Tofino to the Stamp River Lodge Paradise

Gotta tell ya about this one. I drove up with Nick Amato to the fishing port and resort village of Tofino B.C. on the west side of Vancouver Island. We met BB member Bruce Gray and his brother Steve on Sunday evening. We were guests of top Tofino guide Matt Guiguet (pronounced geegae). He came in with 6 Kings that afternoon, so we were really pumped for 2 days of fishing. Matt fishes offshore in a 23' Grady White Gulfstream. As fishing luck often has it, Monday produced a day long windy wet weather front that apparently scattered the fish &/or put the bite off. We only hooked 2 Kings, landing one. We also caught lings and rock cod to help the day. Tuesday brought a beautiful windless sunny day. Instead of fishing near the inner islands as the previous day, we ran out about 7 miles offshore and fished 25 fathoms, give or take. After a slow start we finally found the birds, baitfish, and the feeding salmon. Matt limited us out with a load of beautiful Kings. This early in the season didn't bring any real big ones - the fish went from the teens to low 20's. The bonus is that we caught 3 nice halibut. I got lucky and got the big 'butt - 43 lbs. Come to think of it, I had the 2 biggest butts and only one was a fish [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] . Just a great day in such a beautiful uncrowded area! ...

I am posting this now from Matt and his wife Marilyn's gorgeous large lodge right on the famous Stamp River. In the morning it's going to be banana pancakes and Stamp fish - unless the banana 'cakes put the hex on it. You fishers owe it to yourself to enjoy the various fishing opportunitites that the Island has to offer! ...

[First Bite]

Sounds great Steve...take lots of pics to bring back with you...don't get too spoiled up there.
Mark

Mark,

Bruce Gray, who will be writing an STS article about this trip for early next year, took these pics that he posted on the other board - http://www.greenwater.net/Tofino
and
Weigh West Resort

Some won't be postable because the crack of dawn got in the way. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

BTW, Nick had to skip the 2nd day because of his freshly broken right arm, in a wrist to upper arm cast that was just too uncomfortable. That's why he's not in the pics. ...

Oh ya, if you've never tried to stop a freight train run by a strong saltwater King with a Canadian centerpin reel - beware! We got knuckle busted bruises when instinctively reaching for the reel handles. Ooouch! And when they turn and race toward the boat it's tough to keep the slack out, or keep the fish apart on some double headers we had. I think some of the Kings we lost would have been landed with fast retrieve saltwater Penns; real reels. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Steve

[First Bite]

Steve
Beautiful looking fish and nice scenery too. Take care bud...see ya sson.
Mark

[smilesforu]

I'm Jealous...you suck :P
You give new meaning to the crack of dawn.

[Jennie@ifish]

Sounds fun, Steve!
Vaguely reminds me of a tv show I once followed.
First it was Fishing The Northwest" We'll take you to the Wilson river!!! and I was like, "YES"
Then it was fishing the Clackamas... And I was like, "COOL!"
Then I'd tune into Fishing The California strip for Tarpon... and I was like... ???
And then it was Fishing Brazil for big bass... and I switched the dial to Giligans Island.
[img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Kidding, RT... You go boy!
We got fish too, Steve... BIG ONES! Ask Bev and Dot!!!

Jen

Hey Bev and Dot, did you 3 get big ones?

[Captn]

I am glad to see some mention about Tofino. We went there 2 years ago in August to fly fish for Silvers with the Weigh West boys. We had the time of our lives, caught lots of fish and will go back as soon as I can reschedule it in. Shawn and his group are first class, the prices are great, and two or three guys per boat with the Fish Master within easy radio reach, this is a great fishing experience. Beautiful country and great people.

[Killertraylor]

I've fished in that area several times with Canadian Princess Charters. I still believe it's the best deal anywhere in the world for a guided fishing trip - you see the ad's all the time in the Oregonian. If you can drive to Vancouver, B.C. (5-6 hours from Portland) for $300 American you get a flight to and from Vancouver Island, (2) 7 hour guided Salmon fishing trips on the Ocean on a big 43 footer (I take my Halibut rod and big Herring that I bring from the states - two years ago my friend and I limited out the whole boat on Halibut)I rarely fish for the salmon - which they jig for with candlefish jigs, downrigger type rods and regular shimano levelwind reels. That price also includes your room for 2 nights - I recommend paying $20 extra per person and staying at the lodge on shore - queen beds for everyone, first class accommodations - beats the hell out of the little bunks on the ship. They clean all your fish and ice them and then you get them at the airport when you get back to Vancouver. For an extra $50 you can go out in the afternoon the first and second day you are there and fish for bottomfish or Halibut. You just pay for food while you are there and that's it! Glad to hear you got into some fish, RT. That's such a beautiful place - I always say that the plane ride over there is worth the $300!

[SAUKit2em]

Steve, please tell me that you are coming back with a pile of eggs. Please share, RT, please o' please!!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]