Vancouver Island trip report

[jurelometer]

For a few years I was doing road trips all the way from California to Vancouver Island.  I would stop off to visit a friend in Washington and then spend a few weeks fly fishing up and down the island's east coast beaches for pink or coho salmon, depending on the season.

But it has been about ten years since the last trip, so  when I was invited up to fish Port Hardy with Todd (Hardy Boy), I figured it was about time to head back  up. Timed the trip to mid September to hit the pre-spawn coho bite from the beach.

Only a two week trip this time, so I flew in to Victoria and rented a car.  Drove up to Port Hardy at the northern tip to start.

Todd was a great host.  Even though it was towards the end of shoulder season, he had cooked up a  plan to get shots at halibut, lingcod, coho, and even a bit of crabbing, not to mention getting in some fly fishing from the boat and beach for coho and rockfish. 

We pretty much scored on everything! It was late season, so we had to work for them a bit, but the weather was spectacular with little rain, and  mostly calm seas.  We caught fish on some of my jig designs that Todd has been providing me feedback on, and I also bagged some coho and a few new rockfish species on the fly.


Lingcod, Pacific halibut, rockfish!


Dungeness crab.  We got some jumbos.


Coho!


Todd working the beach for Coho.

Saw lots of wildlife: whales, eagles, bears catching salmon at the river mouth.  Pretty spectacular stuff.  Had some amazing dinners with Todd and his wonderful wife, both excellent cooks.

Todd even lined up an albacore trip for my drive out day, but I begged off. Already had fished six days straight, and needed a break.  I reluctantly moved on, heading down to mid-island to check out beach Coho scene.

More spectacular weather, but the mid-island coho fishing was tough. It had been several weeks since the last decent rain, and the pre-spawn fish had a bad case of lockjaw. Lots more fishermen than ten years ago, which probably didn't help.  Interestingly, almost all the beach fishers were fly guys, which was a change from my last trip.  I went out at least once  every day, but did not bother to bring a rod. Saw some jumpers, even a few chum salmon, but don't think I saw a salmon caught.


Not anywhere near a combat fishing lineup, but still kind of busy at the mid island "hot" spots.

The locals were fishing light leader and small flies for the beach coho.  The local fly shop didn't have anything as big as the fly that I caught all my coho on.  Nada on the small stuff for me, but I didn't fish it much.

[
The top fly caught all my coho- one of my ties, maybe a size 2 flashy clouser with a bit of bulk.  Starting to look a little ratty, but the fish don't care. Bottom fly is one of the larger (for them) local shop ties for beach coho, maybe a size six. The eye was too small to even fit my 17 lb leader  .

Made it back home with a cooler full of the PNW's finest seafood.  Just whipped up some salmon teriyaki this evening:



All in all, a great trip.  Many thanks to Todd for being such an excellent host on the Port Hardy portion of my trip. Really fun days!

-J

[quang tran]

I wish I can do that

[Crab Pot]

What a fantastic trip, I've been to Victoria Island but never fished it.

The wildlife there is amazing, like a zoo without cages.

Someday,

Steve

[Hardy Boy]

It was a fun time. I like it when things work out. I knew it might be tough fishing but the weather was great and Dave took his cooler home full.

Cheers

Todd

[Hardy Boy]

A few more pics.

[Midway Tommy]

Good for you, Dave! Sounds like you had a great host & trip! 👍

[foakes]

Excellent report, Dave!

Ohana friendship in action.

Best, Fred

[Maxed Out]

 A visit to Port Hardy is like stepping back in time. So peaceful and surrounded by wilderness, and amazing fishing opportunities. I hope to get back up there someday soon, before my fishing days are over. Todd and his wife are great people and very friendly, like everyone in Port Hardy.

 Great write up Dave, and love the pics !!

[Gfish]

X2.
Seems the further North you go, the better it gets when it comes to fish and wildlife and unspoiled habitat.

[Ron Jones]

Sounds like an amazing time!
Rockfish on the fly is still something I haven't done.
Way to go.
The Man

[whalebreath]

What a fantastic trip, I've been to Victoria Island but never fished it.

Vancouver Island-Victoria is the city.

[Maxed Out]

Sounds like an amazing time!
Rockfish on the fly is still something I haven't done.
Way to go.
The Man

 I beg your pardon Ron, but with all due respect, you've caught lots of rockfish from my boat on bucktail flies. In fact I had you tie them up as we were running in from loading up on deep water lings and halibut.

 The professor said on his way back down the island, he stopped to fish the beach and those guys on the beach were all fishing small flies. Those smaller flies he pictured are very close to the exact flies we used to get our rockfish that day out of Neah bay

[Swami805]

Nice trip, thanks for posting

[Cor]

Great trip and pictures.

Must think of an excuse to go visit my cousin out there and take some tackle

[JasonGotaProblem]

Sounds like an awesome trip on a very different environment than I'm familiar with. Thanks for sharing.