Fishing Report for Week Ending September 18, 2011

Fishing Report

for Week Ending September 18, 2011



SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Salmon continues to rapidly SLOW DOWN. There still is a mix of springs, chum, pinks and coho in local waters, just not lots of any of them. Most of the mature salmon are entering the rivers or holding by the river mouths. Sockeye and halibut are now CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Visit our facebook page to see reports, news and videos by our guides and staff from their most recent trips!

Port Renfrew – Salmon fishing has SLOWED DOWN. There are still springs up to 30 lbs being caught, but mostly at Swiftsure Bank. Along the coastline it’s a lot slower. The Chinooks by Nitinat have all moved into the lake and river. Elsewhere, a few Chinooks are being caught from Camper Creek to Walbram Creek. The coho are not really abundant either and the odd pink is still being caught. The big San Juan River coho are starting to enter the river.

Sooke – Salmon fishing has SLOWED DOWN. Anglers are still catching a mixture of pinks, springs and coho (both hatchery and wild), but you have to work hard for the fish. Most anglers are trolling near the Harbour entrance looking for big springs returning to the Sooke River. Secretary Island to the Bluffs is the area in which to concentrate your fishing effort. A 43 lb spring was caught on Friday and a 38 lb spring on the weekend, so there are still some big ones around. We’re also hearing of boats getting skunked. Anchovies have been working best in Purple Haze, UV Green or Bloody Nose teaser heads. Hootchies and squirts were good in Purple Haze, Glow Below and Electric Chair. The best flasher has been the Silver Betsey and Gold Fever Hot Spot. Mongoose Coyote spoons also work well. Gene Burlock caught a 24 lb Red Snapper (Yellow eye Rockfish) on Saturday.




 



Pedder Bay – Salmon fishing was has PRETTY SLOW this past week. The number of pink salmon around has really dropped and only a few hatchery Coho were taken near here. Those anglers targeting the pinks and coho are finding the best fishing out at the third tide line in the strait. Anglers were catching some springs near Church Rock, but not too many of them, and mostly feeder springs at that. Not much action came from inside the bay. Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads have been the most popular when using bait and the best flashers have been the Silver Betsey and Purple Haze. Hootchies and squirts were good in Purple Haze, Electric Chair and Lemon Meringue. Cop Car or Green/Silver Coyote spoons have also worked for springs.

Victoria Waterfront – Salmon fishing was SLOW for mature fish this past week. Constance Bank had a big run of just barely legal feeder springs but most anglers are staying away from them, preferring to let them grow to adulthood. Along the waterfront it was slow for springs into the 20s. There have been reports of mature springs near Esquimalt Harbour. Anchovies and herring are top producers this time of year as well. The best teaser head colors are UV Green and the Bloody Nose. Many anglers though are fishing squirts and spoons with good success. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and the Glo Below. Good flashers have been the Green/Glow and Green/Silver Hot Spots.

 

Oak Bay – Salmon fishing has SLOWED DOWN on the Flats. Anglers were catching springs while fishing close to the bottom where most of the fish being caught recently are feeder springs. That said, Richard Meyer recently caught a 20 lb weekend spring on the Flats using a green and white Coho Killer spoon. The best bet for springs is trolling right on bottom in 80 to 150 feet of water with squirts, Baitrix tiny strip, small anchovy or Coho Killer spoons. Good squirts were the Electric Chair, Pickle Green, J-79 and Jellyfish. With spoons, 3½” or 4” Gypsy, Titans, and Coyotes in Cop Car or Silver/Green colors and the Gold Star Coho Killer. Glow in the dark flashers would be the best choice for springs now. Also, jigging can be productive as there are lots of areas with good bottom structure that hold salmon. Gibbs Minnows are a good choice when fishing these spots.



Sidney – Salmon fishing has SLOWED DOWN around the Pender Bluffs this past week. There were some springs reported and only 4 pink and 2 wild Coho salmon caught there according to the creel survey on Sunday. There had been springs near Hamley Point. Elsewhere, there have been a lot of just undersize springs in the Sidney Channel. Many anglers have been fishing for springs using anchovies in Bloody Nose, Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads. Hootchies have been out producing squirts recently and the hot patterns for springs now are Army Truck, Glow Below and Electric Chair. Mongoose Coyote spoons have also been working well.

Notable Catches – Gene Burlock caught a 24 lb Red Snapper (Yellow eye Rockfish) on Saturday in Sooke. Richard Meyer recently caught a 20 lb weekend spring on the Oak Bay Flats using a green and white Coho Killer spoon. If you have any fishing info, notable catches, digital photos or tips that you would like to share or have included in our fishing report, please email us at info@fishingvictoria.com. Also, check out our blog and facebook page for links to recent videos and reports from our staff.






Local Lakes – Trout fishing is FAIR TO GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. The biggest trout continue to be caught at Elk Lake with Langford Lake being your next best bet to hook into a real “lunker”.

Many anglers are catching trout near the bottom on either Powerbait Gulp eggs, or worms. Fly anglers are mostly using chironomids, Wooly Buggers or leech pattern flies. Trollers have been doing OK with a variety of lures. The Rhys Davis Baitrix Trout lures and UV Mini Strip Teasers work well for larger fish. Other good trolling lures are the Apex Trout Killers with the police car one of the best and the black with silver glitter spots taking second place. Flatfish and/or Kwikfish have also been effective in sizes 5 to 7 in Frog, Yellow with Red Spots or Blue/Silver. Smaller Rapalas in Rainbow Trout or Brown Trout patterns also work well. Lastly, Willow Leaf Lake trolls with a worm-tipped GIBBS Wedding Band will almost always catch some fish. By the way, all wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake. Guy Hebert caught a 19 in rainbow in Elk Lake on Sunday the 18^th.



Bass Fishing - Bass fishing was GOOD this past week. Anglers have been having good luck with spinnerbaits fished near shore in the mornings and evenings. Top water plugs are also lots of fun early and late into the night when fished near structure and the shoreline. Langford Lake, Shawnigan Lake, Prospect Lake and Elk and Beaver Lakes are the best local bass lakes. St. Mary’s Lake on Salt Spring Island is also a great lake for bass fishing. Konrad Herrman caught a 2 lb 2 oz smallmouth bass at Thetis Lake on a yellow perch Rapala plug.

Notable Catches – Guy Hebert caught a 19 in rainbow in Elk Lake on Sunday the 18^th. Konrad Herrman caught a 2 lb 2 oz smallmouth bass at Thetis Lake on a yellow perch Rapala plug. If you have any fishing info, notable catches, digital photos (please send as attachments) or tips that you would like to share or have included in our fishing report, please email us at info@fishingvictoria.com. Also, check out our blog and facebook page for links to recent videos and reports from our staff.

 

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

 

Go where the fish are! This time of year the salmon are migrating to the rivers to spawn. If you want to catch the big ones now you should head towards river mouths where the fish stage before heading upstream. And be sure to keep abreast of any fishery notices or closures.

 

Island Outfitters Leader Board – 2011

Halibut

1)    231.4 lbs – Terry Zarelli – Race Rocks area – Octopus- March 25^th

2)    194.4 lbs – Al Crow – Sooke – Salmon Head – May 14^th

3)    127.5 lbs – Reg Day – Sidney – June 26^th

4)    124.6 lbs – Todd Steen – Sidney – May 27^th

5) 101.9 lbs – Reg Day – Sidney – June 27^th 

Salmon

 

     1) 47.1 lbs – Ian Robinson – Port Renfrew – Anchovy – July 29^th   

     2) 40.0 lbs – Dave Stubbs – Constance Bank – Hootchy – August 20^th

     3) 36.4 lbs – Brandon Salter – Waterfront – Anchovy – August 7^th

     4) 33.0 lbs – Bill Campbell – Trap Shack – Anchovy – July 5^tth

     5) 32.8 lbs – Joe Zammit – Trap shack – Anchovy – July 16^th

2011 DERBIES and EVENTS

Island Outfitters starts and ends the year with the free for fun and prizes Salmon and Halibut Leader Board. Simply weigh your catch in at Island Outfitters and the top five fish in each category on December 31^st wins a special prize. Everybody who enters a fish gets a prize! Maybe it will be you bringing in the big one!  Please let us know as early as possible about your up coming events in 2011!

See our event pages for upcoming events!