Fishing Report for Week Ending January 19, 2014

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT around most of the south island, but most of the fish are still relatively small. Halibut fishing is now closed and the opening date for this coming year has not yet been announced.

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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=2014

SOOKE – Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT in Sooke. Not that many anglers were out fishing but those that were caught fish. The best fishing for winter springs has been from the harbor entrance to Otter Point in 100 to 120 feet depths. The springs were running up into 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 glow while fishing deep.

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT for winter springs up to 25½ lbs in size. The best fishing for larger springs was in the bay between Fraser Island and Lamb Island. It was also good over by Church Rock and Whirl Bay. For springs try 100’+ depths and fish close to the bottom. Vern Storry had a great week fishing. He caught a 20 lb spring on Thursday and a 25.6 lb spring on the weekend. .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. There were lots of winter springs being caught at the mouth of the bay and in Whirl Bay. Most of the action happened close to the bottom in 90 to 120 feet of water and while trolling on a line from the Deep Hole to the Can Buoy.  Most boats caught their limit while fishing there. Bruce Webber caught a 12 lb spring while fishing there. Anchovies were the most productive bait with Green Glow, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads. Squirts are working too with UV colors like the Jellyfish, Purple Haze and Electric Chair the best patterns. The best flashers have been the Purple Onion, Clear jelly UV and Purple Haze. Coho killers and G-force spoons with both glow and green have been working well too!

VICTORIA – Fishing has been EXCELLENT for winter springs, both along the waterfront and at Constance Bank. Anglers are getting limit catches but most of the fish are small, under 5 lbs in size. It’s common for a boat to land 20 springs or more in a morning of fishing while searching for a larger salmon. The biggest problem, beside the winds, is 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).  G-Force spoons in Outfitters or No Bananas colors have been killers. 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 Onion, Clear jelly UV or Red Glow.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD according to Greg Baynton and Rick Gudz. They kept a nice pair for springs caught while trolling 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. 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.

 

 

 SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was SLOWER off Sidney this past week. That said, Doug Forseth and Miles Primrose went fishing around Sidney on Thursday and Miles caught a 12.5 lb at the Sidney channel red can on his vintage gear and Doug caught a 9 lb in the Cordova channel. The fish’s stomachs  were full of 4 " needlefish. 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, Arbutus Point 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.

Notable Catches – Vern Storry caught a 20 lb spring on Thursday and a 25.5 lb spring on the weekend while fishing in Becher Bay.  Bruce Webber caught a 12 lb spring while fishing at Pedder Bay. Thursday and Miles Primrose caught a 12.5 lb spring at the Sidney channel red can on his vintage gear and Doug Forseth caught a 9 lb spring in the Cordova channel.

Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our emailinfo@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. A few steelhead are now being caught in the Riverbottom area. Anglers are reminded of the following:”



COWICHAN RIVER –The water level has been dropping this past week. Presently, its at 2.0 meters near the lake and it has been steadily dropping. Currently, the water level near the lake is 1.38meters and near Duncan its 1.2 meters. The trout fishing in the upper river is excellent but the high water makes it difficult for anglers who want to wade the river. 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 there 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. If you’re after steelhead, steelhead, good lures to fish are Spin ‘n Glo’s, Corkies, Gooey Bobs and the always reliable Pink Worm. Although many anglers are successful catching winter runs on flies, most anglers chose to use floats and gear. Remember that ALL wild trout must be released on all streams in region 1.



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.



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

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

When seals stealing salmon are a problem, as they are right now, it’s time to make a change to your gear to minimize tackle loss. Don’t use the heavier leaders that you use in the summer but switch to a leader 10 lbs lighter than the mainline. For most anglers, that means a leader of 15 to 20 lb test. This will allow the leader to break first in a fight with a seal, and you will at least get your flasher back.

Island Outfitters Leader Board WINNERS 2013

Congratulations to all!

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

2014 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!