Reel Reports
Get the latest BC fishing report with our online Reel Reports – news from the front-lines of the best British Columbia salmon fishing grounds.
We update our BC fishing reports whenever possible during the fishing season, so check back often and see the top catches and hottest locations for salmon fishing in British Columbia.
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BC Sportfishing Outlook
Northern BC Fishing Resorts - May 5, 2008
Hey all you anxious anglers, Fishmaster Cookie here with the projections for this years salmon fishery for our Northern Resorts.
The science of predicting salmon returns is still only moderately accurate although great strides have been made in recent years. A lot of what you see in the media is only the bad reports. There are some great success stories for a lot of runs of salmon, especially here in B.C. where some rivers have rebounded from previously endangered status to stable and increasing. A great majority of Chinook runs in B.C. are at normal historical levels and some are receiving greater than average returns. Because of conservation measures taken in the last 10 years such as moratoriums, slot limits, and area closures, our Coho fishing in the north has been, and is expected to, be extraordinary this year.
The MV Marabell and MV Charlotte Princess up at Langara are expected to have excellent fishing right from the get go. All of the Queen Charlotte local runs and the masssive Skeena and Nass runs for Chinook are expected to be in abundance. That means we should see great numbers of those big 40 lb. plus Skeena and Kitimat fish with the early runs showing up in May. My personal fishing diary tells me it should be an excellent big fish year for Chinook. The Columbia River runs are going to be almost double what they were last year and those fish start to filter through Langara in June along with hundreds of other migratory runs that stop for a meal at Langara.
The Coho fishing is forecasted to be excellent and we should see some good numbers starting in the end of June. There should be an abundance of those big hook-nosed northern Coho in August as well.
The halibut and lingcod fishing was better last year than I have ever seen it. We have been actively researching this fishery so I expect that with all our expertise and the awesome new improvements on our gear and bait systems it will be the best bottom fishing year ever.
The MV Salmon Seeker in Kano Inlet is an easy one. They have had the best Chinook-per-angler ratio of any other spot on the coast for the last three years and the outlook looks even better for this year. The increase in the Columbia River run-size this year, as well as excellent returns to the Puget Sound-area rivers, should only improve an already first class fishery. Our guides deadly halibut techniques brought in more 100 lb. plus halibut last year than the Masterfisherman board could support. We expect these trends to continue.
King Salmon Resort in Rivers Inlet looks like it's in for some great fishing. The Chinook runs through the area are predicted to be at normal levels. I have an inside contact that has lived in the area for his entire life and works actively with the native hatchery program there. He expects an above average to excellent year for those giant Kilbella and Wonnock River fish. Hey, isn't King Salmon Resort right in front of the mouths of those 2 rivers?
One factor that works in our favour coast-wide is that La Nina has cooled down the ocean to premium salmon fishing temperatures. That means bait balls on the surface and 40 pounders running shallow and I can't wait.
Shawn “Cookie” Pennell
Fishmaster, MV Charlotte Princess
Langara Island, Queen Charlotte Islands
New Couples Derby in Rivers Inlet
Northern BC Fishing Resorts - May 2, 2008
Whether it’s the comfortable private cabins or the hot tub overlooking the beach, couples seem to flock to our trophy fishing lodge in Rivers Inlet: King Salmon Resort. After years of seeing couples battling big Chinook side by side we realized something. King Salmon Resort needs a couples derby.
This July we’ll be holding our inaugural King Salmon Resort Couples Derby, challenging couples to work together to land the biggest trophy Chinook of the trip. So grab your mate, sharpen your hooks and get ready for a trip to trophy-fishing paradise.
The derby runs from July 17-20, 2008. To get the derby started off right, we’re pleased to offer special derby pricing of just $2,200 pp.
You can get all the details on the couples derby web page or call us at 1-800-663-7090 to find out more.
Tight Lines,
The King Salmon Resort Crew
Hali tips and a new fishing map
Northern BC Fishing Resorts - January 7, 2008Are you getting excited about your 2008 fishing trip? We’ve got just the thing to tide you over during these long winter months…
With the help of our Langara Island fishmasters we’ve just updated our Langara Island fishing map for Google Earth.
We’ve added salmon fishing routes and depths, hali hunting hot spots and tips for fishing ebbing and flooding tides all around Langara Island.
As a companion piece to the map, we’ve also posted a great new article on halibut fishing at Langara Island which details various locations and techniques to help you catch the fish of a lifetime.
You can download our interactive map here.
Tight lines!
Rivers Inlet Season Wrap-up
King Salmon Resort - September 7, 2007Well all, it’s Fishmaster T-rev here with the final report.
First off I would like to thank all the new and returning guests for making our season fun exciting and full of good times and great company. This being my first season at King Salmon I am personally in awe of Rivers Inlet, the resort and the guests this fantastic resort brings. I have worked at a few others and this one has my heart.
Our guests have given me some great memories of the season. Like Rick and Allen with their twin 51 pound Chinooks taken from McPhee Bay a day apart from one another but the same boat. And Chris Green and his stellar 56 pounder taken from the Slide—nice one and the biggest Chinook of the season!
Well, I could go on with all the beauties brought in this season but there are other memorable moments. Like the Christl family group. Oh my god what fun. You have got to be here when they are. And thanks for the hat to Arthur Hayes. And Jen, I still have my eyes on your wildlife for you (but I’m still not hugging the grizzlies for you!).
And then there was Sandra Smith from group 17. We were out fishing the entrance to Darby Chanel with her sister Shannon and Jake when all of a sudden, with so much excitement, Sandra yells “LOOK at the whale!” Yup, a beauty ROCK whale. Funny, I see that one every low tide!
I would also like to take my hat off to the staff of King Salmon for the stellar input into the success of the season, especially the cooks that are responsible for the 15 pound weight gain of your Fishmaster. Thanks guys.
Thank you all for another great season. This is boat #23 signing off till next year.
Bye for now and tight lines,
Fishmaster T-Rev
King Salmon Resort, Rivers Inlet
Peter Farrant, Masterfisherman
King Salmon Resort - September 4, 2007Hello from Rivers Inlet… T-rev here with another fish report.
Another great trip done has come to an end and another one is just beginning. We have another Masterfisherman on the catch board. Congratulations this time to Peter Farrant with a beauty 20 lb. Coho!
We’ve been seeing a few of those great northerns and Calvert Island has been the best producer of these phenomenal fighting fish. But we haven’t seen the run come full force so with any luck these rains will drive them our way. They seem to be coming in and good old mother nature says they have to. Personally I think its going to explode in a fury within a few days!
With that said we had a great day on the water with some top notch halibut, lingcod and the everlasting rockfish plus some Northern Coho coming in to the docks. All in all we are doing great here with the fish and don’t expect it to slow down anytime soon.
I hope to see you here to experience this awesome inlet soon!
Tight Lines,
Fishmaster T-Rev
King Salmon Resort, Rivers Inlet
Hog heaven at the head!
King Salmon Resort - August 27, 2007It was an astounding day at the head of Rivers Inlet today!
At dinner on Sunday night (August 26th) I announced that a new run of large fish had shown up and that we were going to be fishing the Slide, Marker 16 and McPhee Bay (all right near the resort). I was asked where I would fish tomorrow and said the I’d try the Slide.
It was a good choice. We were on the water not more than half an hour when all heck broke loose. I got the first one and five minutes later we were in hog heaven! Those big, sought after Rivers Inlet Chinook were biting and 11 boats were hooked up by noon.
A few fish were in the 30s, the rest in the 40s save for Mark Hall’s stellar 50 pounder! Congratulations to our Mark, our newest Masterfisherman! All told, 20 large fish hit the dock by lunch plus lots of Coho.
All in all it was a superb day of fishing. At dinner, everyone was all smiles. After such a great day we have all decided to give the big ones a break for a day and head to the Mouth for some halibut.
Take care till the next report.
Tight Lines,
Fishmaster T-Rev
King Salmon Resort, Rivers Inlet
Monster Coho at Calvert Island
King Salmon Resort - August 25, 2007T-rev here with your latest Rivers Inlet fish report…
The northern Coho are here. The numbers aren’t huge but Calvert Island and Stone Point in the inlet seem to be the producers of the good ol’ northern beauties.
Congratulations are in order for the stellar 22 pound northern Coho taken in the inlet here by Tim Fackler, our newest Masterfisherman. Nice one! We expect to see these nice Coho around well into September.
Calvert Island is also producing some nice halibut, rockfish and Ling cod and we usually get our limits out there.
And, of course, the main attraction: the BIG Chinook are still here should be till the first week of September. So hurry and come get your share and enjoy the scenic beauty and bountiful wildlife that Rivers Inlet has to offer!
Tight Lines,
Fishmaster T-Rev
King Salmon Resort, Rivers Inlet
Coho at the Wall
King Salmon Resort - August 23, 2007The mouth of Rivers Inlet has slowed down a bit for Chinook but the Coho are sure there.
On our latest Coho trip the Wall was on fire when fishing 16-22 pulls of the side rods and 5-8 off the back. The bite was on from 6am until noon.
We then set off for Safety Cove for a bit of halibut fishing and most guests caught their limits of hali plus lots of rockfish and Lings.
The waters up by the head of the inlet(and King Salmon Resort) are producing some nice, big fish Chinook as the brutes move towards the rivers. Which ones have your name on them?
Tight Lines,
Fishmaster T-Rev
King Salmon Resort, Rivers Inlet
Changing things up
King Salmon Resort - August 19, 2007Well it has been a couple of days but here I am with yet another fishing report from beautiful Rivers Inlet!
We’re changing up our mouth trips here with an awesome morning tour through Darby channel. Seeing the Humpback whales and dolphins playing and feeding it is phenomenal. Bring your camera! Then it’s across to Calvert Island for some Coho and halibut, fishing Safety cove then down to the south tip, usually with everyone leaving with their limit of halibut and rockfish, with the odd ling thrown in there for good measure.
Then it is back down the inlet fishing, ruffs bluff and the Drain before coming to the head again to fish for the elusive trophy. Changing up the usual routine is a favorite of mine so you have to stay tuned to find out where we have ventured next!
If you choose to fish the head of the inlet around the lodge, the biggest thing you have to remember is patience, patience, patience, stay in the area you are working not getting discouraged — these monsters are NOT feeding, so presentation of bait, troll speed and patience, patience, patience are key actors in landing your trophy!
Tight Lines,
Fishmaster T-Rev
King Salmon Resort, Rivers Inlet
Another 50 pounder
King Salmon Resort - August 15, 2007We took another mouth trip down Darby channel (which is amazing) and then across to Calvert Island for some halibut fishing. The weather has been hot and the waters calm and there were halis everywhere off the south end of Calvert Island.
Coho were kind of sparse but we seemed to find a few. The Coho seem to like a little faster troll.
Cyril Dodge is our newest Masterfisherman with his stellar 50 pound Chinook (King) salmon— congratulations, Cyril!
All this was topped off with another successful bar-b-que at the Rivers Inlet Outpost, cooked by me. So if you love the scenery and want to have a very fun filled day come on out to the Mouth with us enjoy the fishing, the food and the company. If you want the Big One, though, it's in the inlet up near the resort.
My best advice: try 16-22 pulls of the side and the good ol’ 5-8 pulls off the back.
Good luck!
Tight Lines,
Fishmaster T-Rev
King Salmon Resort, Rivers Inlet
