Fishing report for the week ending November 22, 2015

SALTWATER


OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was VERY SLOW again this past week. The weather, once again, has been a big factor in anglers not going out fishing. A few decent winter springs have been caught, but most are below the minimum size for retention. Halibut fishing was GOOD for those targeting the big flatfish.

 

Steve Webb with a nice halibut caught this past week. Steve Webb with a nice halibut caught this past week.


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 VERY SLOW this past week. There are lots of undersize springs off Sooke right now and few keepers. The 3”-4” Coyote, Gypsy and G-Force spoons, as well as hoochies, are the top choices for Sooke anglers. G-Force spoons in Outfitters, Irish Cream and No Bananas have been very popular. Hoochies in White Glow, Army Truck and Tiger Prawn have been catching their fair number of fish. The most popular flashers recently have been the Ok’i Betsey, the Gibbs Outfitter and the Madi.

BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was VERY SLOW for anglers in East Sooke. Anglers are now concentrating their effort s inside the bay. 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, especially in UV and/or glow patterns. 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. Four halibut were brought into the marina on the weekend.

PEDDER BAY –Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. Winter springs up to 7 lbs were being caught inside the bay, along with lots of little ones. The anglers are fishing right on the bottom and often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom. There are a lot of shaker chinooks all around this area. Anchovy was the most productive bait when trolling for springs with Glow Green and Bloody Nose being top choices in teaser heads Small spoons, such as the G-Force, Coyote and Gypsy, in the glow and/or any bright colours were effective. Flashers that remain popular include Glow green, Lemon-Lime and Purple Onion.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was 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. Winter springs up to 5 lbs were caught this week on the bank. There were also a lot of smaller ones on the bank. 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. Gypsy,  AP Needlefish, G Force and Coyote spoons in green, moon glow and silver colours have also been good. The Purple Onion and Bon Chovy flashers have been popular recently.

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 and they were too small for retention. 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. Sixteen year old Walker Grant caught a 50 pound halibut in Haro Strait in 150 feet of water on extra large herring and 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 SLOW near Sidney. There is a lot of bait around Coal Island and Sidney Spit, so there should be some fish there. Most of the winter springs are short of the minimum size for retention. 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 GOOD on most lakes. Many of the lakes are undergoing the fall turnover. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.

COWICHAN RIVER - Recent rains caused the river to blow out peaking last Tuesday. The water level at the lake is over 1.8 meters and it’s over 1.5 meters near Duncan. Chum fishing in the lower river has been good. At the top end, egg patterns are the flies to use now. Effective 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 (both adults and jacks) 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 GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area this past week. The Vancouver Island Fish hatchery is winding down the fall stocking program of catchable rainbow trout. On November 16th, Spectacle Lake received 973 catchable trout, Shawnigan Lake received 1,563 catchable trout and Elk Lake received 1,000 catchable trout. The trout were averaging 219 grams in size. 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. In total 60,850 trout have been stocked in lakes on the island this fall.

Tony with his big tout Tony with his big tout


Tony Crenattin weighed in a 7 lb 10 oz rainbow trout at the store on Saturday. It was caught at Lanfgord Lake and was caught on a leech. It is now the leader of our 2015 trout leader board contest.

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 VERY 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 – Tony Crenattin weighed in a 7 lb 10 oz rainbow trout at the store on Saturday. It was caught at Lanfgord Lake and was caught on a leech. It is now the leader of our 2015 trout leader board contest.

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

 

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK 


Speed up for winter springs! They are much more active feeders than the summer fish, and by trolling a little faster than you would in the summer you can cover more water and present your lure to more fish. And don’t forget to keep your bait close to the bottom too.

 

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) 7 lbs 10 oz – Tony Crenattin – Langford Lake – November 21st

2) 4 lbs 7 oz – Bryan Barter – Fuller Lake – March 8th

3) 4 lbs 5 oz– Chris Findlow – Elk Lake – August 7th

4) 4 lbs 3 oz– Paul Tilley – Langford Lake – January 17th

5) 4 lbs 2 oz– Doug Burnit – Dougan Lake – May 9th

 

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.

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