CartFishing Report for Week Ending October 20, 2013
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing is GOOD in Juan de Fuca Strait. There are still schools of coho there, both in tight and out in the deep water tide lines, but it is slower than the week before. Most of the coho are wild fish; with about a 5 to 1 ratio of wild (unclipped) to hatchery clipped fish. Halibut fishing has also been GOOD in most areas.
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FISHERY RESTRICTIONS
For the latest updates in DFO regulations go to http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=search_results&lang=en&ID=recreational&Year=2013
Mark Dunn with a nice 12 lb salmonSOOKE – Salmon fishing is GOOD in Sooke. More Coho are being caught and the ratio is approximately 5:1 on unclipped to clipped fish. The preferred depth has been 40’ to 75’; however, anglers out in 500 feet of water are getting them at 120’ feet or more. Fishing the 2nd to 3rd tide lines out in the strait seems to be the most productive for numbers of fish. The best fishing close to chore has been from Secretary Island to Otter Point. A few winter springs up to 10 lbs are also being caught. The springs are deeper and close to the bottom. Anchovies are working well in green and UV teaser heads. Glow and UV Hoochies, Coho Killers and G-Force spoons are working well also. Use a flasher with lots of green if you are fishing for coho.
Halibut – Halibut fishing continues to be GOOD using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.
BEECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was GOOD in East Sooke. Anglers are still catching coho up to 12 lbs in size. Most of the coho are wild fish; with about a 5 to 1 ratio of wild (unclipped) to hatchery clipped fish. The coho have been caught in close around Beechey Head as well as out in the shipping lanes. Winter spring fishing was fair for fish up to 15 lbs in size. The best fishing for springs was right in the bay between the flag pole and Fraser Island. For coho, fish 45’ to 125’ and for springs try 100’+. Many anglers are having good success fishing anchovies. The best teaser heads for anchovies were Green Glow, Chartreuse/Green Chrome and the Bloody Nose. However, artificial lures such as UV squirts, coho killers, and G-Force spoons have been working great as well for both coho and chinooks! For flashers, use one with lots of green for coho and a glow one for the springs.
PEDDER BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD for coho this past week. Most of the coho are wild fish; with about a 5 to 1 ratio of wild (unclipped) to hatchery clipped fish. Most of the coho are out in 300 to 500 feet of water and near the tide lines close to the US border. The fish have been deep and 120’ to 130 feet on the downrigger has been best. It has been fair for springs up to 10 lbs in size in Whirl Bay and near Church Rock. Most of the springs are close to the bottom. Anchovies were the most productive bait with Green Glow, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads. Squirts will work too with UV colors like the Jellyfish, Purple Haze and Electric Chair the best patterns. The best flashers have been the Purple Glow and Purple Haze. Coho killers and G-force spoons have been working well too!
Halibut – Halibut fishing was GOOD in the Race Rocks area. The 27 and 17 fathom banks and the reef off of William Head have been good. It’s also been good in 300+ feet of water towards Constance Bank. Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.
VICTORIA – Fishing has been GOOD for winter springs on Constance Bank. Anglers were catching springs trolling close to bottom, especially around the tide changes. Most anglers fishing Constance Bank are using artificial lures, usually with Coho Killer (chrome or watermelon) or G-Force spoons. Closer in by the harbour, it was slower for springs and coho, but there were fish to be had. Brotchie Ledge to Clover Point has produced the best. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and the Glo Blow. Gibbs Coho Killer, Kingfisher and Coyote spoons in all colours have been very effective. Good flashers have been the Purple Gold, Chart Glow & Purple Onion.
Halibut – Halibut fishing was also GOOD over this past week. Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a 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 this past week. There were springs to be caught, but not too many and mostly feeder size springs. The most popular method for catching springs is trolling near the bottom in 75 to 130 feet of water with squirts or spoons, Baitrix tiny strip, or small anchovy. Even Anglers jigging have reported slower action. The fish that were being caught were on Coho Killer spoons in Glow/Green, 3” to 4” G-Force & Gypsy spoons. Good squirts were the Electric Chair, Pickle Green, J-79 and Jellyfish.
Halibut – Halibut fishing was a GOOD over the past week. Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.
SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was SLOW off Sidney for keeper size winter springs. There weren’t many coho there, and they were mostly unclipped fish. There are lots of smaller springs being caught in the Sidney Channel between the red can and southern James Island. However, just about all of them are below the minimum size for retention. 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. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and 50/50 colors. Crabbing has been excellent.
NOTABLE CATCHES – Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FRESHWATER
OVERVIEW – Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. Bass fishing is EXCELLENT as well. Carp fishing is EXCELLENT. Anglers are reminded of the following:” The use of single barbless hooks is mandatory in all streams in Region 1;” All foul hooked (i.e.: 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.
The Vancouver Island Fish hatchery has started its fall stocking program and has so far released 32,688 catchable rainbow trout. . On October 1st, Lookout Lake received 250 catchable rainbow trout. On October 3rd, Langford Lake received 2,000 catchable rainbow trout. On October 4th, Prospect Lake received 2,000 catchable rainbow trout. On October 7th, Durrance Lake received 2,000, Glen Lake 1,000 and Spectacle lake 750 catchable rainbow trout.. On October 9th, Kemp Lake received 1,500, Matheson Lake 1,000, Langford Lake 500 and Colwood Lake 250 catchable rainbow trout. Lake received 250 catchable rainbow trout. On October 16th, Elk Lake received 2,064 catchable rainbow trout. On October 17th, Ida Anne Lake received 250 catchable rainbow trout.
COWICHAN RIVER – The trout fishing is GOOD. There are a few rainbows and cutthroat trout, as well as resident brown trout that are active right now. The trout are feeding mostly on salmon eggs. Egg patterns are the way to go now, and they are very effective when drifted behind a salmon redd.. If you want to target browns, fish with minnow imitating streamers, muddlers, zonkers or wooly buggers. Remember it is fly fishing only between the trestle at Greendale road and the 70.2 mile trestle. ALL wild trout must be released on all streams in region 1 as well. Salmon fishing remains closed from the weir to the tidal boundary until further notice.
TROUT – Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area, especially with a ll the fish stocking that is happening right now. Bank anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore. Chartreuse and Sunrise have been good colours recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are fishing Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines. Trollers have been doing well with a variety of lures. 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, Black with Silver Flake or Rainbow Pattern. Smaller Rapalas in Rainbow Trout or Brown Trout patterns also work well; the jointed Rapalas have also been great for larger fish. Larger Willow Leaf Lake trolls with a size 6 hook tipped with a small 1-2″ piece of worm always produce fish. If fishing with a down rigger for trout, try finding the thermocline, this is usually between 15 and 25 feet this time of year in the local lakes. The biggest trout have come from Langford Lake and Elk Lake. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.
BASS - Bass fishing is GOOD. Crank baits have been effective when fished around 12 feet down with a fast retrieve. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “is also a good choice when fishing drop offs and docks, most productive in 4” Yum bait colors Smoke or Pumpkinseed. Look for the fish suspended by drop offs close to shore along docks, branches, and any overhanging structure. 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.
CARP - The simplest bait to prepare when time is an issue can be bought at your local grocery store. A few pieces of toast or bread rolls can sometimes be your best ticket to carp numbers. Bread balls are deadly. The preparation is simple and clean. Roll a small piece of bread into a ball, wet it with your saliva and onto the hook it goes. Use bread balls for surface feeders, as your bait has a tendency to float. A can of corn can provide a season of fun carping. They may seem to be unscented, but carp often find them irresistible. Thread several onto the hook so it is completely covered. If you want to make your own “Boilies”, a cup of flour mixed with a cup of corn meal should be the basic ingredients of your. Whatever you add on top of this will depend on you, or the fish. Since scent is strong factor, the addition of a strong, yet new smell to your bait can often produce surprising result. Scents that are commonly used include strawberry, vanilla, peanut butter, corn, yam, and curry. Just like other fisheries, use what you have confidence in and be sure to switch if one becomes unproductive. The magical bait does not exist; experimentation is the recipe to success.
Notable Catches – Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our emailinfo@fishingvictoria.com
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
Know your salmon! Wild chum and coho salmon look very similar to most anglers, but only one (chum) is legal to retain. And at this time of year you are apt to catch both in local waters. Before you keep one to eat, make sure of what you’ve caught and refer to the fish identification pages of your tidal water Sport Fishing Guide if you have any questions.
Island Outfitters Leader Boards 2013
Salmon
1) 34.0 lbs – Duncan Watts – Sheringham Pt – Anchovy - July 6th
2) 32.4 lbs – Jason Owens –Otter Point – Anchovy - August 23rd
3) 32.1 lbs – Rob Smith –Breakwater – Anchovy - August 27th
4) 32.0 lbs – Denis Ekstrom –Breakwater – Anchovy - August 7th
5) 31.6 lbs – Daryl Quenet – Anchovy - August 2nd
Halibut
1) 113.2 lbs - Randy Lowe – Race Rocks – Hootchy/Herring -March 23 rd
2) 97.6 lbs – Ryan Prolyshyn – Constance Bank - March 22nd
3) 75.8 lbs – Patrick Cunliffe – Race Rocks – March 17th
4) 58.4 lbs - Jesse McCullough – Constance – Octopus – March 24th
5) 57.5 lbs – Justin Wilson – Race Rocks – Grub & Octopus – April 21st
Trout
1) 7.1 lbs – Konrad Herrmann – Langford Lake – Leech fly - May 5th
2) 4 lbs15 oz -Duncan Watts – Langford Lake- Green Powerbait Eggs – May 27th
3) 3.5 lbs – Blair Cox – Elk Lake – March 23 rd
Carp
1) Dan Morris – 38carp weighed in, total 227 lbs 10 oz
2) William Oliver –37 carp weighed in, total 153 lbs 7 oz
3) Jodey Hillard - 7 carp weighed in, total 32 lbs 5 oz.
4) Paul Carreia- 4 carp weighed in, total 29.14 lbs.
5) Jayson Chavez – 3 carp weighed in, 25 lbs 10 oz
2013 DERBIES and EVENTS
Island Outfitters starts and ends the year with the free for fun and prizes Salmon, Trout and Halibut Leader Boards. 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!To enter, just bring in your catch to be weighed at our store.
We also have a CARP CULLING CONTEST. It’s time to get the carp numbers down in our local lakes. The Top 5 Carp anglers with the top combined total weights weighed in to our store will win a prize! The contest will go until June 1, 2014.
See our event pages for upcoming events and like us on facebook!