Tofino Area Report: May 2005The month of May undoubtedly provides some of the most diverse fishing options of the season in the Tofino area. Tofino’s offshore and inshore areas, as well as the remote streams and lakes that skirt Clayoquot Sound, all provide great opportunity for a variety of species. After a great early season for Chinook salmon and Halibut, these
offshore fisheries only intensify as the season progresses. For
Chinook Salmon, your efforts should be focused on the offshore waters
from Tofino’s Portland or Raphael Pts. Trolling from the bottom
up to 120 feet, rig your anchovies or medium Herring in a teaser
head 6-8 feet behind your favorite flasher. These aggressive fish
are notorious for slamming large spoons and plugs, so be prepared
with a few of the local proven producers. Watch your sonar, as well
as the horizon, for the large schools of Pilchards that are often
present. This is when your 6-7 inch spoons and plugs will often
out-fish other gear types. Fishing with Lead Minnow and Pipe style Jigs on the bottom are quite effective, but the method of choice would be to fish baits like Herring, Pilchards, Octopus or Salmon Bellies on a Gibbs spreader bar. The use of scents on your jigs or hoochy skirts is something worth trying. Abundant numbers of juvenile Coho Salmon have started the local saltwater fly fishery early this year, with the sizes of these feisty salmon increasing rapidly over the next few months. Small flies in orange or pink are the best bet, such as Shrimp, Clousers and Epoxys. Numerous late spring Steelhead have been providing great action on Flies, Marabou Jigs, and light spinning gear. Flies such as the Steelies Nightmare, Clayoquot Prawns and Bunny Leeches have been most productive this spring. Gibbs #35 Koho spoons are a great springtime lure for both Steelhead and Cutthroat. Trout fishing in the Tofino-Clayoquot Sound area is now prime, with local beaches often boiling with aggressive Sea-runs willing to take any thing that resembles a Salmon fry. Local lakes are active for both Rainbows and Cutthroat with Chironomids, nymphs, dragonfly nymphs and small minnow patterns a focus. For those anglers on the east coast of the island that are not
getting enough action, Jay Mohl For current fishing reports or info on bookings and accommodation packages:Web Address: TofinoFishing.com 
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