Fishing Report for Week Ending December 29, 2013

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing varied from GOOD around most of 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 1^st, we expect a lot more anglers targeting the big flatfish during the last few days of the month.

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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 EXCELLENT in Sooke. The best fishing for winter springs is has been from the harbor entrance to Otter Point in 100 to 120 feet depths. There was a Frostbite Derby this past weekend and the winning fish weighed 18 lbs. There were quite a few fish over 10 lbs and in the teens. 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.  Halibut weighing into the high 50’s were caught this past week. 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.

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was GOOD for winter springs up to 15 lbs in size. The best fishing for springs was right in the bay between the Fraser Island and Lamb Island. Bruce Miller landed a 14.7 lb spring inside the bay on the weekend. There were also a few fish 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 17½ lbs being caught at the mouth of the bay. Peter Landsman landed the 17½ lb spring at Pedder Bay. Most boats reported limit catches of decent size springs. All of the action was 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 EXCELLENT for winter springs both along the waterfront and at Constance Bank. Lots of limit catches were reported. The salmon were scattered all throughout the area and the only problem was the large number of seals following boats and stealing fish. Most anglers fishing Victoria are using artificial lures, usually with Coho Killer (chrome or green/glow) or G-Force spoons. Brotchie Ledge to Clover Point has produced the best, but the seals are numerous in this area and lots of salmon were lost to seals after being hooked. 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 and off Albert Head. 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 GOOD this past week. There were springs up to 12 lbs being caught, out on the flats. 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 FAIR off Sidney for winter springs. The most productive fishing is still at the south end of the Sidney Channel and near the 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. Moresby Island has a few fish there now and there some around Coal Island and Moses Point as well. 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 – Peter Landsman landed a 17½ lb spring at Pedder Bay. Bruce Miller landed a 14.7 lb spring inside Becher B ay on the weekend. Duane Mousseau landed a 48” halibut. 

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 still low and cold. The water level near the Duncan is still only 0.67 meters. The trout fishing in the upper river is EXCELLENT.  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 more steelhead and some are showing up in the top end as well.  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. 12 year old Sarah Ksionzyk got a big surprise at Lookout Lake when she caught a 4 lb 11oz rainbow trout on yellow Powerbait that was exactly 22 inches long.

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 – 12 year old Sarah Ksionzyk got a big surprise at Lookout Lake when she caught a 4 lb 11oz rainbow trout on yellow Powerbait that was exactly 22 inches long.

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

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK 

Shorten your leader for winter springs. These fish are much more active feeders than the mature fish we catch in the summer and not nearly as leader and flasher shy. You’ll get just as much action with 4 foot leader instead of a 6 to 8 foot leader and find it a lot easier to land a fish. 

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

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

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 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.

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