Fishing Report for Week Ending January 8, 2017

SALTWATER


OVERVIEW – Freezing temperatures and strong winds kept the fishing effort to a minimum. Salmon fishing was GOOD for feeder (winter) springs up to 12 lbs for those hardy anglers who braved the weather. Halibut fishing closed on January 1st.

For the latest details on recreational fishery openings and closures in your area:

  1. A) Call 1-866-431-FISH or 604-666-2828 (24-hour phone line);

  2. B) Visit our web page http://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm to find applicable fishery notices; or

  3. 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 had been GOOD for springs with most of the fish under 10 lbs in size. The area around the basin entrance was best but the fish are moving around more on the outside now. Most of the anglers have switched over to artificial lures and are 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 though 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. Shrimping has been very good in Sooke Basin.

BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Small winter springs up to 10lbs were caught in the bay all the way from the marina to Aldridge Point. Most of the anglers have switched over to artificial lures and are 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.

PEDDER BAY – Pedder Bay Marina and boat launch was iced in all week preventing anglers from going fishing. Previously, salmon fishing was GOOD in the bay. The bay entrance has held winter springs from 3 to 8 lbs and Whirl Bay has produced springs up to 12 lbs. Most of the anglers have switched over to artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom. Spoons, especially G-Force and Skinny G spoons in Brass/Silver, 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.

VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was GOOD although there was really only one fishable day (Thursday). The most fish have come from out at Constance Bank where springs up to 6 lbs were caught. On Thursday, Mike Webber caught 12.8 and 11.6 lb winter springs while trolling anchovies near Clover Point. The fish have been moving around with the tides, so you might have to do a bit of searching before finding them. The 130 foot depths have been good off the waterfront and you lure should be close to the bottom. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups but you have to check you line often 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. The seals are once again a problem for anglers.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was FAIR to GOOD recently but very few, if any, anglers were out fishing. There were some springs up to 10 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.

SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was NOT TOO BAD this past week. Some legal springs continue to be caught from Moses Point to Wain Rock. The Sidney Channel was slow but a few fish up to 9 lbs were caught near Coal Island. There were also some springs caught near the outer edge of Fairfax Point Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most successful spoons this past year. This past week, anchovies and Tiny Strip were the best producers of fish.

Notable Catches – Mike Webber caught 12.8 and 11.6 lb winter springs while trolling anchovies near Clover Point this past Thursday.

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

 

FRESHWATER


 OVERVIEW – Fishing was SLOW in most lakes for trout and SLOW for bass during this past week’s cold spell. Some winter run steelhead are just starting to enter the rivers.

COWICHAN RIVER – Water levels in the river are relatively low. It’s at 0.88 meters near the lake and 0.86 meters near Duncan. There are steelhead in the river but it has been spotty catching so far this winter. The Riverbottom area has been best for steelhead. Not many steelhead have reached the upper reaches of the river yet. Fishing for trout with egg patterns in the fly only area has been quite good. Anglers fishing egg patterns have been catching browns, rainbows and cutthroat trout.

TROUT – Trout fishing is FAIR 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. Pink, Chartreuse and Fluorescent Yellow have been good choices recently for Powerbait. Brent Mockford caught a 5 lb 2 oz rainbow trout at Langford Lake on Pink & White 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


Shorten your leader for winter springs. These fish are much more active feeders than the mature fish we catch in the summer and not nearly as leader and flasher shy. You’ll get just as much action with 4 foot leader instead of a 6 to 8 foot leader and find it a lot easier to land a fish.


 


2016 Island Outfitters Leader Board


Congratulations to the winners!


 

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 2 oz – Brent Mockford – Langford Lake – Pink & White Powerbait - December 23rd

3) 5 lbs – Simon Arney – Langford Lake – Powerbait - July 24th

4) 3 lbs 14 oz – Chad Makay – Elk Lake – Salmon Eggs - January 26th

5) 3 lbs 9 oz – Ron Flower – Quamichan Lake – Wedding Band- April 23rd 

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 win a special prize.

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