Fishing Report for Week Ending May 6, 2012

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week with really strong and fast currents in most areas. Salmon fishing was SLOW to FAIR on the weekend. Seals are still a problem for anglers fishing off of Victoria.

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

Sooke – Salmon fishing was FAIR for slot limit size winter, just like last week. The fish are still deep, and close to the bottom, from 110 to 160 feet on the downrigger, in 100 to 180 feet of water. Most of the action is coming from along the Bluffs to the trailer Park. Anchovies are catching the most fish and have been working best in Bloody Nose and Army Truck teaser heads. The fish are hitting hootchies as well, especially white ones. Other hootchies and squirts are good in Purple Haze, Cloverleaf and Glo Below. Cop Car or Green/Silver Coyote spoons have also been good for springs. The best flasher has been the Silver Betsey and Silver Fever Hot Spot.

Halibut – – Halibut fishing was SLOW over the weekend. Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkely Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off the spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Becher Bay – It was SLOW fishing around the Trap Shack but the best fish on the week, a 14 lb hatchery spring was caught there. Elsewhere there were several hatchery Chinooks caught, with most around 8 to 10 lbs in weight. There were some fish taken inside the bay near the flagpole and near Lamb Island too. Fishing close to the bottom is the key to in the bay. The hot bait this past week was the anchovy. The best teaser heads for anchovies were the Purple Haze and the Bloody Nose. The best flashers have been the Green/Silver Hot Spots and Oki’s and Army Truck. Hootchies and squirts were good in White/Silver, Glo Below and Mint Tulip. Cop Car, Glow/Green or Green/Silver spoons have also been good for springs.

Pedder Bay – Salmon fishing was GOOD but very few anglers were out for salmon. Springs were caught near Christopher Point and Whirl Bay. Most of the salmon were less than 8 lbs but there were a few hatchery ones over the slot size. Anchovies are the most productive bait now. The best teaser heads for anchovies were the Army Truck, Purple Haze and the Bloody Nose. The best flashers have been the Silver Betsey and Army Truck. Hootchies and squirts were good in Glo Below, Mint Tulip and Purple Haze. Kingfisher spoons in Green/White or Black/Glow and Green/Silver Coyote spoons have also worked very well for the salmon.

Halibut – – Halibut fishing was SLOW on the weekend. Halibut up to 50 lbs were brought in, but no “barn doors” and only a few “chickens”. The East Race area was a good spot on the weekend. Extra Large herring, mackerel, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkely Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off the spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Victoria Waterfront – Salmon fishing was FAIR out at Constance Bank this past week. At the bank anglers were catching salmon up to 12 lbs but most fish were within the slot size restriction. The fish were in all areas of the bank. Closer in, anglers caught a few fish near Victoria Harbor and Albert Head, but the fishing there was not nearly as good as on the bank. The springs have shone a preference for bait over artificial lures these past few past weeks. Anchovies are the most productive bait now and have been working best in Bloody Nose teaser heads. Coho Killers, Green/Glow and Army Truck spoons are working well for winter springs. Hootchies and squirts are good in Electric Chair, Cloverleaf and Glo Below. Good flashers have been the Green/Glow and Green/Silver Hot Spots.

Halibut – – Halibut fishing was SLOW on the weekend due to the big tides and strong currents. Constance Bank and halibut up to 60 lbs were caught there. Extra Large herring, Salmon Bellies and/or Octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkely Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off the spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Oak Bay – Salmon fishing was FAIR on the Flats for hatchery springs up to 12 lbs. Anglers had been catching salmon while trolling in the Gap and on the Flats, just east of Brodie Rock. The best bet is trolling right on bottom in 100 to 150 feet of water with squirts, Baitrix tiny strip, small anchovy or Coho Killer spoons. Good squirts are the Cloverleaf, J-79 and Electric Chair. 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.

Halibut – – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend. Several halibut were seen at the Cattle Point ramp on the weekend. .Extra large herring, Salmon Bellies and/or Octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkely Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. Berkely Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off the spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Sidney – Salmon fishing was FAIR nearSidney. There are new restrictions in this area so be sure to check with DFO to make sure that you are aware of what can be retained before you go fishing. Bob Haney reported catching a 14.5 lb hatchery spring from the south end of Sidney Channel. The most abundant feed in the area is needlefish and homemade Tiny Strip is working very well for catching salmon. Other anglers have been catching springs using anchovies in Bloody Nose, Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads. Squirts have been out producing hootchies and the hot patterns for springs are the J-79, Glow Below and Electric Chair. Mongoose Coyote spoons have also been working well.

Notable Catches – Bob Haney reported catching a 14.5 lb hatchery spring from the south end of Sidney Channel. Please send photos and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com

FRESHWATER

OVERVIEW – Trout fishing is VERY GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. The weather has improved and the water temperature is increasing, so the fish are becoming more active and the insect activity is increasing. We’ve had some great reports from many the local lakes. Bass fishing is improving too, but bass are closed for retention on all southern island lakes through June 15^th.

Cowichan River – The water level on theCowichanRiver is still high. The water level is at 1.75 neat the lake and 1.25 meters nearDuncan. Water temperature is still in the mid 40’s Fahrenheit. Water clarity has been excellent but there are very few steelhead (kelts) in the river. Steelhead fishing is over for all practical purposes. There is a log across the river aboveSkutzFalls that is quite dangerous for those thinking of drifting that part of the river. The trout fishing at the top end is slow but starting to pick up with some insects hatching now. The best flies for trout now are nymphs, especially bead headed Prince, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear and March Brown nymphs.

Local Lakes – Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in theSouth Island area. The weather has improved and the water temperature is increasing. We’ve had some great reports from all the local lakes.

Spring stocking of the local lakes has happened on all lakes scheduled to receive fish. Catchable rainbow trout were released into most local lakes. On April 264^th, Prospect Lake received another 1,770 catchable rainbow trout. So far this spring, 53,311 catchable rainbow trout have been released into Vancouver Island Lakes.

Many anglers are catching trout on both Powerbait, Gulp! eggs, or worms, especially while fishing from shore. Fly anglers are doing well using Wooly Buggers, Leeches or Micro Leech patterns when fishing deep. That said, there has been a lot of surface activity lately and both Caddis and mayflies are hatching on most lakes. Trollers have been doing OK with a variety of lures but we’ve heard tat the Orange Hot Shot has been good. The Rhys Davis Baitrix Trout lures and UV Mini Strip Teasers work well for larger fish too. 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,WillowLeafLaketrolls with a worm-tipped GIBBS Wedding Band will almost always catch some fish. The biggest trout continue to be caught atElkLakewithLangfordLakebeing your next best bet to hook into a real “lunker”. By the way, all wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released inCowichanLake.

The Royal Canadian Navy Anglers Association held their annual members only trout derby this past Saturday. First place went to Tracy Barton for a 1.6 lb trout. Ryan Arsenych placed second with a 1.2 lb rainbow and Tom Vaida finished in third place with a 12 oz rainbow.

Bass Fishing - Bass fishing is PICKING UP. The bass are still in the prespawn stage but are entering the shallower waters and becoming more active. Slow presentations with soft plastics work best but crank baits are starting to produce as well. 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. Please remember that bass are closed for retention on all southern island lakes through June 15^th.

Notable Catches – The Royal Canadian Navy Anglers Association held their annual members only trout derby this past Saturday. First place went to Tracy Barton for a 1.6 lb trout. Ryan Arsenych placed second with a 1.2 lb rainbow and Tom Vaida finished in third place with a 12 oz rainbow.

Please send photos and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

Double up for halibut! When you bait up a herring for halibut, add a small piece of octopus to the trailing hook. That way, if a halibut steals your herring, you can leave the bait down and get the fish when it comes back for the octopus a few minutes later.

Island Outfitters Leader Board – 2012

Halibut

1) 162.3 lbs – Des Hatchard – Prot Renfrew – Herring - April 15^th

2) 145.6 lbs – Ken Emms – OakBay– Herring - April 15^th

3) 115.4 lbs – Andrew Stawicki – OakBay– Herring - March 17^th

4) 113.9 lbs – Gerry Brummand – Constance Bank –Hootchy– April 14^th

5) 104.0 lbs – Scott Craven – Oak Bay –Salmon belly– March 16^th

Salmon

We are now waiting for the first big springs of the year to be weighed in at the store. Maybe you will be bringing in the biggest one this year!

2012 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 2012!

See our event pages for upcoming events!

May 12^th and 13^th: The 16^th Annual Just for the Halibut Derby. First prize is $7,500 cash, 2nd prize is $2,500, and 3rd prize is $1,000 cash. A hidden weight “Bonus” prize is sponsored by SG Power. Tickets are available at Island Outfitters, Pedder Bay Marina or Cheanuh Marina. Call 250-475-4969 for more information.