| Landing a record Chinook | Daniel Daigle story |

This group (left photo) worked very hard over 5 years to produce Quality Waters Strategy, Resource Document http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/documents/quality_waters.pdf ( 83 page file) dated May 10, 2005

Clockwise in left photo: Bob Taylor, Independent Angler, Bob Hooton, MWLAP Nanaimo, Robby Steward, BC Federation of Fly Fishers, Tom Protheroe, Independent Angler, Miles Stratholt MWLAP Victoria, Al Martin MWLAP Victoria, director of fish & wildlife, Julie Paul, Facilitator, Bob Williams MWLAP Victoria, Pierce Clegg, Northern Steelhead Guides Association, Dick McMaster, Guide Outfitters Association of BC, Noel Gyger, Terrace and District Angling Guides Association, Doug Peck, East Kootenay Wildlife Association.

Missing from the Photo but these people also contributed greatly: Dave Narver, BC Wildlife Federation, Paul Bech, Steelhead Society, Craig Murray, Nimmo Bay Resort, Barry Rogers, Kootenay Angling Guides Association, Dana Atagi, MWALP Smithers, Mike Ramsay, MWALP Williams Lake, Gerry Walsh, MWALP Victoria, Jeff Burrows MWLAP Kootenay, Keith Douglas and Dave Evans (alternates for Northern Steelhead Guides Assoc.) Top^

Landing a Record Chinook

© 1983 by Noel F. Gyger

In May of 1980 I went looking for new fishing holes on the Kalum river near Terrace. After checking out several roads off the Nass Road, I found one that ended at a bank just 100 yards above the river. “Grab your gear,” I told the kids, “We’re going fishing.”

I didn’t know a great deal about river fishing in those day, so when I saw a chap fishing by himself, I asked him a few questions. The main thing I remember about our conversation was that he told me he had landed a 32-pound Chinook in that hole on June 2, 1979. He assured me that it would be possible to hook a Chinook early in June on the Kalum River and that he had a friend who landed one April 15. I fished the hole once or twice during the year but never did hook a Chinook.

The next year I went at it with a little more enthusiasm and was determined to learn more about that particular hole. As time went by I met a few people who always fished there early for Chinook. Some of the stories they told me were almost unbelievable - stories like big Chinook ripping off all your line before finally breaking off. Two fellows had their fishing rods literally break in half in a hopeless effort to stop one big fish.

The next year, 1982, my friend Bryan and I planned to take our holidays for one week and fish that hole. The week we decided on was June 7 to June 14. Water conditions were not good at that time, but we did manage to land a few Chinook. The two heaviest were 44 and 64-pounds. What really, really, impressed me however, was the one that got away June 10.

I went fishing alone that morning, Bryan deciding to sleep in. I started fishing at 5 a.m. had a few hits, then at 6 a.m. set the hook on a possible world record Chinook.

My 40-pound test line streamed off me level wind reel as I tried to slow the fish down. It was a big fish and I was in trouble. I yelled across the river to where two other fishermen had a river boat, hoping they would bring the boat over and we could chase the fish downstream.

They said they couldn’t help me as they did not have enough gas. A minute later, with only a few turns left on the spool. I tightened the drag, thumbed the spool until it stopped losing line…and hung on! Snap, the line broke, rupturing the 40-pound test, leaving it frayed and stretched. From that moment on I knew you need a plan to land those big fish. The big one always gets away.

The next year 1983, my friends Bryan Owen and Brian Pearson planned another week on the Kalum River. The date we chose this time were May 20 to May 30.

On May 24, Bryan Owen and I launched our river boat at Mud Lake and started the five mile ride down the Kalum River to where we were camped. We had never been down that stretch of water before but had fished parts of it.

Fifteen minutes had passed when a friend and fishing partner, Jim Candelora, showed up. Before he could start fishing, he asked if he could borrow a rod holder. I told him he could use the one in the boat. When Jim pounded it into the ground, I joked; “Put a big rock in front of the holder, Jim, because it might bend if you hit the big one.”

Ten minutes later, Jim got a bite! “Hit it!” I told him. Instantly his rod doubled over. He’s onto a big fish! He yelled at me, “Get the boat!” I did not react right away, thinking to myself, it couldn’t be that big. Seconds later, my eyes popped out of my head as a huge fish began tail walking, shaking its head from side to side, heading for the other side of the river.

I looked around for my partner and spotted Brian Pearson. I yelled to him; “Let’s get the boat!” The boat was tied up about 100 ft. downstream from where Jim had the fish.

“Try and hold the fish!” I told Jim. A minute later, Brian and I were heading upstream to pick up Jim. Somehow he still had the fish on.

Brain Pearson’s job was to try and net the fish, Jim to play it and mine, to operate the boat. Landing a fish in a boat on this river can be difficult at the best of times, and with this fish so large, it was nearly impossible.

Because my mind was spinning, searching for a way to land the fish, I took my mind off my job just for a second. Looking back, I could see were going to hit the cut-bank of the river. Everyone became aware of the situation. Brian took the oar and pushed the nose of the boat back out into the river. I managed to control the boat, this time concentrating on my job.

Jim was having a tough time trying to control the fish. Many times it was under the boat. All three of us worked to keep the fishing line from cutting on the edge of the boat. At one time, Jim had to pass me his fishing rod, as he couldn’t reach far enough to keep the line out of the jet. I grabbed it with one hand by the reel, lowered the complete rod and reel under water to keep it out of the way.

We watched for where the fish might surface. Seconds later, there it was just like a Dolphin, tearing off line at an incredible rate. I had to gun the engine and chase it upstream because Jim was losing line too fast. We did manage once to get the fish close enough for Brian to attempt to use the net. Brian exclaimed, “This fish is too big for the net!” We only had a small gaff, so decided not to use it, as it could easily rip out. I saw that there was no way we were going to land this fish in the boat.

Downstream the river took a 180-degree bend, I told Jim I would drop him off at the top end and hopefully use the current from the river to swing the fish close enough to shore so it could be landed. I nosed the boat onto the shore. Sweat was pouring from Jim’s face; he hadn’t stopped working since he hooked the fish.

I yelled to Brian, “you have a new job…to look after the boat and be ready to go again if we can’t land this fish from shore.”

I took the gaff from Brian and went wading into the water, checking its depth. I had no time to put on my waders, so I was wet up to my waist. This fish rolled over on its side, obviously quite tired, but still out of reach of the gaff. Jim kept pumping his rod, gaining a little line. Not that the fish was pulling that hard anymore – Jim couldn’t gain much simply because of the sheer weight of it. I was up to my knees in the water, watching Jim’s line come in little by little. Finally, I could see a gray mass slowly rising to the surface. When it was close enough to gaff, I took careful aim and buried the gaff just behind its head and slowly dragged it to the shore. The battle was finally over.

We could hardly believe it, we had landed the big fish. Jim tried to pick it up, but it was too heavy, or else he was too tired. We skidded it back to the boat. As we headed back upstream to where the play had started, we celebrated. This Chinook was weighed on legal scales at 1 a.m. Tuesday morning. The Kalum River record, 83-pound 8-oz. was the result. Top^

Daniel Daigle story

Pro guide Daniel Daigle must “have to be a guide” gene flowing throughout his whole being. The reason we say that is here is a photo from 1958 showing his Terrace family proudly posing with a Kalum River (near Deep Creek) wild Chinook Salmon. The fish was estimated to weigh over 60-pounds. Chinook like these were common in those days. They usually liked to hide around log jams, for protection, before spawning but this one got fooled with a Kitimat 80 Lure. The tussle to land him took over one hour.

Daniel is not in this picture, he wasn’t actually born yet. He was just a gleam in his father’s eye (seen standing tall on the left). Top^