Fishing Report for Week Ending February 19, 2017

SALTWATER


OVERVIEW – Fishing for feeder (winter) springs up to 14 lbs was FAIR. Some anglers are getting limits but a lot aren’t. Halibut fishing was SLOW on the big tides.

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 FAIR for springs. Most of the fish are less than 8 lbs in size. 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. We did hear that some halibut were caught west of Sooke.

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 large fish came from the inside of the bay rather than in the strait. The largest salmon of the week was a 10 lb spring caught inside the bay. The fish haven’t been too picky about what they will strike. Most of the anglers are using 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. The fish haven’t been too picky about what they will strike 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.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week but some did get caught in the Race Rocks area. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.

VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was FAIR 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. Closer in, the 50-130 foot depths have been best off the waterfront. Good areas have been Finlayson Point, Clover Point and Brotchie Ledge. Gerry Frost caught a 13.9 lb spring near Brotchie Ledge. We also heard of some nice ones caught on a Tiger Prawn Coyote spoon on Sunday off of Clover Point. Your lure should be close to the bottom when trolling off Victoria. 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.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. Constance Bank and Border Bank were the two best locations. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.

6 Year old Maddison and her dad Brad from Pitt Meadows BC with limits from Constance Bank


OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was FAIR recently. There are lots of small springs on the flats but not too many keepers. Most of the local anglers are fishing at Constance Bank, the waterfront and Border Bank, as the seals have been bad in Oak Bay. 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.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.

SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. There were a few keeper springs coming from Patricia Bay 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 – Gerry Frost caught a 13.9 lb spring near Brotchie Ledge.

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 – The Cowichan blew out again this past week. Today the water level is at 1.9 meters near the lake and 1.75 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 


When fishing for halibut, you should always add lots scent to your bait or lure. Halibut are definitely more attracted to a bait or lure that has X- 10, Bait Oil, Butt Juice, or even a homemade scent additive, than to unscented bait. Some anglers even go so far as to put artificial scent on rags tied to rocks and then drop them around their anchored boat to help attract halibut. 


 

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!