I was over in Canada having a bit of a look about and I just had to give salmon fishing a go. There are 4 types of Pacific Salmon and the Chinooks (aka, spring, king, tyee) where gathering up near the mouth of the Capilano river right near the Lions Gate bidge near down town Vancouver city. They were getting ready to head up river to spawn and then die.

My timing in Vancouver couldn't have been better as they only gather up like this for about 3 to 4 weeks of the year.

The style of fishing is to send trolling baits or hootchy lures down on a outrigger to depth of between 90 to 70ft. They tend to use very flexable rods with a very soft action and saltwater fly reels. They have a drag setting on the reel but if the fish wants to take line, you have to let go of the crank knobs or you'll bust up your knuckles or bust off. It's very exciting fishing.

It was a two person share and the guy I ended up with was an Aussie from Sydney. I won the toss so the first hook up was mine.

Before the down rigger weight had even hit the bottom we were on. It took a bit of getting used to, fighting the fish on the fly reels but I got the hang of it fairly quickly. A baptisum of fire I guess. It felt like a really nice fish and I'd been fighting it for about 5 minutes and I was getting the feeling I had him beat when all of a sudden, line just started peeling off the reel like a tractor was pulling it. Yep, a habor seal fancied my fish a little more than I did. Geordie, our guide was confident that he could get the fish back off the seal if I could just keep the pressure on the fish and he could keep the boat over the seal. Eventually the seal would need air and not wanting to surface near the boat, would have to let go of the fish. Seemed simple enough. Nope, the seal managed to give us the slip on several occasions to pop up for air away from the boat with the fish still firmly in its jaws.  After the cat and mouse game continued on for 20 minutes, we just had to cut our losses, bust off and re set the gear. Up popped the seal about 50 metres away chewing on his sizable prize. Bastard. He'd played this game before

20 minutes passed and my fishing pal managed to raise a nice 10lb fish. Now it was my turn again. Set the gear down again and very shortly after, some action. I spung to my feet, set the hook and it was on. It was clear early on that it was another nice fish. After 5 minutes, we got our first glimps of it and yes, it was a bloody nice fish. It swam along the side of the boat about 30ft away and I could be buggered if I could get it to turn. I'd get a bit of line and it would take it right back. All we could do was drive the boat along side. She dove a couple more times and each time she surfaced, same deal, just hung out about 30ft away with no intention of getting close to the boat. Bit by bit, closer and closer and finally after 20 minutes and some swift net work from our guide, we put her on board. 

A 27lb Chinook.

Interestingly enough, when we cut her open, the flesh was white. Turns out its a genetic thing and about 1 in 100 are like it. They tend to fetch a higher price at market but to my untrained pallet, it tasted similar to the pink fleshed one that I caught a week later (yep, I went out again. Couldn't help myself) Needless to say I was eating BBQed salmon 2 if not 3 times a day for a week and truth be told, I still didn't get sick of it.

I went out with Bonnie Lee Charters who operate out of Granville Island near downtown. They're one of the few that will help you find someone to share a charter with. If you're over there at the right time of year, check them out

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