Moutcha Bay 2007 Derby

fishin-t, I'll go ahead and buy a net but very, very cool of you to offer the loan.  Another thing I love about kayak fishing is the spirit of the guys who do it.

I'm not crazy about having a big ole' net up in the air to catch the breeze but it sounds like the best way to go. 

Another thing I love about kayak fishing is the spirit of the guys who do it.  

No doubt! These are Da Boyz!!

Z

Zulu,

Yeah, that's right.  Last year Danglin wore out Polepoles borrowed net while landing multiple big kings.  And that's why I went ahead and bought myself a stronger net for this year.  Mine survived fine last year, but it's cheap and I don't want to take that chance this year.  BTW, the best bargain that I've found on nets is over at G.I. Joes in Everett.


Polepole,

Don't know the name of that store, but it's right on the way.  You'll go north on 19 into Campbell River and then turn west on 28 just before you go over the river.  Once you turn left on 28, watch on the north side of the street for a nearly all wood, newish looking place.  It's just barely off of 19.

Fishin-T

Fishin-T,

I just talked with Charles.  We are planning to leave Seattle around 7-8 in the evening.  Even if we shave a couple hours off the drive for the next morning, it's worth it IMO.  We haven't decided how far we'll drive yet.  Do you have a suggestion on a cheap hotel just the other side of the border?  I can try to look some up tonight.

There is going to be 4 of us squeezing into Charles van, so it's going to be an exercise in light packing.  And we have to figure out how to fit 3 kayaks on top (1 double and 2 singles).  I think we'll be able to fit, but I'm worried that we won't have space for the extra Trident we'll be bringing home with us.   

Can you go ahead and bring your extra net though Fishing-T?  I think we may need an extra one.

And yes, kayak anglers take care of their own.  That's how we roll.  Almost every one I've met is that way, some of the coolest people I've been around.  Yup, something about the spirit of the kind of people that would take this up in the first place ...

-Allen

Here's the store in Campbell River ... River Sportsman.  If you're anything like me, you like just walking through places like this.  So stop off and say hello to them.  Tell them you're going kayak fishing out at Moutcha.  They'll love it.  And if you don't have your license yet (you can get them online), you can pick one up here too.

Oh ... Fishin-T, remind me again, what are the hot lures to shop for?

-Allen

Looks like we'll all have to stop at that store Pole2. Found this on Canada's DFG website "An angler wishing to retain any species of salmon must purchase and affix a stamp to their licence."
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish/licensing/stamp_e.htm

Z

Zee,

You can still get everything you need online.  When you buy your first permit for the season and a salmon stamp along with it, then it'll be printed with the permit as though it's "affixed".  When you buy a second one (like I'll do this weekend) then you hang on to the first to use as your stamp.

What lures?  Anything like a Spinnow (mostly white, then green seems to be the next most important color, then pink), or a Zelda, or a herring style Point Wilson Dart (I had good luck with a mostly chrome with a little bronze and then green) or a needle fish Pt Wilson.  I tried 3" models last year... nothing.  It had to be 4" or 5" or even 6" to get the strikes.  A lot of guys were merely snagging thier fish though.  In that case the lure won't matter except that it needs a treble to be effective.  I don't like that idea myself, but Moutcha Jim and British Columbia will both allow it so long as it's not "intentional".

Fishin-T

All,

Okay, so here’s my grand plan for getting a bunch of us successfully up to Moutcha:

Step 1.  One of the four who are riding with Charles can ride with me instead, but only if another of the 4 of you will contact Pisco Sicko and make arrangements for yourself to ride with him in my place.  If that arrangement hasn’t been made, then I’m going to honor my commitment to ride with Pisco and share half of his expenses.

Step 2.  I don’t have a reservation for ANY ferry and so I’ll want to leave some time Thursday evening (I’m flexible) and drive all the way to the ferry line in Tswassen.  It’s gonna be a beautiful night out and I hate to say it, but my plan is to “nap” next to the car (probably on the grassy lawn) while in line.  Hey, people do it ALL the time… it’s not that big of a deal.  Everybody else, including my passenger, can stay in a hotel and catch the 7:45 if you can work that part out, and then we can meet up on the island, probably very close to the ferry terminal.  I can take a LOT of gear in my car and so that should make room in the other car(s).  I can take my kayak and one other.  My car goes over the 7’ limit (not 7.5’ like the U.S.) and it’ll cost me extra so I’ll want to split that with my passenger even if they get on to the ferry without me, and I’m talking both directions.

Step 3.  When we come back, I plan to get to the Nanaimo ferry line ASAP on Mon morning and then just wait my turn.  What ever happens… happens.

There you go.  Kick it around and let me know.  If I get no response, then I’m still teaming up with Pisco.

Fishin-T

Fishin-T,

First things first ... have you and Pisco worked out a meeting spot?

We can always go 3 and 3 in each vehicle.  I think we'll be able to squeeze ... somehow.

Pisco, are you towing that trailer of yours?  Careful, the last section is dirt road, right Fishin-T?

-Allen

Polepole,

Nope, Pisco and I have not settled on a meet-up spot.  I'm flexible.  Yeah, he says he'll be towing that trailer.  And yeah (quite unfortunately) the last FORTY miles are dirt log roads.  Last year the Delta kayak guys lost a kayak off of thier trailer because the road was so rough.  Damn the luck, it was in the last 200 meters of road to camp and it woke a lot of us up.

I still like the idea of sleeping in the ferry line at 1:00 in the morning, but that's just me.  I realize that I'm weird like that.  Seriously, I'll go for a hotel if Pisco will, providing I wind up riding with Pisco.  I don't know of a cheap one in Surrey but I can check my AAA guide tonight.  I think you're going to want to get across the border on Thu. night so you can eliminate that uncertainty.  Otherwise you either get in the border line too late or you waste unnecessary time getting there plenty early.

Fishin-T

Ummm ... you guys may want to rethink using Pisco's trailer.  I'm not sure the wheels/hubs can stand up to 40 miles of dirt road.

I hear you on getting across the border.  Perhaps I'll sleep under the peace arch.   

-Allen

Ummm ... you guys may want to rethink using Pisco's trailer.  I'm not sure the wheels/hubs can stand up to 40 miles of dirt road.

Eh, I'll just keep it under 80...    ...80kmh, that is!

Hmmm, may be a good idea to have a spare wheel and tire.


I'm fine with crossing the border Thurs evening and I'm sure that if T can sleep on a lawn, I can, too.   But I thought I've heard you're not supposed to arrive more than an hour before your departure? If so, I have no idea where to park.

Would it be possible for  someone to ride with Tom to B'ham or border, and then carpool with me?

Always lookin' ahead, I called Tswassen before I wrote that post.  They don't have any problem with people showing up way early.  If you get there after they close the ticket booth (I'm guessing about 11:00 pm) then you park in the line leading up to the ticket booth.  That's exactly what they said.  If you get in line before the last sailing and then you miss it cause it's full, they're not going to make you go back out and come in again.

Inside or outside, there's plenty of room to find a spot to catch a nap if you don't need a tent.  Really, people do it all the time.  Seriously, I like the idea.  We'd be across the border with no guess work in front of us and we'd likely catch that 5:45 crossing.  No worries... I'll pay you for half of the res. fee.  There's a zillion Provincial parks and free parks over there if we just HAVE to catch up on some sleep.  That'll probably be me.  I have a book that tells me where the free spots are.  The same book tells me where the lakes are that have been stocked by the province and what and how much they got stocked with.  For real.  Or we could pull into Moutcha and pre-fish the tournament.  That's what Danglin and I did last year and I'm convinced that it paid off.  He caught 11 fish, including that one 29+ on Friday.

My ideal scenario for real would be to meet up with you (Pisco) outside of the ticket booths, in the $10 a day parking lot, transfer gear, and then get into line as close to bording as we can.  If one of the "Charlse's Van" people wants to come along with me, can you take on me and one more?  And his kayak too?  Don't know that they will, I haven't heard yey or ney.

I've got plenty of ground clothes and some bug huts (3) which are pretty much just mosquito netting with a dome part that just covers your head and chest.  It's real similar to sleeping in a bivy bag as far as size.

Fishin-T

My rig can easily do 3 of us, with the trailer. We'll still have room when I win my new yak!!!
Shall we shoot for meeting at the lot ~10-11pm for the loading?

Gear I can bring: stove (2 or 3 burner), tarps, coolers, water container, pots and pans, backpack tent and a plastic palace.

Pre-fishing:  I'm most interested in salt near Campbell River or rivers (I'm a fly geek!). Setting up camp and pre-fishing Moutcha would be fine, too.

We may not leave Seattle until perhaps 7-8 in the evening.  That would put us up there around 11-12 depending on traffic and the wait at the border.  Both you and Tom have my number so give me a call on your way and we can sync up.  I think many people heading up have my number.  If someone else doesn't and wants to have some contact on their way up, please PM me your number and I'll reciprocate.

-Allen