My Trip to Tofino

[MB_Boy]

Well.....I was supposed to be flying with my girlfriend up Northwards last Tuesday as her sister and brother-in-law chartered a big 130' yacht for 2 weeks. En route to the airport we receive a call that they are in Campbell River and there were some pretty serious mechanical issues with the boat and they were going to fly home on Tuesday night. Crap!! We were both looking forward to getting away as she had just come back from a 2 week trip and I was away up in Desolation the week prior to that.

Now, we both had taken some time off and as far as anyone knew we were NOT in town and we had to make that a reality. So we quickly looked at other options and decided to head towards Tofino. A friend of hers and her husband live over there and my girlfriends sister has a place right on Chesterman's Beach right near the Wickaninish. (sp?) Well the plan was to 4x4 back around the North side of Kennedy Lake which is just a bit inland from the junction of the highway where you can either head south to Ucluelet or north to Tofino. We wound up on the Sand River VERY deactivated logging road and made our way to a spot on the lake. My truck is in desperate need of a cut polish now as the road was really grown in. So we spent a couple of days just relaxing with the bears (for you island bear hunters there are a LOT around the North side of the lake) and NO sign of anyone where we were.

Here is a shot looking from a bridge that separates Kennedy Lake and Clayuquot Arm (I thinik it was arm....maybe basin??)

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0810.jpg


The "card playing" and happy hour lounge.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0824.jpg


A Kennedy Lake sunset.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0823.jpg

[MB_Boy]

We decided on Thursday we were going to fish with her friends husband who is a guide in Tofino and offered to take us out on Friday!! Now the trip was gettin' good!! So we pretty much packed up our campsite Thursday evening so we could wake up at 5am and just drop the tent, air mattress and sleeping bag rolled up and we would be on our way for some fun on the water. The plan was to stay with her sis at their place Friday night as I really did not want to head back in on this road after fishing all day.

There were good sized swells and the fog was THICK......I now know why they call the month of August in Tofino "Fogust".
After grabbing a coffee we were on our way at 7am.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0837.jpg


It didn't take too long and the first hit of the day I landed a nice 21lb spring!! Whooopeee........first one bonked and plenty of time to go.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0840.jpg


Well.....it didn't take too long for the next hit and my dear sweet girlfriend decided it would be in her best interest to set the bar higher on her first of the day.....a nice 27lber.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0841.jpg


http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0843.jpg

[MB_Boy]

We lost a few fish and released a few undersize along with a fair number of lings but kept a few rock cod (love eating them fresh from the ocean).
I managed this 17lber who put up one heck of a fight for about 10-12 minutes and kept stripping line off the second he got close to the boat. I hadn't showered but I didn't think I was looking that rough!! :confused:

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0845.jpg

Things slowed down for a bit after that one on the springs but we got into some coho that were all in the 6-7lb range.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0847.jpg

A happy fisher-gal!!

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0848.jpg

[MB_Boy]

Finally the fog lifted and I was on a mission to try and catch up to my GF's big fish of the morning.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0849.jpg

Well after missing a few I was finally rewarded with this handsome 29lber at around 11am which I quickly celebrated with a nice cold :beerchug:

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0850.jpg

We then tried for a little bit for some hali's and lost one part way up but then we had to head in. Here are a couple of shots from the end of the day.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0855.jpg


http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0856.jpg

[MB_Boy]

The weigh in!!

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0857.jpg


There's some good eatin' in that cooler.

The tally was 4 Springs.....17, 21, 27, 29.....a few coho around 6 lbs and some rockies/bass etc.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0853.jpg

We finished off the day with a dinner at her sis's place that consisted of rock cod, fresh green beans, some baby spuds and some good vino. Talk about a great day.....out on the water with someone who I think the world of and who loves being out there just as much as I do. Lots of whales in the area....a great guide/friend who had us in fish all day......and a beautiful sunset to finish off the day! If it wasn't the "best" day it was pretty darn close and will be a tough one to beat!!!


http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee248/scrichton/IMG_0866.jpg

[newhunterette]

Looks incredible - thank you for sharing :)

Ali

[Leaseman]

What a great trip!!!!...thanks for sharing....:cool:

[Derek_Erickson]

Wow, good looking trip

[longwalk]

Last pic is a fantastic looking sunset, looks like a great fishing trip.

[Bow Walker]

Super photos, thanks for posting up so we can come along with you.

Those coho (IMHO) are the best eating salmon that there are! This time of year they are stuffed full of krill and shrimp and such - they are great.,

[The Dawg]

Yep...I am jealous.... :biggrin:

[Wildman]

Awsome looking trip!!!

[Mr. Dean]

Million $ question is; She goin to hit the bush with ya?

[MB_Boy]

Million $ question is; She goin to hit the bush with ya?

Baby steps Mr. Dean.......baby steps!! :biggrin:

Good thing is she wants to head back again in a couple of weeks. :cool:

[Mr. Dean]

... And willing to have you tag along?!!


Careful; she's singled you out... She could have a mile long line of gents signing up for that.

She's either on the nutty side (could turn into a 'stalker') OR in that 4 lettered word that begins with L

Either scenerio, I'd go. :biggrin:

[Hilgy]

Well you just made me home sick. That country in behind the lake is some of the best I ever worked in. When I first started in the bush rigging yarders and towers we were logging back there.

Good looking fish. I have heard that Tofino and Uclulet were doing well this year.


Thanks for the pics


Hilgy

[ohno]

Great story and pics.
Yah just can't beat the West coast for superb fishing and scenery.

[25hunter]

Very nice catch - We just got back from Uclulet last nite - 4 of us, 8 springs all in the 20 -25lb range except 1 about 10lbs - released 3 coho aswell one really good one in the 8+ pound range. Wanted to go for Halibut but the water was way to heavy 5-6' swell with about 2+' chop - my nephew spent most of the time over the side :eek: but he manage to stop and reel a couple fish in before resuming the position:lol:. Will definitely be going back again.

[MB_Boy]

Well you just made me home sick. That country in behind the lake is some of the best I ever worked in. When I first started in the bush rigging yarders and towers we were logging back there.

Good looking fish. I have heard that Tofino and Uclulet were doing well this year.
Hilgy

Hilgy...it is some pretty country. We explored around quite a bit while we were in there....both on foot and just checking out some of the roads. Didn't see any deer sign to speak of, but plenty of blackie sightings and crap on the roads.

I have heard the same of the fishing in Tof/Uclue this year compared to other years. I always fish on the inside of the island and this was my first but definitely FAR from my last on the outside.

And if anyone is ever looking for a guide over there I can recommend a great one!!

[Offroad]

Best story and photos I've seen in quite a long time. Thanks for sharing.

[Johnnybear]

Wow what a trip! thanks for sharing. I havent made it out salmon fishing yet this year but your story and photos has made me make some plans for this long weekend (freezer is real empty of marine life right now). I love fishing Tofino. It's the best.