Fishing Report for Week Ending February 5, 2017

SALTWATER


OVERVIEW – Fishing for feeder (winter) springs up to 15 lbs was GOOD. Halibut fishing is now open coast wide until further notice. The maximum length for halibut is 133cm. The daily limit for halibut is one (1). The possession limit for halibut is two (2), only one (1) of which may be over 83cm in length. The annual limit is six (6) halibut per license holder, as set out on the 2016/2017 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing License. All halibut retained by the license holder shall be immediately recorded on the 2016/2017 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing License. The area from which each halibut is caught and its length shall immediately be recorded on license.

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 GOOD 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, however, was a 15 lb spring caught by Erick Wilden Dyrda 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 of 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 produced lots of winter springs up to 8 lbs in 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.Fishing for salmon was GOOD this past week. Constance Bank was where most of the action was happening, with seals as well as salmon. Most of the salmon have been in the 3 to 9 lb size range but there are some larger ones into the teens around.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. Fishing out at the border bank was really hot on the weekend. 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. There are keeper springs coming from Coal Island, Saanichton Spit, Moses Point and Fairfax Point. The Sidney Anglers Association held their Otto Wiggins salmon derby on the weekend. The winner was Don McIver with a 8 lb 14 oz spring caught near Hambley Point on a Golden Nugget Coho Killer. Second place was a 7 lb spring form Fairfax and third was a 5 lb 14 oz spring from near the Red Can. 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 – The largest salmon of the week was a 15 lb spring caught by Erick Wilden Dyrda near the Flag Pole in Becher Bay. The winner of the Sidney Anglers Association Otto Wiggins salmon derby was Don McIver with a 8 lb 14 oz spring caught near Hambley Point on a Golden Nugget Coho Killer.

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. Winter run steelhead are now n most rivers on both sides of the Island. COWICHAN RIVER – Water levels have been steadily dropping all week and they are 1.14 meters near the lake and 1.04 meters near Duncan. There are steelhead in the river and fishing has been picking up. The Riverbottom to Skutz falls area has been best for steelhead. Fishing for trout with egg patterns in the fly only area has been quite good.

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

 

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK 


Check you halibut gear! The season just opened for the year so it’s the perfect time to inspect your rods, reels, line and lures and get ready for the new season. Replace worn rod guides, frayed lines, fix and/or oil up the reels and replace any leaders with nicks or scratches. And don’t forget sharpening those hooks!


 

2017 Island Outfitters Leader Board


Halibut

Halibut fishing is now open and we are waiting for the first halibut to be weighed in at the store.

Trout

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

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

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!