The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and the spring fishing is underway! Many anglers having been waiting for the spring reset for a few months now. Throughout the calendar year some of these species overlap in season, making it possible to switch species up day to day. STEELHEAD WATCH Last winter I strictly pursued Steelhead, wanting to dial them in better then my previous season. All though the numbers of steelhead were fairly low, we still had a very consistent season. The winter chinook season kept many anglers busy as well. Some of my local friends who have lived here for many years can’t remember…
Author: Dave Shmyr
Dave Shmyr
Dave Shmyr recently moved back from Sooke on the southern tip of Vancouver Island to northern Alberta. He now spends his spare time chasing perch, walleye and pike. Dave has fished and guided on many of the lakes and rivers in western Canada. Dave is also an accomplished tournament angler, who also loves to travel to different parts of Canada to fish. You can find Dave on his facebook account under the name of his guide service Koobies Krankers Fishing Adventures.
BACKCOUNTRY WINTER ADVENTURES ARE MEMORABLE Something special and rare now a days is fishing a lake for a few days with just you and your crew. It’s sure nice to have thequiet days back in the bush listening to nothing but natural nature. One thing that’s important to always due prior to these trips is to make a list of supplies and safety tools to ensure a memorable trip. I’m going to give you all a list of a few things I like to bring. I’m known to bring everything but the kitchen sink on these trips but it’s better…
Them Crazy Coho August has brought another stellar run of Chinook salmon in big numbers. From the west end to the east end of the island reports of great fishing have been high in all areas. A 2024 August day was not uncommon to produce consecutive well into the double-digit mornings with some really big fish. The Chinook run also had a lot of the perfect sized eater class in that 70-80cm range. Only being allowed to keep one between 55cm and 80cm made for easy short days to fill limits. One thing I noticed as a standout during this…
A Year Round Trophy Fishery When it comes to winter in Canada the term ‘open water’ does not pop up in many discussions. Depending on the year I’ve been ice fishing as early as the end of October in Northern Alberta. Cold November and December nights make ice fast through out the country as well as some of the Northern states. Throughout my childhood year after year my brother and I couldn’t wait for dad to say its time to go ice fishing. The past few winters I’ve spent a lot of time on Vancouver Island. It has been a…
THE MIGHTY BURBOT Don’t forget about those fish with the whiskers ! As the ice fishing season moves toward March, many anglers target schooled panfish like yellow perch. Some of the best perch fishing happens from now until ice off. You will also have a good shot at some real trophies in the two pound range with the big females putting on extra weight with eggs. That same holds true for walleye and pike. I love last ice because of the variety of opportunities that are presented. All are extremely great options to make for late ice memories, but there’s…
SPRING HAS SPRUNG AND SO HAS WALLEYE SEASON! Fishing many spring walleye tournaments over the years the biggest factor and most important thing on your list is what is the water temperature. By spending so many days documenting all my pre-fishing, guiding, and all other days on the water it has saved me so much homework for each year going forward. Not only do you save money on gas going to the right areas first but you up your odds on more successful days before you even get a line wet. KEEP A DIARY! When the water is super cold…
Editors Note; In this three part series our group of professional anglers and writers share their keys to early season success on the ice. This is the second best time of the year to catch a trophy fish in the hardwater season, so lets get you ready! EARLY ICE SUCCESS During late fall many anglers have shifted their focus to hunting season, the fishing pressure dropping drastically in the last three months prior to first ice. This gives our smaller lakes a much-needed break creating some great early ice action. The strikes can be explosive and the days can be…
THE FISH ARE STILL OUT THERE! As fall begins many of the local fishermen and guides shut their fishing down for the year. Their focus shifts to hunting and other jobs they do during the slow months That’s true the bite does slow down this time of year but so does the traffic on the water. Fall is and will always be my all-time favourite time of year. The beautiful change in colours, the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets are hard to beat. One of my favourite parts is the cooler weather because this Ukrainian boy overheats in 30 degree Celsius. THE…
EDITORS NOTES: Long time Hooked Contributor Dave Shmyr moved to the West Coast from Alberta a couple of years ago to work with his brother. Dave has embraced the fishing in that part of the world, though it has been a major adjustment. Last July some friends and I did a day trip to the Ucluelet on the southwest corner of Vancouver Island. Although I have spent a lot of time bouncing around in the big waves on Lesser Slave Lake, it has been an awfully long time since I tested out the old sea legs on the ocean. From…
SOLID ICE I tend to make sure the lakes I chase multi species fish on are froze solid before I attempt them, which is often a week or two after the small trout lakes are safe. Often the ice in Alberta on these stocked trout lakes is walkable during hunting season until the end of November. As always, I try and fit in both options at this time of the year! One nice feature about fishing stocked trout is that it involves little gear. This allows you to go for your morning hunt, then make your way to the lake…