Fishing Report for Week Ending November 5, 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.  The Chinook fishing has been GOOD around the Victoria area as the winter springs are now here in numbers, with sizes ranging up to 10lbs.

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.  The best locations to fish for winter springs have been Possession Point, Otter Point and Muir Creek.  Spoons in the Coho Killers, Skinny G’s, and small 3.5″ G Force spoons have been good with anchovies still being a popular choice. Good choices for teaser head colors are Halloween Candy, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze.  For flashers, the Delta Guide Series UV Moon Jelly,  Madi and the Lemon Lime Chartreuse . Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are usually the top colors.

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week . Spring fishing has picked up as some winters springs have moved into the bay. Anchovies has been the bait of choice along with Gibbs Skinny G’s in Cop Car and Outfitters.  Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose, Mint Pearl and Chartreuse glow. For flashers, the GIBBS Highliner Guide Series Outfitters and Lemon Lime, Silver Fever Hot Spot and Big Shooter Betsy have been working well..

PEDDER BAY– Pedder Bay Marina reports SLOW fishing.  Due to the wind this past week there have not been many anglers out on the water, causing few reports.  The salmon that have been reported are being weight in up to 10 lbs.  Spoons that have been producing are in the smaller ranges around 3.5- 4 inches this time of year. The most popular spoons have been Skinny G’s,  and Coho Killers.  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 GOOD off the waterfront this past week. The most productive area is Constance Bank with multiple hookups into fish ranging anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds.   Spoons have been successful in getting hook ups with Irish Cream Skinny G’s and Green/Glow Coyote spoons as popular choices.

OAK BAY– Salmon fishing was SLOW in Oak Bay this past week. There were very few salmon coming in from the Flats and the Gap. There was little to no bait on the Flats this past week. The salmon are feeding on needle fish 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. It’s been very slow near Pender Island. Anglers using spoons, found that Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and 3.5″ G Force spoons the most productive 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 FAIR for bass.

COWICHAN RIVER – The Cowichan River’s water level is still low. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been ok with some fish still hanging out in the pocket water.  Now is a good time to start fishing egg patterns, especially with salmon entering the river systems.  There will usually be trout just below the salmon 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 Muddler Minnow patterns on full sink fly lines most of the time to get into the lower 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 FAIR. During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well too. Soft plastics rigged “Texas 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 – Now is the time to get your gear serviced.  Get it done early to beat the crowds and to make sure your rods, reels and downriggers are ready to preform.

 2017 Island Outfitters Leader Board

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.

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!



 

Watch for our BLACK FRIDAY SALE coming up in November!


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

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