Fishing Report for week ending May 8, 2016

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was FAIR to GOOD in most areas Halibut fishing was SLOW with the big tides this past weekend. Go to our facebook page for over 100 pictures of the derby and the anglers with their catches.

For the latest details on recreational fishery 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; or C) 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 FAIR for springs this past week. Most of the salmon have not been very large, with the exception of some unclipped springs that were caught and released. Anchovies have been the top bait recently, especially with Cop Car and Purple Haze teaser heads. The 3”-4” Kingfisher, Gypsy and G-Force spoons, as well as hoochies, are also top choices for Sooke anglers. Good colors have been Kitchen Sink, Irish Cream and No Bananas. Hoochies in White Glow, Army Truck and Tiger Prawn have been catching their fair number of fish. The most popular flashers recently have been ones with Moon Jelly patterns such as the Madi and the Lemon Lime.

BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD for anglers at Beechey Head and in the Bay. Most of the chinooks were running from 7 to 12 lbs in size but there were some larger hatchery springs up to 18.5 lbs. There some good size unclipped springs caught and released as well. Anglers have been successful with all types of gear. Anchovies in glow teaser heads have been very effective. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in Cop Car, Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were also effective. For flashers, the Madi, Lemon Lime and Purple Onion have been good. Only a few halibut up were brought back to the marina.

PEDDER BAY –Salmon fishing was VERY GOOD this past week. There were lots of springs in the 8 – 13 lb size range and a smattering of hatchery springs into the high teens. Both whirl Bay and Pedder Bay held salmon. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom, often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom, in 120-150 feet of water, while others are getting nice fish at 60 – 80 feet in 80’ of water along the kelp beds and rocky shore lines. The tide change for ebb to flood has been the best time to catch fish. Most of the salmon have been feeding on small squid, so white hootchies and small spoons, such as the G-Force, Coyote and Gypsy, in the glow colours were very effective. Flashers that remain popular include Glow green, Lemon-Lime and Madi. Devin Mayo weighed and then released a 29 lb unclipped spring this past weekend at Pedder Bay.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. Best areas were Race Rocks, William Head, 27 Fathom reef and Constance Bank. 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 Mudraker, Lucky or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was FAIR off Victoria. Most of the fish on the bank have been just around the minimum size for retention. However, if you stick it out, there are some better fish to 16 lbs available. Not many of the fish were reported to have come from close in along the waterfront. There are some large unclipped Chinook that have to be released in the area.  Anchovies were a good bait to use and Bloody Nose and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and White Glow. Coho Killers, AP Needlefish, G Force and Coyote spoons in Green Splatterback, Moon Glow and Cop Car colours have also been good. The Lemon Lime and Madi have been effective flashers lately.



Mark Cantwell photographed a Pacific Angel Shark 100 feet out from the end of the Clover Point in 40-50 feet of water this past week. He sent the image to DFO and it is the first ever confirmed sighting of this species in Canadian waters. It was 4-5 feet in length.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend. The best areas have been Constance Bank, Border Bank and the Mud Hole. 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 Mudraker, Lucky or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week and slower than the previous week. The Flats have been holding some springs up to 20 lbs and the fish have been feeding heavily on needle fish. It’s been best in 60-140 depths. The main bite period has been at the end of of the ebb and the start of the flood. Good trolling lures have been Green Splatterback Coho Killers, Skinny G spoons and APT Needlefish spoons. Drift anglers have been getting fish on Needlefish Darts.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend. 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 Mudraker, Lucky or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was FAIR this past weekend. The Sidney Anglers’ Association held their annual salmon derby this past weekend. There were 250 tickets sold and 50 chinooks weighed in. The winning fish was a 25.3 lb Chinook caught by Kevin Hicks. Second place went to Dick Price with a 22.3 lb Chinook. Third place went to Island Outfitters co-owner Ward Bond for a 21.8 lb Chinook. Fourth place went to Buck Hullman for a 21.6 lb Chinook and fifth went to Trevor Skakun for a 21.1 lb Chinook.



All areas around Sidney produced springs into the teens and low twenties this past week but there was no real hot spot. Many trollers were fishing with tiny strip or anchovies in Bloody Nose and UV Green teaser heads. Others are using Coho Killer, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackle needlefish spoons and they are catching fish as well. Anglers jigging have also been catching a lot of springs and are using Needlefish Darts and Deep Stingers. The Powder Wharf and Shag Rocks area has been good for jigging salmon.



Notable Catches – Devin Mayo weighed and then released a 29 lb unclipped spring this past weekend at Pedder Bay. Kevin Hicks won the Sidney Salmon Derby with Dick Price second and Ward Bond third. 

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

 

 

FRESHWATER

OVERVIEW – Fishing is GOOD in most lakes for both trout and bass. Warmer weather has really made the fish more active and the insect hatches have increased. All bass fishing is closed to retention until June 15th.

COWICHAN RIVER – The water level is still fairly low for this time of year and the water level is 0.55 meters at the lake and 0.51 meters near Duncan today. Fly fishing at the top end of the river for trout has been good and insect hatches are becoming common. The rainbows, cutthroats and resident brown trout are actively feeding on these hatches and migrating salmon fry. Bead head nymphs are the top producer there. Good patterns are Pheasant Tail, Prince, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears and Stone fly nymphs. A fry imitation or a Wooly Bugger will also work, especially for the brown trout. When the fish are feeding on the surface, the Goddard Caddis has been a good fly to fish..

TROUT – Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing close to 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 are catching trout 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. Ron flower caught a 3 lb 9 oz rainbow trout at Quamichan Lake on a Black Wedding Band spinner.

BASS - All bass fishing is closed to retention until June 15th. Bass fishing is GOOD. At this time of year some of the bass are moving into the shallows and many are on spawning beds. Look for the fish suspended by drop offs close to shore along docks, branches, and any overhanging structure. 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. 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 

Set your drag – properly! The best way to set your drag is with an accurate measuring scale, the same type that you use to weigh a fish. Your drag should be set to slip at approximately 30% of your line’s breaking strength when pulled directly off of the reel. 

 

2016 Island Outfitters Leader Board

Halibut

1) 75.8 lbs – Walker Grant – Waterfront – Herring - March 27^th

2) 73.9 lbs – Jeff Brohman - Sooke Bluffs – April 30^th

3) 71.3 lbs – Marty Antcil – William Head – April 30^th

4) 68.9 lbs – Kevin Hicks – Trial Island – April 30^th

5) 68.4 lbs – Wayne Boyd – Constance Bank - February 7^th

Trout

1) 3 lbs 14 oz – Kody Stofer – Elk Lake – Salmon Eggs - January 26^th

2) 3 lbs 9 oz – Ron Flower – Quamichan Lake – Wedding Band- April 23^rd

3) 2 lbs 11 oz – Matt Beeby – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30^th

4) 2 lbs 4 oz – Ryan Rock – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30^th

5) 2 lbs 4 oz – Bernard Schedler – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30^th 

Salmon

We are now waiting for the first salmon of the year to be weighed in at the store. So, bring your next big salmon in for the contest!

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 31^st wins a special prize.

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