Island Outfitters
Sept 27
Island Outfitters
SALTWATER OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing has been FAIR overall around the South Island. All fishing effort is targeting winter springs. Most of the fish are from 3-6 lbs in size with only a few larger ones up to 14 lbs. Weather conditions have also been poor for fishing over most of the week.
For the latest details on recreational fishery openings and closures in your area: A) Call 1-866-431-FISH or 604-666-2828 (24-hour phone line); B) Visit our web page http://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm to find applicable fishery notices; or C) Follow our sport fishing Twitter account https://twitter.com/sportfishingbc
SOOKE – The salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Winter springs as large as 14 lbs were caught this past week. The best locations to fish for winter springs have been from the Bluffs west to Muir Creek. The hot combo this past week was a whiter hootchy behind a red flasher. Most of the fish are quite close to the bottom.
BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was NOT TOO BAD this past week. Most of the fish seen at Cheanuh Marina came from Church Rock and Whirl Bay and were running up to 8 lbs in size. Most of the fish have been caught on spoons with Coho Killers, Gibbs Skinny G’s in Cop Car and green & silver colors. Fish close to the bottom for the winter springs.
PEDDER BAY – Pedder Bay Marina reports SLOW fishing. Due to the weather this past week there have not been many anglers out on the water. It has been very slow inside the bay and the few salmon caught came from Whirl Bay. The salmon have been reported up to 8 lbs in size.
VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was SPOTTY off the waterfront this past week. The most productive area is Constance Bank with multiple hookups into fish ranging mostly from 3 to 6 pounds in size. A few larger ones up to 10 lbs were also caught on the bank. Closer in along the waterfront it has been very slow with anglers catching nothing but time on the water.
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 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 SLOW in the Sidney area. Anglers have been catching springs but all of them have been undersized. The area holding the most fish has been the Sidney Channel.
FRESHWATER OVERVIEW – Fishing was GOOD in most lakes for trout and FAIR for bass.
COWICHAN RIVER – The Cowichan River’s water level is rising with the weekend’s rains. The water level is 0.9 meters near the lake and 1.02 meters near Duncan. Coho and chum salmon fishing is now open from the White Bridge upstream through the mid river. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been good with the arrival of lots of salmon in the upper river. Look for trout stationed just downstream of the redds as they feed on salmon eggs. Now is the time to start fishing egg patterns. For salmon, jigs have been productive.
TROUT – Trout fishing has been GOOD 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 been ongoing.
Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or 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. 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. 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 the salmon enter the river to spawn, opportunistic trout will migrate to the spawning beds to eat and fatten up for the winter on salmon eggs. You can get some great trout action by searching for large schools of salmon on their redds, and then fishing a salmon egg fly or lure just downstream of the spawning pairs.
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