Fishing Report for Week Ending November 24, 2013

SALTWATER


OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing is still SLOW TO FAIR around the south island. The coho run is done and winter springs are the focus of anglers. Halibut fishing has been SLOW in most areas. It should be noted that not too many anglers have been out on the water lately.

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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

SOOKE – Salmon fishing is FAIR in Sooke. The best fishing for winter springs is has been from Secretary Island to Otter Point in 100 to 120 feet depths. The winter springs are mostly small and under 5 lbs in size, however, there have been some as large as 12 lbs caught recently. The springs are deep and close to the bottom. Anchovies are working well in Bloody Nose and UV teaser heads. Glow and UV hootchies and squirts, 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 was SLOW.  Anglers are 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 FAIR for winter springs up to 8 lbs in size. The best fishing for springs was right in the bay between the Fraser Island and Lamb Island, and over by the Bedford Islands. For springs try 100’+ depths and fish close to the bottom. Many anglers are having good success fishing anchovies. The best teaser heads for anchovies were Green Glow and the Bloody Nose. However, artificial lures such as UV /glow squirts, coho killers, and G-Force spoons have been working well also. For flashers, use one with lots of glow for the springs.

PEDDER BAY – Salmon fishing was QUIET this past week. The winter springs are now the target of local anglers, but few of them have been out recently. The springs are running up to 10 lbs in size near Church Rock and at the entrance to Pedder Bay. However, there are lots of just undersized salmon around. 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 SLOW in the Race Rocks area. We’ve only heard of one halibut about 25 lbs caught this past weekend. 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 FAIR for winter springs on Constance Bank. Of the springs that were caught, most were less than 6 lbs in size. That said, a few larger fish up to 14 lbs were caught, so if you release a lot of smaller ones, you may be rewarded with a larger fish.  Most anglers fishing Constance Bank are using artificial lures, usually with Coho Killer (chrome or watermelon) or G-Force spoons. Closer in along the waterfront, springs up to 9 1/3 lbs were caught. Brotchie Ledge to Clover Point has produced the best, but the seals have moved back into this area and lots of salmon were lost to seals after being hooked by anglers. 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 SLOW 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 SLOW this past week. There were springs to be caught, but not too many and mostly smaller 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 SLOW 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. The most productive fishing has been in the Sidney Channel near the Powder wharf at southern James Island. There are lots of smaller springs around that are just below the minimum size for retention, so anglers are getting lots of action, just not lots of keepers. 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 – Fishing is SLOW on most lakes in the South Island area due to the colder weather and the drop in water temperatures. River fishing for coho has been good on the Cowichan. 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 completed its fall stocking program and has 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 and coho fishing is GOOD. The water level in the river is at 1.0 meters near the lake and just over 0.8 meters near Duncan. About half the coho are fresh and the other half colored. At the top end of the river, there are rainbows and cutthroat trout, as well as resident brown trout that are very active feeding on salmon eggs. Egg patterns are the way to go now, and they are very effective when drifted behind a salmon redd. We’ve heard of anglers having 100 plus fish days on the river now. If you want to target browns, fish with minnow imitating streamers, muddlers, zonkers or wooly buggers. The lower end of the river is where the coho action is happening, especially in the Riverbottom area. ALL wild trout must be released on all streams in region 1 as well.

TROUT – Trout fishing is FAIR on most lakes in the South Island area, especially with all 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 SLOWER. 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. Crank baits have been effective too 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 email info@fishingvictoria.com

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK


Forget about using your flasher if you’re using spoons, anchovies or herring as bait for winter springs. The water clarity is so good in the winter that the fish can spot your bait from much greater distances than in the other times of the year.  If you want the attraction of a flasher, use a dummy flasher below your bait near the downrigger ball. Besides, it is so much more fun to play a fish without any flasher on the line. 

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 – 38 carp weighed in, total 227 lbs 10 oz

2)   William Oliver –39 carp weighed in, total 165 lbs 2 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!