Fishing Report for Week Ending on March 1st 2015

www.fishingvictoria.com

3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8Z 3L2

Tel: (250) 475-4969 Fax: (250) 475- 6942

Email: info@fishingvictoria.com

Written by: Tom Vaida

Fishing Report for Week Ending March 1st, 2015

SALTWATER

OVERVIEWS – Winter chinook fishing has been GOOD and fish up to mid teens were caught this past week. Halibut fishing was GOOD, there was a 45 pounder caught off Contance Bank.

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SOOKE – The fishing for winter springs was SLOW this past weekend. Fish that were caught, were in the afternoon and around 80’ to bottom.  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. Halibut fishing was FAIR this past weekend. Tides in the morning were GOOD for halibut however it was very windy. Dog fish were a bit of a problem.

 

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was GOOD in East Sooke. Once again, most of the fish were caught either in Whirl Bay, off the Bedfords side of Becher Bay. The bite was best in the afternoon. Most fish were caught trolling in 130 feet to 160 of water. Purple Haze and Green Glow were the most productive teaser heads for anchovies. That said, spoons and plastic baits have also been working well. Spoons such as G-Force in the smaller sizes have been working as well, both in No Bananas or Glow/Green. Squirts are working too with Pistachio, Purple Haze and Glow white the best patterns. For flashers, the Madi and the Purple Onion have been very good lately.

PEDDER BAY – Chinook salmon fishing remained GOOD in Albert Head and near the Can Buoy by the entrance to the bay. Most of the keepers weighed from 6 to 11 lbs were weighed at Pedder Bay Marina. Anchovies were the most productive lure for springs with Purple Haze and Bloody Nose teaser heads being top choices in teaser heads. Jessica Bond caught a 6lb spring using an Irish Cream Coho Killer on Tuesday. Trolling with 3” and 3.5” spoons have been effective for catching springs these past few weeks. Coho Killers and G-force spoons with both glow and green have been working the best. Duane Freeman landed 2 springs (8lbs and 11lbs) while fishing Albert Head on Anchovies with Bloody Nose and Glow Green Teaser heads and Green and Red Blade flashers. Flashers that remain popular include the Madi and the Purple Onion.

03-02-15 Bond

Halibut – Halibut fishing was GOOD over the early part of the week. Tides improved from last week, however dogfish were a problem. 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 for winter springs was GOOD off Victoria. Anglers have been catching chinooks both close to shore and out at Constance Bank. During the week the bank produced lots of nice springs ranging from 10 – 20 lbs. Although there were nice fish caught, seals remained a big problem this week. Esquimalt, Brotchie and Clover Point also produced fish this week. Anchovies have been working well in glow 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 over the week. Halibut up to 45 lbs were caught off the waterfront, mostly at Constance Bank. Halibut were biting at the changing tide and dog fish were a bit of an issue. Mike Fekette caught a 45lb Halibut in 415 feet of Water using Octopus and Kinglsey Grant caught a 38lb Halibut at the same depth and on the same 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.

Kinglsey Grant with a 38 Lb Halibut


Mike Fekette with a 45 lb Halibut


OAK BAY Salmon fishing remained SLOW for those trolling out on the Flats and in the Gap. A few springs of to 10 lbs were being caught but anglers reported fewer fish on the flats. 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 week. The tides improved from last week and fish were biting at tide change. 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 near Sidney this past weekend. Fish between the 5- 12 lb range were being caught. Moses Point, Coal Island, Sidney Spit and the Pender Bluffs were all producing springs this past week. There is bait moving into the inlet and salmon are following them there as well. 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, J-79 and Electric Chair. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and 50/50 colors. Crabbing has been excellent off the Spit!

 

Halibut- Steve Cote caught a 55lb halibut while drifting in Sidney.

 

Notable Catches – Mike Fekette caught a 45lb Halibut in 415 feet of Water using Octopus and Kinglsey Grant caught a 38lb Halibut at the same depth and using the same bait. Both fish were caught off of Constance Bank. Steve Cote caught a 55lb halibut while drifting in Sidney.

 

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

 

FRESHWATER

OVERVIEW – Fishing is FAIR on most lakes in the South Island area. The weather has gotten warmer so fishing is slowly improving. Although not many fish are being caught, some of those are big ones. Winter run steelhead has been picking up.  Remember that ALL wild trout (steelhead included) must be released on ALL streams in Region 1. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake. Only single barb less hooks are allowed for all fishing on island streams and rivers.

COWICHAN RIVER –The water level are still dropping. The steelhead fishing has been good and some large fish were caught and released. The Riverbottom area has remained the best area to fish, but there are steelies in all parts of the river now. For steelhead, good lures to fish are Spin ‘n Glo’s, Corkies, Gooey Bobs, Jigs and the always reliable Pink Worm. Although many anglers are successful catching winter runs on flies, most anglers chose to use floats and gear. The trout fishing in the upper river is excellent. We’ve also heard of some large wild sea run brown trout being picked up as incidental catches. There are rainbows, cutthroats and resident brown trout that are actively feeding on salmon eggs. Salmon egg imitations are the go to lures for trout.

 

TROUT – Trout fishing was SLOW on most lakes in the South Island area this past week. That said, some big trout have been caught this past month. 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 Gibbs Gang Trolls and Gibbs Wedding Bands. Other good trolling lures are the Apex Trout Killers in green or black and white patterns. Flatfish and/or Kwikfish have also been effective in sizes 5 to 7 in Frog, Black with Silver Flake or Rainbow Pattern. The biggest trout usually come from Langford Lake and Elk Lake. Rob Smith caught a nice 45cm cutthroat trout on Cowichan Lake trolling 40ft down.

03-02-15 Rob smith

BASS - Bass fishing is SLOW. Bass fishigni is picking up as the weather becomes warmer. Fishing drop shot style is your best bet now. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “are also a good choice when fishing drop offs and reefs, and have been most productive in 4” Yum bait colors Smoke or Pumpkinseed. 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.

Notable Catches – Rob Smith caught a nice 45cm cutthroat trout on Cowichan Lake trolling 40ft down.

 

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

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

 

Since dogfish have been a nuisance this past week. Be sure to bring extra live bait when fishing for Halibut. Also use grub baits like the Gibbs Hali Hawg to avoid dogfish al together.

 

 

Island Outfitters Leader Board 2015

 

Salmon

 

1) 24.3 lbs – Mark Parker- Waterfront – Anchovy - January 6th

 

Halibut

 

1) 55.3 lbs – Rick Lelonde – Oak Bay – February 14th

 

Trout

 

1) 4.3 lbs – Paul Tilley – Langford Lake – January 17th

 

2015 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 31st wins a special prize.

19th Annual Just For the Halibut Derby – April 25th – 26th 2015. Tickets will first be available at our Early Bird Ticket Sale at the Six Mile Pub on March 11t 2015 starting at 6:30 pm.

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