There are limited numbers of Trout within the system except during the Spring and early Summer ,mostly available in the upper River . Great Central Lake provided the main Water Flow for this River and in so doing provides some exceptional Cutthroat Fishing in the early Spring and even in the late Fall after the Salmon have basically completed their life cycle.
This system has a very healthy Caddis Population and some fairly large Stone Flies,couple that with a good supply of Fresh Water Crayfish and you have the making of a very healthy fishery. Unfortunately, the essense of quiet time during your fishing experiences are often disrupted by noisy Jet Boats ...however, this fishery itself is something else and produces many large fish for your photo collection or fridge
Sept2nd...
Coho are coming into the River in good numbers,I have seen them all the way to the Money's Pool...Sockeye are still in large numbers and the males will take a fly is in it's face..
Steelhead are also in small numbers and holding in the fast water areas..Money's Pool as always is a good bet..I have seen some big Springs in the Lake pool at the HAtchery and Money's Pool but in very small numbers so far...they might be holding below the falls and in the Slide Pool areas
August 25th...we need rain...August 20th..
Some Chinook and Coho have entered the River,not enough for the snaggers to be happy but enough to target with large bright flies in the holding areas of the Confluence ,trestle and Bucket areas. Make sure you release any wild Steelhead
August 8th...Water is getting low and the snaggers are out in full force...with reports of Chinook and a few Coho about makes it interesting for all fishers. Regular folk enjoying a summer cool down on the river also get into your fishing lanes but they soon pass and rarely change your chances. There are a good num,ber of Steelhead in teh Upper RIver near the Ash Confluence...and some nice trout above the upper Falls
July 15th..
Good water levels still ,Sockeye are making their way up river easily without too much poaching going on....along with tehse Sockeye Summer Run Steelhead will make their way along with them..
Black Double Bead Stoneflies work awesome on this system
July 8th...
This year the Sockeye run is healthy enough for DFO to continue the sport fishery at Papermill Dam going,the limit is 2 fish,although the limit in the cannel from the boats is 4 fish.Can't understand but they do like to mis-manage!
Summer Steelhead are coming in in smaller numbers than I would have suspected, although the local guides have been targetting them more in the past 4-5 years and that will definitely have an impact of their recovery and survival
June 15th...
It's that time of year again,nice trout,summer run Steelhead and highish water...this year we are seeing many more Sockeye in the Upper River and that is good news for all fishers...now if only the Big Cutties out of Great Central Lake will co-operate when they drop down after the Sockeye Fry...??! Nice Trout...Beulah Tonic Line and Double Bead Stone fly
May7th....
Water is coming down somewhat ...the entire River is now bait free so the majority of the gear anglers will put their guts away and likely either begin to wait for the Sockeye to begin or head to the ocean for Chinook fishing. The hatchery has released more than 100,000 Steelhead smolts this past week,so lets hope they make it out and somehow find their way back as Steelhead. The Sockeye smolts will be coming out of Great Central lake and Sproat Lake,this means that the Cutthroat Trout will be in hot persuit in teh Sproat Rivers, the Ash,and Stamp systems.
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April 29th...
The River is still running a bit high..pressure is off from all the gear and jet fishers,closed to bait again so get your fly rods out and work the slots and deeper pools around the Gun Club..if you have the energy fish the Falls pool to the Slide pool and work the sides well...you will be rewarded for your efforts
April20th...
Hopefully the Steelhead have done their thing and spawned without being tormented by the Jet boats and the poachers.Fly activity is about to begin off the eddies and slower water sections...also,Minnow action coming out of Great Central lake will be chaotic come the warmer weather ,the River is currently closed above the Ash River but open in May..check the regulations and get ready for some fine Dry Fly Action...last year I landed some very large Cutthroat Trout coming or following the fry out of the Lake. Also,the Gun Club area can produce some fine Rainbow Trout just above the big pool...Minnows
March 25th....
The fishing pressure has been heavy this year especially from the guide boats...however,it is now calming down a bit and with the fish moving up into the upper reaches of the river to spawn perhaps these boats will leave these great fish alone...fly fishing will be a good bet for any fish returning to the salt and recovering fish...take care not to out play these weak fish and release them quickly..ove the years I have found that 3" egg sucking leeches being one of the better patterns to use
Feb25th..2010
The Stamp has not been too friendly for Fly Fishers so far this year,high water and too many jet boats...there have been good numbers of fish about..I am anxiously awaiting for Mid-late March for good fishing conditions and some large Male Steelhead to become available
December 4th...
The water levels are coming down with the cold weather and full moon...fresh winter fish are entering the system with a peak in a week or so...a great time to swing those flies..leave the poor Summer run fish alone in the upper system...they have been recycled Once already
November 5th..
There is a lot of water coming down the system, this year's Coho run was very strong,the Chinook Run very weak and the Sockeye sort of moderate. Now that the water is a bit higher the snaggers can't isolate the fish coming thru the slots and have once again lost their zest for such foolishness. There are good numbers of Summer Run Steelhead all through the upper river above the falls...the guides are making sure these fish are hooked many times before they preish of weakness..the good thing is that there will soon be some winter run fish coming into the lower sections and that will open the door for more anglers to really enjoy this sport. I have seen many Chum near the Gun Club and the Confluence areas...but few trout..
or Steelhead..
Try the Ash River with the fly soon...
September..8th...Wow,what a few days can mean...many nice coho just storming in...the water is still low so the snaggers are having a field day...don't forget to check your fish very thoroughly...many Summer Run Steelhead enter the Rivers with the schools of Coho...SIlveer Chinook are also tagging along for support..humph....Try the Bucket below the falls...many fish are holding up there.
Sept 5th...
Not much to report because of low water...a few fish trickle into the system with every tide and the numbers of Coho are increasing..with this little rain and big moon we will likely see much more movement ..
August 28th....
Fished the Stamp today ..water is very warm and low...there were some Sockeye coming in with the morning High Tide that did make theri way to the Bucket area...landed a few Trout and saw a small Steelhead caught by another Fly Fisher.
August 20th...
Chinook and Coho are now entering the system ,but low water is allowing them to be snagged during their migration..o9nce we see a bit of rain head for the River,the fish will get willing to bite.
For Chinook large Black Leeches and Coho like Large Flashabou flies,they will bite only when they stop moving or harassed.
July 16th...
Ther are still some nice Summer Run Steelhead entering the system...theri chances of continuing past Paper Mill Damn now is much better since the Sport Fishery(if you want to call it that) is closed because of Snagging and dumping of excess fish!
The water is very low and getting warmer. Watch for the first rains and head to your favorite run for some nice Torut and perhaps a Steelhead.
July 3rd..
There has been good numbers of Sockeye entering the Stamp River system and there are lots of SOckeye in the Upper River pools near Great Central Lake.
Trout fishing has been good throughout the river.Summer run Steelhead are in the system,more this year for sure than last. Some are in the Small category but very beautiful and fiesty.
June 6th....
With the Sockeye fishery looking OK this year we will see more Steelhead enter the system by July...this is a great dry fly fishery in the upper reaches,tagging along will be some very nice trout to 3 lbs. For those very lucky fishers there are also some very impressive Cutthroat Trout below Great Central Lake. Don't be at all forgetful about fishing the Sproat River. Some of the Trout in there look like Small Steelhead. Taylor River is also a great bet with reports of a few Cutties from Sproat Lake nearing double digits.
China ,Cous,Coleman Creeks also do get a few Summer Steelhead and nice Trout....Franklin River and Klanawa if the water is not low are hot spots.For teh lake fisher,Sarita Lake is boasting 3-5 lb. cutties off the drop-off
May 18...
The water has receeded well ,enough to wash out recovering Steelhead and the millions of fry coming out of Great Central Lake ,Sproat Lake and the tributaries. Yesterday I hooked into some very nice Trout and lost what I thought was a Cutthraot Trout of more than 5 lbs. Didn't see any Steelhead but I was trout fishing from the lake to the Hatchery
Taylor River as some Very Large Cutthraot Trout in it as we speak,some of these fish in excess of 6 lbs...fly fising only waters.
MAY 15th.....Unfortunately many of the Port Alberni fishing guides still think it's cool to ,on a daily basis,catch as many of the recovering Steelhead as possible on the upper Stamp River. claiming bold numbers of fish being caught. However,if one was to tally the numbers and compare to the actual numbers of fish in the system you would find that these poor fish not only will not survive but have been hooked more than 6 times. Not my idea of a real sport
March30th...April 10th
There are fresh Steelhead coming into the River and holding below the Falls...once the water rises a bit they will come into the upper reaches of the river and get ready to Spawn. We have caught Spawned out fish already ,several fellows from Comox landed 11 Spawned out fish today and lost One fresh fish...good stats.
I think it is time to leave these fish alone
Feb 10th...
The earlier reports of this being a good year was simply wishful thinking on the part of the local guides...not only have the fish not shown up but there are many dead Steelhead above the Falls from being hooked so many times and handled. Fortunately many of these fish are hatchery fish and typically not a Spawning factor.
However, Feb' can bring in some very big fish...so watch for the rise in water and head for the Falls pool and Slide,Bucket, Confluence and Aligator Run.
SOme of the Inlet Rivers also have Winter Run Steelhead in them,such as China Creek,Franklin(canyon water),Coleman Creek ,Cous Creek and a few others.
December 17th...'08
There are certainly Fresh Winter Run Steelhead in the Lower System , with any amount of rain within the next week or so should produce even more fish.All the flies below will add to your success . Bright coloured Bunny Leeches and Intruder patterns are a sure bet in any unbothered waters,Once these fish see gear they will hunker down and the need to get your presentation in front of them is necessary for hook-ups.. In this picture you see a nice 10lb. Clipped/hatchery Steelhead landed on a tube fly.
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