Fishing
Fishing
Written by Administrator
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 20:04
Fishing has a secret, and as with any good secret, someone has to let the cat out of the bag. Come to find out, the world’s most consistent salmon fishing may not be on the Kenai in Alaska. It may not even be in the US at all. Enter British Columbia, Canada. While you may only know Canada for its love of hockey and maple syrup, there may be another hidden gem waiting.
Where is British Columbia (BC), anyway?
Before you go fishing in BC, you might want to know where it is. While much of the Canadian population lives in the southeastern areas of Canada in places like Toronto or Ontario, British Columbia holds down the fort on the west coast. Vancouver, BC, where the 2010 Olympics will be held, is located north of Seattle by less than 150 miles, and Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is only a 3 hour ferry ride from the home of Starbucks and the Space Needle.
Located between Alaska and Washington, the same salmon runs that pass by these locations also pass through British Columbia, often giving the anglers fishing in BC the first chance to nab the best and brightest fish swimming by.
Is fishing in BC actually as good or better than Alaskan fishing?
Definitely. Maybe. As with any good question, the answer does require a little clarification.
If you are looking for salmon above 50 pounds, the Kenai Peninsula has BC fishing beat. The fifty to seventy pounders that occasionally show up in parts of Alaska are rare in British Columbia.
However, most fishermen are mainly interested in spending a day on the water keeping busy reeling in consistently large, feisty, flavorful salmon. For these anglers, fishing areas of BC may actually be better than Alaska. Why? BC has fishing locations that keep the fish on the line as often if not more often than most Alaskan areas.
While many of the same salmon runs pass through both British Columbia and Alaska, BC fishing pulls in more Chinook salmon from the saltwater than Alaska. Fishing the BC coast usually provides more of the highly prized, twenty to fifty pound Chinook than Alaskan saltwater does. When fishing rivers, where most Alaskan Chinook are caught, the fish have “turned dark” and are heading back up the river to die. This changes the consistency and flavor of the meat, and the Chinook are usually significantly weaker and not as feisty of fighters. Another benefit of saltwater fishing is the large expanse of space. When fishing the Kenai River, for example, there are hundreds of other boats around. On the ocean, though, there is less chance of being surrounded by other anglers.
So why go fishing in BC?
For many people, British Columbia is more easily accessible than Alaska. For example, residents from the northwestern states can drive to their fishing destination. Even for those that fly, though, the travel time to go fishing in BC is significantly less than to most Alaskan destinations. Flights are usually cheaper to BC than Alaska, as well, and require fewer connections on average.
For Americans, depending on the strength of the US dollar, fishing in BC can also come at a discount. At times, when the exchange rate is good, the price in US dollars is only two-thirds of the price is Canadian dollars. Effectively, that is similar to a large discount.
While fishing in BC is not as well known as fishing in other areas, it has some surprisingly strong draws. Anglers here have a great chance to pull in a lot of feisty and delicious salmon while spending less time and money than at many other destinations. Now that the secret is out, don’t be afraid to take a visit and see for yourself!
For more information, visit the fishing in BC website.
Fishing
Written by Administrator
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 19:52
They say ignorance is bliss, but if you want bliss on your next fishing trip, be sure to do your research. Some fishing lodges and fishing resorts have secrets – the kind of secrets that can make or break a customer’s experience. Here’s an inside look at some of questions to ask and things to be aware of.
Guided fishing trips can provide many anglers the best chance to keep the line tight and the coolers full, and many fishing lodges and fishing resorts do this. Unfortunately, many do not. Instead, some lodges are plagued by having a fixed location or substandard guides. In order to ensure the best possible fishing experience, potential customers should ask sufficient questions to find a guided-fishing experience that lives up to its claims.
Location, location, location. While location is not everything, when it comes to fishing it is definitely a big deal. When choosing where to go, investigate the catch quality of the prospective location. Many fishing lodges and fishing resorts have fixed locations, and to stay in business they aim to bring in as many customers as possible, whether or not the fishing is productive anymore. In some locations, fishing has declined drastically over the last decade or two, but fishing resorts still charge visitors thousands of dollars to fish mediocre areas.
Even some “floating lodges” have a similar problem. While they claim to move to the fish easily because they are built on a barge, large leasing space is difficult to come by in many areas. Because of this, some floating lodges occupy the same parking spot in the same harbor for many years, whether or not the fish are still biting there.
Finding quality, experienced guides can also be problematic for fishing resorts. In areas where fishing has declined and the bites are few and far between, the best guides have little motivation to stay. Instead, to keep staffed, these resorts pick up new guides or whoever will apply. The customer experience can decline significantly at lodges and resorts with high turnover rates and inexperienced guides. If an area has slow fishing and the guide has yet to master the art of when to wait for a bite or find a new location, there is a good chance that the cooler will stay close to empty.
Another possible guide-problem is substance abuse. While this issue is by no means exclusive to fishing lodges and resorts, it does seem to run rampant in the industry. Usually, if guides are hard to come by, troublemakers will be tolerated longer. Some guides wake up with hangovers on most mornings and still take out customers to fish.
Luckily, while some people’s lodge and resort experiences are impacted by these factors, there are still great options for guided fishing. By having awareness of these issues, potential customers can ask questions and read reviews that will help determine the quality of the lodge and guides.
Guided charters can offer an alternative to lodges as well. Some charter operations offer a lodge-like experience without being tied to a fixed location. Since charters can change their location to follow the productive fishing, they may have an easier time attracting qualified guides.
Whether fishing with a fishing lodge or a charter company, customers should do research and ask questions about the catch sizes and numbers throughout the season. Every location and lodge is different, as are customer expectations. Having an idea of potential issues helps possible customers ask educated questions to find the trip they want.
For further reading, visit www.salmoneye.net/fishing-resorts-lodges
Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 December 2009 19:58
Fishing
Written by Administrator
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 19:50
Despite low salmon numbers in many North American fishing areas, Canadian salmon fishing showed surprisingly good numbers and a strong finish to a healthy fishing season.
Due to poor spawning returns in 2008, many fishing areas in the northwestern United States launched the 2009 fishing season with low limits and strict regulations. Washington, for example, announced a late start to the season while Oregon and California closed salmon fishing in some areas altogether. Some fishermen wondered if great salmon fishing was a thing of the past. British Columbia, though, did not have to lower salmon limits and had a surprisingly strong season of King salmon fishing.
The fishing rebound in areas of British Columbia was aided by returns of larger Kings and high volumes of Silver salmon. Many visiting fishermen returned home with tubs of fish. Fishing charter owner Sam Vandervalk noted that in Ucluelet, where he owns and operates Salmon Eye Charters, there were so many Silvers that a fisherman could catch and release 200-300 fish a day.
The success of the 2009 fishing season helped keep lodge and charter owners from feeling the full effects of the recession. Vandervalk reported, “Like everyone else, I was concerned with how the economy would impact business this year, but the salmon fishing in Ucluelet was so good that we were 20% busier than last year. Despite the down-economy, good fishing kept us virtually one hundred percent full throughout the season.”
While Fisheries and Oceans Canada forecasted a better salmon fishing year than 2008, 2009 surpassed their predictions. Though for many this was unexpected, the areas of Canada that brought in these large Kings are known for consistently productive fishing. “We weren’t surprised by the good year. We have a lot of good years. In fact, an old fishing guide from Sitka, Alaska recommended that his friends come fish Ucluelet, Canada because of how consistent it is,” commented Vandervalk.
Forecasts for 2010 are calling for another year of good salmon returns, and many charters have already started booking for next season.
Fishing
Written by Administrator
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 19:48
New rules for reef fishing in the Gulf of Mexico are set to take effect soon. The purpose of the new rules is to try and increase the survival rate of reef fish that are caught and must be released when they are not legal to harvest. Several species of reef fish in the gulf, including red snapper and gag grouper are in need of protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision hope proper handling by anglers will boost stocks. Species of reef fish covered by the new rules include all snappers, groupers, sea bass, amberjacks, gray triggerfish, hogfish, red porgy and golden tilefish. Requirements cover any person harvesting these species of fish from a vessel in Gulf of Mexico waters to have on board and use a dehooking device and venting tool. Circle hooks (non stainless steel) must also be used when fishing with live baits. For more information and equipment definitions and details...... Read more...
Fishing
Written by Administrator
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 19:47
The California Fish and Game Commision voted unanimously to ban recreational fishing for salmon this year. The ban on salmon fishing includes all of the California coast extending 3 miles from shore in state waters. This vote is a move to protect and hopefully restore dwindling numbers of chinook salmon (also called king salmon) on the west coast. Last fall surveys found nearly record low numbers of chinook salmon making the journey to spawn in the Sacramento River and tributaries.
California's vote follows a decision last week by federal regulators to close most of Oregon coast and all of the California coast to commercial and sport fishing for salmon. Another meeting has been scheduled by the California Fish and Game Commision for May 9 to consider whether salmon fishing will be permitted in the states rivers this year.
The chinook spawning run to the Sacramento river is usually one of the most.....
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