Day 42, Wednesday, August 3, Ocean Falls
What an awesome trip today up to Ocean Falls! We saw a pod of 5 gray whales when we turned into Fisher Channel. They were blowing and surfacing and tail slapping. I tried to get some pictures, but of course the pics I did get turned out all blurry and the every time one of the whales slapped a tail I was too late with the shutter. I tried to convince Ben to circle around so I could get more pics, but no go.
Ocean Falls is an old deserted timber/mining community, there is a dam here that supplies power to the islands and a big lake behind it. There is also a bunch of old deserted buildings from the sawmill and mining days, it looks like an old ghost town. Pretty COOL. A old school, old 7 or 8 story hotel, and an old 7 story apartment building, a bunch of old houses. It looks like one day everyone just picked up and left. Weird. Wonder if any ghosts are still hanging around? Ben and I walked through the old apartment building, it was pretty creepy. I loved it!
We walked up to the dam with the dogs, they enjoyed the exercise and getting off the boat.
There is also a cast stature of a mermaid on the water when you first pull into the docks, the story is that a local made it to honor his granddaughter who disappeared when she was 15, it happened years ago. Very cool.
We are staying here a couple of days. We are on the docks so we have power and water for a change. I'm glad, I was tired of fishing anyway and I wanna take my ghost detector up to the hotel and see if I can find any ghosts! COOL

Day 41, Tuesday, August 2, Hampdon Point

After another disappointing morning of fishing around Idol Point, we set out for Ocean Falls. We left Shearwater around noon and headed up through Gunboat Passage. Talk about a scary drive! Narrow and very swift current with lots of small islands and rocks. To top it off we had a HUGH ferry boat on our butt on the way through, and that made it interesting as the ferry can go much faster than us, it's not like there was any place for it to pass us.
As soon as we got through the passage we headed for the nearest cove to anchor for the night.... And let the dang ferry go by.
We anchored out in Hampdon Bay, had a Heck of a time finding a spot to take the dogs ashore. The banks were so steep and rocky!
Tomorrow we will get an early start and head up Disney Channel toward Ocean Falls.
Can't wait!

Day 40, Monday, August 1, Shearwater

We stayed up late to watch a movie last night, then slept in this morning.... Figuring that the fishing was sucking anyway so what the Heck....
Jerre and Ute got up early and headed out to fish.... Next thing we hear on the radio is that they have 4 fish on deck and the fish are biting as fast as they can get their hook in the water.... WTF!!!!
So we rush to get the dogs ashore, load the skiff and head to the fishing grounds.. Of course by the time we get there the run is long gone, and after trolling for hours... We don't even get a single bite!
SUCK
Oh well.... We finally give up and head to anchor at Shearwater. Do some laundry, at least the evening ended well, we had dinner with Jerre and Ute at the local bar and grill. It was nice not having to cook for a change.
And tomorrow's another day.

Day 39, Sunday, July 31, Green Neck Bay

Once again we were outsmarted by the Salmon. Even the great fishslayer didn't get a fish. After a few hours of trolling we headed to a new bay to spend the evening. This time we anchored at Green Neck Bay. What an awesome harbour! A Secluded little bay with lots of beach for the puppies and us to explore. No steep up and down banks! I love this place.
We had the harbour to ourselves, after dinner we played a game of crib and for a change the girls wooped the boys. I think that makes it 14 to 5. Obviously the boys are cheats!
Tomorrow we will try for the elusive salmon again then head to Shearwater for the evening.

Day 38, Saturday, July 30, Ormidale Harbour

Today was another beautiful sunny day, without the winds! Unfortunately, once again the fish just were not biting. There sure are allot of charter and resort boats out today. At one point we counted over 25 boats around us. Don't think they were having any luck either. I'm ready to try a new spot. Gotta talk to our fishing guide Jerre about finding a new spot, although he will probably want to wait until after we make our trip to Ocean Falls next week.
We saw a barge full of logs go by as well as a Disney cruise ship. Those cruise ships sure are big! Wonder what they are paying for their adventure?
We fished in a new area today and for awhile we actually had cell service... I looked back to see my fisherman sitting on the couch surfing Craig's list... What the Heck?????

Day 37, Friday, July 29, Ormidale Harbour

The sun was out today but so was the winds! It's hard to steer the boat when you are only trolling on one engine and the wind is blowing you all over the place. Ben did manage to hook a nice size king, but it was the only one today.
That brings our total up to 10 Salmon in the freezer. We have been throwing the Pinks and the Chum back, just keeping the Kings and the Coho.
Jerre and Uti are going to take us up to Ocean Falls next week. They say it's something you MUST see. It's about a 4 hour trip, we are going to spend a day or two and explore when we get there.
I don't mind saying I could use a break from fishing! Plus we get to do some Halibut fishing on the way up.
I want me one of them Halibut!

Day 36, Thursday July 28 Ormidale Harbour

After spending the night at Shearwater, and getting my internet fix, checking messages and Facebook, we headed out around 10 for another day of fishing.
Ben got the parts in to fix the electric downrigger so we are once  again fishing with two poles.
However today the double didn't do us any good. We fished for several hours then decided to call it an early day and headed back to our little hole in Ormidale Harbour where we meet up again with Jerre and Uti. They had a little better luck today, the mighty fishslayer brought in two kings and a Coho.
We'll hit it again tomorrow.