Ebb & Flow Report Week 10 ~ July 27, 2017

By Deepwater DonHere is an encouraging stat to kick things off. A total of seven Tyees were caught this last trip at The Clubhouse, suggesting that we are seeing more and more larger fish as the summer rolls along. Not only that but a new record was set last week for the largest Chinook of the year for The Club, and that was a 47 for Danny Langlois, beating the season record by a wide margin of five pounds.

Danny Langlois and his 47 lb Tyee!

A successful day on the water for Ken McMahon who graciously released this 44 lb Tyee back into the ocean.But what is also good news is that more and more guests are opting to release Tyees as a means of helping to preserve the upper end of the gene pool. By way of example, of the seven aforementioned Tyees, four were released.That said, I confess that I kept the one and only Tyee I have ever caught, one that barely made the 30-pound line of demarcation. And the 33 my good wife caught back in 2013? Yup, we kept it, thinking that it was a 30 or 31 at best. So for me to chastise anyone for keeping a borderline fish would be hypocritical in the extreme. But since that time, I’ve repented and reformed. Having seen all too many fish still in our deep freeze many months after the season has ended, I’ve decided that a few scrawny teenagers will be ample in meeting the fish protein requirements of our happy home, especially when my wife is along and out-fishing me in the way she often does.

Alexander Schultz with the day's catch.Just one more note on the general subject of conservation friends. The West Coast Fishing Club is again running its annual 50-50 contest, with all the net proceeds going to an initiative called Friends of the Yakoun River Society. The Yakoun is the only river in Haida Gwaii to which Chinook Salmon return to spawn and it is urgently in need of habitat restoration, largely owing to less-than-ideal logging practises over the years. A hatchery located near the mouth of the river is also in need of capital investment and operating funds to enhance and maintain capacity, hence it too is a focal point for the society. So when the lodge managers mention the 50-50 draw, let’s all please show our support by purchasing tickets, especially given that The Club has generously committed to matching net proceeds of the draw. After all, who among us doesn’t want to ensure that our children and grand-children have the same rare privileges as do we in the years ahead? If you would like to help, please let contact The West Coast Fishing Club office and they’d be happy to let you know how you, or your company can help!And now, about that group of seven. The top Chinook of the week was a 36.5 and it was the result of the skill and good fortune of Julia Pitcher, closely followed by a 36 for Darryl Hein and a 34 for Bob Fisher-Fleming. The other members of the Tyee Club on this most recent trip are Nick Roudebush with a 32 followed by Jere Roudebush, Patrick Moriarty and Mark Zivot, all with even 30-pound fish. Way to keep those lines tight folks.

A gorgeous 36 lb released Tyee by Darryl Hein & guide Jared Gagen.

Guide Owen Drysdale and guest Nick Roudebush with a beautiful, released 32 lb Tyee!

Owen Drysdale and Nick Roudebush releasing Nick's Tyee back into the ocean.Over at North Island lodge our guests joined in on the success of finding Tyees. Self-guided guest Chester Allen managed a 32 lb Tyee at Lacy Island while Michael Schaefer and longtime guide DJ Shinduke got a 38 lb’er. In other North Island Lodge news and a fishing tale for the record books, Michel Salotti took a time-out last week while working the waters of Lepas Bay with guide Jason Wilson and asked for his fishing partner’s hand in marriage. Isabelle Tremblay reportedly was ecstatic and happily said yes. Jason must have been in on the plan from the get-go, because he captured the whole thing on video. Now that is a great story! Congratulations to Michael and Isabelle from all of us. Say you two, what do you think of the lighthouse near Langara rocks for the ceremony? Just an idea…

Chester Allen and his 32 lb Tyee!

The lighthouse on Langara Island.No word from The Outpost this week, which I am pleased about because it means that I can justify going up there in just 11 more sleeps to see what’s going on for myself. Even so, our man Jordan Knight will most assuredly come through in due course with his trademark artful prose and photography, for which he is increasingly well known and admired. I noticed he keeps a 12-string Taylor guitar up The Outpost as well, and I am looking forward to hearing him play it one of these days. Jordo is truly a renaissance man it would appear (he’s a top chef too), so keep any eye out for his next dispatch from Port Louis, coming soon to a computer or mobile device near you.

The Outpost in rugged, secluded Port Louis.That’s it for week 10 of 2017 friends. Until next we speak, you know the rules - stay safe and well and keep a tight line!If you would like to learn more or make a donation to the Friends Of The Yakoun River Society please contact Client Services at:1-888-432-6666 or info@westcoastfishingclub.comPhoto Credit: Sunset photo by Matikka Noey.