Island Outfitters
Vancouver Island Fishing Report - Dec 17/17
Ward out spending the day fishing Constance Bank
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 4-8 lbs in size with some larger ones up to 12.5 lbs this past week. Look for our next report after the holidays in the New Year.
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 REALLY GOOD this past week according to one of the local guides. Most of the fish were from 6 to 8 lbs in size and there were plenty of them. 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 their best success from Whirl Bay to the Bedfords. Some springs were also caught in the Bay between Frazer Island and Cheanuh Marina. Vern Storey landed a 10 and 12 lb springs in the bay during the week. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom in 120 to 160 depths.
PEDDER BAY – Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD fishing. It is still slower inside the bay than around the corner in Whirl Bay and near Church Rock. Most of the fish have been caught close to the bottom in 120 - 160 feet of water. The salmon have been from 4 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 the best spot to fish and anglers were catching lots of salmon weighing from 4 to 8 lbs there. Closer in, some salmon were caught off Clover Point and Macaulay Point. In those locations the best depths to fish were 120-140 feet. Wayne Zaccarelli landed a 10½ lb spring off Macaulay and we heard of a 12½ lb spring from near Clover Point. 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 Gap but little 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. Anglers have had success catching keeper springs up to 13 lbs near the Powder Wharf. The salmon have been right on the bottom in 80 – 90 foot depths there. The salmon have been throughout the area; reports of fish also coming from the Red Can in Sidney Channel, Coal island and Moresby Island. There is lots of 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.
COWICHAN RIVER – The water level has been steadily dropping for the last three weeks until Sunday when it started to rise a little. Today the water level is 1.2 meters near the lake and 1.3 meters near Duncan. There are a few steelhead in the river now but we haven’t heard of anglers having much success. Fishing for trout in the fly only area had been good but the high water has really put a damper on the fishing. Now is the time to fish egg patterns for trout. For salmon, jigs have been productive.
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.
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.
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. 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
There’s no question that flashers attract a salmon’s attention. But you don’t have to have the flasher attached to your line to reap the benefit. Try running your flasher on a short line attached near your downrigger ball, while running your lure off of a release clip positioned above the flasher. That way, you can enjoy playing the fish without a flasher on your line.
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