while i was drifting down the kitimat river with one of my buddy from kitimat i hooked this monster male coho on a pink homemade maraboo jig.we took a fast picture and release this once in a lifetime fish back to where he belong.

The Kitimat River is a small, dynamic river with a rich history and an enormous stock of fish. At 100km in total length with its origins in the Kitimat Ranges, it flows through the Kitimat townsite and eventually empties into the Douglas Channel. You can pack in a ton of fishing into this stretch of water. Thanks to the Kitimat River Hatchery which enhances chinook, coho, chum, steelhead and cutthroat populations, anglers come from around the world to cross a line off their bucket list and catch a river run salmon in a truly beautiful part of the world. Ron’s Mobile Fishing and Bait Shop owner, Ron Watika tells us, “We don’t get as big of fish as the Skeena, but we get a lot more because of the [hatchery] enhancement”, Wakita continues, “The Kitimat River is a short system so it’s relatively immune to dirty water. It stays clean for most of the year”. Because the river cleans so quickly, fishing is consistently good for most of the year, and if the water is high, there are many options to fish in the Douglas Channel. The Kitimat townsite offers all the amenities needed to complement your fishing trip with restaurants, shopping centres, outfitters, and much more. There are also many fishing derbies throughout the summer months that attract a large number of anglers. The annual Kitimat Fish Derby is held on Labour Day weekend. There are adult and youth categories with cash and prizes as well as a scavenger hunt, music in the park, games for children, and food vendors. Visit tourismkitimat.ca for more information. Ron’s Mobile Fishing and Bait Shop staff are more than happy to help anglers with the where, when, and how to catch fish on their own; alternatively, they can set you up with Reliable Guide and Charters who are more than happy to host guided trips to produce the same results. “At the end of the day,” Ron tells us, “it is all about the smiles in the photos of the anglers with their catch.” SALMONID HEAD RECOVERY PROGRAM If you catch a fish for legal harvest that is missing its adipose fin (small fin located close to the tail fin, behind the dorsal), you are encouraged to keep the head so the tiny coded wire tags located in the nose cartilage can be recovered and recorded. There are over 275 “Head Depots” in BC where they can be dropped off. Call 1-866-483-9994 for more information or to locate a depot. Depots in Kitimat are located at the Kitimat River Fish Hatchery, Bradley’s Bait & Tackle, and Ron’s Mobile Tackle Van or Ron’s Fishing Tackle storefront. RIVER ACCESS There are many vehicle access points along the river. The Pump House Pool is a popular fishing spot close to the Kitimat townsite. Cross the bridge and take your second left after Radley Park heading south on Haisla Blvd. The gravel road will take you right to the river’s edge. Anglers are to take extreme caution when launching a boat in the upper Kitimat River. Below the Kitimat Bridge is the safest stretch. An initiative is underway to have notices posted at access points and a Facebook page to keep anglers up-to-date on the state of the river and access points. Be sure to get the information you need before you head out on the river. Ron Wakita would be more than happy to advise you of any hazards.

Every year we go salmon fishing on the Kitimat River. This photo was taken of our son trying his hardest to get that line out...would have been the shock of a lifetime if a salmon took it! Grandparents came with us for the first time and even though it was a drizzly rain kind of day, it didn't stop him showing off his moves.

Playing on the upper Kitimat...

Playing on the upper Kitimat river

Coho...

Coho

September Report from Reliable Charters

Sept 14 - Cliff Young shared this picture and comment, “Finally. At power line 12 lbs. Then floating down river yesterday. Caught 3. Kept 2.”. Congratulations Cliff! Cliff experienced a tough couple a days fishing the Kitimat River. It seemed that everyone around him caught fish but him. Every fisherman can relate. Cliff’s persevered and was rewarded by his efforts. Well done Cliff! Sept 15 - Roger Egger from Fraser Lake caught this Coho fishing just below the Haisla bridge on a pink-jig. Well done Roger! Sept 15 - Carl Schmid from Switzerland is proudly holding the Coho he caught just below the Haisla Bridge on a pink jig with a purple head. Well done Carl! Sept 15 - Shirley-McMahon caught this Coho with a Gibbs Kitimat 55 just below the Haisla Bridge. Well done Shirley. Sept 16 - I had the pleasure of guiding Randy and Shirley Clark on a Driftboat trip on the lower drift on the Kitimat River. We kept these very nice Coho during our drift. We had a great time catching Coho. I especially enjoy fishing with a couple that share the passion of fishing. Congratulations on your catch, and thank you for using our services. Sept 17 - I had the pleasure of fishing with Jeff, Chrissy and Ryan from Calgary. We landed their daily limit and had a lot of fun doing it. Chrissy started off as the “Hottest Rod” and got pretty excited when she had a Coho on!. It was a lot of fun fishing with you all! Thank you for using our Guiding services. Sept 18 - I had the pleasure of drifting the Kitimat River with Tracy and Daryl Sapergia. Tracey is holding one of many Coho we hooked on our drift. Tracy and Daryl had a wonderful time during their drift and it was a lot of fun fishing with them. Thank you for using our services. Sept 20 - I had the pleasure of guiding Paulo and Doug who are quests of Kalum River Lodge. Paulo and Doug have been fishing partners for 30 plus years and were a lot of fun to fish with. Their humour while kidding each other was refreshing. Thank you to Kalum River Lodge for allowing me to host your guests on the Kitimat River. Sept 21 - I had the pleasure of fishing with Camilla and Ralph Barthouse on a Driftboat trip down the lower Kitimat. It is always nice to fish with a couple who share that joy of fishing. Camilla and Ralph shared that their kids have grown up and they are now in a position to go on fishing trips together. Well done! Congratulations on your catch! Sept 22 - Pro Guide, Dan Patchett and I had the pleasure of guiding Sara-and Andrew-Wilson and Robby-Dunbar and his son, Caedmon. This group was visited by a Mother Black bear with 2 cubs during the night which inspired the story line with Sara as Goldilocks and Andi was the Big Bad Wolf! Goldilocks landed the first Coho and the Big Bad wolf landed the biggest in my driftboat. Caedmon was the star of the trip, landing 3 Coho on his own. It was indeed a proud moment for both father and son. Everyone lived happily ever after. Thank you for using our Guiding services. Sept 23 - I had the pleasure of guiding Peter and Mike Spruit. Peter landed this nice Coho on our drift. Mike also landed 2 Jack Coho on our drift. Congratulations on your catch! Sept 25 - This is a picture of the Pump house on Monday. The Kitimat River rose over 6 feet in 48 hours and became unfishable. This is typical of the Kitimat River this time of the year. The Kitimat River can rise quickly, but it will also drop and clean just as fast. Summary There are quite a few Coho that are starting to turn to spawning colours. There are also some bright Coho in the Kitimat River. Coho fishing on the Kitimat River will be determined by the weather and the river levels. There are lots of Coho through the entire Kitimat River and Coho fishing will be good provided the river is fishable. Anyone wishing to Book a Driftboat Trip of a Lifetime please contact Ron [email protected] or call 250 632 1275 Reliable Guide and Charters http://reliableguideandcharters.com/ All Rods, Reels, Tackle including waders provided Douglas Channel

Bill Deutch’s Grand daughter Grace, age 10 caught her first Coho. September 2016 at the lower, lower Dyke. Wow! Congratulations for your first Coho, Grace! Well done. Grace will not soon forget the first Coho she ever caught but the real prize is sharing the joy of fishing with 3 generations of your family. Well done everyone! See More Fishing Reports from Ron Wakita at Reliable Charters: http://reliableguideandcharters.com/fishing-report-sept-14-sept-25-2016/

Mark Jirard, Kitimat guide with Reliable Charters, holds up our catch on the Kitimat.

Reliable Guide and Charters Fishing Report

RELIABLE GUIDE AND CHARTERS FISHING REPORT MAY 29 TO JUNE 4 KITIMAT RIVER AND DOUGLAS CHANNEL AND PRINCE RUPERT 2016_june-2-justin-lowes-24lb-kitimat-river-chinook-Gibbs-koho-65-green-scale PHOTO OF THE WEEK; Justin Lowes Pro Guide for Reliable Guide and Charters is holding a 24lb Kitimat River Chinook he caught on June 2 2016. Justin was casting a Gibbs/Delta Koho 65 Green Scale spoon. To view full report visit www.reliableguideandcharters.com Any anglers wishing to Book a Fishing Trip of a lifetime on a Driftboat Trip on the the Kitimat River, a Jetboat Trip on the lower Kitimat or the Skeena(new), or a Saltwater Charter on the Douglas Channel or out of Prince Rupert ( new) please contact Ron [email protected] or call 250 632 1275. WIN A FREE DRIFTBOAT TRIP ON THE KITIMAT RIVER FOR 2. Contest Rules: Sign up on our Mailing List for our Fishing Reports on our website www.reliableguideandcharters.com and you will be entered into the draw to win a Free Driftboat trip down the Kitmat River. You should be directed to send me an email. If you are already a subscriber, simply forward our Fishing Report to a fishing partner and encourage them to sign up. If they sign up and win, you can join them on their trip. Best of Luck in the contest. Contest ends Sept 30 2016. I hope you enjoy the Fishing Reports