>First, I have a brother-in-law coming from North Carolina for the 4th.
>He's an experienced east coast surf fisher, I know nothing about ff'ing
>in the salt. We'll be up up on Lopez Island for four or five days and
>he's hot to hit the salt for anything. I'd like to be able to take him
>somewhere to fish for something in the salt with a reasonable (read 1%)
>chance of catching something. Anybody here have any guidance on what to
>do or who to call for advice? It would be much appreciated.
Jeff,
The problem with fishing in the salt off the San Juans and the Gulf Islands
etc. is the lack of rocky, sloping beaches. These islands are steep rock
outcroppings with just enough soil for trees and people. The water drops
off quickly at their edges. If you can find a small beach, that's not a
bay, where the tidal current runs along, you've got a shot. Next, you need
bait. If there's feed, you might have fish at the tide changes. I know
people who use boats in the islands to cut the variables down. I don't know
squat about Lopez. There are salmon around Campbell River and maybe Tofino
on Vancouver Island this time of year (it's a bit early). I do recall a
friend and me catching some sea runs (near fresh water streams) and ling
cod in Desolation Sound on flies a few years ago. But it was so iffy, I
vowed to never do it again. You know there are a couple good lakes on Orcas
- Cascade and Mountain lakes with some fine cutthroat fishing. I have
caught some real beauties in Mountain.
Other than that, I could be full of it, and you could find some fish on
Lopez by doing a little exploring. Which is more than I've done.
Good luck,
Leland.
