Rivers Inlet Trip

[huntnphool]

Anyone interested, there is a group of boats/people making the trek to fish Rivers Inlet this year in August. We made this trip in 06 and had a great time. We end up taking the ferry to Vancouver Island and trailering our boats up to Port Hardy, the north end of the island. From there we launch at first light and head up the inside passage and into the inlet, from there we found a nice place to camp on the shore and spent 5 beautiful days fishing and camping. For those that are not familiar, the inlet is famous for its huge King salmon (Tyee) as the locals call them, and they average in the 30# range with 40 and 50#ers common and 60+ caught every year. Its 6 months away so I thought I would send this out in case anyone was interested and could plan for it, fuel is obviously your biggest cost.

[Skyvalhunter]

Sounds like a great trip. Yea fuel is not getting any cheaper. Well that cost and the fact I don't have a boat doesn't help either!!

[huntnphool]

Well when we sat down and discussed it we took into account the price if we went to the lodge, http://www.riversinletresort.com/prices.htm with 4 people per boat we divided the costs and it was very reasonable for everyone that went. I will try to get some pics on here when I get a chance. Obviously its not as pampered as a lodge but we had a great time camping. We had cook stoves, a generator, microwave and sat around a campfire drinking J. Walker Green Label, Crown and whatever else we managed to sneak across the border. There are floating towns up in there as well, they have most everything you need should you run out, including fuel. You can go to www.bcmarina.com and check out the area, on the left look for Dawsons Landing and also Rivers Inlet.

[Bearhunter]

Wish I had my customweld Id try and hook up with you guys on the trip.  I used to go to Tofino, and launch there and camp out on the boat and fish, pretty dang good time.  If anyone needs to fill a seat on the trip let me know, I love adventures like that.  Lets see those pictures, Ill try and drag some of mine up.

[washingtonmuley]

Huntnphool,
Are you guys planning on staying at the lodge this year? If not what are you looking at per person? Just give me a ballpark figure. I no longer have the boat so if someone needs to fill a seat let me know. I have all my own gear and have quite a bit of experience fishing salmon in Alaska and the northwest.
Take care,
Tim

[huntnphool]

We are planning on making a camp on shore somewhere again. Dawsons landing and Duncanby Landing have cabins for rent, you can see them here, http://www.duncanbylodgemarina.com/

They are not cheap however but do give the people that need more than a sleeping bag and tent a second option. I will let you know if we have extra space to hitch a ride, your gear would be the same as any camping trip, keeping in mind that its about a 2 1/2 hour boat ride at 35-40 mph to get up in there, weather permiting. Another very important thing to consider is the weather. Crossing the passage can get nasty, particularly with small boats, 21'-24'. Because of this we cant head out or head back if there is a big storm. The posibility of getting stuck up there is remote but it is there. Make sure you can afford to stay an extra day or two until weather clears just in case. By afford I mean not pissing work off, or spouses "Sorry honey, the weather is too bad to make the crossing today, we may be here a couple more days till it clears" For some reason some spouses don't take that so well

[washingtonmuley]

Huntnphool,
I lived on Kodiak for 6 yrs and did several flyout hunts so wife knows what to expect. I have no problem sleeping in a tent. I have a cabela's guide model with a large vestibule.

[popeshawnpaul]

I might be game with my dad.  We have a 25 foot fishing boat.

We ususally go to Tahsis.  The halibut isn't great out of there though.  The kings average 27 lbs. 

Are there any halibut in rivers inlet?  I'm sure there is, but is it easy to limit?  If so, I'm definitely in.

Shawn

[cohoho]

Sounds like an extremely fun trip, quite interested for sure. What dates are you looking at for one, what do you believe the trip is if divided between four per vehicle and boat. When I went to Vancouver Island a month ago for hockey it was RT $147 for my truck over 22 feet with four passengers, not too bad I guess but without trailer. What kind of gas quantities is needed for the boats, (inboards)?  How long is the trip up the inside passage, does anyone run a radar besides GPS? Is the fishing out of boats, back bouncing eggs, Kwick Fish etc... or park and shore type fishing?  I, well kid has a Hockey camp 11-17th of Aug in Okaganogan, which were running to also for kind of a family vacation.  But if it is after that, or before would be a possibility.  Sounds like alot of fun, especially with a group that has been there before?  I got a 23 foot Thunder Jet with Hard top that would be in for that kind of trip too....  Tent camping will be it for me , also I have a geo design 4 -season tent, comfort enough for a couple weeks.   Mike

[huntnphool]

We have not tried for Halibut Shawn but its not that far of a boat ride to get into them according to the folks at Duncanby. You might try that link and email them or call them to ask. We did hear of some halibut picked up right in front of Rivers Inlet Resort so I know they are in there. It was expensive for the ferry, if I remember it was around $230 each way. My boat burns about 8 gallons an hour at 3400 rpms, we planned for 10 gal/hr. its a 6.0litre inboard jet. A prop boat with an outboard would be better. The fishing is done up in the inlet for the most part, the mouth does have some productive spots too though. Pretty much all trolling but mooching would probably work in spots too. The fish are very shallow, you fish large herring about 8 to 10 pulls behind the boat and trolled slow. Fish right next to shore, it drops off very rapidly to a couple hundred feet just 5 yards off the rocks. There is no limit to how many rods you can use, we say guys in 8-10' livingstons trolling by themselves but had 4 rods in the water. There is a weight limit though once you get to the markers, I think its 3 or 4 ounces, dont remember which, no downriggers past that point. We use downriggers outside that point sometimes so if you have them bring them. Lots of ling cod as well. We had fresh caught salmon, rock cod and ling cod every night for dinner, cooked different ways so not to get tired of it. Crab and abalone are there as well, just depends on the season Since we are all divers, picking them up for a snack may or may not have happened A good camera is a must, we got within 10 yards to several wales and got some beautiful pics, eagles everywhere as well, not to mention bears along the shore. It really is a boring trip

[wackmaster]

OK I am defanatly interested if I do not get drawn for Wyo.I have a 21 custom weld sled.also do you use divers.

[wackmaster]

Also should I bring diving gear

[huntnphool]

No divers, the fish are in the top 20 feet of water. The 3 ounce weights are enough to get them to the fish, you troll slow enough to keep them in the zone, and with only 8 pulls of line out they take them right out of the prop wash.

[MuleySniper]

That would be a fun trip. Im not sure about an 18' Tiderunner though. What kind of water is it? Could you relate it to Seiku or Neah Bay? Ive been to Tofino too, but Im more of a Puget Sound guy if you know what I mean.. What days in August are you going? My only stipulation would be my anniversary is on the 1st and my kids birthday is on the 22'nd. Do you fish with herring? I have a hookup there. I used to fish commercially in area 11 and 13. I also have another friend who is a skipper of another herring boat. I'd sure love to hook up with a few thirty plussers!! It sounds like a fun experience too.
MS

[huntnphool]

Actually my boat is on the small side 22'. We use large herring soaked in a green brine. We are heading out August 8th and the water from Port Hardy to the inlet is BIG water. Rollers are no big deal but if they start breaking you want a bigger boat with a sturdy top.

[popeshawnpaul]

I talked about it last night with my dad.  He is as interested as I am.  Looks like my initial research tells me there are some Butts south of Calvert Island, way outside the inlet.  I like Salmon and ling better anyways. 

I want to do some more research on the salmon fishing... 

I would bring my dive gear and spear gun.  If the fish won't bite...I'll bite back.

[Coasthunterjay]

well if wackmaster is comming ill be there also!!! this sounds like a blast....so are there any licences or tags that we need to buy for this trip? also how many fish are we predicting on catching per boat per day? and how are the currents? i mean the last time you all were there what was the typical weather? ? ? ? does anyone have pictures yet...........hopefully this will work out....i want to bring my father with i think it would be awesome to bring him along for some excitement also......

are we going in august during a salmon run......?

and is it going to be as busy (crowded) as the pictures you posted for lake washington run?

[Coasthunterjay]

oh man i took a look at those pictures they have at the riversinlet resort.....holy crap! this look like alot of fun............

[popeshawnpaul]

I can answer some of those questions as I have fished out of Port Hardy many times.  August is the best weather.  It's not uncommon to have rainy 60 degree days, but the norm is in the 70's and some sun.  Yeah, you do need to buy licenses.  For Canada you can buy them online.  I would recommend a 3 day license and a 2 day or somthing along those lines unless you are going to fish there later in the year.  The main salmon run for this area comes in strong the 3rd week of July and continues through August. 

I can't answer anything about currents from first hand experience, but there will be some.  Fish?  I dunno, we got to let Phool answer that question...

[huntnphool]

We are leaving August 8th. I will get some pics up soon, I have some things to get done today but will post them later I hope. I need to get them off of one of my other computers and there are a few thousand pics on it, and guess what, they are not labeled, only numbered and not by date either, its going to take some time. I promise I will get them up at some point soon though.

The season for these huge "Tyees" is only about 3 weeks long, and are generally hitting the inlet around the 1st of August. There are lots of silvers up there as well. Catching them is entirely up to you. Its not a "trout pond" and your success is dependent on your abilities. Some folks catch more fish than others, some folks tag more deer than others, same principles apply. All I can promise you is one hell of a good time, if that cant happen without catching fish it might not be the trip for you unless your proficient at catching salmon.

[huntnphool]

Seriously though guys,........and gals, everyone is invited. If you have a boat that can make the trip, and please be sure it can its big water, and like to camp and fish, then come along. The weather I have no control over, wish I did. Bring gear for all conditions just like hunting. Like most outdoors activities, being prepared can mean the difference between success and failure as well as having a good time or crappy time, need I mention life and death!!!

[popeshawnpaul]

I think I'm going to run my boat up.  I'm going to put in at Vancouver, go through customs, and run it up.  It's protected the whole way, and 150 miles.  At 30 mph cruise, that's 5 hours.  At 8 gallons/hour, that's 40 gallons of gas.  At $3/gallon, that's $120 for the trip up. 

If I drove to Port Hardy, the ferry would cost almost $200 each way...  Plus gas of $150 in the truck to pull the boat to Port Hardy.  Plus, I hate that drive and waiting at the ferry.  It might be fun to run up.  Just a thought.  I'm going to have to plot it out.  I've done the trip before in a 35 footer...

shawn

[cohoho]

This stinks, I have to back out so quickly due to the dates, going to Okanogan for hockey that 10-17 of Aug.  Wish you were going earlier or later..

[Coasthunterjay]

pope......atleast have a back up and be willing to take the ferrie if need be...im not saying that you dont now how to drive your boat, but i must recommend that we try to be as safe as possable.......AJ

does anyone have any previous weather information for tides, currents, and storms in this area for last year.....boats are going to be at max compasity with gear and personnel(is everyone going to have a life preserver).....and on the way back the same thing, plus we might hopefully have a crap load of 40lbs fish to bring home and fill the fridge.......that is going to make our boats take on water alot easier if the waters get nasty.......

im just being the woorie-wart.....

pope what type of boat do you drive? if you do this is everyone else going to have a boat that they feel safe enough doing this with also?

And what is the daily limit of salmon?

[popeshawnpaul]

Jay, don't sweat it, I'll just meet you up there.  I have a 25 foot sportfisher, more than enough for anything on that stretch of water.  I'm still working on the dates as well.  It's the inside passage so it's pretty calm water.  I don't think this is something everyone should do.  It's a long haul and I might split it up over two days.  It just sounds like fun.

Oh, and I have a life preserver...   

Shawn

[Coasthunterjay]

good! lol....

[tmike]

All this talk about running up there made me pull out some of my charts. I've made the inside passage trip going up once and coming down once. I think a 25 foot sportfisher would be fine especially with radar, just be smart about it. If you do it I recommend the Marine Atlas. It lays out all the routes very nicely. I have volume 1 which covers Olympia to Malcolm Island which is on the Northern end of Vancouver. All the other charts I have go from Dixon Entrance North. So from Vancouver Island to Rivers inlet you would need Volume 2 or your own charts. I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know, but if you want to check out what I have let me know, I'd love to see the charts get some more use. The trip sounds fun, If I had a boat I'd probably join you!

[huntnphool]

It was about $250.00 for my Excursion and boat, I think they charged me for 38'. The weather hasnt been a problem up there the last few years but you must plan for everything and expect the worst.

That would be a nice boat ride up through there, but for us we cant spend that much time making the trip, we are only going to have 3-4 days for ishing as it is since it takes a day to make the trip up and onother to get home.

The fish limit the last few years was 2 kings per day, 4 in posession, you can have 2 silvers as well. We take our vacuum packer with us and fillet the fish up there. You can cut the heads off and fillet them, pack them one fillet per bag but you need to keep the tail on one of them. Label each fillet as 1 of 2 and 2 of 2, so they can tell which fish is which if they check at the boarder.

[huntnphool]

Okay I resized some pics, thesee are heading out of Port Hardy, its good to have another boat with you just to be safe. We played follow the leader the whole way.

[huntnphool]

This is one of the floating landings up inside the inlet, gas, food, even a restaurant, the other pic of Rivers Inlet Resort dock.

[huntnphool]

These are pics once inside the inlet heading up to make camp.

[huntnphool]

Evening time at camp.

[huntnphool]

Dinner time, it sucks having to eat fresh ling cod, rock cod and salmon

[huntnphool]

More camp pics

[huntnphool]

Since we have done this before we have learned some of the pitfalls that you shouldnt have to experience. The first morning we got up to go fishing we found that we grossly underestimated the tide change, even after discussing it as a group. Good thing we have aluminum jetboats No worries though, after getting the boats off the rocks we headed out, thats the next pic, heading up to the end of the inlet where the fish concentrate in numbers.

[Hunting Cowboy]

Lotta nice pictures there! Looks like a great trip!

[tmike]

I was wondering what anchor system you used. Does any one bring a small zodiak to shuttle people? That way you could anchor deeper. It's nice to have someone who's been through it to save headaches for the new guys.

[huntnphool]

actually the all aluminum boat you see was built in the back yard of my buddies house, the next few days we anchored far enough out so that the tide change didnt kill us. My buddy and his brother slept on their boat and came to shore and picked me up, thats the nice thing about aluminum jets, we can run them right up onto the rocks or beach and not damage anything. Of course there a negatives to everything and the one problem with jets in the salt is seaweed. Good thing we all dive, when you have to get under the boat to clean out the grate it can get cold

[huntnphool]

This is an example of the bad weather we ran into, it wasnt bad enough to keep us from going fishing though. The inlet is surrounded with high hills which protects it from wind for the most part. I'm sure it gets very bad at times but this was the worst we have seen.

[tmike]

Just make sure you run it up on the rocks or beach 1/2 way into the tide and not on the top end of one of the highest tides of the year! I know from experience. Luckily it wasn't me, but we had 1 chance to get it off or wait a month to try again. It looks like you have it dialed in.

[Backstraps]

Dinner time, it sucks having to eat fresh ling cod, rock cod and salmon
     Looks like a great time Phool! 

[huntnphool]

Another one of my boat high and dry and then one of me pulling my buddies off the beach

[huntnphool]

Sitting in line for the PA ferry, and getting the evening fire going.

[cohoho]

Have you gotten a list of number of folks that are going to go on the trip, I'm still on waviers due to Hockey camp for the boys, but they might go somewhere else, later in the year.  Didn't know if you wanted to have a meeting with folks interested and figure out gear redundancies?  Hopefully I'll know in a week or two what up, looks like a excellent trip to get on board with.  Mike

[huntnphool]

We haven't done anything other than plan the date to this point. I know there are at least 2 boats going for sure, have heard of 3 more potentially. Will know more in a month or two but you can be sure 2 are heading for sure.

[popeshawnpaul]

I'm on the "potential" list for now...

What would I bring?  Beer and meat. 

[M_ray]

I love that one of Pope's staples is BEER!