Island Outfitters
Island Outfitters
Just a few of our year-long leaderboard winners from 2017. We are now weighing in fish for the 2018 season.
Island Outfitters
SALTWATER OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing was GOOD around the south Island if you could sneak out during all the bad weather. Most of the chinooks have been from 3-8 lbs in size, with a few up to the low teens being caught.
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SOOKE – The salmon fishing has been GOOD over the last two 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 GOOD for springs this past week, although very few anglers were able to get out in all the bad weather. Anglers have been having good success in Becher Bay. The area between Frazer Island and Cheanuh Marina has been producing good fish up to 13 lbs. A few anglers have also had some success in Whirl Bay. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom in 100-160 depths.
PEDDER BAY – Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD fishing in Pedder Bay near the Green Can and in Whirl Bay. Of course, very few 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 GOOD off the waterfront recently, but most of the fish have been small, from 3-7 lbs in size. Constance Bank has been the best spot to fish for numbers of fish, but there is still a bunch close in. Trolling just off the bottom in 85-140 feet of water has been the way to catch salmon there. Closer in, salmon were caught from Clover Point to the Gravel Pit. However, the seals have been a real problem around Clover Point and the Flagpole. The seals have been taking most of the larger fish hooked, frustrating anglers. In these locations the best depths to fish were 90-140 feet.
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. 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 being caught near Coal Island and Fairfax Point, but most of the fish were undersized. The Sidney anglers’ Association held their Otto Wiggins Derby on the weekend. The winner was Paul Witzer, who caught an 11.2 lb spring. Second place went to Brian Dunic with a 7.2 lb spring, and third place was a 6.2 lb spring caught by Brian V. The top three fish were all caught near Fairfax Pt. Some anglers caught as many as 15 salmon, with all of them being undersized.
FRESHWATER OVERVIEW – Fishing was SLOW in most lakes for trout and bass, and SLOW in the rivers for steelhead.
COWICHAN RIVER – Recent rains has caused the river to blow out again. After being fairly level for most of the week, the water really started raising and has increased by a meter since yesterday. Also, the water below the Clay Bank Pool is very dirty. There are steelhead in the river now and we have heard of some being caught in the Riverbottom area, but not too many. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been SLOW.
TROUT – Trout fishing has been SLOW for trout at the local lakes. Allan Edgar landed a 4 lb 11 oz beauty on Friday at Langford Lake. On the previous Thursday, Brock Heppell caught a 1 lb 14 oz rainbow also at Langford Lake.
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
Fishing with spoons is one of the best ways to catch winter springs. A good tip to improve your spoon’s action, and to catch more fish, is to use a lighter leader than you would normally use to troll hootchies or bait. You should use a maximum leader strength of 15 lbs to get the most action out of your spoon.
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