Author: douganddeb

The Husbands decided it was time to bring the Gals and show them what fishing was like aboard the Thunder 1. Add great fishing with gourmet dining and I think the gals are hooked. First time out for Chantal on the Pacific northwest and she caught on quick. Fighting and landing more fish than the guys she looked better on the rod every fish and soon looked like a seasoned fisherwoman. Great weather again, with an awesome mix of Spring and Coho on the lines the trip went all to quickly. To finish it off Chantel hooked a 30 lb Hali on the salmon rod, wth flasher and Hoochy,

for a fitting end to four great days of angling on the North Coast. Thanks to Neil and Dave for bringing Irene and Chantal, looks like you better keep bringing them if your looking to fill the fish box. Remember Dave, tip up, face the fish and hang on.

Welcome back Paul, Phil, Gord and Ruben. If the last group struggle with the weather this group made good use of the sun screen left behind. Calm seas and the full on arrival of the the Coho kept the crew hopping at all times. Traps full of prawns and the lines snapping out of the clips, action was the topic of the day. With Spring salmon imbedded the crew fought off over 50 fish, landing 32 beautiful salmon and a full compliment of halibut to take home for the BBQ in Alberta. Well done guys, even the eagles approved. Have a great summer back in Alberta.

July longweekend saw the return of Jeff , Wayne, Pete and Gary, guests who always bring the sun and the fish out on the long weekend in July. OOOPS. Not sure all the sun screen was required but their spirits could not be dampened by the weather. With the rain gear firmly in place and the music turned up they braved the elements and showed the fish who was not afraid of Mother Nature. Although not what they have experienced in the past they made the most of every strike and landed some nice fish, both springs and coho salmon. Jeff topped the board with a 26 lb spring and the Captain topped the board by skimming their money in cards. The one thing I can guarantee for next year when they come is better weather. Thanks for keeping your tips and your spirits up.

Trip 7 saw the return of long time Thunder 1 fishers, Doug, Nick, Phil and Andrew. With Andrew planning the work, Phil working the plan, and Nick ever vigilant we headed off on what was sure to be a trip full of laughter and great comradery. Picking up a couple of nice springs the first night we jumped on our weather window to head off shore for some hali fishing. What a day it was with constant action on the rods, sometimes three on at once. Releasing the smaller ones we selected some fat chickens for the cooler and left the hali fishing with some sore arms. The best was yet to come after we anchored up for dinner out came the jigging rods and just when you least expect it wham! a fifty pound halibut whacks the jig in 30 ft of water. A great fight on a light rod and a perfect end to a great day, good job Phil.
With a nice brace of Springs, and some shiney Coho as well we reluctantly said goodbye to one of our favourtie groups. Tight lines guys, hope to see you again soon.

June 20th and we depart on trip # six under sunny skies and light west winds. Joined by a new group , Greg, Mark and father Jim as well as their friends and fishing partners Gary and Ken we set course with high hopes for a great trip. With Deb giving the demo the first rod had not been in for 5 secs when the line tripped and we were into our first spring. Almost too good to be true we landed another 20 lb beauty shortly after and anchored up with a great start to the trip already in the box. Not quite so easy the next day we still hit some nice fish and landed a few small hali’s. Sunny skies prevailed and we stuck to the salmon fishing for most of the trip returning to Rupert with a nice catch in the cooler. Thanks to Greg for getting his gang aboard the Thunder 1, hope to see you down the road sometime!!!

If our last group enjoyed their first outing aboard the Thunder one the next group was as seasoned as they come. Russ, Ed, George, Len have been fishing together for 23 years and have been aboard the Thunder 1 since it’s first year on the north coast in 1989. Wow! thats a lot of fishing stories. Georges’ son inlaw Ken rounded out the group and we left in perfect weather for the top of Dundas Island. After a feed of fresh crab the gang strung out the gear looking for that first Spring bite. Didn’t take long before Lenny set the hook on a beautiful 26 lb Chinook. Sorry he didn’t make the Tyee ranks Len but he sure fought like it!! Seas were like glass for the next two days so we wandered off shore looking for that big hali. No luck but lots of nice fish in the 20 to 30 lb range as we rounded out the halibut catch with some beauties. With a great brace of fish in the box we motored home with some new stories for the boys to put in their fishing box. We hope you enjoy another 23 years of good health and great fishing, thanks guys.

After a few sunny days in port it was definetly time to put down the paint brushes and go fishing. Guests, Doran, Stacey, Alan and Paul joined us for their first experience fishing aboard the Thunder 1. Beautiful weather accompanied our departure and we worked the rods hard the first evening. No salmon but the morning saw us pull up an awesome bucket of hard fighting jumbo spotted prawns, mmm mmm. The second day the fish remained elusive but the wild life show was stellar, with seals, sealions, humpbacks, dolpins and orcas all making an appearance. Patience is a virtue and day three out by Zayas island the fun began. Wham, zzzzzzz zzzzzz off went the islander reels and a 30 lb Tyee followed by a number of hard fighting fish in the 20 plus lb range. Congrats to Stacey on her first Chinook as well as Doran for making that 20 lber look like a 50 lber with a tail hook fight that was spectacular. The halibut did not dissapoint either and we finished the last morning after the 2 minute warning

with Alan hooking into a beautiful 26 lb Chinook. Into port with a satisfied crew that we hope to see again, thanks gang it was a pleasure having you aboard.

Joined by my brother Brian, Deb’s son Mike and his friend Paul we shoved off on June 2nd in search of our first salmon of the year. A late start had

us in our anchorage at 10:30 pm still enjoying the last light of the wonderful long days on the north coast. The morning saw us fishing early and it wasn’t long before the first fish hit. Quick on his feet Mike set the hook and working his islander reel to perfection he expertly fought and landed our first salmon of the year, 30 lbs of bright shiney hard fighting Chinook. Well done Mike!! Paul was next in line but some crafty maneuvering by Brian had Paul cleaning weeds while Brian set the hook on the next fish. Dirty pool indeed but a 22lb Spring put up a great fight to make number two. Some work was required to hook Paul up but late the next day he got his chance and did not dissapoint. With some nice rod work and good hands on the reel Paul landed a beauty 25 lber. Although we couldn’t find the big one lots of nice eating halibut were landed as well as some tasty black rock fish. Good weather, good comradery and some good laughs. Thanks guys for joining us it was a blast.

May 25th, 2011. Deb’s brother Dennis, wife Francine and their friends Bob and Sue joined us for our first charter of the 2011 summer. Beautiful weather greeted us as we headed for Stephens island to try some trolling before anchoring up for the night. Our five day trip took us all around Chatham sound with a new anchorage and sunset view to greet us every evening. We focused mainly on ground fishing and our efforts paid off when Sue hooked and landed a monster Ling Cod tipping the scales at 40 lbs. He was not alone down there as one equally as big chased Deb’s lure to the top but did not latch on. With prawns, crabs, halibut and lings we enjoyed some great action, outstanding weather and the best company with many laughs. Thanks to Den and Fran for their help and Bob and Sue for joining us. In port til Thursday and then away we go. This time in search of the first Tyee of the season.

Great to be back in Prince Rupert! Weather has been excellent and we have caught up inside and out on the boat. In fact we are so ready that we had to go fishing ourselves. Out at noon and off to the Moffat Islands in search of a halibut. Smooth seas and sunny skies. Of course the halibut Queen strikes first however she decides to let it go in search of a more worth candidate to start the season. No luck the first night after letting a few chickens go to get a little fatter for next year. We drop the prawn traps and set the hook in our favourite anchorage. A little jigging and we produce some food for our pet eagle. He does not dissapoint and provides some geat photo ops.
Up in the morning to pull the traps. Yahooo, prawns for dinner. Off to a new halibut spot, two nice keepers for the Captain and Deb,plus a few rockies and a nice red snapper. Great start, back to port and two more days until we are out with Dennis and Fran, Bob and Sue. Can’t wait!!