Fishing Report for Week Ending April 30, 2017

SALTWATER


OVERVIEW – Fishing was GOOD for winter springs when it wasn’t too windy. Because of the weather, not that many anglers have been out fishing. Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week with huge tides during the week.  

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);

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SOOKE – The salmon fishing has been GOOD for springs. Most of the hatchery fish are running from 6 to 10 lbs in size. There have been a few larger unclipped fish that have been caught and released near Sheringham Point. The best fishing remains in 110 to 130 feet of water with the salmon close to the bottom looking for needlefish. Good areas have been near Otter Point, the Bluffs, and Tugwell Creek. Most of the anglers are using artificial lures and the Skinny G needlefish spoon in the Outfitters color scheme has been the most effective spoon. The top spoons for Sooke anglers have lots of glow, red 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. Halibut fishing has been slower west of Sooke and the fish have been in shallower water than usual.

BECHER BAYSalmon fishing was GOOD this past week when it wasn’t too windy. The best fishing has been near Beechey Head, the Trap Shack and Aldridge Point. There were some oversize springs caught as well as the more common smaller 6-12 lb hatchery springs. The best depths for trolling has been 100 – 110 feet on the downrigger. Some large wild springs were caught and released inside the bay near Frazer Island. More anglers are using bait now and are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working best. Spoons, especially G-Force and Skinny G spoons, in No Bananas or Outfitters’ colours have been very effective. For flashers, the Red Glow Hot Spot, Lemon Lime and Green/Glow Hot Spot.

PEDDER BAY – Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD salmon fishing, when it’s not too windy, for hatchery springs from 6 to 12 lbs in size. The fishing was best in Whirl Bay. There are lots of needlefish in the area and salmon are targeting them. Most anglers are using artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom, but anchovies are also producing well. Spoons, especially G-Force, Skinny G and AP Tackle works spoons in Outfitters’, Bon Chovy or No Bananas colours, have been very effective. Hootchies and squirts with a green and glow color combination have been good plastic baits to use. 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 Hot Spot Red/Glow, Lemon-Lime and Madi.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend. 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 much slower because of the big tides on the bank. Along the waterfront the fishing has definitely been slower than on the bank but hatchery springs up to 10 lbs were caught. Best areas have been Albert Head, Brotchie Ledge and Clover Point. Your lure should be close to the bottom when trolling off for springs this time of year. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons have brought some hookups. Like elsewhere, needlefish are the predominant feed right now.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. The halibut have been fairly deep with depths of over 250 feet the most productive. 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 GOOD recently. There are hatchery springs into the teens near Brodie Rock and on the Flats. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 65 to 145 feet, depending on where the feed are located. All of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons. Sandlance lures and squirts (needle fish) are best in pearl, white & green, or white glow. Good jigging lures have been Point Wilson Darts and the Delta Mac Fish. Unfortunately, the seals have been a problem here.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. The halibut were recently taking salmon heads or bellies, large herring and octopus. Be sure to get setup about an hour and a half before the slack to catch the tide swing and to be able to stay on the bottom. 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.

Larry Dalziel with his 22.5 lb hatchery spring caught in Sidney


SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Fin clipped salmon into the 20’s lbs were caught this past week. Larry Dalziel caught a 22.5 lb hatchery marked spring early in the week fishing in Sidney. ALL areas around Sidney have produced keeper springs recently. Right now, Sidney is the best area to fish if you are looking for a large salmon, especially with no maximum size restrictions on unclipped salmon in place here. Fishing should be excellent in the upcoming Sidney Angler’s Salmon Derby this coming Saturday. Good areas recently were Hamley, Coal Island, Saanichton Spit, Fairfax and Pender Island. There are some nice fish around Wain Rock and Cole Point as well. There are still a lot of undersize fish too, providing frequent action.  Anglers using spoons found silver Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most successful spoons this past weekend. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good producers of fish. Tickets are still available for the Sidney anglers' Annual Salmon Derby.

Notable Catches – Larry Dalziel caught a 22.5 lb hatchery marked spring early in the week fishing in Sidney.

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

 

FRESHWATER 


The 2017-2019 Freshwater fishing regulation synopsis is now available.

Major regulation changes for the South island in 2017-2019 include the removal of the April 15-June 15 prohibition on bass retention, as well as new trophy lake angling designation and regulations for Flora, Regan and Lizard Lakes.

OVERVIEW – Fishing was GOOD in most lakes for trout and bass as water temperatures are rising.   COWICHAN RIVER – The Cowichan River’s water level is still too high for decent wading. The water level is now at 1.54 meters near the lake and 1.34 meters near Duncan. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been good, especially if you are in a drift boat. Bead head nymphs have been working well and some March Browns have been hatching during the day.

Chad Vandermolen with his 5 lb rainbow trout


TROUT – Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island. 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. 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. Chad Vandermolen landed a 5 lb rainbow trout at Langford Lake on Saturday.

Chris Farkas with a big smallmouth bass


BASS - Bass fishing is GOOD as the bass move into shallower water and approach spawning season. There have been many reports of good catches of fish as large as 5 lbs. Soft plastics rigged Carolina style and crank baits are working well. 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. As noted above, there is no longer a closed season for bass retention on the island.

Paul Hill with his big smallmouth bass from Elk Lake


 

Notable Catches Vandermolen landed a 5 lb rainbow trout at Langford Lake on Saturday. 

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 trout with Power Bait, always make sure the hook is completely covered by the bait. You don’t want the trout to feel any metal when they gently mouth the bait. And don’t use too heavy a weight as to alarm the fish when it picks up the bait. 


 

2017 Island Outfitters Leader Boards


Halibut

1) 72.1 lbs – Trevor Skakun – Oak Bay – April 22nd

2) 68.9 lbs – Duane Sapelak – Discovery – Herring – March 24th

3) 68.6 lbs – Chris Hansen – Oak Bay – April 22nd

4) 64.6 lbs – Albert Lacharity – Constance Bank – April 23rd

5) 64.2 lbs – Kevin McKenna – Jordan River – April 23rd 

Trout

1) 5 lbs – Chad Vandermolen – Langford Lake – April 29 th

2) 3 lbs 1 oz – Jeremy Herron – Elk Lake– April 8th

3) 2 lbs 15 oz – Marcel Mayhew – Elk Lake– April 8th

4) 2 lbs 14 oz – Peter Grant – Langford Lake– April 8th

5) 2 lbs 11 oz– Duane Mousseua – Elk Lake– April 8th 

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.

Derby Tickets are on sale NOW for the 7th annual Sidney Anglers Association Salmon Derby and sales will END at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 5th or when tickets are SOLD OUT!


Starting Feb 1st there were 300 entry tickets available at $150 per ticket offering cash prizes of $15,000 plus merchandise prizes. Tickets are available online or at one of the following locations: Home Hardware (Sidney), Island Outfitters or Alpine Marine.  Extra dinner tickets for Friday and Saturday will also be available online or at the door with a $5 surcharge on a cash only basis. We also have a Kicker Outboard Draw. Only 150 draw tickets are available at $30 each or 4 for $100. Purchase tickets online.



See our event pages for details on upcoming events at http://fishingvictoria.com/events/

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