Vancouver Island Port McNiel

Sandybar · 05-08-2007, 04:57 AM

I'm going to Alderbay Resort July 28th through August 7th. Anyone else going to be in the area (Port McNeil, Telegraph Cove) during this time. I would like to hook up with a fellow Dog for a late afternoon BBQ or just shooting the breeze after a long day of fishing.

Anyone?

richmake · 05-08-2007, 05:01 AM

I am gonna be in Hardy ...not to far away all summer...might be able to hook up if I've got a chance.....fairly booked up at that time of year and spare time is minimal at best.
Good luck up there!

Pilar · 05-08-2007, 09:17 AM

Sandy Bar ... I'm considering a trip there at about the same time. After I study the seasons I'll have a date. That first week of August has all five salmon seasons open at once. Coho soon to close and Sockeye just opened.

Most likely I'll be doing a back country boat camp out. But you never know .. maybe I'll see you there.

No Bail · 05-08-2007, 10:14 AM

I'll be up at Port Hardy Aug 11th - 18th. If you have DSC we can trade MMSI's.

Sandybar · 05-08-2007, 11:30 AM

Pilar,

You are right about the seasons, The end of Coho and the begining of sockeye. This is why I overlapp into August with a little Halibut on the side.

Ichthyoid,

I do have a DSC but I do not know how to operate it. I need some lesson on setting it up.

lurking_out_loud · 05-08-2007, 12:05 PM

We will be in Port Hardy the July 9th-13th and would be glad to share our results with you guys heading up later in the year. I've never been up there so any pre-trip info equipment/hot spots etc. would be greatly appreciated.

-LOL

Jedcraft · 05-08-2007, 12:09 PM

Are you guys taking your own boat/gear or chartering?

Sandybar · 05-08-2007, 12:57 PM

My own boat and camper and morring the boat at Alderbay resort.

Pilar · 05-08-2007, 01:00 PM

I'm taking 'Kismet' on her 3rd Port Mc Nowhere trip. This time I'll back country camp. We found several ideal places to drop the hook on the last adventure.

Drive and ferry and drive some more to the spot. Launch and leave the world behind. This place is stunning. Words can do it no credible description.

lurking_out_loud · 05-08-2007, 03:00 PM

We're hauling my boat up there and have rented a floating home for the week.

-LOL

skein · 05-08-2007, 03:49 PM

We went up there soooo many years that my license plate is CLXEWE, named after the Cluxewe River just out of McNeil.

We don't go much any more, but some of our best memories are of Broughton Strait, Blackfish Sound, and Johnstone Strait. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Skein

fishwhenican · 05-08-2007, 05:04 PM

We will be up there August 5th to the 10th out of Telegraph Cove. Doesn't look like much time, you will be close to packing up, while we are unpacking.
What channel do you run on the VHF while you are up there? A fishing report wouldn't hurt.

richmake · 05-09-2007, 08:43 AM

the early reports out of hardy tell me there will be lot's of fish there this summer.
My first charter starts in mid june and I'll post a report throughout the summer.
I'm on the rogue rod pro staff this year so I'll be hammering those rods all summer.....good test on some of those monster halibut and springs up there.......can't wait!!!!!!!
stay tuned!

chad

stick flicker · 05-09-2007, 05:21 PM

You guys are really missing out the best fishing imho is out of Port Alice!! 2 hr. run up the chuck from the dock but once on the outside of Quatsino Sound you are in fishing heaven. Camp on shore, or ancor up in one of the many natural bays. I fished Telegraph Cove and Port Mcneil, and was disapointed in the fishing for salmon, rockfish and halibut.

fishwhenican · 05-09-2007, 06:20 PM

Stickflicker, I would have liked to fish the outside of Quatsino, but the wife is going along, she gets

. Since she is not going to Baja with me this year (again) I figured Telegraph cove was better than nothing, and much better than me not getting to go to Mexico for two weeks :grin:

tomictime · 05-09-2007, 06:53 PM

I will be "over the hill" to the West..but there is some great fishing where you will be and MUCH flatter water

There are enuf guys here that fish that area to give some good pointers, I would suggest a search going back a year or two..there have been posts about malcolm, backside, Stubbs, hole in the wall, etc...

Hoghunter · 05-09-2007, 07:01 PM

TT, you got it "over the hill and to the west" is where the big nookies will be. My that has a nice ring to it.

The inside is beautiful and calm. There's tons of places to explore, camp and fish. And as Pilar said you can leave the world behind and find many places to drop the hook where you won't see many other's.

For fishing though you will never find the numbers inside nor the quality that you do outside.

richmake · 05-10-2007, 05:14 AM

Well boys...here's the deal.
The outside is really quite good...Quatsino,Nootka,Tahsis etc but over the years I've found more fish out of Hardy for sure. I grew up there and knowing where and when to fish is a huge part of it.
I trailer the boat across to Quatsino every now and again and also try to get to Nootka every so often but the crowds get worse every year.
I have'nt really found any other place I'd rather be in July/August than Hardy....fantastic fishing and great little community.
We still have the odd all-inclusive packages available and some single day charters as well...we can customize a trip for you as well.
Hardy Rocks!!!!!

tomictime · 05-10-2007, 03:55 PM

richmake: The whole Island "rocks"...but I have fished Hardy, more than just casualy..and I do not share your view. I would strongly agree that the area you know and grew up in always has an advantage...Guess I just grew up somewhere different

BTW, You still interested in those Longstones?

High_Fives · 07-12-2008, 03:20 PM

Any '08 reports? Staying at Alder Bay Resort week of July 20-25.

Thanks ^5's

tomictime · 07-13-2008, 09:30 AM

a few posts on other boards about this area, esp the BC boards. Hardy has been pretty good. lots of pinks down telegraph cove way....

Sitkaspruce · 07-14-2008, 09:51 AM

Port McNeill....seriously....the fishing right now is crazy slow. Fished 9 hours on Saturday, not a strike. The creel survey girl stated that she had checked in 2 springs, 1 coho and 1 hali for 87 fishers.

Fished Port Hardy and McNeill on Sunday, caught on 25 lbs spring for 8 hours fishing. No pinks, no coho and no salmon.

It has to turn on. Just a matter of when. Locals here say it is the slowest they can remember.

Send me an email and I can update you if and when things change.

SS

pearl · 07-14-2008, 09:32 PM

Just got back from 4 days out of Walters Cove on the west side of the island.
Fish were there but wind hampered the effort after 10:00 AM each day. We found migrating schools of chinook at the 119 line on the ridge. Fish were running at 180 ft and a "Jimmy Hendrix" was the go to set up. Fish ran between 18 and 26 lbs though there were a few Tyee's caught, the largest over 50lb.
Halibut was decent. Released a couple of brooders over 75lb and kept a couple in the 40 - 50 lb range.
Broke in a new Islander- cool reel eh?

Did run into some buddies that were at Milbank and they reported very slow catches last week. Seems to be good here and slow there all up and down the coast.

High_Fives · 07-15-2008, 05:26 AM

Thanks for your reports my friends. This will be my first trip to BC and I will be happy to bring on the start of the upswing. I will be with a friend in his boat.. so don't have much say in where we will fish.. I hear it is beautiful, and I will be happy to take in the wonders. If I get a fish or 2 so be it.

^5's

skein · 07-15-2008, 08:52 AM

It's beyond beautiful. You've got the right idea -- just soak it in and enjoy!

You're gonna wanna go back.

Skein

tomictime · 07-15-2008, 07:27 PM

islander or a fifty wide, only two reels needed as I see it..

cool, thx for report, back up there soon.....

I got a 34 week b4 last.. at 25' with army truck/chovie setup..

Quote:

Originally Posted by pearl

Just got back from 4 days out of Walters Cove on the west side of the island.
Fish were there but wind hampered the effort after 10:00 AM each day. We found migrating schools of chinook at the 119 line on the ridge. Fish were running at 180 ft and a "Jimmy Hendrix" was the go to set up. Fish ran between 18 and 26 lbs though there were a few Tyee's caught, the largest over 50lb.
Halibut was decent. Released a couple of brooders over 75lb and kept a couple in the 40 - 50 lb range.
Broke in a new Islander- cool reel eh?

Did run into some buddies that were at Milbank and they reported very slow catches last week. Seems to be good here and slow there all up and down the coast.

OuterLimits · 07-15-2008, 08:19 PM

TT and Paddler got it right!

Islanders and fifty wides, only reels needed!

BIGALSURF · 07-16-2008, 09:16 AM

We're heading up there August 14, our first day fishing is Aug 15 with charter, then using my boat for two days. Anyone with water experience up there, can you tell me, do I need to bring my big boat? 2509 Trophy, which I use out of Astoria, or will my 18 ft. Bluewater Eagle fish/ski boat suffice? My concern is that it looks like a lake, but I don't have much capacity for taking waves over the bow in the little boat, i.e. it relies on an electric bilge that has to be manually turned on.

But, I sure would like to take the smaller boat if conditions tend to be flat and not choppy most of the time because towing the big boat is not fun and also, costs jump on the ferry.

Any advice from previous travellers/salt fishermen to Port Hardy would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance. BA

skein · 07-16-2008, 09:40 AM

My experience is that mostly it's calm, with a couple exceptions. One, when the winds reverse in the afternoon, and blow back toward the west, it can get surprisingly choppy out there. And two, there are a LOT of currents generated by the tide flows, and they can create rips that can get you in trouble; i.e. short, deep waves -- almost like the standing waves in a river.

Both are fairly easy to stay out of if you learn the 'schedules' they seem to run on, but do be aware and take them seriously.

Also, many of the old-timers will tell you about pending conditions, etc. The ones I knew seemed to have an uncanny sense of what was coming. I learned to listen.

PS. It will probably be foggy while you're there -- heavy fog with Cruise ships plying the waters. GPS is almost a necessity, and radar is worth its weight in gold.

Skein -- who would opt for the bigger boat (but that's just me)

BIGALSURF · 07-16-2008, 12:14 PM

Thanks, didn't think about fog. That says big boat as the little one is definitely radar free. I just need a medium sized boat that is set up to fish medium water! Ha! I'm already accused of owning far too many toys.

One other question then, is there any place I could or should launch my boat from in US or canada and drive the boat over, or is it just more sensible to take it on the ferry and tow it all the way to Port Hardy? I've heard the last bit of road from Campbell R to Port Hardy is an adventure without a heavy boat and camper.

Thanks!

tomictime · 07-16-2008, 04:37 PM

ditto, take the bigger boat

tomictime · 07-16-2008, 04:39 PM

the road is fine, some steep short stuff that will tax truck and brakes a bit. have a spare tire and bearings and tools nedded to fix it. not much between C river and Port mcN..just woss and sayward...

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGALSURF

Thanks, didn't think about fog. That says big boat as the little one is definitely radar free. I just need a medium sized boat that is set up to fish medium water! Ha! I'm already accused of owning far too many toys.

One other question then, is there any place I could or should launch my boat from in US or canada and drive the boat over, or is it just more sensible to take it on the ferry and tow it all the way to Port Hardy? I've heard the last bit of road from Campbell R to Port Hardy is an adventure without a heavy boat and camper.

Thanks!

eagle1 · 07-16-2008, 09:13 PM

We are doing a run to port hardy and then over to rivers inlet on aug. 8 for about a week.Bring the big boat.The road above cr to port hardy is like most roads in clackamas county oregon, somewhat rough.

Eagle1

Sitkaspruce · 07-17-2008, 08:13 AM

BIGALSURF

Bring the big boat, that way you can get out and explore the area. Some great fishing close to home, but it you want, you can run to the mainland if needed. You can usually count on calm mornings and rough afternoons with good, thick fog in the morning, after all they do not call it Fogust for nothing

.

The road to here is in great shape, just take your time and enjoy the scenery. Give yourself about 3 hours from Campbell River. There is lots of Rest Stops along the way as well.

Give me shout when you get up, or just before and I can give you an update on what is happening.

Went out yeaterday and caught 4 hali's up to 97 lbs, a big yellow eye, and nice ling and a some rock fish, also lost two springs, including one who bent my hook

.

Fishing is still slow, but we are all hoping it picks up.

Cheers

SS