A Massive Sixty Four Pound British Columbia Salmon

Here is a story worth sharing with all my fishing friends on the internet. My co-worker Dave is set to go on a guided Salmon fishing trip in British Columbia net week. He booked his trip here in Calgary at the boat and sportsman’s show. Dave received this e-mail last week from his guide David Summers at Serengeti Fishing Charters www.serengetifishingcharters.com. Here is the story. Please share it with all your fishing friends!

Hello all,

Well this is one for the ages. Yesterday while trolling along one of our hot spots I saw the rod bend down, and down again, I ran to the rod, pulled up hard and only 6 inches up the rod stopped dead. I said to Mav who I was guiding, “this fish is big” however, I didn’t expect what to was to transpire in the next twenty minutes. I meant big as in 40lbs, which is an amazing Chinook (King) salmon, not the once in a lifetime fish that was soon to follow. 

The fish peeled line faster than I have ever seen another fish do it and by the time I got the other rod in and out of the way, Mav, a guest from Salt Lake City Utah, only had about 30 more yards of line left on his reel. I ran up to the helm and floored the gas and chased after the fish. The rod that was already in the boat almost went into the drink but I didn’t care, I knew this was a special fish. After a 3/4 mile chase, the fish stopped and stayed deep shaking its head often like a large halibut will do so I was beginning to think it could be a flatty.  Mav’s rod was bent into the water and I thought to myself there is NO WAY this could be a salmon so I readied the harpoon.  A few minutes later I looked down and seen the shadow and silver glimmer of a huge Chinook salmon.

I knew it was big. I was thinking 50lbs at first as I only caught a glimpse of it. I ran and grabbed the net, the fish slid towards the boat on its side and into the net it went barely fitting its 51″ body in.  The girth on this fish was 31″.  I pulled it into the boat and immediately knew it was big. 58lbs was my guess but little did I know this fish was one that would break into a class that is only broken a handful of times on the coast of BC every year, the 60lb class! The scale bounced down40, 50, then 60…I thought 60!!!!  But it went further down bouncing around 63 to 65 lbs and settling right at 64lbs, WOW. A 64LBS CHINOOK SALMON!  I yelled and hollered and jumped up and down with my guests on the boat, I have never had a fish like this grace the decks of the Ms. Heather III.  IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING MOMENTS OF BOTH MY AND MAV’S LIVES!

We had several other Chinook in the box including a thirty seven pounder, and it dwarfed it, made it look like a minnow. WHAT AN AMAZING FISH!  THIS FISH IS NOW THE LARGEST EVER GUIDED CHINOOK OUT OF PORT HARDY!  I can not wait to catch another one which this year is looking to provide as it is only June 28th and many of the big fish do not arrive till July and August. 

WE STILL HAVE A FEW DATES LEFT THIS YEAR and if you have been sitting on the edge of coming or not, I think you should take a look at the attached picture!
July 8-10, July 12-15, July 21-25, and Aug 25-27 are still available.  We also have a 2 some looking for another one or two people for their group fishing July 17-19th.  Let me know if you are interested.

Best Wishes,
David Summers
Serengeti Fishing Charters
www.serengetifishingcharters.com
1-888-281-2275

Night Fishing The Bow River

Brown Trout Pictures

I have been getting a few requests lately from the readers of the Bow River Blog to post their pictures of their fine catches. Ron has asked me to share his night time pictures with us here to prove that fishing for trout at night can be very productive. As seen here by his picture you might want to try your luck on your local river or stream after the sun goes down! Check this link below for more information on night fishing.

https://www.bowriverblog.com/2007/08/20/night-fishing-the-bow-river/#more-202

Thanks for sharing your pictures with us Ron!

Fishing Trip’s On The Bow River

The Hot Summer Sun

My computer has finally gotten fixed and I am back up and running, wow what a relief it is to be able to get some information out to my followers and readers. I have been guiding all month of June and seen some nice Rainbows and some decent Brown Trout come into the landing net. The last float I guided was the Policeman’s Flats to MacKinnon Flats trip. Brad was out for a trip his wife had given him for his fiftieth birthday present. We hooked up at the Tim Horton’s and then we hooked into some fierce trout’s. In the first hour of Brad’s trip he hooked and landed at least ten nice fish. Then the sun warmed the slightly stained green water of the Bow River and then it was game on.

We arrived at a deep hole along our journey and pulled off the river to see what we could hook and land. I switched Brad’s hook to a Rapala Clack’in Rap and we walked up river to fish the top of the run. We never made it to the top and Brad had already hooked into two fat Rainbows that pulled and tugged hard before being landed. A few more fish were caught and released before we finished fishing our chosen hole. Then we jumped back into the boat and carried on down the river.

The river came alive as the thermometer rose to twenty seven degrees. The water temperature heated up to the ideal feeding temperature for trout. We capitalized on the perfect water temp’s and hooked into many more great trout’s. By the time our trip was over Brad had landed around thirty nice fish on the spinners as well as the crank bait’s. I asked him how he enjoyed the trip after we were only two hours in and he stated “Mike you have far exceeded my expectations thus far”. I informed him there was two hours left in our trip and many more fish to be caught. I am glad I was accurate with my statement.

I believe Brad had caught more fish than he ever had in one day of trout fishing and I am not talking about those pan fry’s you catch from a stocked pond, I am talking about some bruiser trout’s. The kind of fish you tell your buddies about and make them jealous as they listen to your story. Thank goodness for wives who send their husbands on guided fishing trips to float the Bow River! Once I receive the pictures back from Brad I will post one here for you to feast your eyes on. I would like to thank Brad and his wife for a great day spent on one of the greatest rivers in the whole world, the mighty Bow River.

Bow River Fishing Trip’s

 

Thank You For Your Business

It’s been awhile since I made my last post. Much is happening on the fishing front with the Bow River getting the storm water and the dams have opened their gates. I was privileged to take out two new clients last weekend. Brynn and his father Scott joined me on a hot and sunny Saturday morning. We kicked our trip off at Policeman’s flats and floated to our destination point of MacKinnon Flats. The morning started off a little slow but as the sun warmed the water the fish warmed up to their hooks. Brynn’s first fish was a respectable Brown Trout that battled all the way into the boat. Then the competition began. I think dad was a little choked as Brynn jabbed, “that’s a buck dad”.

Dad was determined to get the next fish and it was there, boom a sweet rainbow trout was hooked and landed. “That’s one to one son, pokes dad back at his son. I am thinking to myself, “Ok it’s going to be one of those days”. No fun today some just serious fishing business. I love the competition. I’m happy to see it’s not just me who keeps score. They battled back and forth with one going ahead of the other all day, some serious trout were landed and we came to the last five minutes of the trip and wham, Brynn hooks a trout that would have evened the score at 6 to 6. The fish was scrappy and just did not want to be landed. So as we came around the corner the tally was six fish for dad Scott and five fish for son Brynn.

What a perfect day for trout fishing. Thank you so much for letting me serve you last weekend. I hope your pictures of the trip turned out great. Feel free to contact me for your next fishing trip on the Bow River. Cheers.