  
|
 |
Firing
up the engines on a half dozen skiffs, the deck hands
un-tethered their lines from the tugboat, which had
delivered them to this point? Minutes later, my partner
and I were mooching for feisty silver salmon on the
fringe of a kelp bed. Before I could get my line to
the desired depth, his rod doubled over. Bringing
in what line I had out, the rod was nearly ripped
from my hands by another Coho.
Within 30 minutes we had landed a limit of silvers,
lost nearly twice that, then opted to move to deeper
waters. Less than 100 yards from where our arms tired
of fighting silvers, we increased our depth for Chinook.
Before we knew it , we were back on thetug with the
rest of the group., reliving the adventure that moments
earlier saw us battling 40 pound kings; all this before
lunch. |
 |
We were aboard a 90-foot tugboat dubbed
the Parry, one of two vintage vessels operated by Westwind
Tugboat Adventures out of Vancouver, British Columbia. Each
immaculately refurbished tug tows several 18’ skiffs
for guests to use fishing and sightseeing. Maneuvering at
the foot of vertical cliffs, watching mountain goats feed
directly overhead was only the beginning of this up close
experience with nature.
Dolphins frequently rode our wake, wolves prowled the shoreline
and both grizzly and black bears could often be seen by anglers.
Passing near breathtaking waterfalls, into a land seen by
few is what this type of fishing adventure is all about.
As part of an 8 day tugboat cruise, five crew members, 12
guests and myself made our way down British Columbia’s
Inside Passage. Covering 250 miles by sea, the journey surpassed
our wildest dreams, as did the fishing.
Fishing Opportunities
The most appealing aspect of this fishing trip was that, for
the most part, we were on our own to fish. Each day began
with the guide-only one guide per tug to oversee the fishing
aspects of the journey- delivering a crash course on what
was to be expected. Details were covered on what species of
fish were to be found, at what depth we should fish and how
we might want to go about: mooching, trolling or jigging.
The lesson delivered, two to three anglers teamed up per skiff.
The skiffs were sturdy, safe and a cinch to operate. Each
is equipped with CB radios to keep in contact with one another
and the mother ship. With so many fish so near, rarely are
you out of sight of party members.
 |
The
beauty of fishing from a tug is twofold: You are captive
the entire time to think about nothing but fishing,
and you travel to where the fish are. When compared
to being stuck in a lodge, hoping early season fish
migrations come your way, operating from a tug allows
you to find the fish. With an expert captain in constant
communication with resident anglers up and down the
coast, catching fish is a given on this trip.
In fact the day we launched, we were scheduled to
head south. But minute’s prior to departure,
the captain received word of big Chinook being taken
to the north. North it was, and for the next two days
we battled several kings in the 30-40 pound class,
with a whopping 60 pounder being the biggest of the
trip |
That done, we spent the following day covering water, nestled
in a warm cabin eating exquisite cuisine. A master chef on
board each tug keeps you well fed, and the crew goes out of
their way top ensure your comfort.
We were into coho and kings every day we fished, but that’s
another wonderful thing about fishing off a tug. Rather than
limit our fishing time to these two magnificent salmon, we
were free to explore mouths of rivers in search of pink and
chum salmon, or hit offshore shelves where bottom fish abound.
Fly gear is a must for mid to late season anglers, as this
is when the salmon begin clogging the tributaries to the many
bays. If you’re into fly fishing, that’s all the
tackle you will need to bring as the tug supplies the rest.
Westwind can advise you on specific gear recommendations when
you choose which portion of the BC coast you want to fish.
Bottom fishing opportunities also abound, with halibut, lingcod
and snapper being just a few of the species taken from the
deep. A personal highlight was hoisting a monster yelloweye
from his home of over 80 years. The giant fish graces the
wall of my den today, a vivid reminder of one of my most enjoyed
fishing adventures.
For a change of pace, pursuing shellfish is another option.
Setting crab pots where the tug anchored for the night, then
pulling them at first light, provided the best-eating Dungeness
crab imaginable. Clams were also easy to dig, worked into
a gourmet meal, and kept many anglers wishing we had more
time to explore the beaches
.
But it is meat in the freezer that excited my wife. Cooking
some of the best bottom fish known to the sea, in addition
to rich salmon steaks, is a passion, and brining home enough
meat to last the two of several months was a big payoff.
Well taken care of Upon returning to the tug with your catch,
crewmembers clean, wrap and freeze your fish. Your possession
limit is monitored and approximate poundage tracked. You can
either take the fish home with you frozen, as I did, or have
Westwind deliver for processing upon docking. The finished
product, be it smoked or canned, is shipped to your doorstep.
The beauty of this trip is that you can travel light. I carried
a small duffel bag and a fly rod that’s it. Boots, raingear
and all the food you can eat are provided by Westwind. Save
for fly gear, they also provide all salmon and halibut gear
you’ll need, including jigs, bait and quality rods and
reels.
The reels used fore salmon fishing are single action, something
foreign to many west coast salmon and steelheaders. These
reels take some getting used to, but you’ll learn fast.
They are comparable to a fly reel, and with their 1:1 ratio
are optimal for fighting the powerful salmon in these conditions.
For me one of the most surprising features of this trip was
not how many fish were caught, nor their size, but how a warmhearted
crew brought 13 strangers together. We came from several states
and three different countries, met for the first time on the
tug, and departed as friends. Many of us still keep in touch,
hoping to cross paths again one day. That’s what a trip
like this is all about?
Being forced to take time to do nothing but fish is what may
anglers are searching for. If there’s a computer to
hide behind, a cell phone tower in range or a lodge with separate
cabins, the tranquility of such a getaway id lost. If you
choose to nuzzle into your own cabin below deck, reading or
catching up on sleep, the tugboat offers this privacy as well.
The eight-day trip seemed longer, not because of time passing
slowly, but due to all that was squeezed into each day. Exploring
turn of the century, abandoned canneries and cabins studding
the coastline, taking me back in time. Feeling a brief connectedness
with the culture that shaped the vast BC coast is an experience
I won’t soon forget.
This semi-self guided fishing trip provided great thrills,
top-notch fishing and nonstop adventure. Up at the crack of
dawn we’d fish until brunch, return to the tug for a
gourmet meal and then fish until dark. Whether you’re
a seasoned angler or enthusiastic novice wanting to learn
more how its done, this trip is for you. It’s also a
great getaway opportunity for husbands and wives, grandparents
and older children.
The safety and security afforded by a sturdy tug will put
even the weak-stomached sea goers at ease. Traveling through
protected fjords, hugging shorelines and islands means the
seas are calm. This being the west coast, how ever , don’t
expect sunshine and blue skies everyday. Rain may be an integral
part of the trip, but when you are into numerous fish day
after day, the elements will be the farthest thing from your
mind.
Click here
to return to the News Articles Index...
|
|
|
