Sport Fishing and the Art of Relaxation

Photo by Guy  Kimola

Every angler has their own reason for loving fishing, whether it’s the thrill of the chase, getting to be outdoors all day, or frying up the catch at home. But there’s another big reason that people head out onto the water: fishing is relaxing.

Although the word “relaxing” may seem at odds with the image of a fisherman fighting a massive Chinook salmon for an hour or two before getting it onto the boat, that is only one aspect of the sport. Because sportfishing takes you out on the water for hours at a time—often the whole day—there’s a lot of downtime between such battles.

These moments between tugs on the line are also what fishing is known for. In fact, the most common reason people fish is to relax, according to the American Sportfishing Association. 

Photo by Owen Perry

While waiting for the next battle, an angler can allow their mind to wander—but not too much, because you need to be able to react when the bite does come. This makes fishing an activity similar to mowing the lawn or painting a wall. That is, it engages part of your brain, but it doesn’t always engage all of it. You need to pay attention, but you don’t need to pay it all of your attention.

This makes fishing the perfect set up for letting your mind wander—and often the type of situation that gives rise to Eureka moments. 

Not only does fishing give you time with your own thoughts, but the constant casting and reeling means it’s a repetitive activity. Repetitive activities are stress busting. And diverting attention to repetition is not only mentally soothing, but actually releases physical tension too. 

Photo by Guy Kimola

Whether you're out with Escott Sportfishing trolling, mooching, or even saltwater fly fishing, you can expect the perfect mixture of excitement and relaxation—while soaking up the scenery of Haida Gwaii, which is always a relaxing thing.

The Fishing Seasons of Haida Gwaii

Beautiful Haida Gwaii is known for many things.

The undeniably stunning scenery, a decidedly relaxed way of life, the distinctive art of the Haida people, and its varied and lush wildlife. We’ve got humpback whales, bald eagles, harbour seals, and even spirit bears. But of most interest to Escott Sportfishing and our guests is—of course—the innumerable fish that populate its waters.

Haida Gwaii, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, is considered to have some of the best salmon fishing grounds in the world. Made up of over 150 islands and classed as a temperate rainforest zone, the Haida Gwaii, with its many protected bays and kelp beds, couldn’t be more welcoming to salmon, halibut, and other game fish that end up on the business end of our fishing poles.

Millions of Chinook and Coho swim through the island chain on runs that take them south from Alaska to their home waters to breed. Masset, where Escott’s Haida Gwaii fishing lodge is located, essentially sits in the middle of this fish superhighway. Different species of salmon run at different times of year, with the Haida Gwaii salmon season spanning all the way from May until September.

But Tyees aren’t the only giants that swim these waters. Halibut hang about Haida Gwaii all year long, usually choosing to stay in waters much deeper than the salmon. Still, Escott’s hali fishing grounds are located only a half-hour boat ride from the Lodge, where depths plunge as deep as 275 feet.

If you book your Haida Gwaii sportfishing trip for September, there’s also opportunity to catch yet another of the prized fish that call these waters home—steelhead, otherwise known as rainbow trout.

With different species of quality sport fish swimming these waters all year round, there is no question why Haida Gwaii is known as a fisherman’s paradise.

            

From Coho to Chinook: The Many Salmon of Haida Gwaii

Photo By Owen Perry

Located on the West Coast of Canada, the Haida Gwaii of British Columbia have some of the best salmon fishing in the entire world. The reason the fishing is so good is because the island chain comes early on in the fish’s migration from the Arctic southward. Escott Lodge, which sits on the northern tip of Graham Island, is in the middle of all this frantic salmon activity, with the sportfishing season running from early May until the end of September.

Though they all pass along the BC coast, there are five different Pacific salmon species that inhabit the waters Escott trawls, and each salmon has its own season, behaviour, and appeal.

Chinook

The main salmon people come to come to Masset to land is the Chinook. Also known as the King salmon, the Chinook grows to the largest size of all the species—hence its royal nickname. These fish live the longest (up to 9 years) and can weigh in at over 100 lbs, although most average closer to the 20 lb mark. Anything over 30 lbs is classed as a “Tyee”—the ultimate trophy for any fishing trip. Chinooks start appearing around Haida Gwaii in early May and stick around until mid-August.

Coho

Another fish that lures anglers to the BC coast is the equally mighty Coho. It doesn’t match the Chinook in size, coming in at an average 10 to 15 lbs, but many prefer the more mild taste of Coho (a.k.a. Silver salmon) for eating fresh. Easy to identify by their hooked upper jaw, the acrobatic Coho are in season from early July until the end of September.

Chum, Sockeye, and Pink

Though Chinook and Coho are what many sport fishermen are after, the most abundant salmon in the Pacific are Pink, Chum, and Sockeye. Pink salmon are the smallest of the bunch (4 to 6 lbs) because they have the shortest lifespan, living 3 years maximum. Chum and Sockeye share the same long and thin profile, but while Sockeye average 7 lbs, Chum grow to up to 25 lbs.

No matter what salmon ends up on the end of your line, Escott Sportfishing will make sure it’s properly prepared for your table or released back into the ocean to continue on its way south.

Your Choice of Scenic Route: Getting to Masset from the Mainland

Photo by Owen Perry

One of the bonuses of booking a fishing adventure with Escott Sportsfishing is the opportunity to stay on Haida Gwaii, a stunning chain of more than 150 islands along the coast of British Columbia. Escott Lodge is built upon on the shores of Delkatla Inlet in Masset, BC, established on the largest island in the Haida Gwaii: Graham Island.

A global destination for ecotourists, outdoors adventurers, and wildlife enthusiasts, Masset, Graham Island, and the rest of Haida Gwaii are home to stunning landscapes and a rich variety of wildlife—including the mighty salmon.

There are three ways to get to the village of Masset from the mainland:

1. Airplane Visitors leaving from Vancouver can fly direct to Masset Airport (which has a 5,000-foot paved runway) by charter airplane or on one of Pacific Coastal Airlines regularly scheduled flights. The airport is located 3 km from the village centre, with taxis or rental cars available. Another option is to travel from Vancouver via Air Canada to Sandspit Airport, located on the more southerly island of Moresby. Masset is about a three-hour drive north, following a 20-minute ferry ride to jump islands.

Photo by Owen Perry

2. Floatplane For guests arriving from central BC, daily seaplane flights are available from Prince Rupert to Masset with Inland Air Charters. The hour-long flight will not only get you some spectacular views, but will conveniently land you in Masset Harbour.

 3. BC Ferries For those travelling by car or wanting to take the ultimate scenic route, BC Ferries docks in Skidegate, on the southernmost part of Graham Island. There are direct routes from Prince Rupert and connectors from Port Hardy (on Vancouver Island), with both overnight and daytime sailings available. During summer, early booking is advised, as these crossings are often filled to capacity. The drive from Skidegate to Escott’s Haida Gwaii lodge at Masset is just over 100 km.

Some Good Old-Fashioned Knowhow: Successful Fishing Techniques

Capt. D. Escott using some good old-fashioned knowhow

You can be outfitted with the highest quality reels, the best fishing vessel, and the flashiest tackle around—but that doesn’t necessarily add up to a successful day of fishing. The surest thing to bring in a great haul of salmon? Some good old-fashioned knowhow.

Not only does catching that Tyee mean knowing when and where to look for it, but it also means knowing what fishing techniques to use for any given set of conditions. Will it be whole herring or cut-plug for bait? Or maybe a hoochie or a spoon lure is the surest bet to get a fish on the line. Then you need to ask yourself: Is it time for trolling (drawing the fishing line behind the moving boat) or is it time for mooching (slowly drifting through the water on the current)?

After nearly two decades of coastal fishing, Captain Danny Escott has an answer for all of the above—as does each one of the Escott guides, who each train extensively under Captain Escott.

Every Escott Sportfishing outing uses all the top-of-the-line stuff: Grady White boats, Abel reels, Grade A bait, the latest radar technology, and more. But it’s the skill and knowledge every expedition is led with that makes for a cutting-edge fishing experience. Being on the waters of Haida Gwaii every day means we can watch baitfish movement and salmon feeding patterns, which means we know where to go to start reeling them in, and what exactly is going to catch their eye.

When technique, tools, and knowhow combine, pulling that first Chinook into the boat or catching that first Coho with a saltwater fly is just the beginning of a great fishing trip.

INSIDE FISHERMEN: BUZZ RAMSEY

Four o’clock in the morning, and while the world is sleeping you’re loading your equipment and supplies and getting ready for another fishing day. A moment later, you’re watching the sunrise in the front row. All calm and quiet around you. Preparing the bait while the breeze hits your face and after a short (or long) wait, you have a beautiful salmon in your hands. What better way to spend your life than doing what you love?

Salmon. / Source: Escott Sport Fishing Instagram account @escottsportfishing.

The Pacific Northwest region is one of the best places in the world for fishing. It offers an extraordinarily rich and nurturing location for salmon, but you can find many more species while enjoying the most beautiful sunrise and is the favorite location for recognized salmon anglers like Buzz Ramsey.

Ramsey has been the image of Northwest salmon and steelhead fishing for many years. Born in Toledo, Oregon, raised in Portland and being a Fisherman´s son, he has spent a lifetime fishing and you actually can watch him upstream and downstream the West Coast all year round.

Buzz Ramsey at the Tiller. / Source: Outdoorlife.com

Buzz is a cold-water sport fishing expert specializing in sport fishing for steelhead and salmon. Also he’s a regular columnist in Salmon Trout Steelheader, Northwest Sportsman and Alaska Sporting Journal’s magazines. Throughout his career, Buzz has conceived and authored several  how-to-fish fishing reports offered by companies like Luhr Jensen and Pure Fishing, and the more recent Know How Reports offered by Yakima Bait Company of which he is Brand Manager.

He has helped design and market many fishing baits and related products and is now a brand himself. Among many others, The "Buzz Ramsey" name and image have been used to promote and brand the Berkley's Buzz Ramsey designed Air IM-8 Graphite fishing rods, the Luhr Jensen K-11 X Kwikfish, the Berkley Gulp! Sand Shrimp, and the Gulp! Salmon Egg Cluster. Lures design and testing are a large part in Ramsey’s legacy.

Fishermen use many methods to catch salmon, but Buzz offers many tips and additional tricks to salmon anglers. From his experience and years in the water, he has come up with his Basics for Buoy 10 (one of the most productive salmon fisheries in Oregon).

Buzz is also a hall-of-famer for The Association of Northwest Steelheaders and The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. His lures are among the most popular in the market, and are incredibly fun to use.

We get excited when people come to Haida Gwaii just to try one of his renowned techniques for fishing silvers. We must thank all of our local fishing celebs for their continual support of our beautiful sport.

Dreams come true. So if yours (like mine) is fishing, find a rod and bait and go ahead!

Fishing rods: Does size matter?

Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room. Yes, size does matter. When speaking about fishing rods, the type and the size you use in saltwater fishing can help you ensure your catch of the day or make you go home with nothing at all.

Some people, especially fishing newbies, enter stores and purchase the first rod that catches their attention. However, this often proves to be a mistake.

In the past, fishing rods were just sticks that used to dangle a string. They ended in a hook that what people would use for alluring fish with the hope that one would eventually bite. Fortunately, things have changed with time. There are now specially designed rods for each fishing activity. Starting with innovative materials such as graphite, fiberglass and bamboo, modern day fishing rods help anglers to have a more accurate cast and a better control of fish fighting.

For beginners, the most common move is to buy a combo kit. They normally come with around 3 types of reels (i.e. spinning reels, spin cast reels or drag reels) and hooks that adapt to a single rod and use them in different fishing scenarios. But, even with a full kit, inexperience could prove costly. You might just return home empty handed and with broken fishing equipment.

Here are some useful tips to use when shopping rods for saltwater fishing.

Offshore/ Onshore/ Pier Fishing, big fish:

If you’re an adventurist and care for bigger, heavier fish, the best option for you is a Fast Action Rod. The ‘Action’ refers to the rod’s flexibility. In this case, Fast Action Rods are longer and only flexible at the tip of the shaft, while the rest remains rigid. This is great for fishing Salmon and other big fish because they are sturdy and can stand heavier weight and weathers. They work great in deep and shallow waters but they are not suitable to catch smaller fish because the cast is too long and the line too heavy.

Offshore/ Onshore/ Pier fishing, medium fish:

A Medium Action Rod is preferred by many anglers regardless of their experience because of its versatility. This type of rod is flexible along its upper half and is good for both offshore and onshore fishing. It is the best option for fishing in areas surrounded by trees. This rod allows both long and short casts (in a reasonable range). It’s good for medium sized fish while it’s not as accurate for big fish as a Fast action Rod. However, they are adaptable to deep and shallow waters.

Shore fishing/ Pier fishing/ Shallow waters, small fish:

When fishing for smaller kinds of fish, Slow Action Rods are the way to go. These are completely flexible, providing shorter, gentler casts. They are perfect for very small, small, and small-to-medium fish onshore. Because it offers almost no rigidness, this rod doesn’t stand strong winds but it’s a beginner’s best ally.  It allows inexperienced fishers to cast like the pros after a little practice.

No matter what you have in mind, the best is to be prepared for whatever type of fishing you want to do with a proper equipment size to get the job done. We will soon be talking about the right reels for making the best of your fishing experience.

Escott Sportfishing offers you all types of saltwater fishing gear, and the advice of the experts. Book your fishing adventure in advance with Escott Sportfishing and enjoy the excitement of saltwater fishing.