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SEASONAL VARIATIONS
| The art of salmon fishing most
certainly changes with the seasons. The biggest part of this is
with the different species available, which has been covered on
the Salmon Species page, but I will give a few tidbits here on
what changes with the seasons.
The good news is that saltwater
salmon fishing truly is an all year activity. I have caught fish
in every month of the year. |
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ANNUAL CYCLE
The annual cycle of salmon repeats itself year after year. Let us look
at the fishery from a calendar perspective. Since most of my experience
is around the southern end of Vancouver Island, I will talk about what
to expect there. Depending on where you are fishing, these times will
vary somewhat, but not to a large amount.
January - April
January is the height of the Winter Chinook season. These fish are
wintering over in coastal waters before heading out to sea. They are
found deep and best on the tide changes. Winter Chinook are prominent
around this area until April, when they begin to move away.
April - May
April sees the tail end of the Winter Chinook fishery and May sees the
first 'Columbians'. These are football shaped Chinook that are returning
to spawn. I have read several reports that indicate they are in fact
Fraser River fish, not Columbia River fish. I have also had the odd
early Coho, or Blueback, in this time period. But fishing efforts should
be on late Winter Springs or early Summer Springs. However this is the
slowest time of year for salmon fishing.
May - June
Once May turns to June waves of returning Chinook will be passing by.
Some days are good some are not. These fish seem to come and go. Early
season Chinook are merely passing by and do not lurk around for long.
The old rule applies though, "if yesterday was a slow day the odds are
good today will be good!" Early Coho and Pink salmon begin to appear as
well. The Alberni Sockeye fishery also gets underway around mid June.
June - September
This is prime Chinook season and gives you the best chance at catching a
big one. Pinks (in odd years) and Cohos will be available offshore as
well. Sockeye will be passing through to the Fraser. It is not uncommon
to have 4 species of salmon in the boat in one trip during the summer.
Even into early September big Chinook will be passing through en route
to spawn. Later in the summer is time to fish tight to the shoreline for
the large Chinook that are hugging it. September sees the Coho fishery
pick up, and peak around mid-late September depending on the year and
run. Pinks will have moved into the rivers by late August and catching a
Sockeye past early August is rare.
September - November
September into October is Coho season, my personal favourite fishery of
all. There are not many places I would rather be than off Port Renfrew
in mid September fishing for the largest Coho on the island bound for
the San Juan River. October marks the start of the Chum fishery as well
in some places. Seymour Narrows and north has a fantastic Chum fishery
starting in early October. Once October turns to November the Cohos will
be in the rivers to spawn, and the Chums will be entering the rivers
around the same time. The Chums are the last species to move through
coastal waters to spawn. November is also the beginning of the Winter
Chinook fishery. As early as the second week of November I have had
limits of Winter Springs off Sooke.
November - January
Once November passes fishing efforts are solely on Winter Springs, which
keep eating and will be on average 4-6lbs in November, growing
throughout the winter and catching 10-15lb fish is not uncommon through
the winter months. The largest Winter Chinook I have had was just over
20lbs out of Whirl Bay in February.
WATER
CLARITY
| When you are fishing
in the summer time, the water clarity may be good or it may be poor.
Some places have a river that discharges murky glacial silt, such as
the Fraser or Squamish, that will cause water clarity to be poor.
However even on good days, the water clarity is never as good in the
summer as it is in winter. The sunny summer days cause algae and
plankton to bloom and grow, and will require you to have a flasher
that will attract fish through this. As the fall comes and into
winter however, the water is much clearer and you will want to keep
your flashers dark and less reflective. Leader lengths will also
want to be slightly longer in clear water conditions. |
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Sometimes the water is so clear you do
not even need a flasher at all. I know of people that fish without a
flasher and simply use a spoon or anchovy on it's own during the winter
months. I always fish with a flasher but in the winter often times I
will run the flasher off the downrigger cable, and the line on the
release clip, 6' away. This way when a fish hits I do not have the
flasher on the line.
CLOSE TO
SPAWNING
As summer draws to a close and the salmon near their rivers, they become
focused on spawning. Fishing in the saltwater near a river can often
times be quite frustrating as salmon tend to develop a lockjaw syndrome.
Now this is not always the case. I know off the Fraser River can be
quite good for example. However off the Squamish, Goldstream and others,
salmon can be seen jumping, but will not take a lure. Pinks and Chums
seem to do this especially from my experience. Fishing for Chum near
their native river, in my experience, is hopeless. I remember fishing
off Furry Creek years ago for Pinks. They were jumping everywhere, but
we had no luck. On the flipside, fishing off the San Juan River in 20'
of water can produce large Coho. Each river is different. However it is
something to keep in mind. Sometimes you may just be taking your boat
for a ride.
Salmon also start to colour up when
they enter the rivers. As soon as this happens their meat starts to
degrade. Off the Sooke River, Chinooks that mill around there at it's
mouth seem to start darkening up. Should you get one of these fish, with
colours changing, may I recommend you get it smoked.
DRESS OF
THE DAY
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Fishing on the ocean
for salmon can be one of the most diverse environments in which to
be in. Summer days can feel frigid in the fog and should it lift,
warm up 30 degrees. The key here is to dress in layers. Most days
fishing I vary my layering depending on the wind and sky cover, or
precipitation. Ensure you have a rain jacket that will keep you dry,
and break the wind. Also make sure you have sunscreen, sunglasses, a
hat or even toque, no matter what the conditions. Weather off the
coast of BC can change so very quickly.
Winter fishing is a chilly ordeal. Although it may be 6 degrees out,
with a wind off the open Pacific and a light drizzle you could be
chilled to the bone in no time. Do not underestimate the elements. I
suggest purchasing a dry bag in which to keep all your spare
clothes. I use gloves as well. Keeping your hands on the steering
wheel or in the water will cool them down in no time. In the summer,
sunburns are also a risk. You will not feel yourself getting burnt
due to the cold breeze until you return to shore. It is twice as
worse on the water as the ocean reflects UV rays towards you as well
as the sun. |
It is always better to have to take
layers off than to not have layers available. Too many people
underestimate how cold it is out on the ocean.
REGULATIONS
Regulations are often seasonal as well. There are slot limits in some
areas (i.e only 1 fish between 45-73cm), and openings and closures.
Never assume that the rules stay consistent year round. Check before you
go out. Sockeye can be opened and closed at the blink of an eye.
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