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[chille51]

Considering a trip out there, possibly two in the next month or so.  Was there once for a couple of hours about 6 years ago, I think around October.  Plenty of fish, fishermen, and bears.  Haven't been back since, but would like to change that.  Have been reading the regs and comparing to map to try and make sure I know where I can fish and where I can't, think I've got that figured out but if anyone can make it even clearer than DFO has it would be appreciated.  Wondering about best timing in September - I could get out around the 10th, or later towards the end of the month.  I realize there is a bit of luck of the draw there - too early before the rains and water might be too low.  Too late could be blown out?  Not looking for the secret hot spots, just more a general sense of what to expect.  Besides bears, that much I know!

[Jacobleboe]

I have a friend who was almost killed at the nitnat. The narrows are a very dangerous area with some of the strongest tidal currents on the west coast. If you plan to do any crossings or journeys around the narrows please talk to the locals or do some research about timing it right with the tides.

[VAGAbond]

I used to fish the Nitinat above the lake which is what I assume you are referring to as the regs. are confusing there if you are not familiar with the geography. 

The chinook move in about middle of September.  I went once about the 7th and the river was empty and several times about the 15th and it was full.  Very much influenced by the weather. On one trip about the 15th we arrived on a dry day and the river was stacked with darker fish.  The next day it poured rain and the fishing was incredible, the river was alive with fresh chinook moving through.  The following day the chinook were gone upstream and the river was full of chum already starting to spawn.

There is a good run of coho but in several trips in September I hardly saw a coho.   

So the advice, watch the weather.  The runs come quickly and in numbers but move with the weather.

[chille51]

I have a friend who was almost killed at the nitnat. The narrows are a very dangerous area with some of the strongest tidal currents on the west coast. If you plan to do any crossings or journeys around the narrows please talk to the locals or do some research about timing it right with the tides.

Thanks for this important reminder.  I am generally a pretty risk adverse kind of guy and this definitely extends to my approach around any body of water.  I rarely wade across a river unless I absolutely can't avoid it, and generally won't wade in higher than my waist if I can.  Watch my footing on undercut banks etc.  But accidents happen even when you're being cautious so good to be reminded of any particularly dangerous conditions.

[chille51]

I used to fish the Nitinat above the lake which is what I assume you are referring to as the regs. are confusing there if you are not familiar with the geography. 

The chinook move in about middle of September.  I went once about the 7th and the river was empty and several times about the 15th and it was full.  Very much influenced by the weather. On one trip about the 15th we arrived on a dry day and the river was stacked with darker fish.  The next day it poured rain and the fishing was incredible, the river was alive with fresh chinook moving through.  The following day the chinook were gone upstream and the river was full of chum already starting to spawn.

There is a good run of coho but in several trips in September I hardly saw a coho.   

So the advice, watch the weather.  The runs come quickly and in numbers but move with the weather.

Good advice and kind of what I suspected.  I've fished the Conuma further up WCVI a couple times and the Stamp of course lots of times, and know what sort of difference the weather can make in a hurry.  Looking at the long term forecast right now, my first possible window looks pretty favorable to me.  A few days of good rain up to 10mm leading up to when I would be there, but sunny and clear and presumably a falling river when I would actually be there.  Of course, I only put so much stock in long term forecasts so will be keeping an eye on it and the hydromet data as the date gets closer.

[Wiseguy]

I used to fish the Nitnat for Steelhead when I lived on the island. Hit and miss for sure.

[chille51]

I've seen a couple posts on older threads about a place called "Sturgeon Pool" that seems like it is on the lake itself, I think down near the narrows but no solid idea where it is at.  Anyone know?

[VAGAbond]

The Sturgeon pool is the first non-tidal water above the lake (the lake is tidal) and a place where salmon would stage in numbers when the water was low.  I recall being there when the river was low and clear and eventually realizing the black bottom to the pool was solid chinook.  These fish were typically 15 to 30 lbs.  In some  years finding a fish in the under the 77 cm size was a problem.

The Sturgeon pool was accessed via an old logging road from near the hatchery where a bridge crossed to the northwest side of the river.  Last I heard the bridge had been condemned and traffic blocked.  The road was almost overgrown last time I was there but that was about 10 years ago and things change. 

I talked to a guide at Ucluelet three years ago who works at the hatchery.  He said people still take quads across the bridge and down the road.  It is about three miles to the Sturgeon pool.  He also said without explanation that the pool ‘was about done’.  Last time I was there the river floods has partially removed the gravel bar blocking the outflow from the pool, making it much shallower and trapping log debris over the fish.

There is apparently good coho water near the hatchery, possibly accessed via the hatchery but I have not been there,

This is rough country so access to remote stretches of the river can be difficult.  The philosophy for establishing the several closed areas on the river seems to be that if it can be reached without serious bushwhacking, it is closed to fishing.  The exception was the Sturgeon pool.

There was another river bend pool, I think called the eagle pool, upstream from the Surgeon Pool, where salmon would hold.  It can be seen from the Sturgeon pool road and accessed by wading across the river.  In low water it is also possible to access through the bush from the Nitinat village road.  This requires wading across the river a couple of times.  Watch out for the huge holes along the road side where they extracted gravel for the road.  They can be hidden in brush.

People float the river from an access point along the road from Cowichan lake but I never spotted the access on several trips along that road.  This approach is a favorite for coho fishing.    I think a pullout site requires crossing the end of the lake and it can be rough.

Fish stage in the lake so when it rains and they decide to move it only takes a few minutes to reach most of the chinook fishing holes.

This river can come up fast when it rains and it can really pour.  Be careful if you cross the river that you can still get back.

Good luck and please post your results.

[chille51]

Fantastic information VAGAbond!  Thanks so much.  I have been doing my best to get a sense of things and this is probably the most information I've found in one spot anywhere.  Even if it isn't all good news its more than I knew yesterday.  Unfortunately, in searching older threads most of the discussion seems to center around the unethical practices of some anglers on this river in particular, however those threads are all 10+ years old so my hope is things may have changed a bit as far as that goes.  Either way, I'll be fishing legally regardless of what those around me are doing, and if it becomes obvious that doing so means I won't be getting into any fish... well that's life.  Worst case scenario I got some fresh air and to explore new to me country.

I guess I was mistaken as far as the Sturgeon pool being on the lake.  I did read at least one old post referencing a rough trail down to the lakeside closer to the narrows/ocean end that could be fished from shore with success.  The poster didn't call it the Sturgeon pool, I came across that name elsewhere and the access conditions sounded similar.  Thanks for setting me straight and if you know anything about this lakeside spot or fishing the lake in general I'd love to hear it.  I briefly toyed with the idea of bringing my 14' Lund down with me and giving it a try on the water (with tidal license), but not sure what either the road will be like for a trailer this year or what the boat launch looks like, and I figure the lake isn't a world famous wind surfing destination because of its LACK of wind and waves - so I figure I'll keep it simple this time and just bring the waders.  Can always explore and make some notes for a possible boated excursion in the future.

This morning I plan to take a real close look at the map and the regs over my morning coffee, and probably mark up a map to make sure I know where all the closed spots are.  If you're willing, maybe I can PM you the results for a verification?  Sounds like you know the river pretty well and despite my best efforts its still possible to get it wrong based on internet research.  One thing to look at a map, another to see it in person. I definitely want to make sure I am crystal clear at least on where we can fish and where we can't.

[VAGAbond]

There is a pool down at the Nitinat Narrows where fish stage.  It was once a famous fishing spot.  I have never been down there and suspect it is closed as are most accessible staging areas.

It is a long way down the lake in a 14’ boat.

By  all means contact me for verification.  The road and the river loop around out there and one time you see the river it is flowing right to left and the next time left to right.  Confusing.

Unfortunately I sold my old truck two weeks ago and when I cleaned it out I chucked the last copy of a handy little hand drawn map of the area.

[4x4]

Interesting info VAGAbond.

Are their Sturgeon in the lake? Just curious since there is a Sturgeon pool.

[VAGAbond]

I have never heard of sturgeon there but you never know.  I recall that some sturgeon showed up in the Somass a few years back and were found to be Columbia River fish.  Maybe the same thing happened on the Nitinat.  Or maybe Mr. Sturgeon had a cabin on the river.

[chille51]

Hi again all.  Posting this for the benefit of anyone who may be lurking on this thread with similar questions, or who may search in the future.  Below please find a map that I have marked up to show the closed locations.  With particular gratitude to VAGAbond for reviewing and sharing such great info, particularly helping me pinpoint Red Rock Pool.  A couple of caveats:

- This is the best I can put together through powers of deduction, process of elimination, and VAGAbond's help.  All locations are approximate, and have not been site verified by me as of yet.
- Map only shows the closed areas, not the fishing holes unless they are specifically closed
- Please refer to the regulations for dates of closures.  Some of these spots are closed year round, others for only specific windows
- All closures based on 2022 regulations.  Could be different in future years.