Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: montanafish on February 27, 2007, 03:15:13 PM

Title: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: montanafish on February 27, 2007, 03:15:13 PM
(http://www.creekcompany.com/products/849-b-lr.jpg)

I'm planning to go to Queen Charlotte this summer and was wondering what you folks thought of someone trying to use one of these launched from a beach on the east side of Graham Island.  The idea is to drift fish in about 80 ft of water -- just out from the kelp-- for whatever I might be able to catch there even if it's only bottom fish or rock fish.
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: mojoman on February 27, 2007, 04:13:58 PM
no idea of where ya wanna fish....but dam...thats a nice ride....enjoy...;)))



mojo
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: ae_9 on February 27, 2007, 04:31:45 PM
you must be tall to take that picture
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: DionJL on February 27, 2007, 05:37:18 PM
Yah, make sure you have an Aluminum frame. Don't even bother with a steel framed boat, you'll cut years off the boats life. And i don't know what the currents are like out there but i wouldn't be out there with anything less than 7ft oars and a electric motor.
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: troutbreath on February 27, 2007, 10:58:58 PM
The boot (boat) looks like two seals mating. Keep an eye out for Killer whales. Check your tides before you head out.
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: keithr on February 28, 2007, 07:05:45 AM
Looks like you have a powder coated frame.  Rinse it off when you are done.  If you are not planning to anchor, pick a day when there isn't much wind.
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: troutbreath on February 28, 2007, 07:35:27 AM
Get a long handled net and some buzz bombs etc. You probably only need 20 feet of water in the summer to get into salmon and rock fish/bottom fish. So don't worry about heading way out. Just find the sheltered spots. And a cooler for brown pops were the pump is.
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: montanafish on February 28, 2007, 09:12:36 AM
Thanks Troutbreath,

Having fished with an outfitter out of Prince Rupert one day in 1993 what I recall is that depths of over 50 ft were necessary to get away from the kelp.  I have a box of lake trout lures that are mostly 1 to 2 oz., those should be sufficient don't you think?

Have you fished in the Queen Charlotte area?

I'm thinking that the winds are light most days in July.  Do you think that is correct?
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: troutbreath on February 28, 2007, 10:52:59 AM
I used to work on the Queen of the North that sunk. We fished right off the cardeck when we docked at the Charlottes. The winds are lighter on our coast in July and August, usually. I only fished at the ferry berth and it took seconds to land some flounders for a quick trip to the galley. Probably lots of good spots sheltered near by just didn't bother as we could catch them right by the kitchen and I like fresh flounder/rock fish more than salmon. When your here get some 3inchXH (extra heavy) buzz bombs in pearl blue stripe everything goes after them.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a391/troutbreath/buzzbomb.jpg)
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: Rieber on February 28, 2007, 02:06:02 PM
If you make it back --- let us know how it went.

Wear a life preserver.  :D
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: THE_ROE_SLINGER on February 28, 2007, 02:40:54 PM
Nice toon!!! I believe that one is made by outcast ..correct?
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: montanafish on March 01, 2007, 07:00:56 AM
Nice toon!!! I believe that one is made by outcast ..correct?

The one pictured is made by Creek Co. out of Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  It has an all aluminum frame, 9 ft pontoons. 
Title: Re: Inflatable pontoon boot in Hecate Strait
Post by: Spudcote on March 01, 2007, 11:53:03 AM
I've been working up near Virago Sound (northern side) for 4 summers now, the issue is not what you can catch, it's what you might catch, I can tell you it'd definately be fun to hook into a decent sized spring, the trouble would be landing it. My wierdest unestpected catch was a coho line I put over the side of the boat I work on, I saw the hit, set it, and 15 minutes later, we had a harpooned 42 lb halibut on the deck.

I'll second the use of buzz bombs, there are lots of flounder and sole to be had, as well as a lot of lingcod, green ling, and you'll probably dredge up the odd coho, or even a small (or big...) halibut.

Nothing wrong with dragging a bucktail too if you're up to it.

I can't really speak too much to specific locations, but there's almost always fish to be had up north, so give it a shot, and good luck. Just be safe, wind and currents can be sketchy. A VHF is not a bad idea, or a GPS, but obviously wear a PFD.