Ebb & Flow Week 13 | August 23, 2018

"Lots of Action Yet to Come"

By Deepwater DonThe sun may be setting on the 2018 season friends but there is still a lot going on up at Langara Island. In addition to a good number of 20-plus-pound chinook salmon hitting the docks, the tyee count continues to increase, along with plenty of feisty coho that remain abundant and are beginning to crowd the 20-pound barrier.

Thanks to North Island Lodge guest Tyler Brown for the photo! For the most part, the larger chinook have been found in shallow water along the Boulder-Gunia shoreline, although a surprising number have also been caught off ever-faithful Cohoe Point, including a 31 for long-time guest John Throne, who was fishing with wunderkid guide Owen Drysdale. The highway between Langara Rocks and McPherson Point has also been productive on the tide changes. The coho appear to be most numerous on the deeper water offshore from Pillar Bay and Seath Point as well as other places on the east side. Lots of halibut in the 30-40 pound range are still being caught too.

John Throne and Brian Nixon with a 28 and 31, guided by Owen Drysdale.

Jillian Hirasawa, her husband Jeff Doran and dad, Goro Hirasawa with some very nice take-home fish.

A stunning shot of a pair of humpback whales captured by long-time guest Chris Spafford.

An extremely thrilling sight - humpback whales bubble feeding, Langara Island. Photo by Chris Spafford.A pair of North Island Lodge guests are among those who picked up tyee-sized chinook salmon of late. That would be Dean Zucht with a 34 and Kevin Cmolik with an even 30.The North Island congregation includes a great number of long-time annual guests. This past week the staff welcomed the return of Eugene Andres and Bruce Heroux who checked in for seven glorious days and nights with back-to-back self-guided trips. Dan and Issy Lipetz also made their annual August foray to Beale Cove, as did the boys from the Golden family (Robert, Adam, Jeremy, Joel, Manny and Neil) as well as Jeffrey and Jordan Sanders. Not only did they make some memories, but they were among the only people in the province to escape the smoke that has infested the atmosphere due to wildfires in almost every region of BC. For the most part, guests at both Langara Island and The Outpost, which now moves into shut-down mode for the season, have enjoyed beautiful weather under sunny skies, with occasional winds but mostly lazy calm seas.

Issy Lipetz with a very nice 24 lb chinook, guided by Macgregor Johnston.

Jordan Sanders, guide Bryce with a 33 lb tyee. Thanks Jordan and Bryce for making a strong effort to release this fish. Unfortunately it was not releasable. So what’s left for 2018? Well, for one thing, live music is one of the features for the final trips of this 30^th anniversary season at The Clubhouse, beginning with Canadian Country Music Association multiple award-winner, Dallas Smith, who is the musical guest for this year’s 13^th annual Fishing for Kids Tournament, which kicks off on Sunday August 26^th. Benefitting the Canucks Autism Network, last year’s tournament raised $800,000 for families living with autism throughout British Columbia. I am looking forward to taking in the kick-off reception this Saturday night at the Pacific Gateway Hotel, where Dallas Smith will perform for participants, sponsors and representatives of the Vancouver Canucks. Our thanks go out in advance to all who are taking part and supporting this year’s tournament, which is without question Canada’s most prestigious and benevolent sport-fishing tournament.

The 2017 Fishing For Kids Tournament - participants, sponsors, Canucks team members, coaching staff and FFK support staff.I’m also looking forward to making a little music myself by playing drums alongside Juno Award winner Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, who is simply one of the finest boogie-woogie and blues piano players and singers in the world today. Kenny is both a talent and a gentleman and I am proud and excited to bring him to The Clubhouse for four nights September 2-6. We will follow the four-night performance of Grammy nominee Ian Cameron and former Cirque du Soleil lead singer Chad Oliver, together known far and wide as Ruckus Deluxe, who will do their high-energy crowd-pleasing thing August 29 to September 2. Marc Lafrance and Mick Dalla-Vee, both members of the Randy Bachman band, will follow us September 6-9 and then the season closes out with the End of Season Party that features The Club’s all-star house band, The Dock Rockers, who will perform nightly September 9-12. Read more about the musical talents here.

The Dock Rockers will return to The Clubhouse for our annual End of Season Party. Last thing friends, I wish to thank Stephanie Hansen and Chris Dale for filling in for me last week and doing a superb job of relaying their experiences at the altogether incredible Coastal Culinary Adventure, which Steph took in at The Clubhouse, and the fine fishing and frivolity that unfolds every week at The Outpost, which Chris and a group of family and friends took over exclusively to make some lifelong memories. Big shout-out as well to The Clubhouse head guide Mike Tonnesen (AKA Screamer) for continuing to file his informative and entertaining reports and photos all season long.

Another beautiful sunset at The Outpost. Just three weeks to go in the 2018 season, but it’s going to be fantastic - every last minute.Tight Lines!