Fishy weather: The perfect time for fishing.

A good angler knows that there are many factors that can alter the degree of success of a fishing day; sometimes you can be completely prepared and still… no fish. Is there really a relation between fish and the weather? And if so, what are the best conditions to fish in?

Fish, as well as many other animals, have a great sense of the weather. Don’t expect them to know the amount of snow expected for the winter however… But there are scientific studies that show many animals have a very keen sense of the weather and therefore, react differently depending on the climate conditions. So, if you were wondering; yes, there are good and bad times to go fishing. How do fish react to different weathers?

Winter Weather:

Because fish are cold-blooded, when temperatures drop, their metabolisms tend to slow down a bit, so they don’t feed as much. That means that most fish may not be very active during this season.

Windy Weather:

The old proverb says: “When the wind is east the fish bite the least, when the wind is west the fish bite the best.” This is actually a true statement. When the winds blow from the west and south, it brings insects to the water, making smaller fish swim closer to banks where larger fish tend to eat, and making them get closer to the surface. It’s all a big cycle. So keep on the watch for the winds.

Rainy Weather:

Like humans, certain fish have preferences for rain; while some fish will go deeper into the water to escape from rain, other insect-eating fish will be nearer to the surface waiting for bugs to fall into the water. It all comes down to what you want to fish.

Warm Weather:

Contrary to popular beliefs, summer weather isn’t always the best to fish in. Some fish dislike the heat and go deeper in the water looking for cooler areas. Because of the low pressure that comes with warm weather, it is great to fish early in the morning or late in the afternoon during summer seasons.

Fishing is exciting, especially if you get good bites. Any weather can be a good one to fish in if you take the right measures. It’s helpful to remember that fish have certain preferences for different weathers, what affects one type of fish may not affect another. The best thing to do is find an expert that can tell you when, where, and how to fish to get the best bites around and go back home as a fishing hero –sort of-.

The Escott Sportfishing team really knows their fish, and we will certainly make your fishing experience the best one in your life. Contact us today and book your visit online or by phone by browsing our website http://www.escottsportfishing.com/m/index.html or calling 1.604.818.5106. Make sure your outdoor adventure is covered by the specialists.

Fishing in The Village of Masset

Photo By Guy Kimola

Graham Island, the largest of more than 150 islands that make up Haida Gwaii, is home to the beautiful Village of Masset. The beautiful Village of Masset is a quaint village that prides itself on its rich maritime and fishing history. The Village is home to a population of about 1,400 people, making it the smallest and oldest incorporated village on the island. People from all over the world, from celebrities to tourists, and fishing enthusiasts flock to the Village of Masset to take in the beauty, culture, and fishing.

Escott Sportfishing is located in this beautiful village, giving our guests access to beautiful beaches and world renown hiking trails, just to name a few of the nature activities this island has to offer. But what we are most known for is our excellent fishing waters. Our rivers are filled with some of the best quality Salmon and Halibut in the world.

Salmon fishing is the true heart and soul of the Queen Charlotte Islands. We offer some of the best Chinook and Coho fishing waters in the world. The location of our lodge gives us a prime spot to intercept the salmon as they migrate up stream. Salmon fishing on the island starts as early as the first week of May. During this time frame, you can be guaranteed to catch some good-sized salmon, from 15 to 50 pounds. As the season progresses on, our salmon grow, reaching up to 90 pounds! The biggest salmon caught to date in our records is 73 pounds. You’ll be sure to catch a big one to take home and share.

Halibut season the island starts early May and runs all the way to late September.  Just a quick half hour ride to the grounds and you’ll be on your way to catching some of the best quality Halibut this world has to offer. Saltwater fishing in the deep water is the sure fire method to catching good Halibut; however, it is not uncommon to catch Halibut while fishing for Salmon near the grounds.  On average, the Halibut caught weigh 15 to 50 pounds, but the largest one on record at Escott Sportfishing is 173 pounds! That’s a good size Halibut.

So, whether it’s saltwater or freshwater fish you’re looking for, we have it. This island is well known for its beauty and bountiful waters, making all of our lodge guests happy customers when they leave.

Salmon

Photo By Guy Kimola

Haida Gwaii is one of the best places in the world for sports fishing. Situated on the northern Pacific Ocean, this group of islands is home to a great many wonders in marine ecology. Also known as Queen Charlotte Islands, the archipelago is a great place for water sports.

Haida Gwaii are considered to have the best salmon fishing grounds in the world. This area is considered the starting line for salmon migrating southwards beginning May.

Chinook Salmon (or King Salmon) and Northern Coho Salmon (Silver) are the two types of salmons found near the islands. From May to October, thousands and millions of spawning Herrings pass through the islands. As a result, the waters around the island are brimming with salmons feeding on the Herring as they prepare their bodies to be strong enough to endure their long journey down the British Columbia coastline towards the rivers. As a result, you will find a number of salmons that are over 30lb in size. These salmons are called Tyee.

Chinook Salmon, which start arriving as early as the first week of May, feed on the abundant schools of spawning Herring right at the harbour in Masset which is just 5 minutes from the lodge.
These salmon can be anywhere between 15lb and 50lb. However, the number of fish heading south increases as June approaches, and this is when the Chinooks grow rapidly both in terms of number and size. This makes the six-month period a fantastic time for sport fishing. In June, Chinook grow enough for our sport fishing expedition to catch a 30+ Chinook Salmon, or Tyee, daily. These waters are known to have Chinook salmon of up to 90 pounds, our record is a massive 73 pounds.

Northern Coho Salmon are another salmon showing up near Masset in late June. All through the season, the size of the Coho increases at a rate which is noticeable from week to week, due to their rapid feeding on the Herring. In September, they go into a feeding spree and there are plentiful Cohos in the water, 15lb to 20 lb in size, for as late as October. These fishes are a handful as they are brimming with energy, dancing along the water, testing your skill level and are great on light tackle. You will not find a fresher and tastier fish than these chrome beauties. Our lodge record Coho is 20 pounds.

Pinks, Chum and Sockeye are also available in these waters. However, sport fishing is for the brave and strong and why aim for anything simple. So, lets prepare our lines for the catch of a lifetime, bait up, and take our salmon fishing adventures to the extreme. Your first bite may very well be a Tyee.

Haida Gwaii

Photo by: Guy Kimola

North of the Vancouver Island, along the west coast of British Columbia, on the North Pacific Ocean, lies the Haida Gwaii, or Gwaii Haanas, an archipelago formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. With its breathtakingly landscape and natural habitat, it is clearly one of the most beautiful group of islands in the world. It gets its name from Haida, a local tribe that has inhabited the islands for thousands of years.

Haida people comprise over half of Haida Gwaii population. Not just the islands’ natural beauty, but its strong culture, argillite carvings, totem poles and ancient Haida villages attract visitors from around the world. The islands are mystical, and what adds to its ethereal attractiveness is the ocean.

The four main towns of Haida Gwaii are Masset, Queen Charlotte City, Sandspit and Skidegate.

The archipelago is an ideal place for outdoor activities such as whale-watching, hiking, mountain biking, relaxing on beautiful beaches and numerous natural trails. Plus, many freshwater streams provide excellent opportunity for the avid angler. Northern Haida Gwaii is, however, one of the best places for sports fishing. Haida Gwaii are considered to be the best Chinook Salmon (or King Salmon) and Northern Coho Salmon (Silver) fishing grounds in the world. This area is considered the starting line for salmon migrating southwards between May and October.

During this period, thousands and millions of spawning Herrings pass through the islands, and therefore the waters are brimming with salmon feeding on the Herring as they prepare their bodies to be strong enough to endure their long journey down the British Columbia coastline towards the rivers. As a result, you will find a number of salmons that are over 30lb in size. These salmons are called Tyee.

In fact, you can find scores of salmon feeding on Herrings just five minutes from the Escott’s lodge just near the harbour in Masset, which is at the northern tip of the Haida Gwaii archipelago.

There is something for everyone at Haida Gwaii, be it sport fishing enthusiast, an explorer, a cultural enthusiast, or someone looking to spend some calm time with the nature. Besides the Haida people, there are a number of communities with unique cultures, customs and art forms.

So welcome to Haida Gwaii and once you are here the cozy accommodations and a 5 star dining experience at Escott’s lodge would guarantee this to be the best vacation of your life.