Fishing Report for week ending October 15, 2017

SALTWATER


OVERVIEW – We’re at the fall transition time for salmon. Most of the mature fish are either in the river or waiting near the estuaries for some rain to start their spawning run. The Coho fishing has been SLOW. If you find the few scattered schools you will do well, but if you don’t find them you’ll probably not catch anything. The Chinook fishing is SLOW as the winter springs are now here in any numbers, nor in large size.

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 was SLOW this past week. Coho salmon fishing is the main focus of local anglers. Chum salmon fishing is picking up though. Spring fishing has really slowed down. There have been lots of salmon jumping by the entrance to the basin but they have not been hitting lures very well. The best locations to fish for coho and chum have been Possession Point, Otter Point and Muir Creek and close to the creek mouths. Spoons have been good for catching coho and Coho Killers, AP Tackleworks and Skinny G’s have been good.  Most anglers fishing for springs are using bait, with anchovies being the most popular choice. Good choices for teaser head colors are chartreuse and Bloody Nose.  For flashers, the Delta Guide Series, Moon Jelly Hot Spot and Betsey have been working well. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are usually the top colors.

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was PRETTY SLOW this past week for coho. There was a small coho derby at Cheanuh marina and it was won by Harvey Fairfield with an 8 lb coho. The best fishing was in the 500+ foot depths and towards the international boarder. Spoons and hootchies have been catching most of the coho with green being the most important color on the lure. Spring fishing has really slowed down. Anchovies are the most popular bait for springs while. 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, Silver Fever Hot Spot and Big Shooter Betsey have been working well..

 PEDDER BAY– Pedder Bay Marina reports OFF & ON salmon fishing. The coho salmon has definitely slowed down. With the coho, you were either in them or not. You just had to search for the schools and then try to stay with them. Spoons are producing well for salmon, especially the smaller ones around 3.5- 4 inches. The most popular spoons have been Skinny G’s, Left Coast Hammers, AP Tackleworks herring and Coho Killers. Spring fishing has been SLOW with most of the fish shakers or just barely legal size. Hoochies and squirts with a green and glow, or UV white have been popular color choices for plastic baits this week.  Flashers that are popular include the Guide Series Madi, Outfitters and Lemon Lime.

 VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was SLOW off the waterfront this past week. The most productive area was Constance Bank. There were springs there but they were mostly winter springs and not very large. At least half wee below the minimum size for retention. The best fishing for coho was SLOW as well. Spoons have been 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 DEAD SLOW in Oak Bay this past week. There were very few salmon coming in from the Flats and the Gap. There was lots of bait on the Flats but not many salmon. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been close to the bottom 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 Sidney area. There were some 6- 9 lb springs caught in the deeper sections of Sidney channel near the Red Can and the Powder Wharf. It’s been very slow near Pender Island. 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.

Notable Catches – There was a small coho derby at Cheanuh marina and it was one by Harvey Fairfield with an 8 lb coho..

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. Now is a good time to start fishing egg patterns, especially below salmon redd. There will usually be trout just below the redd looking for an easy meal of salmon eggs.

TROUT– The Vancouver Island Fish hatchery has started the fall stocking program of catchable triploid rainbow trout in south Island lakes. On October 13th, Lookout Lake received 250 trout averaging 256.87 grams. On October 11th, Matheson and Kemp Lakes received 500 trout averaging 250.11 grams. On October 3th Elk Lake received 1,750 trout averaging 247.81 grams in size. Thetis Lake received 1,000 trout and Glen Lake received 500 trout averaging 267.89 grams in size. On October 2nd, Shawnigan Lake received 1,750 trout, Dougan Lake 1,000 trout and Spectacle Lake received 500 trout averaging 257.27 grams in size. On September 28th, Langford Lake received 1,161 trout averaging 681.67 grams in size. On September 27th, Langford Lake received 1,000 trout averaging 673.68 grams in size.

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 FAIR. During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well too. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style” are also a good choice when fishing drop offs and docks. 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.

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


As the mature summer chinook have made it up the rivers to do their thing it’s time to switch your tactics up to catch the “winter feeders” Try shortening your leaders to 3’ to 4’ and switching to Coho Killers, 3” to 4” G-Force spoons and ultra violet squirts such as purple haze and electric chair behind glow and UV flashers! Also, troll faster and fish deeper!


 

2017 Island Outfitters Leader Boards


Salmon

1) 34 lbs 8 oz – Ky Baumer – Pender Bluffs – Anchovy -September 10th

2) 28 lbs 4 oz – Allan Shoults – Otter Point – Anchovy – August 10th

3) 25 lbs 9 oz – Frank Gibbons – Waterfront – Anchovy – August 23rd

4) 23 lbs 7 oz – Edison Frando – Beechey head – Gibbs Minnow - July 15th

5) 22 lbs 1 oz – Christa Fremont – Church Rock – Anchovy – August 3rd

 

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 11 oz – Mike Harrington – Langford Lake - September 18th

2) 5 lbs – Chad Vandermolen – Langford Lake – April 29th

3) 4 lbs 9 oz – James Balluch – Langford Lake – May 27th

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

5) 3 lbs 11 oz – Marcel Allarie – Elk Lake– May 6th

 

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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