Island Outfitters
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.
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SOOKE – The salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Winter springs as large as 10 lbs were caught, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 an 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.
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 a 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.
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.
BASS – Bass fishing is SLOW. 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.
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 as red and green, when searching for that hot color.
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