The Magazine for those who like to catch big fish and lots of em! Salmon and Steelhead Edition
ADVENTURE TRIPS YOU CAN ONLY DREAM ! • • • • •
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THEY’RE BIG & THEY’RE RED THE DEAN! nuff said groB ZUSCHLAGEN! (Read to find out more) TOP 10 FISHING INVENTIONS YEAR ROUND STEEL
2011 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1
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$19.95
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CONTENTS The Magazine for those who like to catch big fish and lots of em!
FEATURES THE DEAN
p. 5
groB Zuschlagen
p. 13
TSURI
p. 21
Year Round Steel
p. 23
Remote Chrome
p. 25
Why it Tops the List?
The German Grand Slam Gone Fishing Japanese Style 24/7/365 When & Where Steelies off the beaten path
DEPTS Editors Edge
p. 2
Technology
p. 3
Big Red
p. 12
Mining Silvers p. 30
Cooking the Catch
p. 15
A Skeena Geology Map
You asked for it, now you got it!
All Photos all the time
Tube Flies
p. 29
Why are they so effective?
IPhone 4 fishing
There big, red and flashy Poached Salsa Sockeye
Top 10 Fishing Inventions p. 16 Kodachrome
p. 18
Jet Power
p. 20
Hog of the Month
p. 31
Underwater Cameras
Expanding your Horizons
Cover: This chunk of Morice Steel could not resist Mark Clark’s color explosion fly.
Editor: Robert Bryce
You will squeal when you see these oinkers! Issue 1 2011 Page 2
EDITORS EDGE Taking the edge off Boat Launch Woes
Ever had a steelhead day that started out with optimism and excitement, only to be met with a major downer. This happened as we were attempting to launch our boat at the Telkwa boat launch. We started to back down the gravel launch and came upon a fisherman with his entire selection of gear for the day spread all over the launch. ( Three rafts, a plethora of rods, oars, bags etc). Meanwhile the fisherman is downriver casting while waiting for the rest of his group to finish shuttling vehicles. To make a long story short, this fisherman was not too keen to move his gear as I had not used “please” and “thank you” in my request. I was not curse or rude in my request just excited to get going (those of you that have fished with me, know that I do not like to wait for events like this). What ensued was an exchange of words that I did not care to engage in, but the fisherman kept coming back with more and more attitude. We did finally get our boat launched but it did put a damper on the morning. The Telkwa launch is not as busy as other launches but regardless there is an unwritten rule that you “Get in and Get out” as fast as possible or risk someone sinking your boat. I think the fisherman was lucky it was me and not a jetboat redneck trying to launch as I think he may have been patching his rafts all day instead of fishing!
bearings and grease this spring. And to top it off they were replaced during our flyfishing club trailer maintenance night by the owner of the company. The first bearing blew on a return trip from Terrace and the wheel almost fell off as I dropped a friend off. The other bearing blew as we pulled up to the Telkwa boat launch the afternoon before the “Boat Launch Woe”.
Kudos
To my friend Glen Mikkelsen’s neighbor Cam who helped me remove the axle during the first bearing blowout. Also to the guys at “All Season’s Automotive” in Smithers as they got as back on the river in lightning quick speed after the second bearing blowout. We brought the trailer in at 8:00 am and we were on the road at 9:00 am.
Gloomis break and repair
Solitude Reels
I am please to let you know that I am the proud “soon to be owner” of a new Solitude Fly Reel. The reel was won by entering a photo contest in a competing magazine (Salmon & Steelhead Journal). They are a new compnay with a small product line, but from all reports they produce a quality reel capable of handling any salmon and steelhead that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
I finally purchased a top of the line spey rod “used” for my fising adventures. The rod was a 9/10 GLX Dredger that throws line like a cannon. Unfortunately the rod broke in the middle of the 3rd of 4 pieces. The break occurred during a minor hook up on the bottom. I was a little peeved at the lack of strength of this so called quality rod. Initial thumbs down to Gloomis. They did redeem themselves as the lifetime warranty had a brand new rod in my hands within two weeks of the breakage. So far so good with the new rod.
Bearing “not” Buddies
Not sure if this is a common occurence but almost having your wheel fall off twice in one season due to blown bearings seems a bit much. Especially since both wheels had new
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IPHONE 4 FISHING Utilizing Technology in our every day fishing cell phone coverage needed for searching the internet. While I am on a fishing trip I constantly check the weather forecast. This help determines what rivers we may fish that day or the next and help plan our agenda. It is also nice to know what clothing to wear each day. The weather sites also report the amount of rainfall for each day. This helps in determining if rivers are likely to rise or fall. Another site which is useful is the BC Hydrometric River Levels site. This site gives instant river level graphs and depths for over a hundred rivers around our province. Other favorites include Marine Forecast with wave heights, BC Highway Cams, Fishing Reports, and your favorite fishing forum like Speypages.
IPHONE 4 As a fisherman who is always looking for more information to help make each fishing day the best possible, I realized that the IPhone had a lot to offer. The portability and ease of use of this technological gadget has satisified my craving for instant information. The phone really does have many uses for the avid fisherman. Before I acquired the IPhone I was almost cell phone illiterate. I can’t remember if I ever received a call on a cell phone prior to getting the IPhone. I have only been using the device for the past 2 months but already in that time I have become quite familiar with most of the features. Most people are probably aware of the most common features like a cell phone, texting, and email but it does much more. I will focus on features that the average fisherman could utilize. For me the most utilized feature is checking the internet for my favorite fishing sites. Most regions near local highways or towns will have the 3G
Other uses include the 5mp IPhone Camera. The camera takes nice quality photos that can be instantly emailed to your fishing buddies. Photos can be easily taken and sent in a matter of seconds. The built in GPS in conjunction with the map locator feature will provide you with your location overlayed on a high-res satellite image. There are no excuses for not knowing where you are. For those early mornings when you want to be the first one on the river, the IPhone alarm clock can wake you up to your favorite tune. The cell phone plans for the iphone come with sufficient monthy data downloads that are quite reasonable and can be had for as little as $55 per month. The IPhone 4 currently sells for $99 with a three year plan. There are rumours of the IPhone 5 being released in the near future. This may make the 4 even more affordable.
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APPS & MORE APPS Utilizing Technology in our every day fishing
The previous are the built in features of the IPhone, but these are just a fraction of the features or applications (apps) that can be downloaded to your phone. Many of these apps are free and take only minutes to get up and running. A few of my favorites are Google Earth, which in my opinion is one of the greatest advancements for fisherman in recent memory. Now you can have this at your fingertips 24/7. How about a flashlight built into the IPhone for those dark, early mornings when you are trying to find a suitable log to do your business. A few other popular apps which can be downloaded are: iSolunar Hunting & Fishing Times Here’s an amazing iPhone fishing app that determines the best fishing time for any date or any location, no matter where you are located. It also helps you determine what time the fish will start biting.
Animated Fishing Knots If you’re an angler, you need to know how to tie different knots. This app has got you covered with 21 fishing knots complete with animation, video, and pictures of the finished knots as well as descriptions and how to use them. The app list these fishing knots alphabetically and you can search by name, category, and use.
Orvis Pretty much everything you every wanted to know about fly fishing in one place. This awesome app for iPhone, iPad and Android has animated knots, basic fly casts, common fly casting mistakes, a guide to common fly patterns and a bunch more features.
IS FISHING YOUR POT OF GOLD? Page 5
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THE DEAN Adventure Steelheading - Tales of an Epic Trip
If you steelhead fish you have undoubtedly heard of the Dean River.
It is always on the top of the destination list for any steelhead junkie. It is noted for having some of the strongest fighting steelhead anywhere and this is why we added it to our list of destinations. Our adventure started when a friend who was just getting into spey fishing watched this hilarious cartoon on Spey fishing and during the conversation they mention the Dean River and why it is so special. We had to verify it for oursleves. http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7739973/the-spey-revolution-now-complete From there the planning started, dates were selected (July 8-15, 2011) and the mode of transportation which is usually airplane or helicopter ( for those with big budgets) but in this instance a Jet Boat would transport us the 90 km of open ocean to the mouth of the Dean. We selected our dates based on the probability of hooking (not catching) Steelhead and Chinook at the same time. These dates were on the end of the Chinook season and the beginning of the steelhead season. Page 6
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THE DEAN Adventure Steelheading - Tales of an Epic Trip Primetime Dean River Chinook is the last week of June and the first week of July. While Steelhead is primetime on the lower part of the river the last week of July and the first week of August. So three guys, a crapload of gear and a sense of adventure head off to the town of Bella Coola with the boat in tow. Our plan was to arrive late into Bella Coola and get up at dawn and take advantage of the calm early morning seas. The trip into this remote valley went well except for the smoking brakes as we descended down “The Hill�. After a quick rest and brake cool down we arrived at our accommodations at 10:00 pm with only a slight wisp of
wind. 4:30 am came early, but with the anticipation of what lay ahead it was not difficult to get up and get going. A quick look outside revealed no wind and a nice looking morning so we were off 3 km to the harbor boat launch.
Two happy faces enroute, but can you tell which one is ???? himself
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THE DEAN Adventure Steelheading - Tales of an Epic Trip
The boat was launched and the gear loaded onto our barge or atleast it felt like one. The back of the boat was heaped up and bungied down. We taxied out of the harbor to a light chop on the channel as we then ventured out onto the open ocean. After 15 km of cruising we came to a rocky point and the entrance of a new channel. As we rounded the point we were greeted with 3 foot waves cascading over the boat which forced us to retreat into a small cove. We were baffled by the large waves as there was no apparent wind, but who were we to know as we were all landlubbers with no real seamanship. After two hours of hiding out, we contemplated that maybe if we could only make it around the point the waves would subside. This theory may have been true but we never made it more 50 m before we were overcome with 5 foot waves engulfing the boat with water. Another quick retreat and soaking wet we made our way back to the harbor to review our options. Plan B involved waiting until 6:00 pm when the afternoon winds would subside and the ocean would calm and still allow for a few hours of daylight to make our trip in. We parked ourselves most of the afternoon at an ocean side picnic area where we could convince ourselves that the winds were dying down. Six pm came and the winds did look like they were complying so we headed back to the launch and went for “take two”. The first 15 km were similar to the mornings with a light chop but then came the dreaded point. The waves were still hammering the boat head on but not quite as bad as the morning so we bounced our way around. We managed to get closer to shore and continue on by tucking in and out of bays as we slowly meandered down the coastline. After 30 km we came upon the infamous “Mesachie Nose” which is a vertical slab of bedrock situated on a point where three channels converge. This proved to be the biggest challenge of the voyage ( did I mention that we are only in a 18.5 ft jet boat) as the waves came at us in all directions. We got pounded as the boat slowly rolled over the waves to calmer water in the Labouchere Channel but the damage was done. One member of the group was psychologically scarred from the experience even though we did know the full extent until later on. The remainder of the trip to the Dean was fairly uneventful except for the last 10 km were we felt like a surfer at “Point Break” riding the perfect wave. We were now going with the waves and rolling over them enroute to the mouth. The next challenge as daylight was diminishing was to find the right channel to run the mouth of the Dean River. We found a likely slot ( we were lucky it was high tide as this was gravel most of the day) and wound our way up the river while envisioning the fishing opportunities at each run. The short 3 km run up the river lead us to our campsite on a large gravel bar called “Bill’s Run”. We were surprised to still see guides and clients burning the midnight oil and fishing in the fading light. A sigh of relief was felt as we finally made it, but in retrospect we should have waited for calmer conditions but the anticipation of the Dean won out over sensibility. Our home for the week Page 8
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THE DEAN Adventure Steelheading - Tales of an Epic Trip We awoke early to test our new spey rods and freshly tied flies on these world renowned steelhead. We quickly got into steelhead, but maybe because of all the hype I was expecting more, the fish did not seem to fight any harder than those of other rivers I have fished. The Chinook were another story, the first four Chinook we hooked into left our flies in pieces, lines snapped and reels spooled. Was it even possible to land one of these ocean mint specimens was the question we asked ourselves. Even though we were hooking fish under one of the most amazing backdrops things were not all that bright. We still had a looming return trip in one week plus not knowing how much gas we used on our bumpy trip in. We managed to secure 40 litres of gas from a “local� with a cabin near the river so we were now able to freely explore the lower three kilometers of the river for the best runs ( an impassable waterfall blocks travel 3km from the ocean) and drop our prawn traps out in the ocean as we desired.
This still did not ease the anxiety of one of our group members who was more focused on the how he was going to get back to civilization (without going back on the boat) than he was fishing. The fine gentleman who gave us the extra gas for the boat was actually flying back to Prince George directly the next morning one his personal airplane, but he was not willing to take our anxious fisherman back with him. This called for drastic measures; a short walk through the forest to the fishing lodge where a plane was chartered from Bella Coola to come in five days time to pick him up. With the return travel plans now solidified we could now get down to some serious fishing.
The fish were not in the river in large numbers so we had to work for our hook ups. We did get lots of practice with our spey casting if nothing else. You could not ask for a better place to practice though as we had towering snow capped mountains all around us and 3km of picture perfect runs to entice us. For me it was especially unique to flyfish pools and runs adjacent to the ocean and Grizzly Bears feeding on the vast sedge grass meadows behind us.
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THE DEAN Adventure Steelheading - Tales of an Epic Trip The other member of our group was snake bitten over the first four days with no hookups and was beginning to worry about the dreaded Sk?nk but managed to end the trip with a bang as he landed the biggest steelhead of the trip in a pool adjacent to the ocean ( it still had sea lice on it ) and as well the only one of a us to land a chrome Chinook that had just entered the river.
Casting Practice
We did share the river with a couple of guiding outfits but there were never any issues with finding runs to fish. The only issue with the guides may have been the jet boat traffic from shuttling clients up and down the river, which became a little annoying after awhile. You could tell when a client had hooked a fish up or down river as each client had a radio and would call for assistance from the guide and he would race down the river to assist.
Ocean fresh Steelhead- See the set of three sea lice on the tail
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THE DEAN Adventure Steelheading - Tales of an Epic Trip
Fresh Prawns from the bounty of the ocean
DID YOU KNOW! • Steelhead spend 97% of time at sea <6 m depth (day and night) • Steelhead do not die after spawning. • On Average - 15% are repeat spawners with females outnumbering males 2 to 1 • Steelhead that have finished spawning are called Kelts • Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus mykiss • Young steelhead live for one to three years in fresh water before travelling to the sea as smolts.
Steelhead migration routes
Dean River Steelie
Fresh fly caught Dean River Chinook Page 11
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THE DEAN Adventure Steelheading - Tales of an Epic Trip
As the last evening approached we were hoping for calm seas in the morning as that was going to be our first attempt to head back the 90 km to Bella Coola. The rain started coming down hard that evening after a week of beautiful weather and continued in the morning but the winds seemed calm as we awoke at 4:00 am survey the weather condtions to dismantle the camp. The river had come up a couple of feet overnight which would make our down river exit in the low light a bit easier. After being up and down the river numerous times in the daylight it was an easy ride out to the ocean where calm but foggy seas greeted us. We now had one last task before heading back and that was to drop our airline passenger off at a trail on the ocean that lead to the gravel airstrip. His plane was scheduled to fly in around 10:00 am so he had some time to wait. The thick fog was a little worrisome as we were not sure what conditions the plane could fly in. We then turned the boat The plane leaving Bella Coola to pick up our 3rd member around and headed out the Dean Channel towards Bella Coola. The thick fog made the GPS unit a necessity as we could follow our track from the trip in and safely navigate our way back. The seas remained calm and the boat cruised along the mystical channel with ease with the lighter load of one less body, half the gas, and almost no food left. The fog lifted after 30 min and we made good time passing the ominous Mesachie Nose and other points enroute to Bella Coola in a swift two hour journey. We loaded up the boat and decided to head to the airport to see what the flight status was and also the possibility of catching a ride on the plane for the trip into the Dean. It looked like the fog was lifting at the Dean which was good but my extra weight on the small plane would have put us over the maximum so I remained in Bella Coola. We decided to go for a hearty breakfast at the local cafĂŠ only to learn that the heavy rains from the night before had washed out the road half way up the hill. It looked like they may be able to open it at noon the next day so we were left to stay another night in Bella Coola. The plane from the Dean came in fine and we were left staying at a not so nice place for the night. The next day we drove back to home after the road was cleared. I am not sure when I will get back to the Dean but I know I will get back one day. Maybe a little later in July when it is primetime but regardless it is not a place to go for big numbers but more so for the experience and a chance at catching ocean fresh chrome.
Saying good-bye to the Dean River on calm seas. Page 12
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BIG RED Flies so flashy the fish need sunglasses As steelhead anglers we all have our goto fly and goto color for that fly. We always have a reason as to why we are using it, maybe it has always caught fish, the guide recommended it, the fisherman next to you is slaying them with that fly or maybe just because it looks cool. Maybe we are trying to imitate a feed source for the fish or just annoy it into biting.
At this point let me say that I know well that an angler tends to catch more steelhead with fly colors he favors. If you never fish a purple pattern you may assume that purple is not a worthy color. If you only fish pink, then pink is the best fish-catching color in your fly box. We have all heard the motto of bright flies bright day and dark flies dark day, but sometime we catch fish on a bright fly on a dreary day. Over the past couple of years I have migrated to big and flashy red flies for a few reasons. Firstly, I have come from a gear fishing background where big flashy spoons can catch alot of steelhead, even in super low conditions when the fly guys are switching to hobo style flies. Therefore I feel I should be able fish a big flashy fly with little repercussions in low and clear water. The other gear related item of interest is the popular use and effectiveness of Pink Worms. In my books a big red fly and pink worms look very similar in the water. Secondly for me red would seem to imitate an injured bloody fish, small red squid and red krill, all favorites feed for Steelhead and Salmon. And lastly they look cool and I Have confidence in fishing with them which is probably the most important reason.
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Groß Zuschlagen The Grand Slam of Fishing - German Style
Have you ever heard of the Salmon Grand Slam or as they say ( not quite sure but this is how it is translated literally) in German the GroB Zuschalgen. This is a story about the Grand Slam which entails catching all 5 species of Salmon and throw in Steelhead for good measure all in one trip. It all started over dinner one night about 6 months ago when a friend of mine (who does not fish, but knows I like to fish) said his soon to be brother in law from Germany was coming to Canada for a few weeks in August and he was an avid fisherman. He asked if we could take him out fishing, so naturally I jumped at the opportunity to showcase our great fishing and rivers, plus it meant one more trip out to Terrace during a time I do not usually fish. We decided on Mid- August and four days for the trip, and in the back of my mind I knew we had a chance to complete the groB. I mentioned this to my friend but did not want to get their hopes up as weather and river conditions can always hamper the perfect plan. Jurgen arrived as scheduled from Germany and we started our trip out to Terrace, but under a less than ideal weather forecast as the rain started when we arrived and did not stop until we left. That did not deter our spirits as it is always easier to fish in the rain when the fishing is good. The first afternoon turned out be epic as hooked about 40 salmon and steelhead and landed about half of them. The first afternoon provided us with 4 of the six species we required. (Steelhead, Pink, Coho and Chum). The next day would require us to travel to another river to get our Chinook. Up bright and early we made it to the river and it was still in fishable condition. It did not take long for us to check the Chinook off the list as Jurgen landed a couple of mint bright 20lber’s. We spent the rest of the day looking for fishable water that was not blown out and still managed to land some more fish but not the elusive sockeye. With most of the rivers now looking more like chocolate milk we decided to head to Babine Lake to try and troll for sockeye in the lake. I have never fished in a lake before for sockeye but how hard could it be? Lots of people go up there and do quite well so we launched the boat and head across the lake to the mouth of the Fulton River. We hooked up these large flashers on the rods, and attached a red hook with a couple of red beads and lowered it down into the lake. Amazingly with a about 30 min we had a our first sockeye in the boat. A round of high fives ensued as we accomplished a task that many said “Could not be done” in these unfavorable conditions. We continued to catch or limit sockeye which are prized for their bright red meat and succulent flavor. This brought another trip to an end and hopefully a memorable one for Jurgen as he accomplished something most fisherman will never complete in 3 days of fishing. Page 14
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GroĂ&#x; Zuschlagen The Grand Slam of Fishing - German Style
Stahl Kopf - Steelhead
Buckellachs - Pink Salmon
3 DAYS 6 SPECIES
Hundslachs - Chum Salmon
GRAND SLAM
Silberlachs- Coho Salmon
Konigslachs - Chinook Salmon
Rotlachs - Sockeye Salmon
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COOKING THE CATCH Poached Salsa Sockeye
1. Preheat oven to 450ºF. 2. Rinse with water and pat dry with paper towels: 2 salmon, fillets, 5oz each 3. Place each salmon fillet in the center of a 16” x 12” piece of parchment paper and season with: 1/8 tsp salt 1/8 tsp lemon pepper 4. Lay over the salmon: Fresh Homemade Salsa 5. Divide evenly and arrange around the salmon: 6 broccoli florets 2 mushrooms, sliced 1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped 6. Top salmon with: 2 sprigs of thyme, fresh 7. Pull the two long ends of parchment paper straight up, fold ends together and continue to roll and crimp until tightly sealed. 8. Roll and crimp the smaller ends of the parchment paper until your package is wrapped up. 9. Place fish packets onto a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. 10. Remove from the oven and allow packets to rest for 5 minutes before opening. 11. Place packet on your plate and open slowly and carefully as the steam can burn your hands.
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TOP 10 FISHING INVENTIONS You asked for it! Now you got it!
Top 10 fishing aides you would like to see invented As an avid fisherman I am constantly on the lookout for the latest and greatest fishing gadgets and equipment to help me catch more fish and make my fishing day more enjoyable. During our fishing trips the conversation inevitably turns to “Wouldn’t it be nice if they had a ……..” or “if someone invented this special piece of fishing equipment I would definitely buy one”. Over the past few years we brainstormed a variety of fishing tackle and equipment we would like to see on the market. Maybe some of these have already been developed and I just do not know about them but some of the following are most likely wishful thinking and may never hit the shelves of our local tackle stores. We tried to come up with a variety of items that would be of interest to gear and fly fisherman and hopefully the list will inspire you to provide some feedback or discussion about the list and possibly what your favorite idea for the next generation of fishing tackle would be. Fly Cam Do you ever wonder just how deep your fly is in the water column; how it moves in the water or how close was the trophy salmon or steelhead to biting your fly. I propose a flash memory camera so small that it could be tied into a tube fly and provide underwater footage that has never been seen before. This could revolutionize the way we target fish in the rivers. Interchangeable Wading Boot Soles With the variety of river substrates that we fish these days and the increasingly prevalent transmission of nasty fish diseases and invasive species between rivers, there is a demand for a slide on wading boot sole. It could come in a variety of textures and materials. Felt, rubber, vibram, studded, mesh or any other material that could be easily slid on to rail system on the bottom of your boot. No need to re-felt your boots or bring a special pair of wading boots when travelling overseas to other rivers.
Cable Lined Sonar Detector Have you ever fished a river for moving salmon and steelhead and wondered if you were casting in fishless water all day. What about a sonar cable that could be extended across a section of river and provide real time information on when the fish are swimming under it and where along the cable they are swimming ( ie the distance from shore they typically travel). We could then target fish in the travelling slots and get an idea on how many fish are actually on the move. Rod Camera You catch a fish of a lifetime and look for your camera and realize you left in the truck or in the boat. No worries, with the new pen style camera that fits in the butt of your fishing rod you will always have it with you. Just flip a cap on the butt and take a picture of that prized fish. The camera will always be close by and easy to use. Digital Fish Scale Analyzer Imagine a small device that could analyze a single fish scale on the spot and determine the age and river origin of the salmon or steelhead. A pre loaded database in the device with all the rivers from the pacific northwest would determine where that fish was headed. This could allow fisherman to fish more selectively in areas where we have runs of concern and release those fish that are rivers with weak or endangered runs. Cast-o-meter We have all heard of the “Fish of a thousand Casts” but is that really true. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a small inertial sensor that we could attach to our rod that would count every cast we send out. We could then verify once and for all if this above statement is true. Other uses may be as an exercise tool. We could figure out the calories burned per cast and justify our fishing day as exercise based on the number of casts multiplied by the calories per cast. I would love to say to my wife “ Hey honey, I am just heading out for my daily exercise regiment”. I plan on burning 2100 calories so I should come back leaner and meaner.
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TOP 10 FISHING INVENTIONS You asked for it! Now you got it!
Hook Release Pinger We have all snagged up our favorite lure on a sunk log or debris pile and have tugged on the rod to no avail before finally breaking off the lure. What if we had special sensor clasp or swivel between our lure and the hook that could receive special sonar pings from a handheld device. These pings would open up the swivel and release the lure from the hook on demand. We would get our favorite lure back and only have to replace the hook. What if a fish was deeply hooked and there was no easy way to get the lure out without harming the fish. We could release the lure from the hook and easily let the fish swim away.
you need the Auto Knot Tyer. Just insert your line and hook eyelet into the portable knot tying device and select the knot you would like tied and let the device do the rest to get a perfect 100% knot strength connection.
Anti Crowding or Low Holing Device We have all been fishing our favorite run on the river when out of nowhere another fisherman parks themselves just below you. Maybe you get sandwiched in between two anglers with no room to properly swing your fly or lay out that perfect spey cast. It would be nice to have a device that would send out an uncomfortable ultrasonic sound that is not clearly audible, but uncomfortable to those around you. Only you have the special ear piece to handle the ultrasonic emissions. An adjustable output selector could allow you to set your buffer distance and give you plenty of room to work over your favorite run in solitude. Injectable Roe Balls For those of you that float or backtroll roe balls for salmon, there is always a continual changing of the roe sac as it becomes depleted. Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it be nice to have a replica roe sac that has an injectable chamber that could be refilled as needed. The roe juice could then be released through the permeable membrane of the replica roe sac until filling is required. This would be less messy and no need to cure and store your roe, just bring a bottle of roe juice and a replica roe sac. Knot Tying Machine Have you ever tied on a fly or lure and quickly have the faulty knot break as you hook into a prized fish? On a cold October morning are your fingers to cold to tie that nail or blood not effectively? Have you ever hit your favorite hole at first light or late in the evening for that last cast and you snap your fly or lure and need to retie in low light conditions? If you answered yes to any of these questions then
Do you have an idea for the next product of theh century.?
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WATERPROOF CAMERAS Adding a New Persepective to your Fishing Photos
Every angler needs a good digital camera to capture the exciting and memorable moments of their fishing trips. That way you have pictures to go with your fishing stories. After looking at folders of fishing pictures they all seem to look the same and I am constantly looking for a new angle or pose to make that photo stand out from the rest. The waterproof/ underwater camera can add another dimension to your photos and even video. Taking photos underwater of that trophy fish allows us to view them in their world and get a better perspective of the space they live in, plus it looks cool. This is not the only benefit or feature of a fishing camera, there are others like:
Add new perspectives like this to your fishing photos.
Capture images of fish in their environment
Waterproof – Since fishing is done in and around water and in the rain, it makes sense for the camera to be waterproof. You don’t want your camera to go bad from swim in the lake or river or get soaked from the torrential downpour while you take that special photo. Shockproof – Dropping and bumping things is just a reality of life, especially when fishing when your hands are cold and numb. You need your fishing camera to handle falls on the rocks and still work perfectly afterward. Compact – When going fishing your may be hiking up and down the river and you don’t want to carry around a large and bulky camera. A fishing camera needs to be
compact enough to fit in your pocket for easy access. Quality Images – You need the camera to take high quality pictures of your fishing and outdoor adventures. You want your photos to be focused, sharp, and clear.
Gone are the days when underwater photos were only done by the professionals of National Geographic. Technology has made waterproof cameras small and cost effective, so that every fisherman can take that award winning photo. After reading the latest reviews on waterproof cameras there seemed to be no shortage of good quality cameras. I ended up deciding on the Pentax Optio WG-1. Checkout the next page for some of the other top underwater cameras of 2011.
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PH OT O
WATERPROOF CAMERAS Adding a New Persepective to your Fishing Photos Top Waterproof Cameras of 2011 Pentax Optio WG-1
Samsung WP10
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3
Olympus TG-310
Sony TX10
Fujifilm FinePix XP30
Optio WG-1 Samples
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JE T
JET POWER Expanding your Fishing Horizons
Have you ever been a lowly â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bank Maggotâ&#x20AC;? stranded, fishing one spot all day long while dreaming of the tantalizing pools and runs that must exist just upstream and around the corner. Unfortunately, accessing these pools is out of reach, except by the jet powered boat that skims along the water surface that sometimes feels like it is flying. I have had these days of cast after cast in one spot only to see one of these loud, wake creating, exhaust fuming contraptions come roaring by with a boat load of smiling fisherman who are just returning from an upstream adventure with sore arms and a camera full of pictures. I resented these people for creating this fishing inequality and ruining my fishing days. Well, things changed and my situation improved as I became the proud owner of 175 horses that powered my new aluminum sled. My outlook on jet boaters changed as well; these people were not evil or wicked, they were just everyday people out enjoying our local rivers, but they travelled a little faster than those on foot. For fisherman, the jet boat has opened up thousands of miles of previously untouched rivers that can now be fished and enjoyed. The rockets on water now allow boaters to travel up rivers with as little as a few inches of depth. The previous outboard engines were limited to larger rivers and those with depths of a couple of feet minimum. There is definitely a sense of exhilaration travelling into remote areas where you know few people will venture. Especially as more and more of our favorite water bodies become increasingly crowded and popular. I have quickly realized that jet boats are not cheap to run and maintain. The engines are very inefficient and can burn over a litre of gas per kilometer, plus the cost of oil, and regular maintenance. There is also a lot of practice and learning to become a safe driver, and this only comes by getting out on the river and pushing yourself slowly and safely. I have been lucky to have a mentor that has over 6000 hours on a jet boat and knows the difficulty of running most rivers in our region. The jet boat is not for everyone ( I still like a quiet float with the inflatable down the river) but it can be a lot of fun and take you to those spots you only dreamed of.
Fishing untouched pools
Accessing remote rivers Page 21
JA
PA
N
出漁 Going Fishing Japanese Style
TSURI or “Gone Fishing” as they say in Japanese is what happens for every September long weekend. For the past fiveyears I have taken a visiting Japanese University Professor (Prof I) out fishing for Coho in the Kitimat and Skeena Rivers. This year would be the same except for the addition of a second visitor from Japan (Mr Ish). Our second visitor Mr Ish has never been to Canada and has never fished for salmon before so this would be new experience for him. Surprisingly Mr Ish had decent conversational English which made the instruction a bit easier. We launched the inflatable on the Kitimat River and the three of us drifted for a kilometer before getting gout at he first likely looking pool. Prof I who has done this many times did not take long to land the first coho while myself and Mr Ish were sorting out his casting style. The second pool was a more casting friendly pool that yielded 4 coho within an hour for Mr Ish. Not bad for a guy who has never fished
for Salmon. The next few days continued with an abundant amount of coho hooked and released.
Did You Know? Japan has a Pacific Salmon Species of their own. Cherry Salmon, or scientifically know as Oncorhynchus masu, has many names. They are commonly referred to as sima or sema, Japanese salmon, Masu salmon, or seema salmon. They reside in the western Pacific in areas such as Kamchatka, Sakhalin, Korea, Japan, Primorsky Krai and the Kuril Islands.
Cherry or Masu Salmon
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N PA
JA
出漁 Going Fishing Japanese Style
One afternoon while travelling in the truck to another river Mr Ish mentioned that he had never seen a bear before. That afternoon we spotted four bears and a couple at close range. You will notice in one of the photos that our guest looks more like a bank robber than a fisherman as the “Bugs” were driving him nuts he had to cover any exposed skin. There were a few bugs around but nothing that we Canadians would even notice. We did a bit of sight seeing up some of the coastal rivers which I always look forward to as the rivers wind through the valleys beneath vertical rock walls. I always worry abit about these guests as they seem to have trouble getting in and out of the boat while we float down the rivers. This trip was no different as Mr Ish went under while attempting to climb in. The water was only 2 ft deep but the frantic grasping and shock of the cold water left him a little out of breath for a few minutes. He was a trooper though, and continued fishing the remainder of the morning with a wet jacket and waders. This trip ended as most of the others I have had out west this year with monsoon rains that blew out all the rivers and turning them into that familiar choco milk. We had a great time laughing and joking and talking about the differences between our two countries and cultures but one thing that we have in common is a passion for fishing.
We had time for a little sightseeing. Snow in September on the edge of the river?
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L EE
ST
YEAR ROUND STEEL 24 - 7 - 365 - ALL STEEL ALL THE TIME
! N O
MAY
SEPTEMBER
! N O
JUNE
OCTOBER
JANUARY
G N
I
M O C
SO
FEBRUARY
G N I
M O C
MARCH
APRIL
SO
G N I
M O C
JULY
AUGUST
! N O
SO
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
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L EE
ST
YEAR ROUND STEEL 24 - 7 - 365 - ALL STEEL ALL THE TIME
For those that like to fish for steelhead in the province of BC we are blessed with year round opportunities to catch them. There are two main runs, the Winter Steelhead and the Summer Steelhead. Some river systems have both Winter and Summer run fish while other streams may have one or the other. Steelhead and Rainbow trout are the same species but Rainbow are freshwater only, and steelhead are anadromous, or go to sea. Unlike most salmon, steelhead can survive spawning, and can spawn in multiple years. Both Summer and Winter run steelhead spawn in the spring .Like their name suggests, Summer Steelhead begin migrating to their natal streams during the Summer months. This migration may take place as early as May and June on some rivers like the Dean River and may last until late fall/early winter. Summer fish generally travel much further to spawn than the Winter run fish. Likewise, Winter Steelhead begin their migration early winter with some fish continuing to migrate well into spring. Rivers like the Kitimat and lower Skeena tributaries would all have Winter Run Fish while those rivers near Terrace would have a combination of both. Unlike the other Pacific Salmonids, steelhead are not pre-programmed to die after spawning and may live to spawn multiple times. See the previous page for photos and the months that these fish were caught. Not quite a complete year but very close. Do not let the snow and cold weather dampens your fisihiing spirits. Some of my best days have been in November and December. The fish may not be as active but the majority of the run will be in the river and the fish have proably not seen a fly or lure in the last few weeks,
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TR IP S
REMOTE ADVENTURES Off the Beaten Path - Where is your Dream River?
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TR IP S
REMOTE ADVENTURES Off the Beaten Path - Where is your Dream River?
As a fisherman and specifically for steelhead or salmon it seems increasingly more difficult to find a river or section that you can have all to yourself. Maybe this is being selfish but regardless I think we all dream of fishing a remote river or lake that is relatively untouched. After this past winter with heaps of snow and bitterly cold temperatures and watching a variety of videos on speycasting and steelhead we were itching to hit the rivers in search of some early spring steelhead. We decided on an expedition to a few remote and hard to access river systems plus a popular river with some grueling hike in jaunts. I will not name the spots but if you recognize the spots then they are already known to you. High and dry at the boat launch Our three day trip started with an early wakeup and a dark drive to our boat launch that we needed to be at before the tide made launching impossible. We arrived at the launch just as the darkness was waning only to realize we had missed the tide and had 10 feet of unlaunchable rip rap below the launch. We quickly drove to another launch that we hoped would allow us to launch and managed to get the boat into the water with only a foot to spare. We now had a substantial jaunt of open water to get to our destination while the rain and snow mix pelted us the entire way. The excitement increased as the river came into view under a low lying fog. We had collected our fill of crabs for our meal that evening and then entered the estuary and began the winding voyage up river The evenings meal powered by the humming jet engine. The boat slowly glided towards the gravel bar as we had made it to the camp and fishing grounds for the next three days. A few casts into the trip the first silver bar was lead to the beach. This was a good sign as we knew the fish were in! The afternoon proved to be a fruitful one as we all hooked and landed steelhead on our own creation of winter tied flies.
Beautiful scenery Page 27
TR IP S
REMOTE ADVENTURES Off the Beaten Path - Where is your Dream River?
The first evening was a memorable one as we feasted on the bounty of the ocean and surmised what lay ahead of us tomorrow as we would have more time to explore and pursue our ocean fresh chrome bars. We knew we were the only fisherman within a few hours of our camp and had the whole river to ourselves. The next two days were similar to the first with everyone hooking and landing steelhead in this remote setting. The third afternoon had us heading to another more intimate river that reminded me of an enchanted forest with the trees and mosses towering over the flowing water. We beached the boat near the mouth and had a cup of hot tea to warm ourselves up from the long boat ride. We then anchored the boat and hiked up to another untouched watershed that we had all to ourselves. There was great anticipation of rounding each corner and seeing picture perfect runs that could be holding our prized treasure. The next two hours went without a touch except for the one explosive hookup that ended in a premature release of the fish. It was now back to the boat and onto the next adventure but still in high spirits as we knew timing is everything in this business and another time good yield a much different result.
Small Coastal River
The Reward
Fish must run the guantlet of seals at the estuary
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TR IP S
REMOTE ADVENTURES Off the Beaten Path - Where is your Dream River?
FISHING BELOW SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS!
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ES
FL I
TUBE FLIES Why are they becoming so Popular?
Over the past several years more and more anglers have moved to tube or stinger hook style flies. This style of fly allows you to use a short shank, wide gap hook while still having a fly of whatever size you choose. The belief is that the short shank prevents a lot of the levering action that occurs during the fight due to the hook mass and length of traditional long shanked hooks. The benefits of using tube flies are numerous. • Tube flies are very adaptable. That is to say, you can easily change the hook size of the fly to accommodate whatever species you are fishing for. • Low mortality—If a fish swallows the hook, simply cut the leader. The hook will then dissolve away without causing any additional harm to fish. Just replace the hook and continue fishing. • Your tube flies will last longer—During the fight, the fly slides up the leader and away from sharp teeth. • Easy adjustments—Incorporate brass tube bodies, cones and beads to add or adjust sink rates of flies. The most impelling reason to use a tube fly is the improved landing rate due to the levering action as mentioned above. The number of hook-ups we can expext when fishing for Steelhead and Salmon can be limited so we must use every advantage we can.
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O H O
C
MINING FOR SILVER Coho, Silvers, Blue Backs, Oncorhynchus kisutch
For those anglers looking to catch your first salmon, you should look no further than the Coho. They are one the most aggressive species of salmon and will attack almost anything that is presented tot hem. Coho will readily take flies so they are a favorite for fly fisherman. There are stories of coho even taking surface flies that are “popped” along the surface. Many anglers use spoons but probably the most effective way to catch them is with a marabou jig. The jerking action of the jig is irresistable to the coho and intiates that chase instinct. With their acrobatic antics they provide memorable fighting action using any method. We are blessed with numerous rivers in the Skeena Region that hold coho salmon. They begin to return to their native rivers and streams in August and continue through October. The earlier fish that enter the Skeena are usually headed for the rivers like the Morice and Babine as they have much further to travel. The later fish that return in September and October are typically headed for one of the many lower Skeena tributaries like the Kasiks, Lakelse and Gitnadoix.
NORTHERN’S “Northern” Coho are usually average larger in size and are known among the fishing community to be larger in size and harder fighting. Most “Northern” Coho come from British Columbia and Alaska. They tend to enter their home rivers inthe latter part of the run. They are also known for their large kypes. Fly caught Coho
Coho migration routes Male coho develop a large kype after entering the river Page 31
O H O
C
MINING FOR SILVER Coho, Silvers, Blue Backs, Oncorhynchus kisutch
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S G O
H
OF THE MONTH The Readers have Spoken - the nominees are!
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S G O
H
OF THE MONTH The Readers have Spoken
And the Winner is!
This big Bulkley River buck hammered the “Red Baron” fly. He measured out at 37.5” which would make him anywhere between 17.5 - 20lbs.
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KEEP YOUR EYE OPEN FOR THE NEXT EDITION Page 35