Island Outfitters
Island Outfitters Feb 11/18
Taking full advantage of the Family day weekend! Sisters Hannah and Grace Cottier, fishing with their dad at Constance Bank caught two nice winter Chinooks - 14.5lbs and 10.5lbs. Nice fish!
Island Outfitters
SALTWATER OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing was FAIR to GOOD around the south Island, if you could sneak out during all the wind and rain. Most of the Chinooks have been from 4-10 lbs in size.
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SOOKE – There’s nothing new happening here. The salmon fishing has been GOOD over the last few weeks when you could get out. Most of the fish were from 4-8 lbs in size with the occasional larger one. The best location to fish for winter springs was near Secretary Island. Most of the salmon are close to the bottom in 100-140 feet of water.
BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was A LITTLE BIT BETTER than last week for springs. Not very many anglers were able to get out in all the wind and rain during the week. Those that did stayed fairly close to the marina. Anglers have been having better success in Becher Bay between Frazer Island and Cheanuh Marina on the top of the flood tide. A few anglers have also had some success in Whirl Bay as well. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom in 100-160 depths. We haven’t heard of any salmon over 10 lbs here this past week.
PEDDER BAY – Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD fishing in Pedder Bay near the Green Can and in Whirl Bay. Of course, not many anglers were fishing in the bad weather this past week. Most of the fish have been caught close to the bottom in 100-140 feet of water. The salmon have been from 3-7 lbs in size with the occasional larger fish.
VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was FAIR off the waterfront this past week. Most of the fish are still small, from 3-7 lbs in size. Constance Bank has been the best spot to fish for numbers and size of fish. Sisters Hannah and Grace Cottier were fishing with their dad at Constance Bank on the weekend and Hannah landed a 14.5 lb spring and Grace a 10.5 lb spring. Trolling just off the bottom in 85-140 feet of water has been the way to catch salmon there. Closer in, salmon were caught near Clover Point. In most locations the best depths to fish were 90-140 feet although they are often found in shallow water near the harbour entrance.
OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was SLOW in Oak Bay this past week. There were a few 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.
SIDNEY – Salmon fishing was GOOD in the Sidney area. We have heard that there were some keeper springs up to 12 lbs being caught in the Sidney Channel, but most of the fish were undersized or just legal. The Red Can and the Powder Wharf are two arrears off the channel that have been good. We also heard of some springs near Hambley Point and Fairfax Point.
FRESHWATER OVERVIEW – Fishing was SLOW in most lakes for trout and bass and SLOW in the rivers for steelhead.
COWICHAN RIVER – The water level on the river is still quite high, but it is continuing to drop. Near the lake it’s gone from 3 meters down to 1.95 meters and near Duncan it’s gone from 3.4 meters to 1.85 meters. There are steelhead in the river now and we have heard of some being caught in the Riverbottom area, but not too many. For steelhead, jigs and pink worms have been productive. Fishing for trout in the fly only area had been SLOW. Now is the time to fish egg patterns for trout.
TROUT – Trout fishing has been SLOW for trout at the local lakes. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, and worms while fishing close to the bottom. Allan Edgar landed a 4 lb 11 oz beauty on Friday at Langford Lake while fishing Powerbait. On the previous Thursday, Brock Heppell caught a 1 lb 14 oz rainbow also at Langford Lake and also on Powerbait.
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
Brine your salmon bait! It’s a fact that many top salmon anglers brine their anchovies or sardines in salt before going fishing for the day. This makes the bait tougher, last longer, and retain its shape better while trolling. Some anglers prefer liquid brine while others just heavily salt the bait. Others add scents and oils to the brine to add that extra attractant.
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