big fish stories

Halibut

This past summer I had the privilege of returning to the country known to the world as River's Inlet. Those of you who have read my book Copperman will know my connection to this beautiful part of the coast. My brother Ted Wakas treated myself and my sons, Gord and William to a fishing trip to Good Hope cannery which is one of the oldest cannery sites left on the west coast with many of the original buildings still standing.

My name, Tlakwagila, comes from the House of Wakas at the head of Rivers Inlet and my brother, Ted is the head Chief of the House of Wakas and so this would be a special trip for us all. Ted and brother Dwayne Wakas are guides at the Good Hope Cannery and Ted had reserved the time to guide myself and my two sons for our entire four days of fishing.

The inspiration for this work titled Halibut comes from a once in a lifetime experience. The morning began with a beautiful sunrise as we made our way to the halibut fishing grounds near the mouth of Rivers Inlet. We had planned to spend the day fishing for halibut and so it began with a cruise through the coastal waters where humpback whales put on a show with numerous breaches where they jump clear of the ocean and land with a monstrous splash. So amidst whales, eagles and the ever present sea gulls, we arrived and began jigging for HALIBUT

I sang the song of my grandfather and told some of his stories as we fished.

The first bite came on my rod and before I could start the fight my son William had a hit on his rod. The excitement increased considerably as we realized a double header. As Will and I began the task of bringing our halibut to the surface Ted and Gord coached and remained beside each of us to help. All of a sudden Ted shouted to Gord as his rod began to dance. There we were, Dad and two sons all with halibut on at the same time, Ted stayed calm and figured my halibut was the biggest and would take the longest to bring in so he concentrated on Will and Gord. By the end of it all we had three halibut in the boat and our hearts full of joy.

I'll never forget that day and can think of it every time as I look, at a copy of the silk screened print of HALIBUT hanging on my wall art home. The octopus in the belly of the halibut harkens back to a story I always tell of seeing my first large halibut on the clock with sucker marks all over it from a fight with a large octopus which is the favorite food of halibut. There's another story I tell of my grandfather, Henry Vickers and his experience of watching a halibut break the surface of the sea with a large octopus as they battled in the ongoing struggle between hunter and prey.

There are so many stories and this one I share with you of Halibut is as exciting for me to tell as any of the great stories I've heard.

Thank you Ted, and thank you Tony and Good Hope Cannery staff you made this one of the outstanding experiences of my life,

Roy Henry Vickers
November 2007

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Biggest King

“Every trip to Good Hope (aka Salmon King) has been special, but the most successful trip was in 2005. I fished with my son, Ben, from August 2nd to 6th. On August 4, he caught a 63-pound King (Chinook), which tied him with my brother-in-law, Howie Strey, for the biggest King in our family – Howie had caught a 63-pound King on July 23, 1997. So, when Howie came in to fish with me from August 6th-9th, Ben was bragging to Howie that he had tied him for the family record. Then, on August 7, 2005, Howie caught a 64-pound King to “ace out” Ben by one pound. So I can say that I have netted three 60-pound Kings. My personal biggest catch is 54 pounds and I am hoping to beat that in 2008. I am very pleased at the direction the lodge is going to keep it as a premier fishing experience. I hope to come back to Good Hope for many years to come.”

-Minnesota Bob, the greatest fisherman in Minnesota and possibly the world, except for Howie Strey.

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Tyee One On

“Griffin Jones and I were fishing with Salty at the head end, where we were making the traditional tack between Marker 16 and Pigeon Bay. The fishing was really slow, so we made a turn toward the log dump. As we made the turn at the log dump marker, the lines became tangled in the prop. Salty immediately shut down the engine and pulled the motor up to cut the tangled line from the prop. He discovered an extra line there as well. A fish had broken off another angler’s line and it had tangled with our lines in the prop. Thinking fast, Salty hand-lined the fish close enough for us to tie it to one of our broken lines, and Griffin landed the fish. It turned out to be a 34-pound Tyee.

This past season, Dick “Spank” Marriot and I were fishing Marker 16 with guide Ted Walkus. Ted and Spank were at the bow of the boat when Ted spotted a Chinook swimming on the surface about 15 yards in front of us. Spank suggested Ted net the fish. I didn’t think there was any way possible the fish would allow that to happen. I piloted the boat towards the fish, guided by Ted’s hand signals. At the right moment, Ted dipped the net and the fish exploded into it. That fish turned out to be a Tyee of 32 pounds.

I have been coming to Good Hope (formerly Salmon King) for many years (first trip in 1992), and have seen it grow into one of the finest salmon fishing destinations in British Columbia. Your chances of catching a trophy class Chinook are better there than any place on the west coast.”