CartFishing Report for Week Ending January 13, 2013
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – Strong winds and bad weather kept most anglers off the water much of this past week. Otherwise, fishing was FAIR TO GOOD for winter springs (feeder Chinooks).
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SOOKE– Winter spring fishing has been FAIR in the area. There are winter springs weighing up to 14 lbs being caught, but most of the salmon are smaller. The most action seems to be in front of the Bluffs in about 120 to 220 feet of water with the baits down from 120 ft to 150 ft. However, not all the salmon are in deep water. Otter Point has also been good. Anchovies are catching the most springs and Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads are the most popular when fishing bait for winter springs. Since the winters are very active feeders, just about any gear will catch them. One very good combination recently has been the Purple Haze squirt behind a Purple Glow flasher.
BECHER BAY – Fishing was GOOD for winter springs when anglers braved the bad weather. Most of the springs weighed from 7 to 10 lbs in size, but there were some bigger ones around. Peter Kala had a great day last Wednesday, landing 16½ & 12 lb springs off the Flag Pole in BecherBay. There are winter springs in the bay, from just outside the marina by the Flag Pole out to LambIsland and FrazerIsland. LambIsland was the best location to catch fish though. It was slow out by the Head to the Trap Shack. Many anglers are finding bait out producing artificial lures, with anchovies being most popular choice of bait. The best teaser heads for anchovies were the Purple Haze and the Bloody Nose. Like usual, the fish are close to the bottom and glow in the dark flashers are a good choice. 4” Coyote type spoons have been effective this past week, with Green/Silver and solid White Glow the best patterns.
PEDDER BAY – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY this past week. Most of the winter springs were from 5 to 8 lbs in size but there were enough salmon in the 10 to 12 lb size to make it interesting. The best fishing this past week was in the bay, along the drop off near the Can Buoy. The fish were near the bottom at 120 to 140 feet with most of the fish weighing 4 to 8 lbs in size. Squirts seem to be the most productive bait with UV colors like the Jellyfish, Purple Haze and Electric Chair the best patterns. Anchovies are productive bait too with Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads the most popular now. The best flashers have been the Purple Glow and Purple Haze. 4” Coyote type spoons have been effective this past week, with Green/Silver and solid White Glow the best patterns.
VICTORIA – Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week when the weather wasn’t miserable. Constance Bank had lots of winter springs, but mostly fish in the 3 to 5 lb size range. Action has been pretty steady there, especially with artificial lures. Good artificial lures are Army Truck, Purple Haze and Glo Below squirts. Many of the boats are having no trouble getting their limit of winter springs on the bank.
Closer in, there has been some action, but it was slower than last week. There have been springs all the way from Clover Point to Albert Head. That said, the largest fish have been caught near the harbour mouth and breakwater. Coho Killer spoons have been effective with the UV Purple Haze patterns very popular. Good choices in plastic baits are the Army Truck, Purple Haze and the Glo Below. Good flashers have been the Green/Glow and Green/Silver Hot Spots. The bad news is that the seals are a real problem in this area and that most anglers are losing fish to them, especially around Clover Point.
OAK BAY – Salmon fishing has been FAIR on the Oak Bay Flats. Anglers are catching mostly small winter springs, but some have been going as large as 8 lbs. The best bet for springs is trolling right on bottom in 60 to 140 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.
SIDNEY – Salmon fishing remains GOOD in the Sidney area. There have been lots of undersize springs in the Sidney area, as well as a few large enough to keep. CoalIsland was a good spot last week and we heard that there were springs near MoresbyIsland as well. There have also been springs from near the Red Can all the way south to DarcyIsland. 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 –Peter Kala had a great day last Wednesday, landing 16½ & 12 lb springs off the Flag Pole in BecherBay.
Please send photos and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FRESHWATER
OVERVIEW – Troutfishing is SLOW on most lakes in the South Island area. Bass fishing is VERY SLOW on most lakes. Anglers are further reminded of the following:" The use of single barbless hooks is mandatory in all streams in Region 1;" All foul hooked (ie: hooked other than in the mouth) must be returned to the river immediately. ALL wild trout must be released on all streams in region 1 as well.
COWICHAN RIVER – The water level on the CowichanRiver has dropped to just below 1.2 meters near Duncan. The color and clarity is excellent for steelhead fishing. We’ve heard of increasing numbers of steelhead being caught and released in the river recently, mostly in the Riverbottom area. The Riverbottom and Bible Camp area has been the best area to fish. For steelhead, good lures to fish are Spin ‘n Glo’s, Corkies, Gooey Bobs and the always reliable Pink Worm. Although many anglers are successful catching winter runs on flies, most anglers chose to use floats and gear.
In request of the Province of British Columbia and, to update the 2011 – 2013 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis: Effective 00:01 hours November 27, 2012 until 23:59 hours March 31, 2013 the Cowichan River from the Weir at Cowichan Lake downstream to the Greendale Trestle is closed to all angling.
In addition, effective 00:01 hours November 27, 2012 until 23:59 hours March 31, 2013 the Cowichan River from the Greendale Trestle to CNR Bridge (mile 70.2) is open to Fly-Fishing only.
TROUT – Troutfishing is SLOW on most lakes in the South Island area. The cold weather has made the fish sluggish. The Vancouver Island Trout Hatchery released 63,512 catchable rainbows into Vancouver Island lakes in 2012.
Bank anglers are catching trout on both Powerbait, Gulp! eggs, or worms while fishing from shore. Fly anglers are doing well using Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches or Micro Leech patterns when fishing deep. 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, WillowLeafLake trolls with a worm-tipped GIBBS Wedding Band will almost always catch some fish. The biggest trout continue to be caught at ElkLake, with LangfordLake 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 CowichanLake.
BASS-At this time of year the bass move to deeper drop offs and are harder to find. During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well too. LangfordLake, ShawniganLake, ProspectLake and Elk and BeaverLakes are the best local bass lakes. St. Mary’s Lake on SaltSpringIsland is also a great lake for bass fishing.
Notable Catches – Please send photos and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
Don’t get lazy about checking your gear while trolling for winter springs. Although most of these fish aren’t real large, there can be some real tackle busters waiting to take your bait. Check your leader for nicks and frays after every fish and change them at the slightest sign of wear. We hear way too many stories of anglers breaking off on big, feisty salmon because the angler didn’t check for any weak links in their gear.
Island Outfitters Leader Board 2012
Congratulations to our winners!
Halibut
1) 182.8 lbs – Jeff Saponja – Port Renfrew – Mackerel – August 11th
2) 162.3 lbs – Des Hatchard – Port Renfrew – Herring - April 15th
3) 145.6 lbs – Ken Emms – OakBay – Herring - April 15th
4) 144.5.4 lbs – Trevor MacDougall – OakBay – Herring - May 12th
5)142.6 lbs – Andrew Stawicki – HaroStrait – Octopus - May 13th
Salmon
1) 39.4 lbs – Curtis Petres – Trap Shack – Anchovy – July 2nd
2) 34.8 lbs – Jason Whittaker – Beechey Head – Anchovy – June 23rd
3) 30.0 lbs – Debbie Campbell – Beechey Head – Anchovy - June 27th
4) 28.6 lbs – Duane Bertrand – Trap Shack – Anchovy - June 20th
5) 28.5 lbs – Falon Lancey – Sherringham Point – Anchovy - May 25th
2013 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 upcoming events in 2013!
See our event pages for upcoming events and like us on facebook!