Fishing Report for Week Ending July 9, 2017

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Windy weather put a damper on fishing for much of this past week. Salmon was GOOD in area 20 but SPOTTY in area 19. The Pink salmon run has started in the Sooke area but they are not there in large numbers yet. Halibut fishing was SLOW with the big tides 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.cfmto 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 fishing has been GOOD for salmon over the last week when it wasn’t blowing too hard. Secretary Island to Otter Point has been good and pink salmon are also showing in the catches in addition to springs ranging from 8 – 24 lbs.  There have been reports of springs into the 30’s being released as well.  Most anglers are using bait with anchovies being the most popular choice. Lots of small squid were in the area so hoochies are also effective. Good choices for teaser head colors Red, Tiger Prawn, Glow chartreuse Tiger Prawn and Bloody Nose.  For flashers, the Delta Homeland Security and Red/Silver Hot Spot 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 when it wasn’t blowing too hard.  There have been lots of salmon coming in from Beechey Head to the Trap Shack.  Besides springs into the teens, more pinks have also been showing up. The best depths to fish have been from 40 to 70 feet. Anchovies are now the most popular bait. Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose and Mint Pearl. Trolling Skinny G spoons on a 36” leader has been working great. The best color combinations being Nickel/Blue, Nickel/Gold and Bananas. For flashers, the Homeland Security and Raspberry Jelly have been working well.



 PEDDER BAY– Pedder Bay Marina reports PRETTY GOOD salmon fishing. The bay was fishing well again this week, and it was out of the wind as well. The most productive area for trollers has been the can buoy. Trollers are doing best trolling from 45 – 70 feet on the downrigger and/or just off the bottom. Jiggers were doing better than the trollers and have been fishing near the Race. There hatchery springs have been running from 8 – 15 lbs.  Anchovies are now the most popular bait for trollers. Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose and Mint Pearl. Skinny G’s in the new nickel colours have been catching springs as well. Blue/Silver coyote spoons have also worked well. Hoochies 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 SLOW this past week plus it’s been too windy for most boats much of the week. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well are the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.

 VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was SPOTTY off Victoria this past week when the wind didn’t keep you off the water.. The most productive area has been Constance Bank and further out. The area from Albert Head to Trial Island has been slow. Most boats fishing the waterfront came up empty.  Some pink salmon are also starting to be caught ffshore. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups, Nickel/Blue Skinny G’s and Blue/Silver Coyotes, Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons have brought some hookups.

HALIBUT– Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. The halibut have been very 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 this past week, except for Friday when it was really good. There has been some good-sized fish pushing 20 lbs coming in from the flats and the Gap. Anglers jigging have been catching more salmon than those trolling. Good jigging lures have been Point Wilson Darts and the Delta Mac Fish. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 65 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.

HALIBUT– Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend on the big tides and it was way too windy as well for most boats. 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 SPOTTY this past week. There have been fish coming from all areas and anglers jigging are having better success than those trolling. There have been some springs caught that are pushing 20 lbs but most are running from 10 to 15 lbs in size. 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

OVERVIEW – Fishing was GOOD in most lakes for trout and bass.

COWICHAN RIVER – The Cowichan River’s water level is at summer levels, just under 0.4 meters. Lots of people are now using float tubes to drift down the river during the day, so that can put the trout down. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been GOOD at dawn and dusk. 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. Trollers should fish at the thermocline, where the fish are suspended during the day. 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 to get into the cooler water levels. 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.

BASS– Bass fishing is GOOD as we enter the summer months. 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. Top water plugs are also fun and effective in the summer, especially at dawn and dusk. 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 – Mike Greenwood landed a 4 lb 7 oz rainbow trout at Langford Lake.

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

JOIN US FOR YOUR NEXT FISHING CHARTER… Call us now! 250-475-4969

We have recently had a large group booking cancel. Therefore, we have had 20 boat days, along with accommodation, come available throughout the summer in Port Renfrew. These dates are prime time in Port Renfrew!  For more details please click here -  We hope to get you out fishing!

 

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

Take some binoculars fishing! You can use them to see what other successful anglers are using for bait, spot bait ball ups from a distance, or check for changes in the weather conditions by scanning the horizon. Or you can just enjoy the views or nature and make your day fishing more enjoyable.

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

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

Trout

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

2) 4 lbs 9 oz – James Balluch – Langford Lake – May 27^th

3) 4 lbs 7 oz – Mike Greenwood – Langford Lake – July 9^th

4) 3 lbs 11 oz – Marcel Allarie – Elk Lake– May 6^th

5) 3 lbs 4 oz – James Baluch – Langford Lake– May 8^{t h} 

Salmon

1) 32 lbs – Rick McAmmon – Victoria Breakwater – June 12^th

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.

Thank you to Islander and Shimano for our top Salmon and Halibut prizes.  This year, the winner of the Salmon leader board will win an Islander MR3 mooching reel with a 10'6" mooching rod.  For Halibut, a Shimano halibut combo.  Good luck!



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

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