CartFishing Report for Week Ending June 25, 2017
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing has been GOOD and halibut fishing has been GOOD this past week.
For the latest details on recreational fishery openings and closures in your area:
- A) Call 1-866-431-FISH or 604-666-2828 (24-hour phone line);
- B) Visit our web page http://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfmto find applicable fishery notices; or
- 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 over the last week. Possession Point has been one of the top spots this past week. There have been a good mix of salmon ranging from 8lbs – 20lbs as well as a few pinks starting to show up. There has also been reports of a few salmon into the 30’s being released. More and more anglers are using bait, 5 1/2″ anchovies being the most popular choice. Good choices for teaser head colors are Chrome Chartreuse Tiger and Bloody Nose. For flashers, the Homeland Security and UV Purple have been working well. Hootchies in all White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze have been effective recently as well.
BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. There have been lots of salmon in from Aldridge to Church. A few pinks have also been showing up. Trolling the bottom with a blue/nickel Skinny G in a depth of 40-80 feet has been working great. Anchovies fishing in a bloody nose or joanne head are showing to work well too. For flashers, the Homeland Security and Rasberry Jelly have been working well.
PEDDER BAY– Pedder Bay Marina reports FAIR salmon fishing. The fishing was better in the beginning of the week and started to slow down near the end. There has been fish weighed in into the low 20’s. The bay was fishing well again this week with the most productive area being near the can buoy. Skinny G’s in the new nickel colours have been fishing well as well as hootchies and squirts with a green and glow, or uv white have been popular color choices this week. Flashers that are popular include the Madi, Bon chovy and chartreuse twisted sista.
HALIBUT– Halibut fishing was GOOD 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 SPOTTY off Victoria this past week. The most productive areas have been Albert Head and Clover Point with a few better sized fish into the 20’s. Constance Bank has been okay however the strong current has made for tuff fishing on the bank. 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 FAIR in Oak Bay this past week. There has been some good-sized fish into the mid teens coming in from anglers who are jigging. Trollers have been producing fish as well. Some good choices for lures are the blue/chrome Skinny G’s and 4” AP Spoons. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 80 to 135 feet, depending on where the feed is located. Most of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom. 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 SLOW this past week. Fairfax and James Island had a few salmon over the past week but overall Sidney has been slow. There have been reports of Pender Bluffs starting to pick up. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most successful spoons this past week Suggested colours are Trap Shack and Bon Chovy. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good producers of fish with teaser heads in UV Purple.
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. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been GOOD. There are both mayfly and caddis hatches on the river at this time. Fish a Dry Fly in the early morning and later in the evening or fish a Nymph in the faster water. Both have been working well.
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
Avoid the crowds. When you see lots of boats fishing in a small area, it doesn’t necessarily mean there are lots of fish there, just lots of anglers. And the more anglers, the more gear in the water competing for what fish that may be there. Usually, you’re better off to fish away from the crowd with less competition for those fish that are willing to bite.
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
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 at http://fishingvictoria.com/events/
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