Tofino Area Report: May 2005
The 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.
May is definitely “Halibut month” in Tofino area waters,
and your efforts should be rewarded with Halibut ranging from 20-60
lbs on average, and understanding the areas tides and bottom structure
is very important.
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,
Call us at 1-888-534-7422; we’d like to help you get hooked
up!
Jay Mohl
Clayoquot Ventures, Tofino
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