Fishing Report for Week Ending May 20, 2012

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend with the strong currents and big tides. Salmon fishing was SLOW to GOOD on the weekend, depending on which area you fished. Seals are still a problem for anglers fishing off of Victoria and Oak Bay.

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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 near Secretary and 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. Only a couple of fish were seen all week at Sunny Shores Marina and they were just “chickens”. 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, a Jig-a-Lu, Big Eye Jigs, Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Becher Bay – It was only FAIR fishing for salmon around the Trap Shack and Beechey Head. There was some hatchery Chinooks caught, running up to 14 lbs in weight as well as some larger unclipped fish that had to be released. The hot bait this past week was anchovy again. 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. A few halibut from 20 to 60 lbs were also caught this past week.

Pedder Bay – Salmon fishing was SLOW to FAIR this past week. Springs were caught in Pedder Bay, near Christopher Point and Whirl Bay. The bay was probably the best spot to fish on the big ebb tides. 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. Nothing large was caught. Berkely Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off the spreader bar, a Jig-a-Lu, Big Eye Jigs, Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Victoria Waterfront – Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT out at Constance Bank this past week until the currents got too strong. At the bank anglers were catching hatchery salmon up to 18 lbs but most fish were within the slot size restriction. The fish were in all areas of the bank but by the weekend the currents made it harder to fish here. Comedian Ron James landed a 55 lb halibut and some salmon while fishing on our charter boat last Monday. 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. That said, on Sunday Lance Foreman landed a 14½ lb spring inRossBay. 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. Constance Bank was the best spot and halibut up to 60 lbs came in from the bank. 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, a Jig-a-Lu, Big Eye Jigs, Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Oak Bay – Salmon fishing was GOOD on the Flats on the ebb tide for hatchery springs up to 12 lbs. Anglers had been catching the salmon while trolling in the Gap and on the Flats, just east of Brodie Rock. The best bet is trolling right on bottom in 80 to 130 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 due to the strong tides and currents. 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, a Jig-a-Lu, Big Eye Jigs, 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.CoalIsland produced springs up to 15 lbs this past week. The south end of Sidney Channel is also a good spot. 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 – Comedian Ron James landed a 55 lb halibut and some Chinook salmon while fishing on our charter boat last Monday. Lance Foreman landed a 14½ lb hatchery spring inRossBay.

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

FRESHWATER

OVERVIEW – Trout fishing is EXCELLENT on most lakes in the South Island area. The weather has improved and the water temperature is increasing, so the fish are quite active as 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 the Cowichan River is getting dropping and the water clarity has been excellent. The water level is near 1 meter near the lake and 0.95 meters near Duncan.. 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 good with more insects hatching now. The best flies for trout are usually nymphs, especially bead headed Prince, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear and March Brown nymphs. That said, there have been some real big hatches lately and the dry fly fishing can be excellent.

Local Lakes – Trout fishing is EXCELLENT 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 May 12^th, Ida Anne Lake received another 100 catchable rainbow trout. So far this spring, 60,007 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, 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 inCowichanLake.

There are also lots of carp inBeaverLakeright now and anglers are having fun trying to catch them. Dough balls have been traditionally effective bait for carp.

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

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

Its transition time again for Chinook anglers. While there are still deep running winter fish around, returning migratory springs are also starting to show up. These fish are found much higher in the water column, and anglers who want to catch them should keep at least one line off of the bottom and at middle water depths.

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) 144.5.4 lbs – Trevor MacDougall – OakBay– Herring - May 12^th

4) 142.6 lbs – Andrew Stawicki – HaroStrait– Octopus - May 13^th

5) 120.2 lbs – Jason Birmingham – Discovery Island – Herring - May 12^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!