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neah bay to bamfield bc
- Thread starter lloyds
- Start date
I don't want to discourage your sense of adventure and this is a trip that I've contemplated too. But, there is a long stretch of open ocean and rocky shore with only one place to get off between Neah Bay and Barkley Sound. Even on our 25 I will want to travel with another boat or two if I take this trip. A safer route might be launching at Port Alberni and going down the inlet to Barkley Sound. You still have the cost of a ferry, but you avoid the worst of the road to Bamfield or Ucluelet.
Lyle
Lyle
Lyle:
It just seems like a 3 hour run in the early morning should be really doable. I assume from your entry that Uclulet is the same road? Or most of the way on the same road. Seems like I remember some sign hanging on a tree that said Uclulet about 2/3 of the way to bamfield.
It just seems like a 3 hour run in the early morning should be really doable. I assume from your entry that Uclulet is the same road? Or most of the way on the same road. Seems like I remember some sign hanging on a tree that said Uclulet about 2/3 of the way to bamfield.
Lloyds,
I do a month at Ucluelet every summer. The road to Ucluelet is paved all the way and although it has a few ups and downs and some short sharp curves, it is not that bad if you are willing to slow down and enjoy the ride. I take my camper and tow my boat over it with no problems. The road into Bamfield however is only paved for a few miles then it is gravel logging road for about 60 miles. If any C-brats make the trip over be sure and stop at Island West and visit. My fishing partner and I set up a pretty elaborate fish-camp and would be happy to host some C-brats for a salmon dinner and a sundowner. I have fished both sides of the sound and feel that Ucluelet has the best overall fishing.
I do a month at Ucluelet every summer. The road to Ucluelet is paved all the way and although it has a few ups and downs and some short sharp curves, it is not that bad if you are willing to slow down and enjoy the ride. I take my camper and tow my boat over it with no problems. The road into Bamfield however is only paved for a few miles then it is gravel logging road for about 60 miles. If any C-brats make the trip over be sure and stop at Island West and visit. My fishing partner and I set up a pretty elaborate fish-camp and would be happy to host some C-brats for a salmon dinner and a sundowner. I have fished both sides of the sound and feel that Ucluelet has the best overall fishing.
Ken: Thanks for the offer. It probably won't be until next July before I make it back there again. Island WEst, that sounds like the motel and RV park on like the NE part of town with the pub and marina? I remember seeing a couple camps set up there that were pretty elaborate.
Lloyds,
That's the place. I was there from 8 Jul to 8 Aug this year. You may have seen our camp. We may not catch as many as others but I am pretty sure we eat more fish than anyone else in camp. We will be there same time same place next year, stop and say hello if you get a chance.
That's the place. I was there from 8 Jul to 8 Aug this year. You may have seen our camp. We may not catch as many as others but I am pretty sure we eat more fish than anyone else in camp. We will be there same time same place next year, stop and say hello if you get a chance.
Ken: I will plan on doing that. I take delivery of my new 16 cruiser on Sept. 2 and will give it a shake down in the san juans then that will be the last of the extended trips till next summer, when I return to vancouver island. I was curious about your route to Uclulet. Does it also leave from Port Hardy? I have made the trip over the logging road to bamfield twice. Last year Tourism BC at the Port Angeles ferry terminal told me to take the road by the south side of Lake Cowichan, the most direct way on the map. What a bad suggestion that was. That one doesn't even have gravel. It took 8 hours. Luckily I had gassed up in Duncan. It shook my boat trailer apart and put one of the roller supports right through the bottom. Because it was a boston whaler I used it all week and didn't even realize there was a hole in the bottom about the size of a tennis ball. This year I went across the proper way from Port Hardy and it was still a nightmare. Friday afternoon and all the logging crews were racing back to Port Hardy. We met one of those behemoth logging trucks on a vertical curve/corner in thick dust and I had to take the ditch. Scared hell out of the wife. That route is no longer allowed. But I will be sure to look you up next year when I get there. Have to go up pipestem inlet and get some more of those oysters. :smilep
Lloyds,
We have our wires crossed somewhere. Ucluelet is at the northern entrance to Barkley Sound, Bamfield is basically at the southern entrance. You can't get there from Port Hardy which is at the northern most tip of Vancouver Island on the inside. I take the ferry to Naniamo and go west to the other side of the island. The highway goes through Port Alberni where you can turn south and go along the southern edge of Barkley to Bamfield. If you stay on the paved road it goes over the mountains to Ucluelet and Tofino. If you make it over next July I would be happy to share fishing spots and buddy boat. There are only a few days each trip when the open banks offshore would not be fishable in a 16( or a 22 for that matter).
We have our wires crossed somewhere. Ucluelet is at the northern entrance to Barkley Sound, Bamfield is basically at the southern entrance. You can't get there from Port Hardy which is at the northern most tip of Vancouver Island on the inside. I take the ferry to Naniamo and go west to the other side of the island. The highway goes through Port Alberni where you can turn south and go along the southern edge of Barkley to Bamfield. If you stay on the paved road it goes over the mountains to Ucluelet and Tofino. If you make it over next July I would be happy to share fishing spots and buddy boat. There are only a few days each trip when the open banks offshore would not be fishable in a 16( or a 22 for that matter).
Sorry, I meant Port Alberni. After awhile all the "ports" get gelled together. So I can drive to Uclulet by going through Port Alberni as well. I didn't realize that. I should have though, as I stopped at the tourism office on the east side of town and got a map. I still want to try a run up the outside but am more worried about leaving my vehicle in Neah Bay than I am about taking the boat out in the open water.
Ken: Well, here it is "next year". We are coming up in July. I intend to look you up if you are at Island West around the same time. We have decided to go ahead and trailer up this time. Tell me where you jump on the ferry at, restrictions on fuel tanks, stuff like that. I too have a camper. Does Island West have plenty of space for campers? This will be something new for me. I have only really fished the other side of the sound. We will probably only buy a 5 day license. The rest of the time we will probably spend out in the islands some, and maybe take the camper to some other areas as well while we are there. Any suggestions would be appreciated. We have the cruiser pretty well set up now. VHF, Garmin chartplotter, fishfinder, even satellite radio. We do not have downriggers however. I never needed them on the other side. I suppose you use them out of Uclulet?
As an Islander, I concur with previous recommendations. My one road trip to Bamfield actually had the dash of my car fall into my Father's lap! Never did find the muffler pieces. Ucluelet/Tofino road is paved, and, if you take it easy on the hills, you won't blow your transmission any near as easily as you would on the Coquihalla. I wouldn't go outside either. Weather and fog can change too quickly. There's a good reason for the West Coast Trail, you know. I'd launch at ort Alberni, as advised. Relatively protected most of the way to Bamfield. The Port marina next to Port Boathouse (C-Dory dealer) is a great start point. (Marina manager is Colleen Schiller at 250-723-1413, cschiller@telus.net) Hope to see you out ther in my new 16 Cruiser in green and white. Doug p.s. Can I get salmon dinner too?
Lloyds
I have done this same trip since 1989 and only missed one year. I will be there from 6 Jul to 7 Aug, up on the bluff overlooking the marina. Island West can be a strange operation to some. Long time customers get priority on the camp spaces. I renew my reservations for next year before I leave. If you come in early Jul you should be able to get a camp space. Spaces with hook-ups will be a little harder to get. You should call soon for a reservation. Without reservations you may have to move to different spots during your stay. May not be a big deal but you could lose some fishing time changing camp spots. Driving from Spokane, I always make a two day trip of it. I like to stay at the Parkcanada RV park. It is only about 3 miles from the Tsawwassen ferry. Things I do which you may or may not want to do: I travel midweek to avoid lines at the border, I make a reservation on the ferry, and I avoid Canadian holidays. You want to take the Duke Point ferry which drops you off just south of Naniamo. I have never been questioned about fuel tanks on the ferry. If you have a camper you will pay for overheight and the total length of your rig. Full size pickup and 22 C-dory was about 150$cdn last year. The road is almost like interstate to Port Alberni. Narrow two lane after that. I normally drive it 45-50 until you hit the hairpin curves-then slow way down. With the right attitude it is a beautiful scenic drive. In July the fishing is almost all on the offshore banks in 120-200' of water. I fish downriggers anywhere from 25-200'. Sometimes you need to drag it right on the bottom. The banks are flat as a pancake and I have never hung up a ball. Without downriggers you may do ok with slow trolling mooching weights or using diving planers. I troll hootchies 90% of the time and occasionally troll spoons or large plugs. Lots of people will use bait, but I don't care to mess with it and I am there long enough that if they don't hit hootchies one day they will the next. I like to jig for halibut using Pt. Wilson Dart type lure. I use 50lb spiderwire type line and most days you will be able to jig at 200' with 8-12oz lure unless the tide is really screaming. So much more pleasant than fishing Swiftsure at 300+ft and 48oz of lead. The halibut are getting a little hard to come by the last few years, requiring a longer offshore trip for reliable fishing. Last year we made four trips to Big Bank, 22 miles due south, and limited each time. But I really watch the weather forecast and water conditions for that spot. If it kicks up you have to come home right into it. I have come back a few times at 7-8 kts. On the plus side by the time you get back you will have the fish cleaning table all to yourself. LOL. As Doug said fog can be a problem. I don't have radar and don't go out in low vis, but you always run the risk of having the fog roll in while you are out. That is extremely rare in my experience though. If it is going to be foggy it will be foggy when you wake up. From the top of the bluff I can hear the lighthouse fog signal before I even get up. Doug, yes on the salmon dinner.
I have done this same trip since 1989 and only missed one year. I will be there from 6 Jul to 7 Aug, up on the bluff overlooking the marina. Island West can be a strange operation to some. Long time customers get priority on the camp spaces. I renew my reservations for next year before I leave. If you come in early Jul you should be able to get a camp space. Spaces with hook-ups will be a little harder to get. You should call soon for a reservation. Without reservations you may have to move to different spots during your stay. May not be a big deal but you could lose some fishing time changing camp spots. Driving from Spokane, I always make a two day trip of it. I like to stay at the Parkcanada RV park. It is only about 3 miles from the Tsawwassen ferry. Things I do which you may or may not want to do: I travel midweek to avoid lines at the border, I make a reservation on the ferry, and I avoid Canadian holidays. You want to take the Duke Point ferry which drops you off just south of Naniamo. I have never been questioned about fuel tanks on the ferry. If you have a camper you will pay for overheight and the total length of your rig. Full size pickup and 22 C-dory was about 150$cdn last year. The road is almost like interstate to Port Alberni. Narrow two lane after that. I normally drive it 45-50 until you hit the hairpin curves-then slow way down. With the right attitude it is a beautiful scenic drive. In July the fishing is almost all on the offshore banks in 120-200' of water. I fish downriggers anywhere from 25-200'. Sometimes you need to drag it right on the bottom. The banks are flat as a pancake and I have never hung up a ball. Without downriggers you may do ok with slow trolling mooching weights or using diving planers. I troll hootchies 90% of the time and occasionally troll spoons or large plugs. Lots of people will use bait, but I don't care to mess with it and I am there long enough that if they don't hit hootchies one day they will the next. I like to jig for halibut using Pt. Wilson Dart type lure. I use 50lb spiderwire type line and most days you will be able to jig at 200' with 8-12oz lure unless the tide is really screaming. So much more pleasant than fishing Swiftsure at 300+ft and 48oz of lead. The halibut are getting a little hard to come by the last few years, requiring a longer offshore trip for reliable fishing. Last year we made four trips to Big Bank, 22 miles due south, and limited each time. But I really watch the weather forecast and water conditions for that spot. If it kicks up you have to come home right into it. I have come back a few times at 7-8 kts. On the plus side by the time you get back you will have the fish cleaning table all to yourself. LOL. As Doug said fog can be a problem. I don't have radar and don't go out in low vis, but you always run the risk of having the fog roll in while you are out. That is extremely rare in my experience though. If it is going to be foggy it will be foggy when you wake up. From the top of the bluff I can hear the lighthouse fog signal before I even get up. Doug, yes on the salmon dinner.
Ron (aka "digger") on Snoopy-C. Yup we're going to Barkley Sound again this year. We've been most happy leaving from Port Alberni via the Channel, and boating to either Bamfield or Ucluelet. This year we're having a new adventure. Previously we've stayed either at Island West at Ucluelet, or at Tides Inn at Bamfield. We've preferred the Tides Inn because it is more isolated than Island West. Seems that the fish wardens love to swarm the fish cleaning station at Island West -- at least that is our experience. The fellow we've rented from at Tides Inn sold his place last year, but some relatives have an oyster lease in Effingham Channel -- a cabin on floats with electricity, water, etc. that we are leasing this year. It is totally by itself, so we'll have a new experience. 2 C-Dories and a tin boat at an Oyster Farm -- how fun!!! Costs are about 260/nite Canadian for 6 of us and 3 boats. We'll be fishing both the outer and inner banks. Last year got halibut just inside of Beal Point, and released probably a dozen silvers per boat each day about 6 miles out. We've been going the last week in July, but this year plan on trying August 14 thru the 18th. We all love the Barkley Sound. Can't go wrong. Regards, Ron and all
The oyster farm sounds like fun. There are some cool floats up amongst those islands. I always enjoyed Marble Cove, it has some oyster floats in it also. What are the RV prospects near the launch at Port Alberni like?
Our plans aren't cast in concrete yet but sometime during the first or second week of July we plan on going up. We might just launch at Port Alberni and run down. I have stayed at Poetts Nook several times in the past but they sold this year as well so don't know what to expect there. They used to have the cheapest fuel in the sound, and a pretty good selection of tackle. Out of all the places in the west I have boated, that area is still my favorite. But I haven't seen the east coast yet. Anxious to follow in the footsteps of Halcyon in five years.
That comment about the dash falling in someones' lap was pretty funny. That road has to be the worst road in the country. You haven't lived till you are going down a steep, washboard trail with only any two tires on the ground at any given time and you have to speed up because the ass end of your boat is starting to pass you. I must have been going close to 70 when I reached the bottom of one of those, and at the bottom was a one-lane bridge on a corner. Way too much fun. I will follow the posted advice on the ferry crossing and see how that goes. Black Ball charged me like $120 American one way from Port Angeles to Victoria last year. And that was a small toyota truck and a 13' boston whaler. I can't wait. I live to go to Barkley Sound. I would immigrate to the island when I retire if the Canadians would let me.
Our plans aren't cast in concrete yet but sometime during the first or second week of July we plan on going up. We might just launch at Port Alberni and run down. I have stayed at Poetts Nook several times in the past but they sold this year as well so don't know what to expect there. They used to have the cheapest fuel in the sound, and a pretty good selection of tackle. Out of all the places in the west I have boated, that area is still my favorite. But I haven't seen the east coast yet. Anxious to follow in the footsteps of Halcyon in five years.
That comment about the dash falling in someones' lap was pretty funny. That road has to be the worst road in the country. You haven't lived till you are going down a steep, washboard trail with only any two tires on the ground at any given time and you have to speed up because the ass end of your boat is starting to pass you. I must have been going close to 70 when I reached the bottom of one of those, and at the bottom was a one-lane bridge on a corner. Way too much fun. I will follow the posted advice on the ferry crossing and see how that goes. Black Ball charged me like $120 American one way from Port Angeles to Victoria last year. And that was a small toyota truck and a 13' boston whaler. I can't wait. I live to go to Barkley Sound. I would immigrate to the island when I retire if the Canadians would let me.
The launch at Port Alberni (the one we use) is at the marina in town. It has adequate parking for vehicles and trailer, and when overrun, they have parking across the street in a field. At that place, rv parking is not accommodated, although I believe there is plenty of room, just no facilities. We'll have to check your suggestion on the fuel area, since that is always a major expense. Good luck to ya! The run down the inlet in the boat is much more relaxing than the road, unless it is a day that the commercial boats are tearing up the water trying for their quota. If that is the case, you need to watch for their nets, etc, cause they "take no prisoners". Regards, Ron
Ron,
Reminds me! One of my trips down the river the commercials had nets strung everywhere - didn't take long to find the skipper when I hauled out my knife to cut his tie (illegal) to the log boom!!! Learned some new Canadian words, too. :lol: :lol:
Absolutely love that down-river trip and would take it over the road any time. Much prefer to fish the Bamfield side, but times change. I MAY get there this year, but if so I'll probably just boat up from Deception Pass to Bamfield. Pretty hard to get past Port Renfrew though - great fishing.
Dusty
Reminds me! One of my trips down the river the commercials had nets strung everywhere - didn't take long to find the skipper when I hauled out my knife to cut his tie (illegal) to the log boom!!! Learned some new Canadian words, too. :lol: :lol:
Absolutely love that down-river trip and would take it over the road any time. Much prefer to fish the Bamfield side, but times change. I MAY get there this year, but if so I'll probably just boat up from Deception Pass to Bamfield. Pretty hard to get past Port Renfrew though - great fishing.
Dusty
Lloyds,
Have you ever tried China Creek? I fished that area for sockeye 5 or 6 years ago. They have a nice ramp, huge campground, and marina. It is about 10-12 miles down the inlet toward the ocean on the east side. The sockeye fishing can be great in Jul but they often close the season about mid-Jul. But you really have to have downriggers to fish it. As I recall most boats fished two rods stacked on each downrigger. Best bet was 50-90 feet deep and using a flasher and very small pink hootchie.
Have you ever tried China Creek? I fished that area for sockeye 5 or 6 years ago. They have a nice ramp, huge campground, and marina. It is about 10-12 miles down the inlet toward the ocean on the east side. The sockeye fishing can be great in Jul but they often close the season about mid-Jul. But you really have to have downriggers to fish it. As I recall most boats fished two rods stacked on each downrigger. Best bet was 50-90 feet deep and using a flasher and very small pink hootchie.
Lloyds: I don't see why you can't move to the Island. Just declare yourself as an economic refugee at the border and we'll be glad to let you in, as far as I can determine. Hell, we'll even give you a monthly stipend that's 40% or so more than we Canadians get for our old age pension! (Globe and Mail article, about Sept., 05: Guaranted old age income of $1100 per month for Canadians, but refugees get $1600 per month, plus potential $850 more for housing assistance!!!)
No kidding!!! I am going to look into that. What a country. I have heard of china creek but have never been there. Looks like I will have an opportunity to check that out as well.
It is now cast in concrete. Leave oregon June 30. Return on July 15. That should work for the sockeye and king but probably not for coho. Also have to decide what to do about Canada Day. Need to get across to nanaimo either right before or right after. Next purchase will be downriggers. Got to quit spending and start fishing.
It is now cast in concrete. Leave oregon June 30. Return on July 15. That should work for the sockeye and king but probably not for coho. Also have to decide what to do about Canada Day. Need to get across to nanaimo either right before or right after. Next purchase will be downriggers. Got to quit spending and start fishing.