Tofino / Ucluelet Fishing Report:
June 2007

Mid June fishing update for Tofino/Ucluelet B.C. area

June 18th, 2007


Saltwater Report: A busy week for Clayoquot Ventures offshore vessels, the first two weeks of June proved to be very fruitful. With both offshore and inshore waters producing the quality Chinook Salmon that we love, there is a good chance you’ll see that rod-tip plunge and hear that reel scream.

The offshore waters of Portland Point have been the location of choice for Clayoquot Ventures Charters. Only seven nautical miles Southeast of Lennard Island Lighthouse, this hot spot is a short run from the Tofino harbor. The close proximity of these waters to Tofino is certainly in our favor, as less time traveling always translates into more time fishing.

Columbia and Fraser River stocks have provided a steady stream of migrating fish throughout early June. The quality of these fish has been high with Chinook Salmon around 20 lbs. being the most common. On this past Friday, the true finesse of both guides and guests was tested as Clayoquot Ventures boats intercepted an extremely ‘hot’ batch of migrating Chinook salmon. Fortunately, the opportunities were many as this particular batch of fish turned out to be some of the hardest fighting salmon our guides have encountered all year.

Anchovies and double-glow squid baits have certainly been producing the best numbers over the past seven days. Although most fish have been caught mid-water column, when the salmon fishing has slowed down all it takes is a drop of the downrigger ball to get into some solid halibut bites.

If anything, the Halibut fishing has picked up over the past week with multiple fish in the 50+ lbs. range being hooked. Trolling for halibut with Anchovy rigged teaser heads has been nearly a sure thing in places such as the C&B bank approximately 8 miles offshore from Tofino.

In addition to solid offshore fishing the inshore fishery is also beginning to pick up steam. With fish in the 25lbs. range being hooked at a number of different inshore spots over the weekend, the inshore fishery is a great option for someone wanting to get out of the open ocean swell and into some nice fish .Clayoquot Ventures guide Conor Mackenzie helped his guest connect with 5 great Chinook Salmon as well as 2 Coho Salmon yesterday in the protected inshore waters of Clayoquot Sound. Great fishing for such a short run from the dock in protected waters, which should only get more consistent as the season progresses!!

Freshwater Report: Solid trout fishing was very characteristic of our remote drift this past week. Clayoquot Ventures guide Blake Klopfenstein drifted our remote system twice over the pat week with both drifts producing nice numbers of both resident Rainbow trout and Cutthroat trout. Although Steelhead hook-ups are becoming slightly less common, they are certainly not loosing their intensity as sea bright fish are still holding in some of the deeper, cooler pools throughout the lower river. Once again silver spoons and egg-sucking leach imitation flies have proved to be the most effective means of hooking into these fish. This week we start our Fly in lake fishing trips on a regular basis, with Trout action anticipated to be as good as ever. Fly fishing with light 5-6 weight rods is most common from our personal pontoon boats, with light tackle/spoons/spinners an option as well on these catch and release trips.

Highlights of the Week: With out a doubt this week has had more highlights than any other yet this year. Guide Blake Klopfenstein hooked his guest Richard Schaps into a dandy 50+ lbs. Halibut at the inshore Blunden Island tack, while on the same afternoon, guide Conor MacKenzie managed to team up with his guest Mark Witten of Florida State to land a second halibut over 55 lbs. The next day, Blake guided his guests from Texas onto a monster Halibut over 100 lbs, which is Tofino’s largest fish of the season. A halibut this size combined with a half dozen Chinook salmon fights makes for one memorable afternoon regardless of your fishing experience!!

Clayoquot Ventures guides Lochie Mackenzie and Steve Penfold also had some great fishing this past week, setting their guests up to fight some quality early-June chromers. Steve has found success at the Portland Point offshore tack, while Lochie has worked his magic at some of the classic shallow water spots on this inside of Clayoquot Sound

Springtime Specials: We’ve got Anchovies! If you want to get hooked up out there, you’ve got to come here and get hooked up first. Fresh Rhys Davis Anchovies, (some of the finest I’ve seen in the last few year), are now available in our shop. Come on in and one of the guides will outfit you with the latest ‘killer’ baits, rubber hoochies, and flasher combos. Also, if you’re going Hali fishing, be sure to check out the latest baits by Berkley. Some say the new ‘Gulp Bait Swimmers’ are a sure thing, so you’d better come and try one out for yourself… We are still overstocked with Patagonia and Cloudveil outerwear, so there is always a good deal to be had!!

The Tail end of June

June 30th, 2007

What a month Junuary has been!!!! You wouldn't think that we passed our summer solstice over a week ago, as the weather has been what we would commonly see in January, February and March. Although the air temperature has been pretty moderate, the chance of an early summer water shortage in the Tofino area is extremely unlikely.
The low pressure systems that have continued to push in from the South-South East open Pacific have not been a total detriment to our fishing though,..Chinook and Coho Salmon have been encouraged to travel down the coast into to the Tofino area waters, but most specifically the inner waters of Clayoquot Sound. June has normally provided a good fishery in these same inshore waters over the years, but over the last two weeks, many vessels have opted to focus on the inshore waters for their Salmon action, as opposed to the traditional offshore areas that normally provide the area's most consistent action for Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon and Halibut. Chinook Salmon in the 12-28 lb. range, and Coho Salmon averaging 5-8 lbs have no doubt been enticed to stay inshore for prolonged periods and feed on the very abundant Needlefish (Sandlance) and juvenile Herring stocks that we have not witnessed in such solid masses for a few years now.

Gear of choice for the Salmon fishery both inshore and offshore has been trolling with Anchovies behind a Red or Purple/Silver Oki Flasher.

Some of the new bait teaser head colors from Rhys-Davis have been helping with success rates, most noteably the Glow/Bloody nose and U.V. Clear getting the majority of front line action.

Halibut fishing in the Tofino/Ucluelet area has definitley been good as normal for June, even with days of tough weather conditions. Fortunatley for our local offshore fishery, the moderate South-East wind patterns don't create much of an ocean swell, so wind waves were the only challenge to fish effectively, therefore providing access to our baitfish rich banks 4-10 miles offshore for Halibut and mixed stocks of abundant Bottom fish species.
Large Herring fished on a spreader bar in the 145-200 ft. depths has been the best for our Pacific Halibut averaging 18-40 lbs, but the stinky artificial baits now available from numerous companies have been consistent producers, especially when tipped with a little fresh bait.

Ling Cod and Bottom fish are spead all over our outer coastline, with specific reefs and pinnicles becoming guide favorites, often requiring specific GPS coordinates.

Large fish to date for the Tofino area have been Halibut to 105 lbs. caught by Clayoquot Ventures Guide Blake Klopfenstein, and Chinook Salmon 34 lbs. also caught by a guided Clayoquot Ventures Vessel. Numerous Coho Salmon released offshore have easily broken 15 lbs. and will only get bigger considering they have over 3 months to mature.

Further detailed info can be provided by visiting www.tofinofishing.com or calling 1-888-5FISHBC

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Email Address: jay@tofinofishing.com
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