Char fishing / May

[CanuckShooter]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/grad_fishing_068.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12673&size=big&cat=500)

Just love that spring Char fishing........

[CanuckShooter]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/261.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12572&size=big&cat=500)

[CanuckShooter]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/grad_fishing_067.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12674&size=big&cat=500)

[CanuckShooter]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/fishing05_029.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12677&size=big&cat=500)

Mitch and his first char....looks pretty happy eh??

[CanuckShooter]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/fishing05_040.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12678&size=big&cat=500)

[drakfero]

what place or lake was it?

[ianwuzhere]

i know that lake its zippermouth lake- love that lake-lil bit of a drive- last stretch of the road is lil rough but well worth it ;)

[Dirty]

Look in the picture, it says Binta Lake.

[CanuckShooter]

That ONE was at Binta Lake...the others..like Ianwuzhere says were caught at zippermouth...I won't tell...my fishing buddies would kill me..

[CanuckShooter]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/fishing05_037.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12699&size=big&cat=500)

[CanuckShooter]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Dad_Fishing_May_2007_011.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12700&size=big&cat=500)

Another Zippermouth Lake beauty.....an annual event is the Spring Char fishing trip...they love those T-50s....

[Gus]

Beauty fish there CS. I've only fished char in the summer and they are usually pretty deep. Do you still have to go down for them in the spring as well or are they higher up?

[CanuckShooter]

They are running shallower, we use mostly T50s [flatfish] that run about 22 feet without any weight. Sometimes if we are seeing large fish running deeper [in fish finder] we put 1 or 2 oz of weight on, but that's rare.

[Sitkaspruce]

i know that lake its zippermouth lake- love that lake-lil bit of a drive- last stretch of the road is lil rough but well worth it ;)

Those are some nice fish Canuckshooter, it's too bad they do not fight like a coho, rainbow or even a chinook, then they would be unbelieveable. Great eating and the bigger ones smoke up real nice. My best lure is a 6" peal apex or 4" silver Canadian Wiggler off a laketroll downrigger or with 4 oz mooching weight.

If it is the Zippermouth lake I am thinking about, it is too bad that a lot of the "big" ones are getting fished out. There is some concerns from the bio's about the lake and it's Lakers pop.

I remember 13-14 years ago, it was no problem to catch half a dozen over 20 lbs in a morning, plus a lot of smaller ones (and yes they were released, best eating are the 5-7 lbs). Then the "trail" became a road and everyone and their dog now fishes it. Last year, in late May, we counted 13 boats on the lake. It was hard pressed to catch one over 20. Lots of smaller ones (4-6 lbs), so the population would seem to be OK, but there seemed to be a lack of mature female spawners. The regs say you can keep one over 50 cm, but there are a lot of abusers who go home with coolers full of large mature lakers. Have seen it on spot checks with the CO's and have seen it while fishing there, almost got in a few fights with others over their limits and size of fish. The look on some people face when the CO's arrive is priceless.

Now if it is not the same lake, then my mistake, as there must now be two Zippermouth lakes.:eek::smile::lol:;)

Cheers

SS

[BCrams]

If it is the Zippermouth lake I am thinking about, it is too bad that a lot of the "big" ones are getting fished out. There is some concerns from the bio's about the lake and it's Lakers pop.

Lots of smaller ones (4-6 lbs), so the population would seem to be OK, but there seemed to be a lack of mature female spawners. The regs say you can keep one over 50 cm, but there are a lot of abusers who go home with coolers full of large mature lakers. Have seen it on spot checks with the CO's and have seen it while fishing there, almost got in a few fights with others over their limits and size of fish. The look on some people face when the CO's arrive is priceless.

Now if it is not the same lake, then my mistake, as there must now be two Zippermouth lakes.:eek::smile::lol:;)

Cheers

SS

Cunningham Lake certainly is no secret. (like it used to be) Like SS says, everyone and their dog knows about it and go there. A lot of abusers too regarding the fish limits.

My Dad used to fish that lake when it was a fly in only off the pontoons of the float plane and catch 40 pound lakers with regularity.

[PGK]

Cunningham Lake certainly is no secret. (like it used to be) Like SS says, everyone and their dog knows about it and go there. A lot of abusers too regarding the fish limits.

My Dad used to fish that lake when it was a fly in only off the pontoons of the float plane and catch 40 pound lakers with regularity.

Now now, Mr Rams, we've been dropping into that lake with my cousin's helicopter for 20 years, and we've never seen anything bigger than 28lbs come out. Maybe my scales are out and yours are correct?? ;)

And the reason people say they don't fight is because they are fishing for them with halibut rods and 40lb test line!!

[Schmaus]

Unless things have changed a fair bit since last time I was there. Canuckshooter looks to have a little bit too big of a boat to be launched into Cunningham. But I haven't been there for awhile.

[BCrams]

Now now, Mr Rams, we've been dropping into that lake with my cousin's helicopter for 20 years, and we've never seen anything bigger than 28lbs come out. Maybe my scales are out and yours are correct?? ;)

And the reason people say they don't fight is because they are fishing for them with halibut rods and 40lb test line!!

Your lips were still wet with milk 20 yrs ago :lol:

I fished that lake a number of times as an early teen before you were even born!

Try the 1960's, they were flying in there as teenagers (with their licences) from the Fort. All they had to do was jig an FST or Gibbs off the pontoons to catch them.

[Chuck]

We don't have them in the Kootenays, but they sure look like a nice fish. I do believe Shushwap in region 8 is the closest place to find them, unless they planted them closer lately. They should put some on Kinbasket or Kookanusa, if they haven't already. I always wanted to catch one of those Lakers, if just for to mount that big head.

[CanuckShooter]

Cunningham Lake certainly is no secret. (like it used to be) Like SS says, everyone and their dog knows about it and go there. A lot of abusers too regarding the fish limits.

My Dad used to fish that lake when it was a fly in only off the pontoons of the float plane and catch 40 pound lakers with regularity.


My Zippermouth Lake is no where near Cunningham Lake....:eek: In fact we have never been there as we heard it is fished too hard?? Wanna see another beauty?

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/grad_fishing_084.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12709&size=big&cat=500)

[CanuckShooter]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/may2008_050.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12710&size=big&cat=500)

This one is from May 2008...you'll notice last year we took the little tin boat, and found out the new 4horse yamaha trolls at the perfect speed !!!

[CanuckShooter]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/grad_fishing_065.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12711&size=big&cat=500)

Nothing like calm water...and big fish !!!

[CanuckShooter]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/grad_fishing_074.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12712&size=big&cat=500)

The secret weapon...heading out bright and early...the early worm catchs the fish you know?:roll:

[Sitkaspruce]

Now now, Mr Rams, we've been dropping into that lake with my cousin's helicopter for 20 years, and we've never seen anything bigger than 28lbs come out. Maybe my scales are out and yours are correct?? ;)

And the reason people say they don't fight is because they are fishing for them with halibut rods and 40lb test line!!

Then you probably have not fished it much. Biggest for me is 33 lbs, one day we got into 4 over 30 and when doing the checks, seen one cooler with 4 between 25 and 32, fo one guy:eek::cool::-x.

As for fishing them, I use a 8' medium-light action mooching rod with a single action reel and 15 lb test. Pound for pound, they are not up to par, compared to a lot of other sportfish found in BC. But much better eating then a lot of others.....


Unless things have changed a fair bit since last time I was there. Canuckshooter looks to have a little bit too big of a boat to be launched into Cunningham. But I haven't been there for awhile.

The road into the landing is now worse than the "Trail" down to the lake. I have seen 18' lunds on trailer with a SB Ford down there. Other than a few loose rocks and the big Fir on the corner, it is easy access now.

Cheers

SS

[BCrams]

Looks like you're going to have to keep a zip on this one !!

Nice fish!!!

[Schmaus]

haha uh oh Mr Rams doesn't know a secret lake, this could be trouble :)

[BCrams]

lol ..... actually, it wouldn't matter. I have no interest in fishing for lakers and the last time I fished for them was 16 or 17 yrs ago on Trembleur Lake.

Now if my plans ever include a moose / caribou trip at some northern lake, I won't be adverse to catching a couple 2-10 lbs fish for dinner!!

[PGK]

Looks like one of the lakes out east to me, not cunny. But from the looks of it, they don't need any more pressure, so I'll keep my trap shut