Fishing Report Week Ending June 11, 2017


SALTWATER




OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing has been GOOD and halibut fishing has been FAIR this past 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);

  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 and has really picked up in the last few days with many anglers switching over to bait. We have had good reports from Beechy Head all the way up to Jordan River.  Some nice fish are being released in the high 20's to the low 30's but are making for some great fishing excitement. Also, some of the salmon are being caught at summertime depths (50-80 feet). The best fishing has been from the Sooke bluffs westward again this week. More and more anglers are using bait, as 5 1/2" anchovies being the most popular choice. Good choices for teaser head colors are Chartreuse, UV Green and Purple Haze. For flashers, you can’t go wrong with a Super Betsy, Lemon/Lime or Madi Flasher. Hootchies in all White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze have been effective recently as well. Many anglers are still using artificial lures such as the Skinny G needlefish spoons in the No Bananas, Outfitters and the blue nickle finish.

BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Most of the salmon caught this past week were hatchery springs from 8 -13 lbs. That said, there were some larger springs, both clipped and unclipped around. There have also been quite a few larger wild springs that had to be released into the low 30's. The best depths for trolling have been from 60 – 100 feet on the downrigger and the fish are closer to shore. The Trap Shack to Beechey Head has been the best area. More anglers are switching over to bait now and have been doing well with a UV Green teaser head. Spoons have been equally effective especially the G-Force and Skinny G spoons, in No Bananas, green nickle, and blue nickle 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 but nothing huge. The most productive area was from Whirl Bay to the Bedford Islands. It was slower inside Pedder Bay with most anglers still using artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom. Spoons, especially G-Force, Skinny G spoons in Outfitters or Bon Chovy colours, have been very effective. Hootchies and squirts with a green and glow, or uv white have been popular color choices this week. Good choices for teaser head colors are Halloween candy, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Flashers that are popular include the Madi, Bon chovy and chartreuse twisted sista. Anglers jigging at the mouth of the bay and in the channel have been catching more salmon than those anglers trolling.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was FAIR 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 were the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.

VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was GOOD this past week. Constance Bank was the best area again this past week. Along the waterfront the salmon fishing has been very slow. Best areas for salmon have been Albert Head, Brotchie Ledge and Clover Point. Look for some of the salmon to be at summer depths now. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups. Irish Cream Skinny G’s, Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons have brought some hookups.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was OKAY this past week. The halibut have been fairly deep with depths of over 300 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 SPOTTY in Oak Bay and differs day by day. There are some nice springs into the low twenty's and most of the marked fish are in the 8-15 lb range. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 70 to 145 feet, depending on where the feed is located. Most of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom again this past week. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers and  Skinny G spoons in the Outfitters or Irish Cream colurs. 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.




 

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. The Powder Wharf is still holding some nice fish for the jiggers who have been very effective in the more shallow spots while trollers are doing better in the deeper waters.  Sidney Spit has also been doing well. Anglers using spoons found 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.  In the Port Sidney derby last week we saw fish caught up to 27lbs.



Notable Catches – 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 GOOD in most lakes for trout and bass.

COWICHAN RIVER – The Cowichan River’s water level is still dropping and wading is much better in most pools. The water level is now at 0.71 meters near the lake and 0.61 meters near Duncan. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been GOOD, especially if you are in a drift boat. There are both mayfly and caddis hatches on the river at this time.

TROUT – Trout fishing is 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.

BASS – Bass fishing is GOOD as the bass move into shallower water for 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 –Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK 


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.

Join us for our Fathers Day Sale June 7- 18!


2017 Island Outfitters Leader Boards


Halibut

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

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

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

4) 67.8 lbs – Trevor Sedonic – Race Rocks – May 18th

5) 64.6 lbs – Albert Lacharity – Constance Bank – April 23rd

 Trout

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

2) lbs 9 oz - James Baluch - Langford Lake - May 27th

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

4) 3 lbs 4 oz– James Baluch – Langford Lake– May 8th

5) 3 lbs 4 oz - Larry - Langford Lake - Green Power Bait - June 5th

 Salmon

1) 32 lbs - Rick MccAmmon - Victoria Breakwater - June 12th

We are waiting for the first large salmon to be weighed in at the store.Island Outfittersstarts 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 at http://fishingvictoria.com/events/

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