It's been a good start to the lingcod season this year. Most locations have been reporting good catches. Especially from South of Gabriola around the Flattops and down to Valdez.
French Creek fishermen have also been doing well, especially guys trolling swimbaits like Savage Gear 3D Burbots. I had one interesting report from French Creek area where a fisherman was trolling an articulating lure like a Berkley Nessie while targeting lingcod and started catching big Chinook too. So this might be a new way to catch both fish at once.
For more info on Lingcod trolling, check out my article on the subject in June's edition of Island Fisherman Magazine.
For salmon we are counting down the days to the Coho opener on June 1st. Right now the Coho schools have moved a couple miles North of Five Fingers and extend all the way to Schooner Cove. There are lots of them, so we should have a good Coho season soon. I love spin casting them with Clarkspoon Pogies or Delta Half Jigs. Or troll them with small blue like West Coast Tackles SEX-E in Blue Silver paired with blue glow flashers like Brain Freeze, or Blue Magoo.
On the West side of the Island I am starting to hear reports of more Chinook showing up around Bamfield and Ucluelet. But I need more in depth reports. So if you are out that way please email me at the address below. And I'm always looking for good fish pictures like the nice one of Jack at the top of this post. Thanks Jack! So if I helped you out, please let me know and send in pictures.
Tips up!
Steve Vavrik
steve@harbourchandler.ca
1 comment
Love these reports, Steve! I read them every week.
On the recommendation of the HC folks, I tried trolling for lingcod for the first time. Only got to do it for a couple minutes before catching a keeper. Thanks for the advice!