Fishing Report for Week Ending March 25, 2018

 

SALTWATER

 OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing was FAIR around the south Island with most of the Chinooks running from 3 to 8 lbs in size. Halibut fishing was relatively SLOW this past weekend.

Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada Subject: FN0173-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Chinook  - Areas 19 and 20:  Chinook Recreational Fishery Management Actions  Effective dates:  immediately until 23:59 hours June 15, 2018 Waters:  Subareas 19-1 to 19-4; and, Subareas 20-4 to 20-7(those waters near Victoria between Cadboro Point to Sombrio Point.). Management measures:  You may retain two (2) Chinook salmon per day.  These Chinook may be either:- wild or hatchery marked between 45 cm and 67 cm; or- hatchery marked greater than 67 cm in length.  - The minimum size limit in these waters is 45 cm in length.  

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 has been FAIR over the last few weeks. Most of the fish are from 3 to 8 lbs in size with the occasional larger one. The best location to fish for winter springs was from the Bluffs to Muir Creek. Most of the salmon are close to the bottom in 100 – 140 feet of water but there are some at mid water depths. The most productive lure combo has been 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 the most popular choice for those fishing bait. Good choices for teaser head colors are Army Truck, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze.  For flashers, Red/Glow Hot Spots, the Delta Guide Series UV Moon Jelly, Madi and the Lemon Lime Chartreuse are popular. There were very few halibut caught this past week.

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was FAIR. Anglers have been having the most success on the top of the flood tide in Whirl Bay. It’s been slower inside the bay and near the marina. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom in 100 to 140 depths. We haven’t heard of any salmon over 10 lbs here this past week. 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 Red/Glow Hot Spot flashers have been working well. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits.

PEDDER BAY– Pedder Bay Marina reports FAIR fishing in Whirl Bay. It’s been slower near the Green Can and at Whirl Bay. Most of the fish have been caught close to the bottom in 100 to 140 feet of water. The majority of the salmon have been from 3 to 6 lbs in size but a couple of 12 lb springs were caught, one at Whirl and the other in Pedder Bay.  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.

HALIBUT - Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week and most of the bots got skunked. That said, one boat landed 3 one day this past weekend.



VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was FAIR off the waterfront this past week when the winds weren’t too blustery. Most of the fish are still small, from 3 to 7 lbs in size, but some larger ones have been caught. It was best out at Constance Bank. Wade Moore caught 10.6 lb spring out at Constance Bank on Wednesday on a Driftwood Brewing Fat Tug lure. In closer, there were springs from the Flagpole to Trial Island. In most locations the best depths to fish were 90-140 feet but we’ve heard of some larger fish being caught at mid-water depths. 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. Most of the boats out fishing were not after salmon this past weekend as the emphasis was on halibut.

HALIBUT - Fishing was SLOW for halibut this past week. Constance Bank and Border Bank produced a few.



OAK BAY– Salmon fishing was FAIR in Oak Bay this past week. There are salmon coming in from the Gap and from the Flats but they were mostly small. 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.

HALIBUT - Fishing was SLOW for halibut.

SIDNEY– Salmon fishing was FAIR in the Sidney area. We have heard that there were some keeper springs being caught near Coal Island and in the Sidney channel.  Some of the springs were over 10 lbs but most salmon are still smaller than that. Anglers using spoons found that APT Sandlance spoons, Coho Killers and Gibbs and Needle G spoons the most productive this past week. Suggested colours are Kitchen Sink and Irish Cream. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good producers of fish with teaser heads in Glow or UV Purple.

Notable Catches – Wade Moore caught 10.6 lb spring out at Constance Wednesday on a Driftwood Brewing Fat Tug lure.

Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com

 

FRESHWATER

OVERVIEW – Fishing was SLOW in most lakes for trout and bass and GOOD in the rivers for steelhead.

COWICHAN RIVER – The water level on the river is continuing to drop and is good for fishing. Near the lake it’s down to 0.73 meters and near Duncan it’s 0.92 meters. There are steelhead spawning in the river now and we have heard of good fishing in the Riverbottom area. For steelhead, jigs and pink worms have been productive. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been FAIR due to the cold water temperature.

TROUT – Trout fishing has been SLOW for trout to at the local lakes. It should be picking up soon due to the recent trout stockings and as the water temperatures warm up. 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.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC is currently stocking spring catchable rainbow trout into southern Vancouver Island lakes. On March 21^st, Shawnigan Lake 304 trout and Dougan Lake received 500 trout averaging 263.58 grams. On March 13^th, Shawnigan Lake received 600 trout, Thetis Lake 1,000 trout and Spectacle, Glen and Dougan Lakes 500 trout weighing 249.33 grams. On March 9^th, Elk Lake received 1,800 trout, Prospect Lake 1,000 trout and Ida Anne Lake 250 trout averaging 255.17 grams.  On March 8^th, Durrance Lake received 1,000 trout, Shawnigan Lake 829 trout, Kemp and Matheson Lakes received 500 trout and Poirier Lake 300 trout averaging 246.87 grams. On March 3^rd, Elk Lake and Prospect Lake were each stocked with 1,800 trout weighing 247.48 grams each. To find out about stockings all over the Island and the province, as well as the different strains being released, click on the link http://www.gofishbc.com/Stocked-Fish.aspx

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 TIPS OF THE WEEK

All fishing and hunting licenses expire at the end of this month! So be sure to get your new licenses before your next trip outdoors. There often are changes in the regulations, so take some time to read and review the regulations before going out and accidentally getting into trouble.

Get a jump on your fishing season by getting all your gear in order now, before you start fishing in earnest. Service your rods, reels, lures and downriggers so that you can get a jump on repairs and replacements before the stores get busy and the fish beckon. There will be some big spring sales soon and if you know what you need, you can really take advantage of them, buying what you need at bargain prices.

 

2018 Island Outfitters Leader Boards

Trout

1) 5 lbs 4 oz – Kayden Howes – Elk Lake – Corn – February 12^th

2) 4 lbs 11 oz – Allan Edgar – Langford Lake – Powerbait – January 12^th

3) 2 lbs 11 oz – Hudson Webster – Elk Lake – White Flatfish – March 10^th

4)1 lb 14 oz – Brock Heppell – Langford Lake – Powerbait – January 4^th

5) 1 lb 4 oz – Hudson Webster – Elk Lake – White Flatfish – March 10^th

 

Salmon

1) 23 lbs 8 oz – Sonia Benedic – Clover Point – Mint Tulip Hoochie - February 26^th

2) 14 lbs 8 oz – Hannah Cottier – Constance Bank – Skinny G – February 11^th

3) 10 lbs 8 oz – Grace Cottier – Constance Bank – Skinny G – February 11^th

 

Halibut

 1) 73.8 lbs – Brian Dow – Constance Bank – Herring – March 16^th

2) 70.7 lbs – Ray Hawthorne – Discovery Island – Herring – March 10^th

3) 64.1 lbs – Chad Dobranski -– Discovery Island – Herring – March 10^th

4) 61.1 lbs – Trevor Walton – Oak Bay – Mackerel – March 10^th

5) 59.1 lbs – Jesse McCullough – Race Rocks - Octopus – March 10^th

 

 

 

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 31^st win a special prize.

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

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