CartFishing Report for Week Ending October 30, 2011
Fishing Report for Week Ending October 30, 2011
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing is FAIR and in TRANSITON from fall fish to winter fish. There are still some coho and chum to be caught, but winter (feeder) springs are more often becoming the target species for anglers. Most of the winter springs are fairly small and undersized and most have to be released.
Visit our facebook page to see reports, news and videos by our guides and staff from their most recent trips!
Sooke – Salmon fishing has been GOOD as the fall coho are still passing through Juan De Fuca Strait before they head up the rivers. The coho are most frequent out in the deeper waters of the strait, but some are being caught closer in as well. Anglers are finding them at varied depths from 25-150 feet on the downrigger. There is a mixture of both marked and unmarked coho, but predominantly unmarked fish. Most anglers fishing coho are using hootchies and spoons, usually with lots of green color. Anglers are also catching a few chums and winter springs while fishing closer to the shore. Anchovies have been working best in Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads and seem to be catching larger coho than the artificial baits. Coho Killers, Green/Glow and Mongoose Coyote spoons are working well for coho. Hootchies and squirts are good in Purple Haze, Cloverleaf and Glow/Green. The best flasher has been the Silver Betsey and Silver Fever Hot Spot.
Becher Bay – Salmon fishing has still been GOOD over the past week for the coho in the strait. The coho have mostly been caught in the deep water (500+ feet) in the shipping lanes. There is a mixture of both marked and unmarked coho, but predominantly unmarked fish. Anchovies have been working best in Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads and seem to be catching larger coho than the artificial baits. Coho Killers, Green/Glow and Mongoose Coyote spoons are working well for coho. Hootchies and squirts are good in Purple Haze, Cloverleaf and Glow/Green. Anglers are still catching a few chum and some winter springs. A 14 lb winter spring was taken off Aldridge Point this past week. However, they have not appeared in the bay in big numbers yet. The majority of anglers fishing for springs are using bait, with anchovies being the most popular choice. The best teaser heads for bait were the Purple Haze, UV Green and the Bloody Nose. The best flashers have been the Silver Betsey, Silver Fever Hot Spot and Purple Haze. Hootchies and squirts were good in Purple Haze, Cloverleaf and Glow/Green.
Pedder Bay – Salmon fishing was SLOWER for coho into the low teens this past week. Anglers are finding the best fishing for coho off Church Rock or farther in the strait, in deep water (500+ feet). Most anglers fishing coho are using hootchies and spoons, usually with lots of green color. Coho Killers, Green/Glow and Mongoose Coyote spoons are working well for coho. There is a mixture of both marked and unmarked coho, but predominantly unmarked fish. Anchovies have been working best in Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads, and seem to be catching larger coho than the artificial baits, with a 17 lb coho caught on anchovy the largest one taken this past week. Anglers were catching some springs near Church Rock and in Pedder Bay, mostly feeder springs in the 5 to 10 lb size range. 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, Cloverleaf and Glow/Green for coho and springs. Cop Car or Green/Silver Coyote spoons have also worked for springs.
Victoria Waterfront – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY this past week. Constance Bank still has a bunch of smaller feeder springs, but most anglers are staying away from them, preferring to let them grow to adulthood. Also, the fish are moving around on the bank where some anglers are catching large numbers of fish while others were not doing very well. Along the waterfront it was spotty for springs. This time of year you have to search for the bait and stay near it if you want to get some larger winter springs. Anglers are catching few coho and the occasional chum salmon. Coho Killers, Green/Glow and Mongoose Coyote spoons are working well for both coho and winter springs. Hootchies and squirts are good in Purple Haze, Cloverleaf and Glow/Green. Good flashers have been the Green/Glow and Green/Silver Hot Spots.
Oak Bay – Salmon fishing has been FAIR on the Flats. Anglers were catching lots of small winter springs while fishing close to the bottom but not too many good sized fish. A few coho have also been caught there too. The best bet is trolling right on bottom in 60 to 120 feet of water with squirts, Baitrix tiny strip, small anchovy or Coho Killer spoons. Good squirts are the Cloverleaf, 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.
Sidney – Salmon fishing was SLOW around Sidney. There are lots of just undersized springs in the Sidney Channel and a few bigger ones up to 8 lbs. The Sidney channel has been the best spot. No reports of coho have been received from this area. Many anglers have been fishing for springs using anchovies in Bloody Nose, Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads. Squirts have been out producing hootchies recently and the hot patterns for springs now are Purple Haze, Glow Below and Electric Chair. Mongoose Coyote spoons have also been working well.
Notable Catches – Please send photos and descriptions to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
OVERVIEW – Fishing is SLOW on the local lakes for trout and bass as many of the lakes are undergoing fall turnover. The fall stocking of catchable rainbow trout into Island lakes has happened, so expect better action in your favorite lake as the water clears.
Cowichan River – The water level on the Cowichan River has been dropping near the lake to about 1meter so there is lots of water in the river. The preliminary final fence count to date is 2,407 adult chinook, 1,584 jack chinook, 10,476 adult coho, 903 jack coho, 47 chum and 968 pink/unknowns. With all the salmon in the river now, it’s a good time to start fishing egg patterns for trout holding just below the salmon redds in the upper reaches of the Cowichan. Try fishing small nymphs, egg patterns and/or streamer patterns for the Rainbows and Browns. Nymphs are good flies to use all year round, especially Prince, Caddis, and Mayfly nymphs. Wooly Buggers work well for brown trout, as do Bunny Leeches and Zonkers. Remember that it’s barbless hooks only and there is a bait ban on the river. There is a fishing closure below Marie Canyon.
Local Lakes – Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. The Vancouver Island Trout Hatchery has begun their fall trout release program of Fraser Valley Rainbow Trout 3N catchables.. On September 26th, both Shawnigan Lake and Langford Lake received 2,000 catchable rainbow trout. On September 27th, Elk received 2,000 catchable rainbow trout and Fuller Lake received 1,224 trout. On September 29th, Prospect Lake received 2,700 trout, Thetis Lake 1,490 trout and Spectacle Lake 927 trout. On October 11th Durrance Lake received 2,000 trout, Glen Lake received 1,000 trout and Langford Lake received 725 trout. On October 19th, Kemp Lake received 1,500 trout. On October 20th, Elk Lake received 1,918 tout. On October 21st, Langford Lake received 1,000 trout, Prior Lake 500 trout and Lookout Lake 250 trout.
Many anglers are catching trout on either Powerbait Gulp eggs, or worms. Fly anglers are mostly using Wooly Buggers or leech patterns. 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. The biggest trout continue to be caught at Elk Lake with Langford Lake being your next best bet to hook into a real “lunker”. By the way, all wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.
Bass Fishing - Bass fishing has SLOWED DOWN. Slower presentations such as soft plastics work as the water cools. As winter approaches, look for the fish to move into deeper water and suspend. They might become less active and take a little more “coaxing” to bite. 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.
Notable Catches – Please send photos and descriptions to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
When you’re trout fishing with Powerbait, it pays to try different colors if the action slows down. Trout can be quite color selective and having the right color can trigger a bite. Many anglers will use two contrasting colors, such a red and green, when searching for that hot color.
Island Outfitters Leader Board – 2011
Halibut
1) 231.4 lbs – Terry Zarelli – Race Rocks area – Octopus- March 25th
2) 194.4 lbs – Al Crow – Sooke – Salmon Head – May 14th
3) 127.5 lbs – Reg Day – Sidney – June 26th
4) 124.6 lbs – Todd Steen – Sidney – May 27th
5) 101.9 lbs – Reg Day – Sidney – June 27th
1) 47.1 lbs – Ian Robinson – Port Renfrew – Anchovy – July 29th
2) 40.0 lbs – Dave Stubbs – Constance Bank – Hootchy – August 20th
3) 36.4 lbs – Brandon Salter – Waterfront – Anchovy – August 7th
4) 33.0 lbs – Bill Campbell – Trap Shack – Anchovy – July 5tth
5) 32.8 lbs – Joe Zammit – Trap shack – Anchovy – July 16th
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 31st 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!
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing is FAIR and in TRANSITON from fall fish to winter fish. There are still some coho and chum to be caught, but winter (feeder) springs are more often becoming the target species for anglers. Most of the winter springs are fairly small and undersized and most have to be released.
Visit our facebook page to see reports, news and videos by our guides and staff from their most recent trips!
Sooke – Salmon fishing has been GOOD as the fall coho are still passing through Juan De Fuca Strait before they head up the rivers. The coho are most frequent out in the deeper waters of the strait, but some are being caught closer in as well. Anglers are finding them at varied depths from 25-150 feet on the downrigger. There is a mixture of both marked and unmarked coho, but predominantly unmarked fish. Most anglers fishing coho are using hootchies and spoons, usually with lots of green color. Anglers are also catching a few chums and winter springs while fishing closer to the shore. Anchovies have been working best in Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads and seem to be catching larger coho than the artificial baits. Coho Killers, Green/Glow and Mongoose Coyote spoons are working well for coho. Hootchies and squirts are good in Purple Haze, Cloverleaf and Glow/Green. The best flasher has been the Silver Betsey and Silver Fever Hot Spot.
Becher Bay – Salmon fishing has still been GOOD over the past week for the coho in the strait. The coho have mostly been caught in the deep water (500+ feet) in the shipping lanes. There is a mixture of both marked and unmarked coho, but predominantly unmarked fish. Anchovies have been working best in Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads and seem to be catching larger coho than the artificial baits. Coho Killers, Green/Glow and Mongoose Coyote spoons are working well for coho. Hootchies and squirts are good in Purple Haze, Cloverleaf and Glow/Green. Anglers are still catching a few chum and some winter springs. A 14 lb winter spring was taken off Aldridge Point this past week. However, they have not appeared in the bay in big numbers yet. The majority of anglers fishing for springs are using bait, with anchovies being the most popular choice. The best teaser heads for bait were the Purple Haze, UV Green and the Bloody Nose. The best flashers have been the Silver Betsey, Silver Fever Hot Spot and Purple Haze. Hootchies and squirts were good in Purple Haze, Cloverleaf and Glow/Green.
Pedder Bay – Salmon fishing was SLOWER for coho into the low teens this past week. Anglers are finding the best fishing for coho off Church Rock or farther in the strait, in deep water (500+ feet). Most anglers fishing coho are using hootchies and spoons, usually with lots of green color. Coho Killers, Green/Glow and Mongoose Coyote spoons are working well for coho. There is a mixture of both marked and unmarked coho, but predominantly unmarked fish. Anchovies have been working best in Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads, and seem to be catching larger coho than the artificial baits, with a 17 lb coho caught on anchovy the largest one taken this past week. Anglers were catching some springs near Church Rock and in Pedder Bay, mostly feeder springs in the 5 to 10 lb size range. 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, Cloverleaf and Glow/Green for coho and springs. Cop Car or Green/Silver Coyote spoons have also worked for springs.
Victoria Waterfront – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY this past week. Constance Bank still has a bunch of smaller feeder springs, but most anglers are staying away from them, preferring to let them grow to adulthood. Also, the fish are moving around on the bank where some anglers are catching large numbers of fish while others were not doing very well. Along the waterfront it was spotty for springs. This time of year you have to search for the bait and stay near it if you want to get some larger winter springs. Anglers are catching few coho and the occasional chum salmon. Coho Killers, Green/Glow and Mongoose Coyote spoons are working well for both coho and winter springs. Hootchies and squirts are good in Purple Haze, Cloverleaf and Glow/Green. Good flashers have been the Green/Glow and Green/Silver Hot Spots.
Oak Bay – Salmon fishing has been FAIR on the Flats. Anglers were catching lots of small winter springs while fishing close to the bottom but not too many good sized fish. A few coho have also been caught there too. The best bet is trolling right on bottom in 60 to 120 feet of water with squirts, Baitrix tiny strip, small anchovy or Coho Killer spoons. Good squirts are the Cloverleaf, 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.
Sidney – Salmon fishing was SLOW around Sidney. There are lots of just undersized springs in the Sidney Channel and a few bigger ones up to 8 lbs. The Sidney channel has been the best spot. No reports of coho have been received from this area. Many anglers have been fishing for springs using anchovies in Bloody Nose, Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads. Squirts have been out producing hootchies recently and the hot patterns for springs now are Purple Haze, Glow Below and Electric Chair. Mongoose Coyote spoons have also been working well.
Notable Catches – Please send photos and descriptions to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FRESHWATER
OVERVIEW – Fishing is SLOW on the local lakes for trout and bass as many of the lakes are undergoing fall turnover. The fall stocking of catchable rainbow trout into Island lakes has happened, so expect better action in your favorite lake as the water clears.
Cowichan River – The water level on the Cowichan River has been dropping near the lake to about 1meter so there is lots of water in the river. The preliminary final fence count to date is 2,407 adult chinook, 1,584 jack chinook, 10,476 adult coho, 903 jack coho, 47 chum and 968 pink/unknowns. With all the salmon in the river now, it’s a good time to start fishing egg patterns for trout holding just below the salmon redds in the upper reaches of the Cowichan. Try fishing small nymphs, egg patterns and/or streamer patterns for the Rainbows and Browns. Nymphs are good flies to use all year round, especially Prince, Caddis, and Mayfly nymphs. Wooly Buggers work well for brown trout, as do Bunny Leeches and Zonkers. Remember that it’s barbless hooks only and there is a bait ban on the river. There is a fishing closure below Marie Canyon.
Local Lakes – Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. The Vancouver Island Trout Hatchery has begun their fall trout release program of Fraser Valley Rainbow Trout 3N catchables.. On September 26th, both Shawnigan Lake and Langford Lake received 2,000 catchable rainbow trout. On September 27th, Elk received 2,000 catchable rainbow trout and Fuller Lake received 1,224 trout. On September 29th, Prospect Lake received 2,700 trout, Thetis Lake 1,490 trout and Spectacle Lake 927 trout. On October 11th Durrance Lake received 2,000 trout, Glen Lake received 1,000 trout and Langford Lake received 725 trout. On October 19th, Kemp Lake received 1,500 trout. On October 20th, Elk Lake received 1,918 tout. On October 21st, Langford Lake received 1,000 trout, Prior Lake 500 trout and Lookout Lake 250 trout.
Many anglers are catching trout on either Powerbait Gulp eggs, or worms. Fly anglers are mostly using Wooly Buggers or leech patterns. 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. The biggest trout continue to be caught at Elk Lake with Langford Lake being your next best bet to hook into a real “lunker”. By the way, all wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.
Bass Fishing - Bass fishing has SLOWED DOWN. Slower presentations such as soft plastics work as the water cools. As winter approaches, look for the fish to move into deeper water and suspend. They might become less active and take a little more “coaxing” to bite. 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.
Notable Catches – Please send photos and descriptions to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
When you’re trout fishing with Powerbait, it pays to try different colors if the action slows down. Trout can be quite color selective and having the right color can trigger a bite. Many anglers will use two contrasting colors, such a red and green, when searching for that hot color.
Island Outfitters Leader Board – 2011
Halibut
1) 231.4 lbs – Terry Zarelli – Race Rocks area – Octopus- March 25th
2) 194.4 lbs – Al Crow – Sooke – Salmon Head – May 14th
3) 127.5 lbs – Reg Day – Sidney – June 26th
4) 124.6 lbs – Todd Steen – Sidney – May 27th
5) 101.9 lbs – Reg Day – Sidney – June 27th
Salmon
1) 47.1 lbs – Ian Robinson – Port Renfrew – Anchovy – July 29th
2) 40.0 lbs – Dave Stubbs – Constance Bank – Hootchy – August 20th
3) 36.4 lbs – Brandon Salter – Waterfront – Anchovy – August 7th
4) 33.0 lbs – Bill Campbell – Trap Shack – Anchovy – July 5tth
5) 32.8 lbs – Joe Zammit – Trap shack – Anchovy – July 16th
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 31st 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!