CartFishing Report for Week Ending December 10, 2017
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing remains GOOD around the South Island. All fishing effort is targeting winter springs. Most of the fish are from 3-8 lbs in size with some larger ones up to 12.5 lbs this past week.
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. Be sure to check our facebook page for daily specials leading up to Christmas. Also, our biggest sale of the year, the Boxing Day Sale, is coming up. Look for our ads and on our facebook page to discover great bargains.
SOOKE– The salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Winter springs as large as 10 lbs were caught this past week, but most of the fish were from 6 to 8 lbs in size. The best locations to fish for winter springs have been from the Bluffs west to Muir Creek. Most of the fish are quite close to the bottom in 100 – 140 feet of water. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits. Spoons such as Coho Killers, Skinny G’s, and 3.5″ G Force spoons have been good. Anchovies are still a popular choice but with all the small fish around not too may anglers are fishing them. Good choices for teaser head colors are Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. For flashers, Red/Gold Hot Spots, the Delta Guide Series UV Moon Jelly, Madi and the Lemon Lime Chartreuse are good choices.
BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Anglers have been having good success in the Bay between Frazer Island and the marina as well as in Whirl Bay and Church Rock. Fish close to the bottom for the winter springs and in 120 to 160 depths. The majority of anglers are using spoons with Coho Killers, Gibbs Skinny G’s in green/glow and green/silver colors the favorites. The GIBBS Highliner Guide Series Outfitters, Madi, Lemon Lime and Green/Glow Hot Spot have been working well. White hootchies have also been good Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits.
PEDDER BAY– Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD fishing. It has been slower inside the bay but better around the corner in Whirl Bay and near Church Rock. Most of the fish have been close to the bottom in 120 - 160 feet of water. The salmon have been from 3 to 8 lbs in size with the occasional larger fish. Spoons have been producing the best and the Skinny G’s, AP Tackleworks and Coho Killers are the top choices. Green with either silver or glow has been the color choice in spoons. Hoochies and squirts with a green and glow, or UV white have been popular color choices for plastic baits. 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. Constance Bank was slower on the big tides but is still the best spot to fish and anglers were catching lots of salmon there. Most of the salmon have been small but there have been some up to 10 lbs in size. The seals are now becoming a big problem on the bank and they are attracted to the larger fish that are hooked. Closer in, some salmon were between Trial Island and Finlayson Point in about 120-140 feet of water. We also heard of a couple of keepers caught near Macauley Point. Spoons have been successful in getting hook ups with Irish Cream Skinny G’s, Green/Glow AP Tackleworks Anchovy 4” spoons and Green/Glow Coyote spoons popular choices.
OAK BAY– Salmon fishing was SLOW in Oak Bay this past week. There were a few salmon coming in from the Flats and the Gap but most of them have been fairly small with a 8 lb fish the largest size that we have heard about. There was bait in Oak Bay this past week so things are looking up. 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 GOOD in the Sidney area. Anglers have had success catching keeper springs up to 12 ½ lbs. The salmon have been spread throughout the area with keepers coming from the Red Can, Coal island, the Powder wharf, and Moresby Island. There is lots of bait in the area so the fish should be holding there for awhile. The 90’ to 120’ depths have been the most effective. There are still many undersized salmon in the area.. 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 Glow or 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 FAIR in most lakes for trout and SLOW for bass.
COWICHAN RIVER – The Cowichan River is still high and fishing is difficult, especially from shore. The water level has been steadily dropping for the last week and an half and is 1.75 meters near the lake and 1.45 meters near Duncan today. There are a few steelhead in the river now. Fishing for trout in the fly only area had been good with the arrival of lots of salmon in the upper river but the high water has really put a damper on the fishing. Now is the time to fish egg patterns for trout. For salmon, jigs have been productive.
TROUT – Trout fishing has been FAIR with lots of trout to be caught as the Vancouver Island Fish hatchery fall stocking program of catchable triploid rainbow trout in South Island lakes has come to an end.
On November 17th, Prior Lake received 250 trout averaging 222.29 grams in size. On November 9th, Spectacle Lake received 500 trout and Ida Anne Lake 100 trout averaging 206.62 grams in size. On November 8th, Prior Lake received 250 trout averaging 220.32 grams in size. On November 2nd, Elk Lake received 1,450 trout, Prospect Lake1, 200 trout, Durrance Lake 500 trout and Colwood Lake 250 trout averaging 208.77 grams in size. On October 26th, Spectacle Lake received 500 trout and Lookout Lake 250 trout averaging 262.94 grams. On October 25th, Kemp Lake received 1,000 trout and Ida Anne 250 trout averaging 174.27 grams, Thetis Lake 1,000 trout, Glen Lake 500 trout and Lookout Lake 250 trout averaging 230 grams. On the same day, Matheson Lake received 500 trout averaging 156.48 grams in size. On October 23rd, Prospect Lake received another 2,000 trout averaging 227.27 grams, Thetis Lake 1,000 trout, Glen Lake 500 trout and Lookout Lake 250 trout averaging 230 grams. On October 19th, Elk Lake received another 1,800 trout and Durrance Lake 2,000 averaging 223.4 grams. On October 16th, Elk Lake received 2,000 trout and Prospect Lake 1,800 averaging 230 grams. 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 3rd 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 SLOW. During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well at times. Soft plastics rigged “Texas Style” are also a good choice when fishing drop offs and deeper structure. 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
When you’re trout fishing with Powerbait, it pays to try different colors if the action slows down. Trout can be quite color selective and having the right color can trigger a bite. Many anglers will use two contrasting colors, such a red and green, when searching for that hot color.
Be sure to check our facebook page for daily specials leading up to Christmas. Also, our biggest sale of the year, the Boxing Day Sale, is coming up. Look for our ads and on our facebook page to discover great bargains.
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. Our
See our event pages for details on upcoming events at http://fishingvictoria.com/events/
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