Fishing Report for Week Ending May 7, 2017

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Fishing was GOOD for springs when it wasn’t too windy. Halibut fishing was GOOD this past weekend.  

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 SLOW for springs. Most of the hatchery fish are running from 6 to 10 lbs in size. 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. With the current chinook restrictions in place, it makes little sense to travel west off Otter Point and Muir Creek. About half 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. The other half of the anglers is using bait, and anchovies are the most popular natural bait. 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 BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week when it wasn’t too windy. The best fishing has been near Beechey Head and Aldridge Point. There were some hatchery spring as large as 16 lbs springs caught as well as the more common smaller 6-10 lb hatchery springs. The best depths for trolling has been 100 – 130 feet on the downrigger.. 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 BUT SPOTTY salmon fishing when it’s not too windy. The salmon seem to be concentrated in some areas, but those areas vary from day to day. What’s hot one day is cold the next. 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 GOOD this past weekend. Halibut as large as 77 lbs wee seen at the marina. 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 SLOW this past week. Constance Bank was much slower because of the big tides on the bank. Along the waterfront the fishing has definitely been even slower than last week. There were a few 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 GOOD 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 EXCELLENT early in the week but it died off and was slow on the weekend. 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 Nickel/Silver Point Wilson Darts, GIBBS Minnows and the Delta Mac Fish.

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.



SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT this past weekend. The Sidney Angler’s Salmon Derby was held this past Saturday. Eighty- one Chinook salmon were entered into the derby, and many others didn’t weigh in their fish if they were not prize contenders. First place went to Carol Holman for a 23.1 lb salmon. Second place went to Len Rasile with a 22 lb 6 oz salmon Third place went to Clare Hansen for a 22.1 lb salmon.  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. For more info and pictures from the Sidney anglers’ salmon Derby go to the following web site: https://www.sidneyanglers.ca/



There has been a new fishing regulation put in place for the Sidney area starting May 8^th. The daily limit is two (2) chinook salmon per day of which only one (1) chinook may be greater than 67 cm. The minimum size limit for chinook salmon in these waters is 62 cm.

Notable Catches – The Sidney Angler’s Salmon Derby was held this past Saturday. First place went to Carol Holman for a 23.1 lb salmon. Second place went to Len Rasile with a 22 lb 6 oz salmon Third place went to Clare Hansen for a 22.1 lb salmon.

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

 

 FRESHWATER 

The 2017-2019 Freshwater fishing regulations 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 VERY GOOD in most lakes for trout and GOOD for  bass as the weather improves.

COWICHAN RIVER – The Cowichan River’s water level is still too high for decent wading. The water level is now at 1.36 meters near the lake and 1.19 meters near Duncan. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been VERY 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.

TROUT – Trout fishing is VERY GOOD on most lakes in the South Island. Warmer water temperatures have increased both trout and insect activity. 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 most of the time. That said, there has been flurries of hatches and trout surface feeding. Trollers are catching trout with worms fished behind Gibbs Gang Trolls and on Gibbs Wedding Bands. 2” Tomic Plugs have also been working well for trout. Langford Lake has been recently stocked with brood stock rainbow, so some large trout are being caught there. Marcel Allarie landed a 3 lb 11 oz rainbow trout at Langford Lake. James Baluch landed a 3 lb rainbow trout, also at Langford Lake.

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 6 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.

Notable Catches – Marcel Allarie landed a 3 lb 11 oz rainbow trout at Langford Lake. James Baluch landed a 3 lb rainbow trout, also at Langford Lake. 

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

 

 

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK 

Set your drag – properly! The best way to set your drag is with an accurate measuring scale, the same type that you use to weigh a fish. Your drag should be set to slip at approximately 30% of your line’s breaking strength when pulled directly off of the reel.

 

2017 Island Outfitters Leader Boards

Halibut

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

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

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

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

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

 

Trout

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

2) 3 lbs 11 oz – Marcel Allarie – Elk Lake– May 6^th

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

4) 3 lbs 0 oz– James Baluch – Langford Lake– May 6^th

5) 2 lbs 15 oz – Marcel Mayhew – Elk Lake– April 8^th

 

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 31^st win a special prize.

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

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