For Steve and myself, every season is la̱x’wiihoon [la̱x/’wii/*hoon] salmon season. But goomsm [*goom/sm] – winter , is our most productive for spring salmon fishing. Stephen is busy with fieldwork during the suunt – summer , so we tend to have more ocean fishing days in his off season.
By mid Ha’lila̱x sig̱aboox [ha/’li/*la̱x/si/g̱a/*boox] – the time for cockles, October , we start fishing for yeem goomsm – [yee/m *goom/sm] winter spring/chinook salmon .
In the Ts’msyen territory, winter spring fishing starts to ramp up by mid Ha’lila̱x sits’a̱’a̱x [ha/’li/*la̱x/si/*ts’a̱’a̱x] – the time for clams, November , and peaks in Ha’lilikluulgyit [ha/’li/lik/*luul/gyit] – the time for feasting, December .
In Ha’lilikluulgyit you’ll catch wii yeem goomsm (big winter springs), and you’ll get into big numbers then. Steve says this is because there is a lot of feed for them in the inlets and harbours, including juvenile herring.
By late Ha’liwilgyisiyaask [Ha/’li/wil/gyi/si/*yaask] – the time of the north wind, February , and early Ha’lila̱x six’ẅa̱h [ha/’li/la̱x/si/*’ẅa̱h] – the time for eulachon harvesting, March , it starts to get slower.
It slows down for yeem goomsm when feed, such as eulachon, mature herring and squid, start to show up in the area. Fish follow the food, and so do we. So this is when we know to start getting ready for eulachon fishing.
We have an open boat, so our fishing days are dictated mostly by the weather. First, we watch for calmer, non-rainy days, and then we pick our tides. Overcast days are great for fishing. Steve believes the low light helps the fish stay camouflaged from predators, and makes them more active feeders. But who can resist a sunny day on the ocean! Sunny days can be banger too!
The yeem goomsm fishery is mainly a local fishery. At this time of year, we see a lot of familiar faces out on the ocean. Part of the reason it’s a local fishery is because it’s the off season for the charter guides, the days are shorter, and the weather is more severe. For those reasons, sometimes we only get out for a half day before the wind and tide start working against us. In fact, the main reason we are writing this blog today is because it’s blowing a Gail and we’re stuck on land!
Yeem goomsm are a little smaller than the summertime fish, but they’re fiestier, tastier and hit the line harder. Our theory is that they’re feeding more this time of year, so they’re a bit more aggressive than summertime fish. Since they’re staying in sheltered waters and eating a lot, they’re metabolizing more food which gives them more energy. They’re tastier because they’re feeding to fatten up their bodies, whereas summertime fish are dedicating their energy towards migration and reproduction.
Steve has many years under his belt fishing yeem goomsm. He started fishing around the age of 4 or 5 with his grandpa William Leask. Back then, they were using trolling poles and hand lines, and Steve’s job was to watch the springs on the trolling poles, watching for the bite. It’s safe to say he’s fished the majority of his life!
Steve’s method for fishing yeem goomsm is very much based on the tides. He has his favourite spots to fish at high slack and low slack (but if the conditions are right, we’ll fish multiple tides in a day). During the slack tides, the fish seem to be more active. But that being said, we’ve also noticed that the fish are a little harder to move if there is a high pressure system coming through at the same time.
Common gear choices for fishing yeem goomsm include flashers, hoochies, spoons and plugs, and bait such as herring and anchovies. We prefer to use bait, but some fishermen swear by hoochies and spoons. Steve always makes sure to throw some course salt on our bait because it helps it last longer, and it helps keep its stiffness and shape.
Flashers are a great way to attract attention to your line. On sunny and bright days, something more reflective, like silver prism, works well. On dark overcast days, we use more UV/glow flashers to bring them in. If you watch the depth sounder closely, you can see the yeem goomsm come up and check your line. If they like your gear, hopefully they’ll follow up with a bite!
Because we fish the winter months, we always layer up regardless of the weather. Thick winter gum boots, fleece pants and gloves, buffs, toques, and smart wool base layers are staples in our winter wardrobe. We love eating fresh fish in the wintertime, and are always grateful for the abundance our territory provides for us.
T’oyaxsut ‘nüün thank you Mr. Alex Campbell Sr. for helping us with the translation for yeem goomsm – and for providing the pronunciation for the Sm’algyax vocabulary.
Tight lines!
S&L – November 28, 2020