Booking 2025
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| 2024 IN REVIEW |
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2024 was a season to remember at Coastal Springs. Lets take you through some of the highlights of the fishing, the crew, and the experiences our 47th season offered.
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| Chinook |
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Growing on the great momentum in Chinook returns established in 2023, 2024 brought another season with a very meaningful explosion in fish numbers, and while Tyee numbers were low for a while, we picked up some nice numbers of 30 lb+ Chinook as August moved along into September. While there will always be dips in action here and there, 2024 was once again a new high water mark for Chinook fishing at many points of the season. It has been truly an unexplainable feeling to come into such a time of abundance after seeing the leaner years of the late 2010s, and parts of 2022.
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| Coho |
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Another phenomenon we saw in 2024 not seen by any of us in the past (including the ones who have been guiding here for 40+ years), was our sheer numbers and consistent size of coho! From season start, we had 8-12 lb coho in Blackfish Sound hitting constantly throughout the season, topping off at 18 lbs for our largest this summer. Normally, we would have smaller coho numbers and size in early July, with numbers building until Late August/Early September when our huge local runs appear. This year however, we were able to find coho wherever we went. whenever we went. This kept action at a near constant high between bigger fish, and smiles on people's faces. We hope this is the start of a repeatable trend, much like we are seeing in our Chinook fishery.
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| Pinks |
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Pinks were also in great shape this season. While even numbered years are off-years for the big Fraser runs, our local, Vancouver Island, and mainland inlet runs saw unprecedented recovery since near collapse starting in 2018. This year, many of these local river systems saw returns not seen for over 30 years. The Hada River (local) alone saw a 24x increase in run size (Wild First Canada, 2024). Last year saw some of the largest pink returns the Fraser River has seen in modern memory, which bodes incredibly well for 2025 as pinks run on a 2 year cycle.
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| Ling Cod |
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What a season it was for ling cod, especially early in July. We began getting creative with certain harvest techniques, allowing us to cover much more ground while still efficiently bottom fishing, almost doing away with jigging at times. This allowed us to find many previously unknown dens, which resulted in ling cod numbers more than tenfold that of 2023.
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Marine conditions have been incredibly good to our salmon in the past few years, and we are doing all we can to empower the continuation of that for years to come. We do this through participating in relevant initiatives and DNA sampling programs, allowing us and the powers that be to learn much more about the fish in our area. An area which has always been in a data deficit. Our contribution of over 100 Chinook DNA samples this year alone will help to increase predictability, communication, and goodwill with those who manage our fishery.
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| Our Crew |
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We don't have a crew photo from this year so we will just use the equally good looking (+/- 15%) Julian/Moritz group pictured above instead...
We were very fortunate this year to only work with people who have already left their mark on this place, whether having come aboard in recent years, or 44 seasons ago. Guides included Cam Reid, Ed Sharkey, Bruce Cook, Bruce Barnett, Terry "Kojak" Steele, Graham Condly, Roy Carver, Leon Wood, Allan Hyggen, and the long foretold return of James Mace (having last guided for us around 20 years ago). Holding things down in the kitchen and on the dock were once again was Don Goronuk and Nancy Carlson. A noticeable omission is that of Steve Kelly, our previous owner and guide almighty. Steve had to miss his stint this year but is doing well and in tip top shape to get back on the water for a few groups in 2025.
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| Looking to 2025 |
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As outlined above, we are well set up ecologically for more excellent salmon returns in 2025 and have also reached a stable period for our regulations - which now have a much higher probability of becoming more lax rather than anything else, which is a position we have worked hard to achieve. Much of this has been in concert with the Sport Fishing Institute of BC as well as the BC Wildlife Federation, who have assisted us and represented us in Victoria and Ottawa on matters of public fishing regulation, land use, and general predictability in our industry. We owe them great thanks for their efforts, and have decided to donate a trip for 2 to the BC Wildlife Federation's Conservation Lottery! Click here to enter and win a trip with us, or a number of other big (like really big) prizes!
We will be spending a lot of time at the lodge this winter, picking away at projects big and small, making structural upgrades, vessel improvements, and doing all we can to make 2025 an even better season than 2024.
As we quickly march closer and closer to our 50th year in Knight Inlet, we have become very reflective and even more appreciative. We can not thank you enough for wanting to come fishing with us all of these years. It is truly humbling and moving that so many of you have made such a positive connection with us, our home, and all that it can provide. We are thinking of all of you who have walked our dock over the years.
We cant wait to see you again.
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| Booking 2025 |
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We still have room for groups from 2 to 8 guests throughout the season
as always:
BOOKING 6 OR MORE GUESTS GIVES YOU EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE LODGE
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as mentioned in our last email:
There is also just a week left to book your trip at the 2024 rate (plus airfare surcharge) Just refer to this email when booking.
Our 2025 Vancouver Fly-in price increase has already been posted on our website, but you can take advantage of this deal if you book now, saving $300 - $490 per person.
Confirm by Nov. 27 for 2024 rates
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See our Rates Page for Package Details
Packages now available from Vancouver or Campbell River (Vancouver Island)
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| In Closing |
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There is so much to say about 2024 but we will leave you here - you will have to get the rest of the stories directly from us in person. Either that or give Cam a call to just catch up and let us know how you are. We will leave you with a collection of some of the great memories created this season.
Thanks again for all of the good times, great fishing, and perfect memories.
Yours in fishing,
- Cam Reid
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"My first trip to the Float Lodge was 1978
& I have been back at least 25 times."
- Jerry Clegg
Let's Go Fishing!
At Coastal Springs Float Lodge we offer a relaxed, intimate fly-in fishing experience.
