North Island Lodge Report: June 29, 2010

The Langara Island fishery remains strong with decent numbers of Chinook continuing to move through as we approach the end on June. Coho numbers were also better last trip with a 9lb sized average. There was lots of Chinook in the twenties and a total of 3 Tyee pins handed out over the weekend. We also heard rumors of a 57lber taken at Boulder Bay from a neighboring lodge.

The calm seas allowed for a few guests to go out to the Westside in chase of halibut and they’re getting into some serious fish. Over the past week, several halibut from 40-205lbs have been taken out there, the largest being 205lbs by Shannon Starr. We also had Michael Simon battle a 60lb hali on the salmon gear fishing Bruin Bay in 50ft of water.

I had a quick fish myself with the lodge staff on the weekend. Our first pass off “The Detroit Iron” I saw the downrigger rod set at 42ft thump once with a Chinook bite. Not alerting the girls I snuck over to the rod, waited for the a third heavy pull down and selfishly set the hook on a solid fish. You know, I need to have some fun too. A couple of head shakes and a quick handoff and it was on. Two big cartwheels and some peeling runs had us pretty excited, well at least me. Staffer Lindsay Davis readied the net and scooped the fish perfectly head first as it succumbed to the hard battle, I wasn’t sure about her popcorn shuffle after the fish was in the net though! A couple of quick Chinook in the teens topped off the afternoon and the wet weather certainly didn’t dampen our spirits with fishing like this.

Although not her first salmon, Haida Gwaii born staffer Krystal Husband handled her first Langara Tyee like a pro. This fish was quickly measured and released with a calculated weight of 36.4lbs. Welcome to Langara!

This morning guests saw decent bites off Mcphearson Pt, Andrew’s Pt and a little further east at “The Cabbage Patch”, helping to spread out the crowd. Weather today is beautiful, slightly overcast with variable winds 5-15knt forecast for the next two days! This should make for some great fishing the next couple of days.

I’ll let you know how it turns out. Good night from North Island.

Todd McIntyre