Fishing Report for Week Ending December 31, 2017

SALTWATER 


OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing was FAIR around the south Island over the last two weeks. Most of the fish have been from 4 to 6 lbs in size but there have been some larger ones up to 15 lbs caught.

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. Be sure to check our facebook page for daily specials leading up to Christmas..

SOOKE– The salmon fishing has been FAIR over the last two weeks. Most of the fish were from 6 to 8 lbs in size with the occasional larger one.  The best locations to fish for winter springs have been from Secretary island westward to Muir Creek. Most of the fish are quite close to the bottom in 100 – 140 feet of water. The most productive lure combo was a White hootchy fished behind a Red/Gold flasher. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits. Spoons such as Skinny G’s, Coho Killers and 3.5″ G Force spoons have been good. Anchovies are still a popular choice but with all the small fish around not too many 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.

The Sooke Saltwater Series Boxing Day salmon derby was once again a big success. The derby winner was Emma Goodley who caught a 15.32 lb spring. Second place went to Terry Dobson with a 13.5 lb spring. Third place went to Chris Wilson who caught a 12.04 lb spring. This derby marked the end of the 2017 fishing derby series and the overall winner for the year was Ryan Chamberland. More details about the derbies and the series can be found on their web site at http://www.sookesaltwaterseries.ca/

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was SLOWER these past two weeks. Anglers have been having their best success from Whirl Bay to the Bedfords. Some springs were also caught in the Bay between Frazer Island and Cheanuh Marina but not as many anglers are fishing there. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom 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.   Both Pedder Bay and Whirl Bay have been productive locations to fish.  Most of the fish have been caught close to the bottom in 120 - 160 feet of water. The salmon have been from 4 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. Hootchies 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 FAIR off the waterfront recently. Constance Bank has been the best spot to fish and anglers were salmon weighing from 4 to 8 lbs while trolling just off the bottom in 85 to 140 feet of water. Closer in, some salmon were caught off Clover Point, the Flagpole and Macaulay Point. In those locations the best depths to fish were 120-140 feet. 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 up to 13 lbs coming in from the Gap but few from the Flats. 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. Best bets for Oak Bay lures are needlefish spoon and squirts.

SIDNEY– Salmon fishing was FAIR in the Sidney area. Anglers have had success catching keeper springs up to 10 lbs from the Red Can in Sidney Channel, Coal island and Moses Point. There is bait in the area so the fish should be holding there for awhile. 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 – The Sooke Saltwater Series Boxing Day salmon derby was once again a big success. The derby winner was Emma Goodley who caught a 15.32 lb spring. Second place went to Terry Dobson with a 13.5 lb spring. Third place went to Chris Wilson who caught a 12.04 lb spring. This derby marked the end of the 2017 fishing derby series and the overall winner for the year was Ryan Chamberland. 

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 and steelhead.

Sklyler Kaplanchuk recently caught this nice bass.


COWICHAN RIVER – The water level started rising on Friday and didn’t start to drop until Sunday. Today the water level is 1.2 meters near the lake and near Duncan.  There are a few steelhead in the river now but we haven’t heard of anglers having much success. Fishing for trout in the fly only area had been good 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 for trout to at the local lakes. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, and 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. There have been some chironomid hatches though. 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. Drop shot fishing can also be very effective this time of year. 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 fly fishing the rivers for salmon and steelhead while using a sink tip or full sinking line, keep your leaders short. Anything more than 3 feet allows the fly to float up with the currents and not down near the fishes mouth. And be sure to keep mending your line!


Congratulations to the winners of the 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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