Island Outfitters
Vancouver Island Fishing Report - Jan 7/18
The first trout of the year was weighed in by Brock Heppell at 1 lb 14 oz from Langford Lake. Nice fish Brock!
Island Outfitters
SALTWATER OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing was FAIR around the south Island recently. Most of the fish have been from 4 to 6 lbs in size, but there have been some larger ones up to 14 lbs caught.
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SOOKE – The salmon fishing has been FAIR over the last two weeks. Most of the fish were from 6 to 8 lbs in size with the occasional larger one. The best locations to fish for winter springs have been from Secretary Island westward to Muir Creek. Most of the fish are quite close to the bottom in 100-140 feet of water.
BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing PICKED UP for springs this past week. Anglers have been having good success both in Whirl Bay and in Becher Bay. The area between Frazer Island and Cheanuh Marina has started to produce good fish up to 12 lbs. A few anglers have also had some success in Iron Mine Bay. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom in 120-160 feet depths.
PEDDER BAY – Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD fishing in both Pedder Bay near the Green Can and in Whirl Bay. Most of the fish have been caught close to the bottom in 120-160 feet of water. The salmon have been from 8 to 10 lbs in size with the occasional larger fish.
VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was FAIR off the waterfront recently. Constance Bank has been the best spot to fish and anglers were catching salmon weighing from 4 to 10 lbs on the bank. Trolling just off the bottom in 85-140 feet of water has been the way to catch salmon there. Closer in, salmon were caught off Clover Point, the Flagpole and Macaulay Point. The seals have been a real problem around Clover Point and the Flagpole, taking most of the larger fish hooked, frustrating anglers. In those locations the best depths to fish were 90-140 feet.
OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was FAIR in Oak Bay this past week. There were a few salmon up to 11 lbs 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 SLOW in the Sidney area. Anglers have not had much luck in catching springs near the Red Can in Sidney Channel, Coal Island and Moresby Island. We have heard that there were some good size springs being caught near Deep Cove and Wain Rock in the Inlet. There is bait in the area, so the fish should be holding there for awhile. There are still many undersized salmon in the area.
FRESHWATER OVERVIEW – Fishing was FAIR in most lakes for trout and SLOW for bass and steelhead.
COWICHAN RIVER – The water level started rising on Friday, and today the water level is 1.24 meters near the lake and 1.3 meters near Duncan. There are steelhead in the river now and we have heard of some being caught in the Riverbottom area. Fishing for trout in the fly only area had been good.
We now have numbers for our Chinook salmon returns in the Cowichan River. The preliminary estimate of 26,482 fish is a new record and is literally off the charts. On top of this we also had 187,000 chums. Though not a record this does amount to about 2 million pounds of nutrients distributed throughout the system. This is very good news for the entire riparian ecosystem. This is also something all of the many groups working to protect and preserve the Heritage River can be proud of. These numbers were published in the DFO South Coast Salmon Bulletin Escapement Update dated December 22, 2017.
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. 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.
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.
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
Use lighter leaders this time of year when fishing for winter springs for two good reasons. The first is that a lighter leader will give your spoon or bait better action, and therefore get you more strikes. The second reason is that if a seal grabs a salmon that you have hooked, when you break off, you won’t lose an expensive flasher as well as your lure!
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