Moutcha 2008

What have you heard about that town Zee.
Charles
PS like cabins or anything to rent?

Insane fishing and campgrounds... like Moutcha.

Z

I drove over to Tahsis from Moutcha, first just to check it out, then to get a flat fixed.

An older mill town, the mill closed down about 7 years ago. It seems to be making a bit of a comeback. I didn't notice any campgrounds, but there are some marina/resorts, and some small restaurants and stores. I didn't see any sign of fish at the head of the estuary. Nice looking river, though.

There's a turn-off to the left, a few miles before reaching Moutcha, that leads to a couple of campgrounds that are closer to Nootka Island. Not very close to Jim's, but I would like to explore the area closer to the outside.

And this is our worst case too.  Reading deeply between the lines, I think that Jim still wants to have a tournament in front of his place.

Like Allen said, let's let him be the mouthpiece and focus for our group.  Remember, Jim has always been a buddy to the NWKA before, and I fully imagine that he still is.

I spoke to Moutcha Kirk, Jim's brother and partner, as well today.  They really want to figure out how to make this derby happen.

I told them I'll help in whatever way I can, including soliciting prizes and promoting the derby.  Heck, I'll even stay an extra day to fish ... uhhh ... I mean pick up the grounds.  I'm confident we can find a solution that results in us fishing Moutcha Bay this year.

BTW, I just had one of my last remaining pieces of salmon from Moutcha (gotta love those vacuum packers).  Is it me, or did those salmon we catch last year have some really good flavor to them?  Every time we have a piece of one, we can't get over how good it tastes.

-Alen

Really enjoying all the posts on Moutcha Bay --sounds like fishing heaven.

Is it me, or did those salmon we catch last year have some really good flavor to them?  Every time we have a piece of one, we can't get over how good it tastes.

-Alen

Gotta agree, them were some tasty fishies!

Z

I split this topic into it's own thread.  No update yet.  Sit tight.

-Allen

It's a sad day ... got the word today that the derby is officially canceled.    

-Allen

It's a sad day ... got the word today that the derby is officially canceled.    

-Allen

Freakin' crap! I guess that leaves it up to us to make this happen this year. We're still going to do this right Pole? Whatever's needed to get this years' NWKA Moutcha Bay tourney going let me know.

Z

It's a sad day ... got the word today that the derby is officially canceled.    

-Allen

Amen brother  

But like Zee says, we still gotta find a way to do this--somewhere, somehow.  Lets hear it from those interested.

Rob.

Okay, since no one has expressed an opinion yet -- I'll jump in-- because this is one event that I don't want to miss.  First point is timing--it seemed to me that most of the Moucha fish were a little past prime-- I would much rather catch a bright fish.  That means at least a week or 2 earlier than Labor Day.  Second, location-- I think we all want to go to this very remote part of the Island but if the resort at Moucha is out we will need a place that can accommodate 10 or more kayak campers.  The small town of Tahsis was mentioned as a possible alternate a while back.  Problem with this is the proximity to fishing--ie.. the whole Tahsis inlet is closed to retention of salmon at that time of year(see previous posts).  Unless we're going to a completely different inlet system, it will need to be further west along Tlupana inlet.  Since I've never been there someone else is going to have to suggest an exact location.  Unless---we do a road trip to tie this detail up.  Thoughts..

Rob.

I'm still trying to find out if there is at least a way we can launch there.  If so, then for sure we can set something up.

Another possibility for a trip out that way is to do the Friendly Cove trip we did last year.  Hopefully we can time it better than last year.  Moutcha Jim is actually managing that facility this year and offered it up as a suggestion.

-Allen

Stay tuned ... I'm working on it.

There is another possible place to stay and launch that's within paddle reach of the fishing grounds.  I just need to figure out how to get permission as it's not a resort.  I haven't given up on Moutcha yet ...

I've added a poll to this thread.  Please answer the question.

-Allen

Yakker,

I’m thinking just about like you’re thinking --- I think.  This is one event that I don’t want to miss either.  Or maybe it should be two events.

First ---  yeah, you guys are dead on with talks of going over to Friendly Cove or at least SOMEwhere on Nootka Sound for a few days somewhere between about July 15 to the end of August.  I myself am excited to go back over there and do that trip again.  But that’s a different thing from the Labor Day thing at Moutcha, and I’d like to open a new thread to start planning such a trip.

Second, I’m hoping that we can keep the Labor Day gathering of kayaks on Moutcha Bay going.  It won’t be as easy as it was in the last few years and it might not be a formal tournament (what do you think Polepole?), but a good sized gathering is absolutely do-able.  I think we should continue to use this thread for planning that trip, unless Polepole sees fit to open a separate thread.  And speaking of Polepole, I’m hoping that he’s still working with Moutcha Jim to see whether or not we can launch from Jim’s resort.

You’re right on again, Yakker, with the idea of looking for locations along Tlupana inlet.  My Vancouver Island Backroads Mapbook shows at least THREE campsites along the east shore of the inlet, and all of them are just a little further from Gold River than Moutcha Bay resort.  There’s a tiny one across from Bligh Island at Hanna Creek, a bigger one WITH a boat launch at Cougar Creek (closer to G. River), and one more tiny one in between the other two.  All of these will probably cost between “quite reasonable” and “really cheap”, maybe even free.  Maybe Moutcha Jim can tell us.  And speaking of Moutcha Jim, I have NO doubt at all that we could make arrangements with Jim for some kind of a water taxi from the Cougar Creek boat launch over to Moutcha Bay.  It’s roughtly an 8 to 10 km trip across the water.  Or maybe one of US has a small boat (mothership) with a 5 or 10 horse motor and they could charge others for the trip to make it worth bringing it out there.  You see Jim’s boat launch is private, but the bay itself is QUITE public.  Hell, if I can get just ONE other guy to do it with me (and I KNOW that YOU will Charles), I’m willing to PADDLE the 8 or 10 km for THAT kind of fishing fun.

Okay, so I’m gonna throw it down right here!  If I can get just ONE other kayaker to commit to such a trip, then I am ready to commit too.  We can ABSOLUTELY do this if we just think ahead a little and communicate a little.  I’m ready to commit to an earlier trip to Nootka sound (Friendly Cove?) as well, but that needs to be a new thread.

Fishin-T

Second, I’m hoping that we can keep the Labor Day gathering of kayaks on Moutcha Bay going.  It won’t be as easy as it was in the last few years and it might not be a formal tournament (what do you think Polepole?), but a good sized gathering is absolutely do-able.  I think we should continue to use this thread for planning that trip, unless Polepole sees fit to open a separate thread.  And speaking of Polepole, I’m hoping that he’s still working with Moutcha Jim to see whether or not we can launch from Jim’s resort.

Bite your tongue T.  I'm going to make this the biggest Canadian kayak fishing derby ever.   

And of course I'm trying to work with Moutcha Jim.  He's good peeps and I gotta believe he really wants to be involved in keeping this going somehow.

-Allen

I'm going to make this the biggest Canadian kayak fishing derby ever.   

And of course I'm trying to work with Moutcha Jim.  He's good peeps and I gotta believe he really wants to be involved in keeping this going somehow.

-Allen

Great news!

Z