Fishing Report for Week Ending December 8, 2013

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing is still SLOW TO FAIR around the south island. Winter springs are the target species when the weather allows but it was so cold this week that very few anglers went out fishing. We’re happy to report that no icebergs were encountered. Halibut fishing has 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

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, especially by the Bluffs. The winter springs are mostly small but there have been some as large as 14 lbs caught recently this past week. The springs are deep, holding 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 GOOD.  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 Church Rock and whirl Bay. For springs try 100’+ depths and fish close to the bottom. Rob Hagel caught a 115 lb winter spring in whirl Bay while fishing at 120 feet with a Green/Glow spoon. 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 very few of them have been out recently. The springs are running up to 15 lbs in size near Church Rock and at the entrance to Pedder Bay. However, there are lots of smaller 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 FAIR in the Race Rocks area. We’ve heard
of one halibut about 30 lbs caught by Vern Storry near Church Rock
caught this past weekend. The 27 and 17 fathom banks and the reef off
of William Head are all good spots to fish for halibut. 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 SLOW for winter springs on Constance Bank. Of the springs that were caught, most were less than 6 lbs in size. 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 GOOD this past week on Constance Bank. Graham Edwards landed a 45 lb, 104 cm, halibut off the 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.



 

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 GOOD over the past week. Stephen Drumm landed a 126 cm halibut that pushed 62 lbs this past weekend. That’s right at the maximum size allowed for retention. 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 GOOD off Sidney for winter springs. The most productive fishing has been in the Sidney Channel near the Red Can Buoy. 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 – Rob Hagel caught a 115 lb winter spring in whirl Bay while fishing at 120 feet with a Green/Glow spoon. Vern Storry caught a 30 lb halibut near Church Rock this past weekend. Graham Edwards landed a 45 lb, 104 cm halibut off the bank. Stephen Drumm landed a 126 cm halibut in Oak Bay that pushed 62 lbs this past weekend. 

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. The trout are now right near the bottom. River fishing for coho has tapered off on the Cowichan. A few steelhead are now being caught in the Riverbottom area. 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.

COWICHAN RIVER – The river is low and cold right now and the water level is dropping. The water level near the lake is only 0.84 meters and near the Duncan it’s only 0.66 meters. The trout fishing in the upper river is FAIR.  At the top end of the river, there are rainbows and cutthroat trout, as well as resident brown trout that are actively feeding 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. The lower end of the river is starting to hold some steelhead and I’ve heard of a couple being caught and released in the past two weeks.  ALL wild trout must be released on all streams in region 1 as well.



TROUT – Trout fishing is SLOW on most lakes in the South Island area, especially with the cold weather that is happening right now. Bank anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore and right on the bottom. Yellow and Bubblegum 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. The biggest trout have come from Langford Lake and Elk Lake. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake. Dan Morris caught a nice 18” rainbow at Elk Lake this past weekend.

BASS - Bass fishing is VERY SLOW. 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 – Carp fishing is VERY SLOW now. 

Notable Catches – Dan Morris caught a nice 18” rainbow at Elk Lake this past weekend.

Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK 

There’s no question that flashers attract a salmon’s attention. But you don’t have to have the flasher attached to your line to reap the benefit. Try running your flasher on a short line attached near your downrigger ball while running your lure off of a release clip positioned above the flasher. That way, you can enjoy playing the fish without a flasher on your line. 

Christmas is coming and the smart angler, hunter or outdoor recreationist will make sure that they have filled out their “Wish List” at Island Outfitters. Help make it easy for others who want to get you fishing or hunting gift at this time of year! 

Island Outfitters Leader Boards 2013 

Salmon 

1) 34.0 lbs – Duncan Watts – Sheringham Pt – Anchovy - July 6^th

2) 32.4 lbs – Jason Owens –Otter Point – Anchovy - August 23^rd

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 2^nd 

Halibut 

1) 113.2 lbs - Randy Lowe – Race Rocks – Hootchy/Herring -March 23 ^rd

2) 97.6 lbs – Ryan Prolyshyn – Constance Bank - March 22^nd

3) 75.8 lbs – Patrick Cunliffe – Race Rocks – March 17^th

4) 58.4 lbs - Jesse McCullough – Constance – Octopus – March 24^th 

5) 57.5 lbs – Justin Wilson – Race Rocks – Grub & Octopus – April 21^st 

Trout 

1) 7.1 lbs – Konrad Herrmann – Langford Lake – Leech fly - May 5^th

2)  4 lbs15 oz -Duncan Watts – Langford Lake- Green Powerbait Eggs –    May 27^th

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 31^st 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!