CartFishing Report for Week Ending November 20, 2016
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – Very few anglers were out fishing this past week Halibut fishing remains VERY GOOD. Salmon fishing has been FAIR TO GOOD for small feeder (winter) springs, mostly under or just over the minimum size.
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SOOKE – Halibut fishing has been GOOD with more people are fishing for halibut than for salmon. The salmon fishing was FAIR for springs with most of the fish are on the small size. The area from the bluffs to the trailer park has held lots of these small springs. Most of the anglers are now switching over to artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom. The top spoons for Sooke anglers have lots of green, glow or Moon Jelly as the primary color. Anchovies are still a good choice for bait and good choices for teaser head colors are UV Green, Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. For flashers, you can’t go wrong with a Super Betsey, Madi or Bon Chovi Flasher. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze have been effective recently.
BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. Most of the fish at the marina have been halibut and more people are fishing for halibut than for salmon. As for chinooks, only small winter springs up to 7 lbs were caught this past week. A few fish are now being caught inside the bay. Most of the anglers are now switching over to artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom. Spoons, especially G-Force and Skinny G spoons, in Bon Chovy or Outfitters’ colours have been very effective. Anglers using bait are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working best. For flashers, the Betsey, Lemon Lime and Green/Silver Hot Spot have been good. Halibut fishing has been GOOD and more people are fishing for halibut than for salmon.
PEDDER BAY –Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. Most of the recent action has been from small winter springs. Both Pedder Bay and Whirl Bay have held lots of these fish. However, there have been a few larger ones around; as Whirl Bay has produced springs up to 11 lbs. Small spoons with green color have been the best lure to use. Most of the springs are just under or just over the minimum size for retention. Most of the anglers are now switching over to artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom. Spoons, especially G-Force and Skinny G spoons in Bon Chovy or Outfitters’ colours, have been very effective. Hootchies and squirts with a green and glow color combination have been good plastic baits to use, especially with a 28” to 32” leader. Anchovies were still working this past week. Good choices for teaser head colors are UV Green, Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Flashers that are popular include the Betsey, Lemon-Lime and Madi.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was VERY GOOD this past week. The 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 9” Jumbo Squids if you want to stay away from the dogfish.
VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was FAIR this past week. The best fishing has been out at Constance Bank where there are some feeder springs up to 6 lbs. However, most of the springs there are around 45 to 50 cm. We’ve only heard of small springs coming from the waterfront. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups but you have to check you line every 10 minutes for shakers. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons have brought good results at Constance Bank.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was VERY GOOD this past week with the best areas being Constance Bank, Border Bank and the Mud Hole. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well, and discouraging to dogfish, was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow.
OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was SLOW again this past week. There were some springs up to 5 lbs caught on the flats but not too many. Most of the springs are too small for retention. The coho haven’t been running strong in this area as well. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons. Anglers jigging have been using Needlefish Darts, Point Wilson Darts or Deep Stingers.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was VERY GOOD this past week. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow. Also working well, and discouraging to dogfish, was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow.
SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was BETTER this past week. Bob Haney landed a 14 lb winter spring near Sidney Spit in 65’ feet of water. He also lost one about 12 lbs in size. Elsewhere in the Sidney area it ws pretty slow except for undersize salmon. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most successful spoons this past year.
Notable Catches – Bob Haney landed a 14 lb winter spring near Sidney Spit.
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 FAIR for bass. Fishing for salmon in the rivers is now in full swing and anglers are having EXCELLENT results.
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada Subject: FN1259-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Region 1: Vancouver Island River Systems - Chum Daily Limit Change Strong chum returns have been observed in numerous Vancouver Island river systems recently. These large returns will or have surpassed escapement goals. Effective immediately until December 31, 2016 the daily limit of chum is four (4) per day in the open portions of the following Region 1 rivers: Cowichan River: That portion of the Cowichan River from the 66 Mile Trestle downstream to the Highway No. 1 Bridge (Silver Bridge). Nanaimo River: That portion of the Nanaimo River from the upstream side of the Cedar Road Bridge, upstream to the end of Boswell Rd. (commonly known as “Firehall Pool”). Nitinat River: Those portions of the Nitinat River located downstream of Parker Creek and from 50 m upstream to 50 m downstream of the Nitinat River Bridge.
Subject: FN1195-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Region 1 - Cowichan River - Coho Retention Opportunity Effective November 1 until December 31, 2016 the daily limit of coho is one (1) per day (hatchery or wild) in the lower portion of the Cowichan River downstream from Mile 66 Trestle Bridge to the Highway No. 1 Bridge (Silver Bridge).
TROUT – Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. Brent Mockford brought in a 5 lb 10 oz rainbow trout that he caught at Langford Lake on November 4th while using Green Powerbait. He now takes over first place on our leader board.
The Vancouver Island Fish hatchery is progressing with their fall stocking program of catchable triploid rainbow trout. . On November 14th Elk Lake received 2,000 trout and Prospect Lake 1,500 trout averaging 236.77 grams in size. On November 2nd Thetis Lake received 500 trout, Matheson Lake 500, Durrance Lake received 500 trout and Kemp Lake 750 trout averaging 255 grams in size. On October 25th Thetis Lake received 500 trout, Ida Anne Lake 350, Colwood and Lookout Lakes 250 trout averaging 230.95 grams in size. On October 21st Lookout Lake received 250 trout averaging 196.86 grams in size. On October 18th Spectacle Lake received 650 trout averaging 209.45 grams in size. On October 6th Prospect Lake received 2,000 trout, Glen Lake 500, and Durrance Lake 1,500 trout averaging 181.15 grams in size. On October 5th Elk Lake received 2,000 trout, Kemp Lake 750, and Matheson Lake 500 trout averaging 202.5 grams in size. On October 4th, Thetis Lake received 1,000 trout averaging 203.65 grams in size and Langford Lake received 2,000 catchable rainbow trout averaging 203.65 grams in size and 188 rainbows averaging 744.12 grams in size. On September 29th, Langford Lake received 600 trout averaging 744.12 grams in size.
Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing close to the bottom. Chartreuse and Fluorescent Yellow have been good choices recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are fishing Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines. Trollers are catching trout with Gibbs Gang Trolls and Gibbs Wedding Bands. 2” Tomic Plugs have also been working well for Trout.
BASS - Bass fishing is SLOW. During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well too. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style” are 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
Forget about using your flasher if you’re using spoons, anchovies or herring as bait for winter springs. The water clarity is so good in the winter that the fish can spot your bait from much greater distances than in the other times of the year. If you want the attraction of a flasher, use a dummy flasher below your bait near the downrigger ball. Besides, it is so much more fun to play a fish without any flasher on the line.
2016 Island Outfitters Leader Board
Halibut
1) 76.4 lbs – Jordyn Dornblut – Race Rocks – August 13th
2) 75.8 lbs – Walker Grant – Waterfront – Herring - March 27th
3) 75.3 lbs – Kevin Mitchell – West Race – November 4th
4) 73.9 lbs – Jeff Brohman - Sooke Bluffs – April 30th
5) 73.5 lbs – Nick Carson – Oak Bay – June 1st
Trout
1) 5 lbs 10 oz – Brent Mockford – Langford Lake – Green Powerbait - November 4th
2) 5 lbs – Simon Arney – Langford Lake – Powerbait - July 24th
3) 3 lbs 14 oz – Chad Makay – Elk Lake – Salmon Eggs - January 26th
4) 3 lbs 9 oz – Ron Flower – Quamichan Lake – Wedding Band- April 23rd
5) 2 lbs 11 oz – Matt Beeby – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30th
Salmon
1) 42.2 lbs – Kevin McKenna – Anchovy – Port Renfrew- August 22nd
2) 40.2 lbs – Kayden Tyler – Anchovy – Victoria – August 3rd
3) 38.5 lbs – Dalton Laubru – Anchovy – Sooke – July 29th
4) 36.2 lbs – Ban Tran – Anchovy – Victoria – August 1st
5) 34.5 lbs – Thomas Brandwood – Anchovy - Victoria - September 5th
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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