Fishing Report for week ending December 15, 2013

SALTWATER


OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing varied from SLOW TO EXCELLENT around the south island. Winter springs were the main target species. Halibut fishing has been GOOD in most areas. With a halibut closure starting on January 1st, we expect a lot more anglers targeting the big flatfish in the remainder of the month.

Visit our facebook page to enter our fishing picture contest, and see reports, news and videos by our guides and staff from their most recent trips! 

 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 GOOD in Sooke. The best fishing for winter springs is has been from the Bluffs to Otter Point in 100 to 120 feet depths. The winter springs are generally small but there have been some as large as 15 lbs caught 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 EXCELLENT.  We know of at least 6 that were caught off of the Sooke Bluffs. 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 10 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. 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 EXCELLENT this past week. There were lots of winter springs up to 10 lbs being caught at the mouth of the bay. Several boats reported releasing at least a dozen springs. 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 this past week in the Race Rocks area. 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 both along the waterfront and at Constance Bank. The Frostbite Derby was held on Saturday and first place went to Darren Beasley for a 16 lb 10 oz spring caught by Macaulay Point. Second place went to Ron King with a 16 lb 4 oz spring and third went to John booth with a 12 lb 2 oz spring. There were 26 fish weighed in by 96 anglers and the fishing area was from Albert Head to the Yellow buoy to Trial Island. The salmon were scattered all through the area. On Friday, Wayne Zaccarelli landed a 12 lb 2 0z spring near Brotchie Ledge. Most anglers fishing Victoria are using artificial lures, usually with Coho Killer (chrome or green/glow) 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. 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 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. 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 winter springs. The most productive fishing was at the south end of the Sidney Channel near southeast end of 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 – The Frostbite Derby was held on Saturday and first place went to Darren Beasley for a 16 lb 10 oz spring caught by Macaulay Point. Second place went to Ron King with a 16 lb 4 oz spring and third went to John booth with a 12 lb 2 oz spring. On Friday, Wayne Zaccarelli landed a 12 lb 2 0z spring near Brotchie Ledge. 

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 Cowichan is low and cold right now and the water level is dropping. The water level near the Duncan is only 0.64 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.

Dan Morris with a beautiful Elk Lake rainbow trout Dan Morris with a beautiful Elk Lake rainbow trout


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 20”, 3.4 lb rainbow at Elk Lake this past weekend on Orange & Bubblegum Powerbait.

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 20”, 3.4 lb rainbow at Elk Lake this past weekend on Orange & Bubblegum Powerbait.

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

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK 


When fly fishing the rivers for salmon and steelhead while using a sink tip or full sinking line, keep your leaders short. Anything more than 3 feet allows the fly to float up with the currents and not down near the fishes mouth. And be sure to keep mending your 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 23rd

4) 3.4 lbs – Dan Morris – Elk Lake – December 14th

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, Carp 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.

See our event pages for upcoming events and like us on facebook!