Quatsino Sound---any info?

[gthfish]

I know its a long ways away, but we're going to spend a week in early Aug this year at Winter Harbor fishinnng for Halibut, Salmon, etc. Was wondering if any one knows anything about Riveer Salmon, steelhead. etc that time of the year. I'd like to river fish a little on the way up or back(Spey-Fly-Levelwind or whatever it takes) Not looking for exact locations, just whatever general info you can part with--Thanks in advance

[Sharted]

The August before last, a friend of mine and his family took a vacation to Winter Harbor. We planned on staying a week only spent two days. The Locals really don't like Americans. We did not feel very safe. Would not recommend.

[Troller]

I would like to know also. I spent a week in port hardy last august and head back again this year.

[skein]

I fish Quatsino quite a bit, launching at Coal Harbor and making the run through the narrows and on out. Lots of coho in early August and you can keep 'em. Not so on the Port Hardy side of the island.

The thing to remember about Winter Harbor is that they are hard-core commercial fishermen, mostly trollers, and they don't see many tourists. They tend to categorize them much like ranchers on the east side of Oregon categorize all us flatlanders as "Portland Hunters." Courtesy and thoughtfulness go a long way.

Having said that, I must also say that some of my best friends are folks I have met up there and shared my boat and catch with. In fact, I have two beautiful trolling rods in my living room that I had made up for a couple of those friends, and will ship them off in the next couple of days. Most of the people I've met up there have been pretty darn nice.

The fishing isn't as good as it used to be, and my gut tells me it's because of the salmon farms. Our runs down here have been much better in the last two or three years than those up there, but it may just be our runs have had better ocean conditions. Trust me, I'm no bio, so I have no scientific basis for that statement about the fish farms.

Oh, one more thing. The road into Winter Harbor is loooooong and rough. Make sure your boat trailer is up to it.

Skein

[GutshotApe]

Originally posted by gthfish:
I'd like to river fish a little on the way up or back(Spey-Fly-Levelwind or whatever it takes) Not looking for exact locations, just whatever general info you can part with--Thanks in advance

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">The Nimpkish is the largest river on the north end of the Island, roughly same size as the Clackamas or McKenzie...I once saw a guy from Tacoma with his spey rod fishing at the BC Forest service camp area about 1/2 mile above tidewater, in mid-summer. Once I ran my 17' MidJet up into the lower river from saltwater and fished the first freshwater pool. In August all the rivers up there are low & clear but the Nimkish will still have a good flow. Hwy 19 parallels the upper river a few miles above the big lakes...looks fishable but we never tried that stretch.

[Silver One]

Gthfish, Summer last several friends and I spent a week at Winter Harbor. Fishing was good but as Skein says not any better than off our coast. Some of us are returning this summer to pick up where we left off. I liked Winter Harbor/Quatsino sound for a number of reasons. First, it receives very light pressure by our standards. Also, the sound is stunningly beautiful and if you wish or the weather dictates you can fish for nearly all species inside the sounds protected waters.

As far as the "Natives", I totally agree with Skein, they are cautious in the same way we are when we show up at our favorite fishing hole to find a stranger anchored in it. I can honestly say that every person I encountered responded well to courteous behavior.

If you are looking stictly for fishing opportunities/numbers you might want to look closer to home. If you hate "Combat fishing" like I do and like the opportunity to fish no matter the weather give it a try.

You can view examples of the fishing opportunities and facilities by doing a search of ifish archives of Winter Harbor / Quatsino sound.

[GutZ]

Go have a chat with these folks. They are a pretty good group of folks.

http://www.bcadventure.com/cgi-bin/b...opics&number=2