Fishing Report for Week Ending September 17, 2017
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – Coho fishing has been FAIR. It’s been mostly hit or miss with the coho. The chinook fishing has definitely SLOWED DOWN. Halibut fishing is CLOSED FOR THE YEAR.
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 was FAIR this past week. The coho salmon fishing is now the main focus of local anglers. The best fishing was in the 600+ foot depths and towards the international boarder. This past week most of the coho were not fin clipped so you had to release quite a few if you were after fin clipped coho. Spring fishing has really slowed down. The best locations to fish for springs have been Possession Point, Otter Point and Muir Creek and close to the shoreline. Most anglers fishing for springs are using bait, with anchovies being the most popular choice. Good choices for teaser head colors are red, chartreuse and Bloody Nose. For flashers, the Delta Guide Series Outfitters, Gold Fever Hot Spot and Betsey have been working well. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze have been caught some fish. Spoons have been good for catching coho. Coho Killers, AP Tackleworks and Skinny G’s have been good in green colors.
BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week for mostly smaller stuff. The coho salmon fishing is now the main focus of local anglers. The best fishing was in the 600+ foot depths and towards the international boarder. This past week most of the coho were not fin clipped so you had to release quite a few if you were after fin clipped coho. Spring fishing has really slowed down. The springs are scattered from the Bedfords to the Trap Shack. The best depths to fish for the springs have been from 40 to 80 fee and very close to the shoreline. Anchovies are the most popular bait for springs while spoons and hootchies are more popular for coho. Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose, Mint Pearl and Chartreuse. The best color combinations for spoons have lots of green on the spoon. For flashers, the GIBBS Highliner Guide Series Outfitters and Lemon Lime, Gold Fever Hot Spot and Big Shooter Gold Betsey have been working well..
PEDDER BAY– Pedder Bay Marina reports FAIR salmon fishing. All areas from Church Rock to William Head produced some Chinook salmon, but not many. The coho salmon fishing is now the main focus of local anglers. The best fishing was in the 600+ foot depths and towards the international boarder. This past week most of the coho were not fin clipped so you had to release quite a few if you were after fin clipped coho. Spring fishing has really slowed down. With the coho and the pinks, you were either in them or not. You just had to search for the schools and then try to stay with them. Spring fishing has really slowed down. Trollers are doing best trolling close to the shore and along the kelp, from 30 – 70 feet on the downrigger and with anchovies for bait. Good teaser heads to fish have been the Bloody Nose, Chartreuse and Mint Pearl. Spoons are also producing well, especially the smaller ones around 3.5”. The most popular spoons have been Skinny G’s, Left Coast Hammers, AP Tackleworks herring and Coho Killers. Hoochies and squirts with a green and glow, or UV white have been popular color choices this week. Flashers that are popular include the Hot Spot Gold Fever, GIBBS Guide Series Outfitters and Lemon Lime and Big Shooter Gold Betsey.
VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was SPOTTY off the waterfront this past week. The most productive area was Constance Bank. There were lots of springs there early in the week but they were juvenile feeders and not too large. A few springs were caught from the Breakwater area. Dave Bury picked up a 17 lb 7 oz spring on Saturday and Tom Vaida a 16 lb 15 oz spring on Tuesday, both by the Breakwater. Some pink salmon are still being caught and they have been from 4 to 7 lbs in size. The best fishing for pinks and coho was way off shore. Anchovies have been the best bet with 12 & 14 pack anchovies the best sizes to fish. The best teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose, UV green or red or Army Truck. Spoons have been somewhat successful in getting hook ups with 4” AP Tackleworks Moonglow Herring spoons, Irish Cream Skinny G’s and Green/Glow Coyote spoons good choices.
OAK BAY– Salmon fishing was SLOW in Oak Bay this past week. There were very few, if any, salmon coming in from the Flats and the Gap. Anglers jigging have been catching more and larger salmon than those trolling. Good jigging lures have been 2¼ oz and 3 oz Point Wilson Darts, Deep Stingers and the Delta Mac Fish. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 40 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.
SIDNEY– Salmon fishing was SLOW in the Pender Bluffs area. We did hear that there were some springs off Pender Island at 90 feet to 120 feet but not too many at this time of year. Anglers small grilse in the area too. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most productive 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. Anglers jigging were also catching some fish. Good jigging lures have been 2¼ oz Point Wilson Darts, GIBBS Minnows and the Delta Mac Fish.
Notable Catches – Dave Bury picked up a 17 lb 7 oz spring on Saturday and Tom Vaida a 16 lb 15 oz spring on Tuesday, both by the Breakwater.
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 still low. 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. James Baluch caught a 3 lb 5 oz Rainbow trout at Langford Lake on a Big Gulp Leech on September 4th.
BASS– Bass fishing is GOOD as we enter the fall months. There have been many reports of good catches of fish as large as 6 lbs all summer. 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
Cover water! Most of the time when you hit one Coho, you hit another Coho, and then another. This is because Coho usually travel in schools in search of baitfish. In order to locate some Coho, it is important to continue covering different water and depths until you have found a school. Try spreading your lines all at different depths and try not to get stuck sitting in one spot against the tide.
2017 Island Outfitters Leader Boards
Salmon
1) 28 lbs 4 oz – Allan Shoults – Otter Point – Anchovy – August 10th
2) 25 lbs 9 oz – Frank Gibbons – Waterfront – Anchovy – August 23rd
3) 23 lbs 7 oz – Edison Frando – Beechey head – Gibbs Minnow - July 15th
4) 22 lbs 1 oz – Christa Fremont – Church Rock – Anchovy – August 3rd
5)19 lbs 3 oz – George Kahan – Pedder Bay – Anchovy – August 9th
Halibut
1) 74.0 lbs – George Kahan – Constance Bank – August 1st
2) 72.1 lbs – Trevor Skakun – Oak Bay – April 22nd
3) 70.0 lbs – Ron Howard –Constance Bank – Herring – September 5th
4) 68.9 lbs – Duane Sapelak – Discovery – Herring – March 24th
5) 68.6 lbs – Chris Hansen – Oak Bay – April 22nd
Trout
1) 5 lbs – Chad Vandermolen – Langford Lake – April 29th
2) 4 lbs 9 oz – James Balluch – Langford Lake – May 27th
3) 4 lbs 7 oz – Mike Greenwood – Langford Lake – July 9th
4) 3 lbs 11 oz – Marcel Allarie – Elk Lake– May 6th
5) 3 lbs 9 oz – Blake Armstrong – Langford Lake– July 12t h
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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