Fishing Report for Week Ending November 2, 2014

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Coho fishing is. SLOWING DOWN in most areas as the fish are now entering the rivers. Winter spring fishing is PICKING UP and fish up to 12 lbs have been caught. Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week when the weather wasn’t too bad.

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There are new openings for halibut and coho starting September1st. For the latest updates in DFO regulations go to http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=search_results&lang=en&ID=recreational&Year=2014

SOOKE – Coho salmon fishing was SLOWER this past week. Most of the coho have moved into the rivers or migrated closer to their home waters. Anglers were having some success out in the strait in 500 to 600 feet of water and/or near the US border. We heard that the boats out the farthest produced the most coho. The winter springs have not moved in yet in any sizeable quantity although a few decent ones have been caught. There are lots of small grilse in the area. Choice of lures has stayed very similar to last week; Anchovies are working well with Green and Bloody Nose teaser heads being good colors choices. G-Force spoons in Irish Cream and No Bananas have been catching their fair number of fish. The most popular flashers recently have been the Gibbs Madi, the Outfitter and the Jellyfish UV.

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was SLOWING DOWN in East Sooke. Coho salmon are still being caught, but not as many as in previous weeks. Successful anglers are going out into depths as deep as 500+ feet to find the fish. Most of the coho are being caught at 90-110 feet on the downriggers and have been wild or unmarked fish. There are some marked fish around, just not too many. Most anglers are having their best results fishing anchovies. Some winter springs up to 10 lbs have been caught, and they have been coming from inside the bay. The most productive teaser heads for anchovies were the UV Green and the Bloody Nose. For flashers the Madi and the Purple Onion have been very good lately. Spoons such as G-Force in the smaller sizes have been working as well, both in Cop Car or Glow/Green.

PEDDER BAY –Coho fishing has been SLOWER out in the strait in 450 to 600 feet of water. Most anglers have been trolling at 90 – 130 foot depths The majority of coho have been unclipped ones, with only a few fin clipped ones being caught.. Spring salmon fishing was SLOW for winters, but a few up to 12 lbs have been caught. There are lots of grilse around now, making it hard to keep the gear working for the larger salmon. Both whirl Bay and Pedder Bay are holding some winters in the 120 foot depths. Anchovies were productive for springs with UV Green and Bloody Nose teaser heads being top choices in teaser heads. Anglers are getting coho while trolling 3” to 3.5” spoons. Coho Killers and G-force spoons with both glow and green have been working the best. Squirts are working too with Yellow, Purple Haze and Gray Ghost the best patterns. The best flashers have been the Silver Betsey, Green/Silver Hot Spot and Jellyfish UV.

Halibut – Halibut fishing was CONSISTANT over the week. Anglers that were fishing were 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.

VICTORIA – Fishing has been SLOWER off Victoria for coho.  Very few were being caught out by the Yellow Marker buoy and in 250-300 feet of water. In fact, it was better closer in towards the harbour entrance for coho which have been running up the Gorge and into Colquitz and Craigflower Creeks. Some winter springs are now being caught, with the larger fish in the 10 lb range. Anchovies have been working well in green and UV Chart/Flash colors outside the harbour. Good choices in plastic baits are the Cloverleaf, Purple Haze and the Glo Below. Gibbs Coho Killer, Kingfisher and Coyote spoons in green and glow colours have been very effective.

Halibut – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week out at Constance Bank and off Albert Head. Anglers are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait with octopus being the most productive bait this past weekend. 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 for those trolling out on the Flats and in the Gap. Those anglers who went out to the banks for coho were finding a few along the tide lines The coho have been between 50 to 70 feet on the downrigger. There were very few winter springs being caught this past week. Anglers were using squirts, spoons, or tiny strip. The fish that were being caught trolling were caught on Coho Killer spoons and 3” to 4” G-Force & Gypsy spoons. Good squirts were the Pickle Green, J-79 and Jellyfish. Good flashers have been the Purple Onion, Green/silver or Green Jellyfish.

Halibut – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week. Anglers are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait with octopus. 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 near Sidney this past week. Coho are being still being caught near the Pender Island Bluffs. It’s mostly been an early morning bite. A few chum salmon into the mid teens have also been reported. There are reports of winter springs in the Sidney Channel from the Red Can south to the Powder Wharf. Most of the winters are just around or under the minimum size for retention. Many anglers are fishing using anchovies in 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.

 

A pair of Pender Bluff Coho landed by Ed Grovanic last Saturday, October 25/14, skippered by Manny Gavilan A pair of Pender Bluff Coho landed by Ed Grovanic last Saturday, October 25/14, skippered by Manny Gavilan


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

 

FRESHWATER

OVERVIEW – Fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area because of the recent stockings. Remember that ALL wild trout must be released on all streams in region 1. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake. The lower reaches of the Cowichan River have been closed to all recreational uses until further notice.

COWICHAN RIVER – The water level is high right now. The water level in the river at the lake is 1.65 meters and downstream near Duncan it is 1.51 meters. There is lots of water for the salmon to enter the river and spawn successfully. The lower reaches of the Cowichan River are still closed to all recreational uses until further notice. The trout fishing in the mid and upper river is good to excellent. There are rainbows, cutthroats and 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.

TROUT – Trout fishing was GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area this past week The Vancouver Island Fish hatchery has started its fall stocking program and has so far released 32,688 catchable rainbow trout. On October 8th, Durrance Lake received 2,000, Elk Lake 2,000 and Spectacle lake 250 catchable rainbow trout. On October 14h, Kemp Lake received 500, Matheson Lake 500, Lookout Lake 250, Prior Lake 500, Thetis Lake 1,000 and Glen Lake 500 catchable rainbow trout. On October 15th, Prospect Lake received 2,000 catchable rainbow trout. On October 16th, Shawnigan Lake received 2,000 catchable rainbow trout. On October 20th, Ida Anne Lake received 250 catchable rainbow trout.

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 usually come from Langford Lake and Elk Lake.

BASS - Bass fishing is SLOWER. There have been good reports of fishing with spinner baits in Chartreuse, White and Black. 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 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. Surface lures have been producing well in the evenings and mornings. 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 SLOW at Elk Lake. Corn and carp Boilies have been the best bait recently.

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

 

Now is the time to go deep for Chinook salmon. The migrating coho have almost totally disappeared and the winter or feeder springs are starting to provide most of the action. So start bouncing your downrigger balls off of the bottom if you want to be in the strike zone. And with a little luck, you just might pick up a halibut too!

 

Island Outfitters Leader Board 2014

Salmon

1) 30.8 lbs – Lynn Pollard – Macaulay Point – July 13th

2) 30.7 lbs – Lance Foreman – Waterfront – July 10th

3) 30.6 lbs – Karen Lancey – Muir Creek – September 3rd

4) 30.0 lbs – Jesse McCullough – Otter Point – July 9th

5) 29.4 lbs – Al Teng – Macaulay Point– July 23rd

Halibut

1) 70.9 lbs – Adam West – Zero Rock – May 10th

2) 67.8 lbs – John Kirkendale Sr. – Constance Bank – October 21st

3) 67.7 lbs – Tom Schmidbauer – Rock Pile – May 11th

4) 66.6 lbs – Harvey Francis – Rock Pile – Herring – April 23rd

5) 65.7 lbs – Allen Lacharity – Oak Bay - Herring– May 10th

Trout

1) 4 lbs 12 oz – Jeremy Thomassen– Elk Lake – April 12th

2) 4 lbs 10 oz – John Redlick – Duncan area – March 25th

3) 4 lbs 6 oz – Robert Waldner – Langford Lake - May 12th

4) 3 lbs14 oz – Ryan Rock – Duncan area – September 6th

5) 2 lbs15 oz - Duncan Watts – Langford Lake- Powerbait – January 25th

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 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 details on upcoming events and like us on facebook!