Fishing Report for Week Ending November 8, 2015
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was VERY SLOW this past week and very few anglers were out fishing. The coho are thinning out in local waters with the recent rains moving the fish into the rivers. Most of the coho are not fin clipped and still in that 3-6 lb range with only a few larger ones to 9 lbs being caught. A few decent winter springs have been caught, but most are below the minimum size for retention. Out in the strait there are lots of very small winter springs on their outward migration. Halibut fishing was VERY GOOD for those targeting this species.
Please note that there are salmon and other fishery closures in effect in numerous areas of BC’s tidal waters. For the latest details on openings and closures in your area: A) Call 1-866-431-FISH or 604-666-2828 (24-hour phone line); or B) Visit our web page http://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm to find applicable fishery notices; orC) Follow our sport fishing Twitter account https://twitter.com/sportfishingbc Visit our facebook page to see reports, news and videos by our guides and staff from their most recent trips.
SOOKE – The salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. The coho fishing has really slowed down as most of the coho have headed up the rivers. There are lots of undersize springs off Sooke right now and very few keepers. A few Chums have been caught as well. The 3.5-4” G-Force spoons, as well as hoochies, are the top choices for Sooke anglers. G-Force spoons in Outfitters, Irish Cream and No Bananas and Hoochies in White Glow, Army Truck and Tiger Prawn are the go to colours that have been catching their fair number of fish. The most popular flashers recently have been the Ok’i Betsey, the Gibbs Outfitter and Madi.
BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was VERY SLOW for anglers in East Sooke. You had to work hard to find the coho. The best fishing has been in 550 feet of water and way out in the strait. The best depths to fish have been between 60 – 150 feet on the downrigger. There are some fin clipped coho being caught but most were unclipped fish. There were a few winter springs caught, just not too many and most are too small to keep. G-force spoons were the most productive lure. However, plastic baits have been popular as well. The Glow/Green Stripe hootchy has been effective for springs this past week. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in the Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were effective. For flashers, the Lemon Lime and the Purple Onion have been good.
PEDDER BAY –Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. Most of the coho are out in the tide lines past Race Rocks and south of Church Rock but there are not that many of them around anymore. You had to work hard to find a coho. The 400-600 foot depth has produced the best results in the past few weeks. Most coho have been caught between 70 to 90 feet on the downrigger but the fish are sometimes a little deeper and it’s a good idea to have one line down at 120 feet. The coho have mostly been ranging from 3-6 lbs, with a mixture of marked and unmarked fish being caught. There is also a lot of shaker chinook out in the mid strait. Anchovy was the most productive bait when trolling for springs with Glow Green and Bloody Nose being top choices in teaser heads Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in the Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were effective Flashers that remain popular include Super Betsey, Lemon-Lime and Purple Onion.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was VERY GOOD this past week. Anglers that were fishing were using mackerel, 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 for salmon was VERY SLOW along the waterfront but a bit better out at Constance and Border Banks. Anchovies, spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups. Chartreuse and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and Glow white. Gibbs Coho Killers, AP Needlefish and Coyote spoons in green, moon glow and silver colours have been very effective. The Purple Onion and Bon Chovy flashers have been very effective recently. The Glow Green Splatter Back Coho Killer has been a very effective for coho.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week. Most anglers that were fishing were using mackerel, 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.
OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. Some winter springs have been caught but very few coho have come from this area. Most salmon were caught when fishing with lures right on the bottom (60-110 ft) on the Flats and by the Gap. The fish were hitting needlefish spoon and squirts. G-force and Skinny G spoons in No Bananas and Outfitter colours worked just fine. Coho Killers in Gold Nugget and Green Splatterback have been pretty productive too. The best flasher has been the Gibbs Lemon Lime and the Bon Chovy.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past weekend out in Haro Strait and off Discovery Island. 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 near Sidney. There as an 11 lb winter spring caught near Coal Island but that’s about it. There are a lot of feeder springs in the Sidney Channel, but they are almost all short of the minimum size for retention. There were a lot of chum salmon jumping in Satellite channel, but they weren’t biting. Most anglers are fishing using anchovies in Bloody Nose and UV Green teaser heads. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and Gold Nugget. Prawning has been quite slow in Saanich Inlet.
Notable Catches – 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. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.
COWICHAN RIVER - Effective immediately until December 31, 2015 the daily limit for chum salmon is two (2) adults in the following portion of the Cowichan River: Downstream from the Mile 66 Trestle Bridge to the Highway No. 1 Bridge (Silver Bridge). Anglers are reminded that coho retention remains closed at this time.
The Cowichan River is Open to Fly Fishing Only from the Weir in Cowichan Lake downstream to the Mile 66 Trestle (CNR Trestle).
TROUT – Trout fishing was FAIR on most lakes in the South Island area this past week. The Vancouver Island Fish hatchery is continuing the fall stocking program of catchable rainbow trout. On November 6th, Spectacle Lake received 277 catchable rainbow trout averaging 200 grams. On November 4th, Prospect Lake received 700 catchable rainbow trout, Durrance Lake received 1,900 catchable rainbow trout, Glen Lake received 500 catchable rainbow trout and Elk Lake received 2,000 catchable rainbow trout averaging 231 grams.
Bank anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore and right on the bottom. Orange Garlic and Pink Garlic have been good choices 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 rainbow, 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.
BASS - Bass fishing is SLOW. Soft plastics rigged Carolina style are working well and crank baits too. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “is also a good choice when fishing drop offs and docks. The most productive colors in 4” Yum baits are 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 – Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
As the mature summer chinook have made it up the rivers to do their thing it’s time to switch your tactics up to catch the “winter feeders” Try shortening your leaders to 3’ to 4’ and switching to Coho Killers, 3” to 4” G-Force spoons and ultra violet squirts such as purple haze and electric chair behind glow and UV flashers! Also, troll faster and fish deeper! “Bottom Bouncing” is the best method for catching these aggressive winter fish.
Island Outfitters Leader Board 2015
Salmon
1) 39.4 lbs – Justin Wilson – Church Rock – Anchovy - July 5th
2) 38.2 lbs – Jordan Game – Sooke – Anchovy – July 18th
3) 36.1 lbs – Bruce Cook – Breakwater – Anchovy - September 17th
4) 34.8 lbs – Jim Dow – Victoria Harbour – Anchovy – September 15th
5) 34.4 lbs – Peter Tang – Trap shack – Anchovy - September 4th
Halibut
1) 75.8 lbs – Colin Wong – Constance Bank – October 16th
2) 70.4 lbs – Mike Koff – Oak Bay - Octopus – April 26th
3) 69.1 lbs – Mike Paltinger – Haro Strait – Herring - April 25th
4) 67.3 lbs – Rick Lelonde – Oak Bay – April 25th
5) 67.0 lbs – Jason Fraser – Oak Bay – September
Trout
1) 4 lbs 7 oz – Bryan Barter – Fuller Lake – March 8th
2) 4 lbs 5 oz– Chris Findlow – Elk Lake – August 7th
3) 4 lbs 3 oz– Paul Tilley – Langford Lake – January 17th
4) 4 lbs 2 oz– Doug Burnit – Dougan Lake – May 9th
5) 3 lbs 13 oz – Mike Reid – Elk Lake – March 8th
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.
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