I’d like to preface this post by saying that we thoroughly enjoy every seasonal change in Ts’msyen territory – but our favourite change of the seasons is the k’suut [ksuut] – autumn; fall season . For me, the crisp, cool air triggers a feeling of nostalgia for going back to school and getting back to a routine after the busy summer months, and for Stephen it kickstarts the excitement for hunting season. Once we get a few frosts in the territory, we know the moose and deer will be getting ready for their ruts. We also hunt for ma̱xmeex [ma̱x/*meex] – grouse in the fall (free chicken, who could resist?).

I think part of the reason we enjoy the fall so much is because there is so much variety in foods we can harvest. In September, we like fishing the lax wi’iil – gravel bar on the Ksyen – Skeena River . And soon enough we’ll be cockle digging and winter chinook fishing! Below – we’ll talk about our adventures fishing the lax wi’iil!

gyigyemk – suns/ moons; seasons/ months

Typically, people think of the four major seasons:

• gooym [goo/*ym] – spring (the season of the year) 
• suunt [suunt] – summer
• k’suut [ksuut] – autumn; fall season
• goomsm [*goom/sm] – winter

But coastal Ts’msyen recognize 10 (major) seasonal rounds. Starting with the first fresh food source of the new year, and signalling a renewal of our sea resources, the seasonal rounds are:

• Ha’lila̱x six’ẅa̱h [ha/’li/la̱x/si/*’ẅa̱h] – the time to harvest eulachon; month of March
  
• Ha’lila̱x sixs’waanx [ha/’li/la̱x/si/*xs’waa/nx] – the time to harvest herring eggs; month of April
  
• Ha’li’la̱x siła̱’a̱sk [ha/’li/la̱x/si/*ła̱’a̱sk] – the time to harvest seaweed; month of May
  
• Ha’lila̱x sima̱ḵ’ooxs [ha/’li/la̱x/si/ma̱/*ḵ’ooxs] – the time to harvest salmonberries; month of June
  
• Ha’lila̱x simisoo [ha/’li/la̱x/si/mi/*soo] – the time to harvest sockeye; month of July
  
• Ha’lila̱xsistm’oon [ha/’li/*la̱x/sistm/*oon] – the time to harvest humpback/pink salmon; month of August
  
• Ha’lila̱x simaay [ha/’li/la̱x/si/*maay] – the time to harvest berries; month of September
  
• Ha’lila̱x sig̱aboox [ha/’li/*la̱x/si/g̱a/*boox] – the time to harvest cockles, month of October
  
• Ha’lila̱x sits’a̱’a̱x [ha/’li/*la̱x/si/*ts’a̱’a̱x] – the time to harvest clams; month of November
  
• Ha’li suwiliinsk [ha/’li/*su/wi/*liinsk] – the time to hunt/trap; month of January
  

You’ll notice there are 10 seasonal rounds, that correlate roughly to 10 calendar months of the year. However, I get the impression that some of these harvesting rounds could start a little earlier or a little later depending on the run/lunar phase/growing conditions that year.

For example, at the start of the seasonal rounds, Ha’lila̱x six’ẅa̱h, the eulachon depend on the progression of the lunar phase – and it’s effect that causes big tides. The big tides help push the eulachon (which are not strong swimmers to begin with) up the Ksyen and Kluusms (Nass River) . Hali’mootk (the first run of eulachon) can sometimes come as early as February – depending on the year/run.

Traditionally, Ts’msyen wouldn’t harvest heavily in the goomsm because of the severe weather conditions in our territory – think gale force winds, heavy rainfall, snow, and ice in the Ksyen (listen to Mr. Campbell’s audio explanation for Ha’liwilgyisiyaask below). Outside of the seasonal rounds, Ts’msyen also observe:

• Ha’lilikluulgyit [ha/’li/lik/*luul/gyit] – time for feasting; month of December
  
• Ha’liwilgyisiyaask [Ha/’li/wil/gyi/si/*yaask] – the time of the North wind; month of February
  

lax wi’iil – gravel bar

Steve loves all kinds of fishing: fly fishing, ocean trolling, lake trolling, gill netting, eulachon fishing, and gear fishing (to name a few). Out on the Ksyen you can choose from a number of ways to fish – lately we’ve been gear fishing, aka (gravel) bar fishing, aka “plunking.”

Plunking is a fun activity to do when you’re out on the river, and also busy multitasking with other things. You set your rod, put it in the rod holder, attach your “lucky bell,” and wait for the bite. While you’re plunking, and your gear is sitting in the river, you can hangout with friends/family, have a fire, eat your lunch, play with the doggo, whatever you want to do – just don’t go too far from your rod in case you hear that bell go off and have to run for a hoon [hoon] – fish!

This Ha’lila̱x simaay, we put in a few solid days on the river – just in time for the coho run! We have been fishing Polymar/China Bar, a popular fishing spot that you’re able to drive down to from highway 16. However, if you have a canoe or a river boat, there are LOTS of great spots you can stop at along the Skeena. *Be aware that the river is dynamic, and that canoeing the Skeena can be very technical, and requires a lot of experience and skill in order to stay safe.*

This year, Steve said he had his best üüx day ever, and lost count of how many fish he caught that day (including a lot of wii hoon – big fish, and wicked fights!). His legs were sore from running to grab the rod! Sadly, I was working that day, and the bite turned off by the time I made it out there after work.

Before we head out to the Ksyen, Stephen always checks his favourite websites – which give us an indication of the conditions that day. If the river levels are too high, you may not be able to drive down to Polymar. If the Tyee Test Fishery says the river is quiet for passing fish, you may hold off on river fishing that day. Be sure to check:

• the Tyee Test Fishery data
• the Skeena river levels (once it reaches 4 meters on the left side of the graph, you may not be able to drive onto Polymar)
• Drive BC (for their highway cams)
• and of course the Weather Network

When we’re plunking, we use Steve’s 10 foot medium action or medium-heavy action rods, paired with a level wind reel! These reels are mounted on the top of the rod, which allows you more control with your thumb on the line as you’re casting. As you cast, hover your thumb over the spool and slow the spool down as it gets closer to touching the water. If you don’t do this, the reel will keep letting line off the reel (even though your line stopped moving in the water), resulting in a birds nest.

When I first started casting with these rods, I’d get birds nest after birds nest, and I’d have to sit there and untangle the fishing line on the reel… only to birds nest it again! But with practice, it got easier!

For Steve’s plunking rods, he uses 30lb braided line (for the spinning reel, 15 lb braid). But setting up the fishing lures is where it gets fun. For plunking, we use Spin-n-Glo’s!

Steve attaches a lead weight and a leader line with a bead, Spin-n-Glo and hook combo. The lead weight depends on the spot you’re fishing, the water level, and the debris in the water – usually anywhere from 3-10 ounces. There is an art to picking your Spin-n-Glo. Choosing your colour and size depends on a few factors, including light conditions, water turbidity, species, and size of fish you’re after!

Depending on your conditions, you’ll want to choose a Spin-n-Glo that has some contrast in the water. Some of our tried, tested and true Spin-n-glo colour combos (these are their names in the Yakima catalogue) are watermelon, clown, and this year – double trouble.

The sizing goes from 000, 00, 0, 2, 4, 6 etc. We were using size 2 the last few weeks, but size 0 or 00 works for for catching the big chinooks in the summertime. When casting your rod, you also want to keep an eye out V-wakes from the fish. These are small waves made by the fish as they’re swimming up river. Place your cast right in front of their swim lane, and you’ll increase your chances!

In the warmer weather, you need to be prepared to bring ice for your catch, or else you risk bringing home mushy, gaping fish. Because we’re usually out there for a few hours at least, we’ll bring a cooler filled with ice and our lunch. Once our lunch is finished, we’ll use the cooler to ice and take our fish home.

Other key items to bring include: camping chairs, firewood (or a chainsaw, axe and hatchet if you don’t have any firewood on hand), a lighter or torch, rod holders, and a Bluetooth speaker.

Side note: we would not advise bringing pallets for burning, as they leave behind nails on the lax wi’iil! The nails end up polluting the marine environment for when the river rises again. Plus, when you’re driving out on the gravel bar, the last thing you want is to pop a tire on a stray nail!

Polymar is also a fun place to camp and fish – but be aware that this area of the river is still tidal! And a big tide will push the water line up onto shore. Many camping trips in this area have resulted in soaking wet tents and coolers floating away down river. Heavy rainfall can also affect the water level, another aspect of the river to be aware of if you’re out for a multi day stay.

T’oyaxsut ‘nüün – thank you  Mr. Campbell for allowing me to record your Sm’algyax pronunciation for this blog. 

Follow güüdisk on Instagram for more harvesting stories!

S&L – September 21, 2020