Fishing Report for Week Ending January 29, 2017

SALTWATER


OVERVIEW –Fishing for feeder (winter) springs up to 19.5 lbs was GOOD. Halibut fishing is closed.

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 has been GOOD for springs. Most of the fish are still less than 10 lbs in size but some in the low teens have been caught. The best fishing has been from the harbour entrance westward to Otter Point in 110 – 150 feet of water. The salmon are holding close to the bottom so you have to troll deep. Most of the anglers have switched over to artificial lures but the largest fish have been caught on bait. There are large herring in the area and the bigger fish are keying in on them. 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 NOT TOO BAD this past week. Springs are all throughout the area and the Trap, Aldridge Point, the bay and Church Rock all produced fish. More fish came from the outside of the bay rather than on the inside. The largest salmon of the week was a 13 lb spring caught by John Constable near the Flag Pole. 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 catching their share fo salmon and 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 reports salmon fishing was GOOD. The bay entrance and Whirl Bay produced winter springs up to 14 lb but most of the salmon retained have been in the 6 to 8 lb size. Most of the anglers have switched over to artificial lures and are trolling close to the bottom but bait is also producing well. 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 this past week. Most of the salmon have been in the 3 to 8 lb size range but there are some larger ones into the teens around. Alexei Alcock, fishing with his dad Robert Alcock (Gibbs Delta COO) and Gibbs Delta pro staff Trevor Zboyovsky, took first prize in the Local Salmon Superbowl with a 19.5 lb chinook on Sunday. The fish was caught with a Green Delta Guide Series Watermark flasher with a green UV Anchovy Special teaser. They were fishing near the entrance to Victoria Harbour. today with a 19.5 lb chinook in a local Vancouver Island Derby! Green Gibbs Delta Guide Series Watermark flasher with RHYS DAVIS Ltd. green UV anchovy teaser for the win!! The 80-130 foot depths have been good off the waterfront and you lure should be close to the bottom. The same depth and technique has been working well out at Constance Bank. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons or AP Tackleworks herring spoons have brought good results.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD recently. There are lots of small springs on the flats but not too many keepers. All of the anglers have been bottom bouncing or trolling close to the bottom. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons.

SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. A nice 13 lb spring was caught at Wain Rock at on an AP Herring spoon. There were keeper springs also coming from Coal Island Saanichton Spit, Moses Point and Fairfax Point. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks spoons the most successful spoons this past year.. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were the good producers of fish.

Notable Catches – Alexei Alcock, fishing with his dad Robert Alcock (Gibbs Delta COO) and Gibbs Delta pro staff Trevor Zboyovsky took first prize in the Local Salmon Superbowl with a 19.5 lb chinook on Sunday. The largest salmon of the week at Cheanuh Marina was a 13 lb spring caught by John Constable near the Flag Pole.

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. Some winter run steelhead are now n most rivers.

COWICHAN RIVER – Water levels have been steadily dropping all week and are 1.34 meters near the lake and 1.2 meters near Duncan. There are steelhead in the river but it has been spotty fishing 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.

Leia Bouchard with one of her two nice trout.


TROUT – Trout fishing is SLOW 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 – Leia Bouchard came into the store with 2 nice rainbow trout from Langford Lake for entry in our leader board contest. Both fish were caught on Powerbait. 

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


FISH TIP OF THE WEEK


Steelheading is really tough on your hooks. Constant bouncing off of rocks quickly dulls your hook’s point, making it harder to set the hook when you get one of those rare strikes. You should check your hook for sharpness after every few casts and use a good file or hone to maintain a sharp point.


 


2017 Island Outfitters Leader Board


Trout

1)1.11 lbs - Leia Bouchard – Langford Lake – Powerbait – January 29th

2)1.10 lbs - Leia Bouchard – Langford Lake – Powerbait – January 29th

Halibut

Halibut fishing is closed and we hope to hear when the season will open soon.

Salmon

We are waiting for the first large salmon to be weighed in at the store.

 

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!