Ebb & Flow Week 13 ~ August 17, 2017

By Deepwater DonLast week at The Outpost there was the clearest evidence to date that the big-fish season is well under way friends. Consider these stats: As of mid-way through the final full day of the trip, the fish board revealed that of the 68 Chinook Salmon recorded (remember, this is among just 14 guests), only 15 were under 20 pounds. The other 53 - almost 80 per cent - were 20 pounds and over, including four Tyees, with the top fish being a pair of identical 33s for Colin Schaap (guided by Hanes) and Mark Kyrilov (guided by Sean). Meanwhile, from the other bow chair, Mark’s fishing partner, Kevin McKibbin, picked up a 30, and some guy with the initials DWD also grabbed a 30 under the watch of just-turned-18-years-old Jonah. Thanks Jonah! Clearwater Kim and I had a blast thanks to your born-expertise and good humour.

Stunning weather in Port Louis. Thanks to Outpost guest Paul Schaap for the photo!

Outpost guest Mark Kyrilov with a nice 33 lb Tyee!

Deepwater Don & Kim Gordon with a 20 somethin' take home fish.Further to this math exercise, of the aforementioned plus-20s, the average weight was 27.1 pounds. It is perhaps also statistically significant to report that Kim and I did not catch a single Chinook Salmon under 20 pounds. Oh, one more thing, this does not include dozens of unrecorded fish that were caught and released. So suffice it to say that this was an action-packed trip for our gang, and rather convenient too seeing that the vast majority of Salmon, as reported last week by former Outpost guide, Chris Dale, were caught within the bays very close to the lodge. Meanwhile just a short distance off shore there was big fun and plenty of yield on the Halibut grounds. In a matter of pure luck over skill, I optimized my own Hali agenda with a fish of precisely 133 centimetres and another of 83, the absolute maximum in both the “over” and “under” category. (Thanks again to Jonah, without whom I might still be out there on my own, searching for turkeys.)

A pod of Orcas spotted by Outpost guests. Photo by Paul Schaap.
Now about that Tuna adventure I referred to a couple of weeks back. It did not materialize friends, but not due to a lack of effort on the part of our intrepid guide crew, who did all they could to find the gnarly beasts on a calm day offshore. The timing, we concluded, was still just a bit too early, as the warm plus-63-degree water where they frequent at this time of year was not to be found. Undaunted, everyone was happy to call it a day by noonish and head back to Danger Bay to resume hunting big-shouldered Chinooks.Those who stayed behind that morning, namely Sheila and Geoffrey Gross and Chris’s altogether likeable father John Dale, had their hands full, catching and releasing fish after fish after…well, you get the picture. On that note, congratulations to dock star Natalie for guiding John on that morning while Chris cruised for Tuna. John spoke at length in admiring terms of your company and competence. Way to go girl! I hope your success is encouraging to many more young women who share your love and extreme skill for the art of angling.

33 lb Tyee release. Thanks to Paul Schaap for the great photo!Here is one final interesting stat. Of the seven pairs of anglers on this trip, four were father-and-son combinations. Stir in the mother-and-son pair of Sheila and Geoffrey to that mix and you have 10 of 14 guests on this trip being parent-offspring combos, further underscoring the immutable joy that so many of us seek by journeying to the marine wilderness with those who mean the most to us. On that note, it was poignantly moving to know that three guests had come to Port Louis as a partial means of healing and reflecting following the recent loss of loved ones. Indeed the place has a sort of prescriptive spirituality about it.

Another phenomenal shot of the rugged Port Louis coast by Paul Schaap.What’s that you ask now? Coho Salmon? Gee, that was a puzzler. Not many at all, which is strange for this time of year. Such was not the case, however, up at Langara Island. The North Island Lodge folks I talked to on the plane home reported scads of them on the east side. Let’s now hope that we will see a common trend from previous years in which late-season monster Coho in the 15-pounds-and-up range started showing up in big numbers.Speaking of Langara Island….whooooaaaa….Stop the presses!!! News has just come over the wire that we have a new season-high, a 52-pound Chinook Salmon boated - and released! - just a few days ago off Coho Point by Clubhouse guest Chris Adams, guided by Pete. Film at 11!!!

Guide Pete and guest Chris Adams with a season topping 52 lb Tyee!

Clubhouse head guide Screamer and guest Taylor Cornwall releasing a 44 lb Tyee!

Clubhouse boat trolling by iconic Pillar Rock. Photo by Jessica Haydahl.Here again we see further evidence that the silver rush is on. Ten Tyees in total from North Island Lodge and The Clubhouse last week, three of which were over 40, plus a double play by John Simpson with matching 33s - and every single one of them released. Way to go good people! While we are at it, congrats to Dino Perin who boated the top hog among the North Island Lodge congregation with a 38, once again off Coho Point, under the guiding of Danny.This week’s Langara Island leader board is as followsThe ClubhouseChris Adams 52 - ReleasedDave Golton 47 - ReleasedTaylor Cornwall 44 - ReleasedJohn Simpson 33 - ReleasedJohn Simpson 33 - ReleasedRichard Colterjohn 33 - ReleasedJollean Hancen 31 - ReleasedGill Kirkpartick 30.5North Island LodgeDino Perin 38Darrell Hurst 30Bruno Fiorvento 26 and 27

Clubhouse guest with a big one on the line. Photo by Jessica Haydahl.Watch for news in the days to come friends about the second annual Coastal Culinary Experience which is wrapping up today at The Clubhouse, where celebrity guest Chef Charles-Antoine Crete has tempted taste buds with the finest from both land and sea.

Simon Roy and Chef Charles-Antoine Crete enjoying some time on the water.Until next week friends, please do stay safe and well.Tight Lines!P.S. we'll leave you with a short video taken by one of our Outpost guests as they returned to the dock in Port Louis.https://youtu.be/KqDDTrTfDrg