The Clubhouse Report: July 28, 2011

A second wave of large Chinook are now transiting Langara Island and excitement is picking up with anglers and guides alike. Fish over 60 lbs were taken in the area this am, and a 51 lber was released here at the Clubhouse.

Imported guide Whitey had Jeffery Kyle out at noon, right off the helijet, into his boat and the third line in the water, the rod buckled. Twelve pulls on a weighted mooching rod, knowing Wade a banana weight. Forty-five minutes later a 44.5 inch fish, 30 girth was in the net bag, all I could hear was the old school Whitey clapping. Fantastic photos of the release were snapped by Jason Wilson and Wades guests. The fish was taken in the hole off Gunia, where several monsters were hit today, including a 61 at North Island, and a 64 at a neighboring lodge.

No living with Wade now. This is only day one of his three day guiding stint. I will keep you posted on his stats for the weekend. Long time guests will remember Wade fishing for many years in the nineties here at the Clubhouse. His pink guiding sweater, multi rainbow zinc oxide on his face, and oh ya, his passion for Chinook fishing. Wade was and is obsessed with this fishery since he learned to walk, in his day they fished with peetz wooden reels and wire line with two pounds of weight clipped on the mainline. Some used pink lady planer boards, we have come along way.

The Chinook numbers have thinned a bit but the size has picked up. Time to double check your leaders and hooks, do you now need to change your mainline? These are huge powerful monsters and no angler wants to blow it. These next couple weeks are looking like the golden weeks for Hippas, fish with big black heads and yellow dots! Just had word three other tyee were taken this afternoon, so this is looking good for the am fishery. I better go tie a couple hooks, full my thermos, and thaw some bait....a sixty will be in the boat tomorrow for sure!

Mike Tonnesen, Head Guide, Screamer