JF Marleau is a kayak guide, kayak
instructor and kayak fishing guide for SKILS and a member of the Nikki Rekman Sales team. In this article JF talks all things, Salmon Fishing including where to find them and how to catch them. Sit back, relax and dream of getting that fish on in 2014!
When September is upon us and fall is fast
approaching, the salmon fishing season comes to an end for many motorboat anglers.
For kayak angler however, it is just the beginning of the best season for salmon
fishing. This time of year provides countless opportunities to catch plenty of
salmon without expending much energy. In
the fall, the 5 species of salmon on the BC coast (chinook, coho, pink, sockeye
and chum) move inland to the river estuaries (where the river meet the ocean).
Estuaries are much more sheltered than the open coastal areas where these fish
feed in the summer; this makes accessing the fish much easier. Furthermore,
fishing in estuaries is very challenging for most motorboat anglers, as it
requires being stealth, maneuverable and having a shallow drafted boat.
I feel that kayak fishing is the most
efficient way to fish in estuaries. Some anglers like to fish from the shore;
however, in non-urban areas these anglers end up competing for fish with bears
(a dangerous proposition when you yourself smell like a fish) and access to the
best fishing holes is limited by thick vegetation. A Kayak allows the angler to
move quietly and easily from spot to spot and to stay safely out of reach of
bears.
Fishing during the spawning season allows
anglers to witness amazing wildlife sceneries: salmon jumping and numerous
species like bears, wolves, seals, sea lions, raccoons, river otters, bald
eagles and gulls, all feeding on salmon. Spawning time fluctuates depending on
the species and the location of the creek or river. Some salmon runs do spawn
during the summer months, but the spawning season in most creeks on the BC
coast occurs in early September to mid-November.
Finding
the Fish
It’s crucial that you spend your first moments
of fishing locating the ideal school of fish, the larger the better. Much of
fishing is a about increasing the probability of a fish biting, and the more
fish that are around, the better are your chances. If you are fishing with a
friend, go in separate directions in order to maximize your chances of finding
the greatest aggregation of fish. Schools of fish can be located anywhere
within the estuary up to 2 km away from the mouth of the river. Use VHF radios
or walkie-talkies to communicate your findings as you go. In order to locate a
large school of fish, look for salmon jumping and for changes in water texture
such as ripples or water disturbances. For examples, check out the following video.
A fish finder is also a great tool for confirming fish are nearby.
Once a large school of fish is located. Be
stealthy and maintain a good distance of at least 10 metres in order to avoid alarming
the fish. Make sure you stick with them as they move around the estuary. If for
some reason the school of fish is scared away from their current location (i.e.
scared by a seal or a kayak angler) they will often come back to the same
location 10 to 30 minutes later.
You will find that the fish are either
biting often or not at all. I recommend fishing around slack tide to maximize
your chances of fishing when the fish are biting. Slack tide occurs between one
hour before and one hour after high or low tide. I personally prefer to fish the
slack tide around high tide in my favorite spots.
Lures
and Techniques
During pre-spawning and spawning, salmon
don’t feed, but instinct will still drive them to bite. Our target is the most
aggressive fish and our technique for catching them is “pissing them off with
our lure.”
I personally prefer fly-fishing, but I must
admit that spoons and spinners are no match for flies when it comes to fishing
for salmon during prep-spawning or spawning season. Small spoons like the Koho
Killer, the Krocodile and the very reliable Bolo are my favorite lures for
chinook, coho and chum. I prefer a heavier Bolo spoon when performing longer
casts. For Pink salmon, I like to use a one to two inch pink Buzzbommer or a very
small one to two inch Pink Zinger.
Some anglers make their own lures based on
local knowledge. Once during a kayak fishing tournament in Nanaimo in 2012
where Pink salmon was the prime target, I was fishing near a man who was successfully
catching many Pink salmon. I asked him what he was using as a lure and he
simply answered: “A hook and a piece of ribbon.” I was certain he was pulling
my leg and that he told me that to keep from sharing his secret. But later I
had the chance to get to know him and I realized that he had been telling the
truth. This very nice gentleman was simply using a hook and two 1.5 inch long pieces
of ribbon, the kind you wrap gifts with, one red and one white.
When casting, I personally prefer a faster
retrieve action with some jerking motion to trigger the aggressiveness of the
fish. I use scent in the hopes of increasing my chances of a bite, but I admit
that my fishing companions who know how to fish and don’t use scent, tend to
catch the same amount of salmon as I do. I see no statistical evidences at this
point that fishing scents increase my rate of success.
I always tell my students that, if the fish
are not biting after 10 casts, change one element of your approach. This could
be your location, your lure, the action of your lure or the speed and depth of
your retrieve.
Equipment
As per law in British Columbia, all salmon
anglers must use a single barbless hook. I prefer to use the largest hook
possible that will not disrupt the natural action of my lures. Especially large
salmon like Chinook, Coho and chum have powerful jaws and I want to make sure
the hook is well set up in the mouth. I have had numerous small hooks bend or
break during a fight with a combative salmon… again the big one got away.
When kayak fishing, a casting rod and reel
is your best option. I often like to use a trout rod and reel with eight-pound
test monofilament to catch large Chinook, Chum and Coho. The trout rod allows
for easier and longer casting, but it takes skill (and a lot more time) to reel
the fish in, as you must really “play” your fish to avoid breaking the line. If
you want to be conservative, you can use a more robust reel and rod with 20-pound
test braided line (this line has an equivalent diameter to six pound test
monofilament line). I prefer braided line
due to the higher diameter to strength ratio. Use reputable brands as they
ensure an easier cast and greater reach.
20-pound test braided lines work when
fishing for all 5 species of salmon indigenous to the coastal waters of British
Columbia. If you are targeting mostly Chinook, you may want to upgrade to
30-pound test braided line. Doing so will decrease the distance of each cast,
but you will reduce the chance of breaking your line (and letting the big one
get away again!) Remember, it is harder to knot braided line and bad knots are
a major cause of losing fish. Always double and triple check your knots.
How
to know when to eat or when to release your catch
During the pre-spawning season, the color and
physical features of the salmon changes. Because they stop actively feeding, salmon
burn their fat reserves, which means you no longer get that fatty and delicious
grey layer on the meat. As the spawning season continues the flesh begins to
slowly decay. The flesh becomes paler and the texture of the meat changes. This
slow decay also creates an ideal environment for parasites. I personally release
any salmon I catch that is in an advanced stage of spawning, only keeping the
“nice” looking ones based on skin coloration. When I fillet my catches, I sort
the fillets into 2 categories: fillets for smoking if the flesh is paler, and filets
for regular consumption if the meat looks like it is from a non spawning salmon.
Conclusion
Kayak fishing for salmon in estuaries
during the pre-spawning and spawning seasons provides outstanding fishing opportunities.
The ability to be stealth and easily maneuver in a kayak, as well as the
shallow draft, make the kayak a far superior craft for fishing in an estuary
than any motor boat.
BC has numerous river estuaries through
which salmon travel on their way to spawn. I myself live 800 metres from a
kayak launch, which is a 20 minute paddle away from two of my favorite estuaries.
I feel so blessed to live in beautiful British Columbia.
Fishing is just not about catching fish, it
is also about having fun, staying fit, creating lasting memories with friends,
watching wildlife and of course enjoying good food! To review all I have
mentioned in this blog, follow this link to our video.
I hope I have hooked you!
