeron]

My nephew is one of the head guides there and he said yesterday that not many fish over 20 so

This is 100% Bee Ess those kelp beds are empty now.

Last I was out on the Driftwood there were some guys who were guided who told me 'Oh we fish in 15 feet of water' and I was too polite to laugh in their faces since I know for a fact apart from a few stray Rockfish there's exactly SFA there-you know what they caught?

One (1) little Cabezon with a price tag of over $15,000!

So much for 'tradition'.

What did work was fishing right in front of the ship for a half decent mixed bag of Coho and a few small Chinook- 40' to 60' down with the usual spoons & hootchies but Apexes were working too not Plugs so much for whatever reason.

The warning about fishing alone for bottomfish shouldn't be ignored it would be all too easy to slip over the side of one of those skiffs and Hello Eternity.

Oh I'm not denying the fishing has gotten a lot tougher up there, but I still wouldn't go all the way up there and pay that $$ to run flashers and gear. Can do that in Vancouver harbour everyday of the year.

 

[EstevanPoint]

I’ll be going to Queen Charlotte Lodge on a self guided package first week of July. I’m very experienced fishing on the west coast of VI, but this will be my first trip to QCL.

I’ve searched the forum, but have a few questions for those who have been or know the area:
1. Is it worth bringing any of my own tackle to run?
2. I have experience cut plug mooching as well as running traditional downrigger set ups. Which should expect to do more of assuming weather isn’t a factor.
3. Are there any typical hot spots in the area or any other tips? Hoping to find some bigger springs.

Thanks!

Fish with whatever gear you prefer.

As some have said, the big, healthy kelp beds are gone. Smaller average size of fish up there right now, but there is always a chance for a monster on that shoreline. If you don't cutplug or mooch at home or elsewhere, why not give it a go for a different experience? Running a flasher/spoon combo will catch fish anywhere, but with the shallow water fishery there, it's fun to do some mooching. You're paying for the experience, not to fill the freezer. Why not do something different?

Unfortunately, there are no secret "hot spots" that aren't on that map. Fortunately, they all work on any given day. Use your experience from WCVI and apply it to that shoreline, and you'll do fine. Chinook are Chinook. Flood pushes west to east and Ebb east to west. Don't shy away from Edenshaw if the weather allows it.

And don't be afraid to try 15 feet of water... as the kelp has receded, the fish do occasionally move into water that shallow. They aren't always there of course, but seeing them hit a cutplug at 4 or 5 pulls is pretty great.

Good luck!

 

[adanac]

Put your time in on the changes in the kelp and fish whatever bait you are comfortable running , slow , leave the flashers in the boat, 33’ and 39’ if fishing on the rigger , or stagger your 4 moochers no deeper than 10 pulls and as shallow as 5 . Don’t be afraid to hold in the eddies off the points and kelp. That’s what you are there to do , fish for big fish inshore kelp bed fishing .

You can go offshore to the pinnacles etc and fish between tides as they usually bite pretty good all day out there , can fish spoons or whatever out there they eat it all .

Fished north end of graham off and on since 2014 , lovely part of the world.