Fishing Report for Week Ending March 12, 2017

SALTWATER


OVERVIEW – Fishing for feeder (winter) springs  was FAIR for mostly small fish up to 8 lbs. The exception was the Sidney area where fish up to 16 lbs were being caught. Halibut fishing was FAIR over the week. The winter weather has kept most anglers off the water so we are not getting many updated reports.

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 running from 3 to 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 are using artificial lures but the largest fish have been caught on herring or anchovies. 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. 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. Springs are all throughout the area but the largest fish usually come from inside of the bay rather than in the strait. 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 FAIR for winter springs up to 8 lbs in size. Most of the anglers are catching their fish at the entrance to the bay. The fishing was similar in Whirl Bay but the fish were found in deeper water there. Most anglers are using artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom, but anchovies are 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 30” to 36” 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 FAIR 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.

VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was FAIR this past week. Constance Bank was where the most consistent action occurred. Most of the salmon have been in the 3 to 6 lb size range but there are some larger ones around. Closer in, the 60 -140 foot depths have been best off the waterfront. Good areas have been the harbour entrance, Finlayson Point, Clover Point and Brotchie Ledge. 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 FAIR 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.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was FAIR recently. There are small springs up to 6 lbs on the flats but the seals have been a problem here. Many of the local anglers are fishing at Constance and Border Bank, just to escape the seals. 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 FAIR 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 GOOD this past week. All areas produced good fish and several in the mid teens were reported. Coal Island, Fairfax, the Sidney Channel and Hamley Point all produced keepers. 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 – 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 as water temperatures are still low. Winter run steelhead are now in most rivers on both sides of the Island.  The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has started their stocking of spring catchable rainbow trout into Vancouver Island lakes. On March 2nd, Elk Lake and Prospect Lake were each stocked with 1,750 trout weighing 238.82 grams each.

To find out about stockings all over the Island and the province, as well as the different strains being released, click on the link http://www.gofishbc.com/Stocked-Fish.aspx

COWICHAN RIVER – The Cowichan River water level has been rising for the last two days and is at 1.38 meters near the lake and 1.4 meters near Duncan. There are steelhead in the river and some anglers are hooking up, but it has been slow with the cold water temperatures. 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 as the water temperatures are low and the fish sluggish. 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 


Maintain, service, and repair your gear. These stormy winter days are the perfect time to get into your tackle box, organize it again, get rid of the old or bad lures, take stock of what’s missing, buy or replace what’s needed, change the line on the reels, service the reels, and replace worn or missing guides on your rods. So take advantage of this time and get a head start on the coming year.


 

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!