Fishing Report for Week Ending April 8, 2018

SALTWATER

 OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing was SPOTTY around the south Island with most of the Chinooks running from 3 to 18 lbs in size. Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend.

NEW COAST-WIDE HALIBUT REGULATIONS: Effective at 00:01 hours on April 1, 2018 fishing for halibut will be opened coast-wide until further notice.

Limits and sizes: -The maximum length for Halibut is 115cm. -The daily limit for Halibut is one (1).  -The possession limit for Halibut is two (2), only one (1) of which may be over  83cm in length. -The annual limit is six (6) Halibut per licence holder, as set out on the 2018/2019 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence.  

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 remained SPOTTY over the last few weeks. Most of the fish are from 3 to 6 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. The largest spring seen at the marina this past week was a 15.8 lb spring caught in Whirl Bay. It’s been slower inside the bay but a 12.2 lb spring was caught in the bay. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom in 100 to 140 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 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 salmon fishing. It’s been slower inside Pedder Bay but better at Whirl Bay. Most of the fish have been caught close to the bottom in 80 to 140 feet of water. The majority of the salmon have been from 3 to 6 lbs in size but some larger ones were caught. 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 boats got skunked.



VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was SPOTTY off the waterfront this past week when the winds weren’t too blustery. The early part of the week produced the best action. Most of the fish are still small, from 3 to 6 lbs in size, but some larger ones up to 18 lbs have been caught out at Constance Bank. 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 William Head produced a few, but not too many.

OAK BAY– Salmon fishing is SLOW in Oak Bay. There are salmon coming in from the Gap and from the Flats early in the week but it was very quiet on the weekend. Most of the salmon have been on the small side, but some nicer ones to 16 lbs have been caught recently. The salmon are feeding on needle fish and close to the bottom where the feed is located. Most of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing squirts and spoons or jigging close to the bottom. Best bets for Oak Bay trolling lures are Skinny G and AP Tackleworks spoons and Jellyfish squirts. Jiggers are doing best with Deep Stingers and Point Wilson darts.

HALIBUT - Fishing was SLOW for halibut.

SIDNEY– Salmon fishing was SPOTTY in the Sidney area. There were two derbies on the weekend but few salmon were caught. The Can-Am derby was won with a 16 lb spring caught near Pender Island. The Sidney Anglers’ held their Premier Salmon Derby and only 2 fish were weighed in. Steve Cote won the derby with a 10 lb spring caught near Coal Island. Richard Lake came in second with a 9.8 lb spring caught near Arbutus.  We heard that there was a large herring spawn between McCurdy Point and Bamberton. 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 – Steve Cote won the Sidney Anglers’ Premier Derby with a 10 lb spring caught near Coal Island. Richard Lake came in second with a 9.8 lb spring caught near Arbutus.

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

 

 

FRESHWATER

OVERVIEW – Fishing was PICKING UP in most lakes for trout and bass and SLOWING DOWN in the rivers for steelhead. There is increasing anticipation of this coming Saturday’s Elk Lake trout and bass derby.

COWICHAN RIVER – Rains in the past week have increased the water level on the river. Both near the lake and near Duncan it’s at 1.00 meters. There are fewer steelhead spawning in the river now and most of the fish being caught are kelts.  Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been picking up with increased inset activity.

TROUT – Trout fishing has been PICKING UP for trout to at the local lakes due to the recent trout stockings and as the water temperatures warm up. Tyler Clough caught a 4 lb 5 oz lb rainbow while at Langford Lake this past Monday. That’s easily the largest one that we have heard of this past week.  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 too. 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 has been stocking spring catchable rainbow trout into southern Vancouver Island lakes. On March 26^th, Lookout Lake received 225 trout averaging 263.58 grams. 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 PICKING UP on the Island. 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 – Tyler Clough caught a 4 lb 5 oz lb rainbow while at Langford Lake this past Monday.

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

 

FISH TIPS OF THE WEEK

A long Salmon fishing rod gives a fighting advantage to the angler when playing a fish.  Short rods can be used for convenience on small boats but provide less of a leverage advantage.  Nine foot rods should be your absolute minimum but a 10’6” rod gives the fisherman that much more advantage.

All fishing and hunting licenses have expired and new ones are needed as of April 1st! So be sure to get your new licenses before your next trip outdoors. Both freshwater and saltwater licenses are available now on line. Also, be sure to take some time to read and review the regulations before going out and accidentally getting trouble.

 

2018 Island Outfitters Leader Boards

Trout

1) 8 lbs 8 oz – Rob Waldner – Langford Lake – Fly – March 31^st

2) 5 lbs 4 oz – Kayden Howes – Elk Lake – Corn – February 12^th

3) 4 lbs 11 oz – Allan Edgar – Langford Lake – Powerbait – January 12^th

4) 4 lbs 5 oz – Tyler Clough – Langford Lake – Powerbait - April 2^nd

5) 2 lbs 11 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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