2001 December 2
Photo File… c:\attach\Bloopers.jpg
The photo of the week shows bloopers from this past season. It is not always easy getting that “perfect” fishing photo
NORTHWEST B.C. WEEKLY FISHING REPORT dated November 25 – December 2, 2001
(number 300)
Dear Fishing Friends:
The weather has been very cold all week, with temperatures well below average, making for some very difficult…if not impossible fishing. Time to dig out the fly tying material.
I’ve received requests to see the Kalum River Steelhead TV Fishing Shows we shot last March with Italo Labignan of “Canadian Sportfishing”. For the benefit of those who missed the shows either on TSN or OLN I will air-mail a single copy of both shows (one show with me and the other with AAG Randy Marshall) and fill in the balance of the 2 hour tape with a regular Season (March 15 – Oct. 15) Review for a cost of $15.00 to also cover postage and handling. Contact me for more details or place your order now.
We are already looking forward to next season. We’ll start guiding for (wild fish, no hatchery) Steelhead March 15th on the upper KalumRiver (tributary of the SkeenaRiver). We guide from 19 foot drift boats or 12 foot rafts and fish a five mile stretch that has 27 pools. We match however you like to fish using both fly and spin methods! We are usually the only boats on the river because the only “take-out” for float boats is on private property. The water is too low for jet boats. On average each boat can expect to hook about a dozen fish per drift. The most fish hooked from one boat was 27 on March 27, 1997. Our lodge record 32-pound Steelhead was landed the first week in April. Good fishing should last until April 30 or until the water gets too high from the spring melt -off. WE STILL HAVE SOME DATES OPEN… so if you are planning a trip please let me know your preferred dates ASAP.
Chinook start showing up first week in May and one may hook both Steelhead and Chinook in the same day. Please refer to the graph at:
for the timing of Salmon and Steelhead runs.
Even though our regular seven month guiding season (March 15 thru October 15) is over, we plan on guiding the Zymoetz (Copper River) for “wild” Steelhead from November 1 through December 31 (two months). We call this period EXTREME STEELHEADING. This is still a good time to angle for Steelhead even though the weather will be colder. Contact me anytime for the details.
Bob Preston of the UK provided SPORTFISHINGBC with a wonderful article on our service which is published at:
SHOW TIME on TSN in Canada:
We are happy to announce the following “Canadian Sportfishing” shows, featuring our lodge and guides. They will air on TSN (The Sports Network) on the following Dates/Eastern Times:
- “Premier” Saturday (Dec. 15) 10AM, repeat Monday (Dec. 17) 1PM, Tuesday (Dec. 18) 5AM and Thursday (Dec. 20) 3:30AM: Fly fishing for Chum Salmon, Kitimat River, BC – Italo and wife Barb Labignan show viewers how to use wet flies and shooting heads to catch trophy Chum Salmon.
Note: to gain more information and insight from all the shows we have shot click on and follow the Fishing Show links to our shows. Video clips are coming soon!
SHOW TIME on OLN in USA: The following is the schedule when our fishing shows will air in the USA on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN):
OLN schedule for the 2001 series of Canadian Sportfishing. The shows featuring Northwest Fishing Guides air on the following dates and times. (air Fridays at 10:30 p.m. EST. and generally repeat at 1:30 a.m. the same night. Series starts April 6th)
Show 2. British Columbia Steelhead
12/14/01 10:30 p.m. EST and 12/28/01 1:30 a.m. EST
To confirm an airing it would be a good idea to check the OLN schedule directly at:
FYI: Both Provincial and Federal fishing regulations are posted on the net. Their website URL is noted below.
FYI: AAG is abbreviation for Assistant Angling Guide.
GUESTS COMMENTS (from the lodge guest book)
Note: to read guest comments from this or other past seasons please click onto reports between March 15 to October 15:
======
CURRENT REPORT:
Type of fish caught: Steelhead
Thank you for using barbless hooks.
Fishing this week: POOR_*_FAIR_ __GOOD___EXCELLENT ___
LARGEST FISH OF THE WEEK: Specie: Where: Angler:
Weather....Very, very cold all week with daytime highs of only –10 degrees. Normal Temperatures: High -1.2 Low – 4.6 degrees Celsius. Sunrise 8:31 AM Sunset 4:15 PM
Weather reports…Environment Canada taped messages constantly updated, giving current conditions and three day forecasts. Terrace 250-635-4192 Kitimat 250-632-7864 Prince Rupert 250-627-1155 Smithers 250-847-1958.
For current Terrace weather information please click on:
Water conditions...good on all rivers.
For current water heights on the SkeenaRiver please click on:
SkeenaRiver…The Salmon runs are over for another year. Some Steelhead may still be coming up the river but fishing for them will be slow. The SkeenaRiver record Chinook was caught years ago by Mr. Heinz Wickmen and it weighed 92.5-pounds. New “catch & release record” 99.125 – pounder landed by Ingrid Oeder. See a photo of this fish in the August 19th fishing report.
KalumRiver…only the most hearty fishermen venture out and fish in this cold weather. The Kalum River Steelhead are fall and winter run fish and this is the time when they come in good numbers. We are licensed to guide on this ClassifiedRiver from March 15 through October 15. Our lodge record Chinook weighed 83-pounds. The river record is 85-pounds.
KitimatRiver… We look forward to fish for Steelhead again in the spring time.
KasiksRiver… This is the river where we landed our 27-pound lodge record Coho.
Zymoetz (Copper) River…is too cold to fish. Big chunks of ice are floating down river.
Ocean Fishing...we also guide for Salmon, Halibut, bottom fish and Crab out of Prince Rupert. What is available and when are shown in fishing report:
Photo...collage of our seven bedroom fishing lodge is shown in fishing report:
Northwest Fishing Guides Lodge Records…PHOTOS with captions of our lodge record fish are shown in fishing reports:
Steelhead:
Chinook:
Coho:
AreaRiver Records…Chinook Salmon: Skeena River, 92.5-pounds; Kalum River, 85-pounds; Kitimat River, 74-pounds; Steelhead: SkeenaRiver, 45-pounds; Coho Salmon: SkeenaRiver, 27-pounds.
Regulations...For a copy of the Freshwater Fishing Regulation Synopsis, write to:
Fisheries Branch
Ministry of Environment, Lands & Parks
780 Blanshard Street
Victoria, B.C.
V8V 1X5
Websites:
2000/2001 Freshwater Salmon Supplement and 2000/2001 B.C. Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Guide:
2000/2001 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis:
Index of articles located in fishing reports...
-
- Catch & Release Record Chinook Salmon
by Wolfgang Voelker (Aug. 19/01 Report)
- To what expense does one go to in search of “Wild Steelhead”?
by Tim Lepp (Feb. 11/01 Report)
- Tackle…what to bring list
by Noel Gyger (Dec. 19/99 Report)
-SteelheadVirginity…and the earth had moved for me
by Bob Preston (Nov. 14/99 Report)
-Summary of the 1999 Guiding Season
by Noel F. Gyger (Nov. 7/99 Report)
-Summary of the 1998 Guiding Season
by Noel F. Gyger (Oct. 25/98 Report)
- Drifting in Paradise - upper KalumRiver
by Noel F. Gyger (Jan. 25/98 report)
- North Country Steelhead
by Dave Vedder (Feb. 23/97 report)
- The Kermodei Bear
by Stephanie Wiebe (Feb. 16/97 report)
- May 2nd on the Kalum
by Noel F. Gyger (Feb. 9/97 report)
- British Columbia "The Zipper Mouth"
by Justin Gyger (Feb. 2/97 report)
-12 Seasons of Fishing the Kitimat
by Noel F. Gyger (Jan. 26/97 report)
- FISHING COUNTY -- Skeena Country Chinook
by Karl Bruhn (Jan. 19/97 report)
- Big River Mixed Bag -- West Coast Bounty
by Italo Labignan (Jan. 5/97 report)
- Born To Be Wild
by Mark Krupa (Dec. 29/96 report)
- Landing a Record Chinook
by Noel F. Gyger (Dec. 8/96 report)
- The Skeena For World Record Chinook
by Noel F. Gyger (Dec. 15/96 report)
- Five Days in Paradise
by Dave Vedder (Dec. 22/96 report)
- British Columbia -- Seasons Of The Kitimat
by Justin Gyger (Jan. 12/97 report)
Catch & Release formula...Chinook: girth squared x length x 1.54 divided by
1000. Steelhead: Steelhead: girth squared x length x 1.33 divided by 1000 (inches)
BOOKMARK: Northwest Fishing Guides page is now in the German language and can be located at:
BOOKMARK: SkeenaRiver - by Noel F. Gyger
BOOKMARK: Copper River Steelhead - by Jim and Carolyn Z. Shelton
BOOKMARK: We now have a fishing article titled "October Dreaming"
published in GORP at:
BOOKMARK: To review ALL past WEEKLY FISHING REPORTS and PHOTOS check out site:
BOOKMARK: At your convenience check out a story I wrote called "Sweetheart
Steelheading on the Kalum" It’s published in The Fine Fishing Magazine
at...
BOOKMARK: To learn more about the Skeena region please check out John
Beath’s article titled "Legends Of The Skeena Region" at web site...
BOOKMARK: A popular way to fish here is called float fishing. To learn
how, check out segments of Dave Vedder’s book titled "Float Fishing for
Steelhead" at web site:
To receive my WEEKLY FISHING REPORTS and PHOTOS (full screen JPEG) via e-mail please send your name and e-mail address to: Noel Gyger
GOOD LUCK and GOOD FISHING!
Yours sincerely,
Noel F. Gyger
2001 December 9
Photo File… c:\attach\release.jpg
The photo of the week shows AAG Sky Richard gently releasing a large Bull Trout back into the KalumRiver.
NORTHWEST B.C. WEEKLY FISHING REPORT dated December 2 - December 9, 2001
(number 301)
Dear Fishing Friends:
VIDEO ON TELEVISION: Another one of our “Canadian Sportfishing” shows (Salmon fly fishing) will start airing in Canada on TSN this coming Saturday Dec. 15 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time and repeat Monday (Dec. 17) 1PM, Tuesday (Dec. 18) 5AM and Thursday (Dec. 20) 3:30AM. Check it out if you can!
VIDEO ONLINE: Check out the “Canadian Sportfishing” site and load our fall “BC Steelhead” show (Italo and Louie) directly into your computer through Windows Media Player…and enjoy! Isn’t technology marvelous ?
THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE 2001 SEASON:
MARCH 15: The season opener, March 15, on the Kalum River went very well for our two guests Clay Kangerga (repeat guest) and Gary Jordan (rookie) hooking a total of 14 Steelhead between them and landing seven. They had a very good day and said they were pleased. The river conditions were excellent and the weather was fair all week. On March 16 they hooked 10 Steelhead. March 17 they hooked 14. March 18, their last day fishing together, they hooked 10. Gary stayed and fished an extra day. These numbers tell us there was a good number of fish in the river.
Note: The KalumRiver is “Classified Waters” year round and we are licensed to guide from March 15 through October 15 only. All licensed Angling Guides are limited to these dates.
MARCH 18: The fishing started off very good for our guest Gary Jordan landing seven Steelhead. One was a very BIG fish! (See photo of the week) He apparently landed an even bigger fish later that day but couldn’t get a photo. The weather had turned cold by Wednesday March 21 when two dedicated fly fishermen arrived. The unusual cold temperatures continued through Thursday and Friday making fly fishing near impossible as the guides on their fishing rods froze up after only three or four casts. Even with these tough conditions they persevered and did manage to land Steelhead. One of these fellows was, repeat guest, Robert Tomes and he landed a BIG Steelhead . (See photo of the week) You may remember Robert from last spring, first week in April, when he may have landed a new fly caught world record Steelhead. See last spring April 9, 2000 report for the details.
MARCH 25-APRIL 1: Our guiding efforts focused on the KalumRiver, upper drift. It started off slow for our guest Bill Kaiser due to the bad weather but on his last day he got it going and he landed 8 Steelhead. Our other guest, David Pratt, was off to a roaring start, first day he landed 8 Steelhead, second day he landed 9 (including a 20-pounder). See photo’s of the week. The spin fisherman will be challenged by a fly fisherman next week.
APRIL 8: Fishing was excellent all week! Our guiding efforts were focused on the upper KalumRiver drift. Now we are starting to guide on the KitimatRiver and main-stem SkeenaRiver. All three rivers are low and clear. In my last report I mentioned a single fly fisherman taking on a couple of spin fishermen…well…he held his own. In four days of fishing fly fisherman Elmer Miller hooked a total of 17 Steelhead and landed 7. The purple “Zonker” was the top fly. Three of the fish were larger than average size and one even topped the 20-pound mark (see photo of the week). We are certain lots of fresh Steelhead are coming into the main-stem SkeenaRiver now. These fish are bright, chrome silver.
APRIL 22: Fishing this week, due to the rising water, was a challenge for our two fly fishing guests from Sweden but they were up to it. With assistance from their experienced AAG Randy Marshall and dedication to their sport, they did manage to hook a total of six Steelhead and land three. They also hooked, landed and lost numerous Dolly Varden Char along with a fish we affectionately call S.I.T (Steelhead In Training) which are actually Steelhead Smolts. These young Steelhead spend 2 to 3 years in freshwater before they head out to the saltwater.
APRIL 29: I must start this weeks report with a couple of corrections to last weeks fishing report. First off, I used the wrong formula to estimate the weight of my BIG Steelhead. The correct estimated weight would be 19.15-pounds not 22.18-pounds. Darn…sure looked well over 20-pounds to me! Also, our two guests from Sweden hooked a total of nine Steelhead and landed four, not three.
MAY 6: I am getting reports that good numbers of Chinook Salmon are being caught throughout the full length of the KalumRiver. As a conservation measure these BIG fish are catch and release only. Fishing for Steelhead on this river is still very good and if one is lucky expect to hook both Chinook and Steelhead on the same day. The water on the KalumRiver has been rising steadily (this is normal for this time of year) and has remained in good shape.
MAY 13: Good numbers of Chinook Salmon are being caught throughout the full length of the KalumRiver. As a conservation measure these BIG fish are catch and release only. The water on the KalumRiver has been rising steadily (this is normal for this time of year) and has remained in good shape. Chinook fishing on the SkeenaRiver is really starting to pick up. Normally, this time of year, the water is too dirty to fish for them but this week the water is still clean enough to fish…and the bite is on!!
Our group of 8 guests from Alberta managed to land 15 Steelhead and 13 Chinook in their four days (May 9-13) of guided fishing and lost about as many. All fish were released except for the three Chinook they landed on the SkeenaRiver. They plan to enjoy a family barbeque when they get home and have booked another trip to come back in July 2002.
MAY 20: Very good numbers of Chinook Salmon are being caught throughout the full length of the KalumRiver now. This looks like a very good year! As a conservation measure BIG Chinook over 65cm are catch and release only until July 1. You may retain the smaller Jack’s (under 65 cm) but…the small fish are few and far between. Our lodge record 83-pounder was landed on May 24, 1983. Fishing for Steelhead on this river is still very good and if one is lucky expect to hook both Chinook and Steelhead on the same day. The water on the KalumRiver has been slowly rising (this is normal for this time of year) but has remained in good shape.
Chinook fishing on the SkeenaRiver is really starting to pick up. Normally, this time of year, the water is too dirty to fish for them but this week the water is still clean enough to fish…and the bite is on!!
Our four guests (2 from England and 2 from USA) so far have managed to land 64 Steelhead and 25 Chinook in five days of guided fishing on the Kalum, Skeena and KitimatRivers. All fish were released except for the one Chinook that was landed on the SkeenaRiver. This is the BEST FISHING we have seen in years!! After this group leaves we will not be targeting spring Steelhead anymore, we will leave them alone to set up for spawning. The next time we target Steelhead will be on the SkeenaRiver for “summer-runs” starting around mid August.
This is the best Steelhead and Chinook spring time fishing we have seen in years! The KalumRiver is full of fish from top to bottom… but as a continued conservation measure, fishing for Chinook Salmon above the lower canyon has closed as of May 24. One may target them below the lower canyon (approx. 5 miles) and even then the BIG fish over 65cm are “catch and release” only until after July 1.