Fishing Report for Week Ending July 16, 2017

 

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Windy weather put a damper on fishing for much of this past week but the maximum size restriction ended on Saturday and that cheered up the local anglers. Salmon catching was VERY GOOD in area 20, SPOTTY in Victoria and Oak Bay and “THE BEST IN 30 YEARS” in the Sidney area. The Pink salmon run has started in the Sooke area and more are being caught than in previous weeks. Halibut fishing was SLOW 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 salmon fishing has been VERY GOOD over the last week when it wasn’t blowing too hard. Secretary Island to Otter Point has been good for to springs ranging from 8 – 34 lbs. The ending of the maximum size restriction has pleased all anglers and several fish in the 30’s were reported. Most anglers are fishing for springs are using bait with anchovies being the most popular choice. Lots of small squid were in the area so hootchies 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. Spoons have also been catching salmon and Coho Killers and Skinny G’s have been good. The pink fishing has also been picking up and they are being caught both inshore and offshore.

 



 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 Aldridge Point 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. Anglers casting of the rocks are also getting into some nice fish. Edison Frando landed a 23 lb 7 oz spring on July 15^th while casting from the rocks at Beechey Head.

 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. The area from Church Rock to the Bedfords has started to pick up as well. 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. Spoons are also producing well, especially the smaller ones around 3.5”. Needlefish spoons worked the best with Skinny G’s, Left Coast Hammers, AP Tackleworks needlefish and Coho Killers the ones to use. 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 Betsey.

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 again was 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 offshore. 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. There has been some good-sized fish pushing 20 lbs coming in from the flats and the Gap. Anglers jigging have been catching way more salmon than those trolling. Good jigging lures have been Point Wilson Darts, GIBBS Minnows 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 “THE BEST IN 30 YEARS” in the Sidney area. There have been fish coming from all areas and anglers both jigging and trolling have been getting limits of springs into the 20’s. Most anglers are releasing lots of 8 to 12 lb fish while waiting to hook the bigger ones. Terry Finnigan caught 21 and 22 lb springs while jigging near Sidney Spit on July 16^th. 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 – Edison Frando landed a 23 lb 7 oz spring on July 15^th while casting from the rocks at Beechey Head. Terry Finnigan caught 21 and 22 lb springs while jigging near Sidney Spit on July 16^th.

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

 

FRESHWATER

OVERVIEW – Fishing was FAIR in most lakes for trout and GOOD for 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 FAIR 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 – Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com

 

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

Now is the time to use to heavier leaders (40 to 50 lb Test) as the big mature chinook salmon migrate though local waters. With a lighter leader, your chance of losing a big spring to a weak spot or a nick in the leader is greatly increased. Be sure to check your leader after catching each fish to make sure that it is still in good shape

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

2) 23 lbs 7 oz – Edison Frando – Beechey head – Gibbs Minnow - July 15^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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