Fishing Tips

Fishing Tip for March 09
Tip of the Week
There have been a lot of changes in saltwater angling regulations in the past couple of weeks. Be sure you are aware of these restrictions BEFORE you go fishing for either salmon or halibut. In fact, you would be wise to phone DFO before you go out or visit their web site for any new changes.

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Fishing Tip for January 20
Tip of the Week
Check you halibut gear! The season is closed for the rest of the month so it’s the perfect time to inspect your rods, reels, line and lures and get ready for the coming season opening. Replace worn rod guides, frayed lines, fix and/or oil up the reels and replace any leaders with nicks or scratches. And don’t forget sharpening those hooks!

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Fishing Tip for January 13
Tip of the Week
Think pink for steelhead! The first runs of winter steelhead are now starting up the Cowichan, the Stamp and other rivers. And the most successful color to use on the island is pink. Whether it’s a worm, yarn, or Spin ‘n Glos, think pink when you tie on your lure.

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Fishing Tip for January 06
Tip of the Week
Protect your rod tip! Many salmon anglers place a large bead on their line before tying on a terminal swivel. The bead prevents the angler from reeling the swivel into the rod tip’s eye and breaking it. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Fishing Tip for December 30
Tip of the Week
Try fishing a fly rod for winter springs to put more fun into your fishing. Just load up a fly reel with some monofilament line, put it on the rod and fish it off your downrigger like you do your heavier gear. You’ll have a lot of fun, as the winter springs will feel just like those 30+ pound fish you catch in the summer.

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Fishing Tip for November 25
Tip of the Week
After you catch a fish, always, always, always, check your leader for tooth marks or scratches. It’s amazing how often you seem to hook and lose that big monster of a fish to a broken leader. It probably wouldn’t have happened if you had noticed the small scratches left on the leader during a previous battle with a fish.

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Fishing Tip for November 18
Tip of the Week
Want to fish the Cowichan or your favorite river but don’t know what the conditions are like? Get on your computer and go to http://scitech.pyr.ec.gc.ca/waterweb/formnav.asp?lang=0 for real time water conditions on most major river systems in B.C. or the Yukon. You’ll find real time information on water level, volume, temperatures, and more, before you leave home.

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Fishing Tip for November 11
Tip of the Week
Reels aren’t emotional! They don’t get excited and clamp down on big, fast, running fish. If you want to land more big fish, preset your reels drag and let the reel do the work. Forget about busting your knuckles while palming the spool of your mooching reel. Let the drag do the work.

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Fishing Tip for October 28
Tip of the Week
Now that the winter springs are here, why not maximize your fishing enjoyment by matching your gear to the size of the fish. Put away your heavy salmon tackle that you use for those 20 lb plus salmon and use trout or steelhead rods for fishing the 6 – 10 lb winter springs. When fished off of a downrigger, you’ll catch just as many fish and have a ball doing it!

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Fishing Tip for October 21
Tip of the Week
Now is the time to go deep for Chinook salmon. The migrating fish have almost totally disappeared and the winter or feeder springs are starting to provide most of the action. So start bouncing your downrigger balls off of the bottom if you want to be in the strike zone.

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Fishing Tip for October 14
Tip of the Week
Cover water! Most of the time when you hit one Coho, you hit another Coho, and then another. This is because Coho usually travel in schools in search of baitfish. In order to locate some Coho, it is important to continue covering different water and depths until you have found a school. Try spreading your lines all at different depths and try not to get stuck sitting in one spot against the tide.

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Fishing Tip for October 08
Tip of the Week
When fishing for halibut, you should always add lots scent to your bait or lure. Halibut are definitely more attracted to a bait or lure that has X- 10, Bait Oil, Butt Juice, or even a homemade scent additive, than to unscented bait. Some anglers even go so far as to put artificial scent on rags tied to rocks and then drop them around their anchored boat to help attract halibut.

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Fishing Tip for September 30
Tip of the Week
When fishing for trout with Power Bait use a small hook. You want to make sure the hook is completely covered by the bait, so that the trout will not feel anything unnatural when they gently mouth the bait.

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Fishing Tip for September 16
Tip of the Week
Lots of anglers are now targeting hatchery coho as the fish of choice. Be sure to increase your trolling speed, shorten your leaders and fish shallower if you want to get in on the coho action. Coho feed much closer to the surface and like a much faster moving lure than Chinook. And for some real excitement, try trolling bucktail flies right on the surface in the wake of the boat.

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Fishing Tip for September 09
Tip of the Week
Go where the fish are! This time of year the salmon are migrating to the rivers to spawn. If you want to catch the big ones now you should head towards river mouths where the fish stage before heading upstream. And be sure to keep abreast of any fishery notices or closures.

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Fishing Tip for September 02
Tip of the Week
Be alert and courteous to the boats around you! When boats are fishing close together and one boat hooks a big spring, well that fish is going to make a big run (usually straight back). You should always move away from the boat that’s fighting a fish or get your gear up and away from the fish. You’ll appreciate it when you’ve hooked that slab and other boats keep out of your way.

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Fishing Tip for August 19
Tip of the Week
Set your drag – properly! The best way to set your drag is with an accurate measuring scale, the same type that you use to weigh a fish. Your drag should be set to slip at approximately 30% of your line’s breaking strength when pulled directly off of the reel.

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Fishing Tip for August 12
Tip of the Week
Now is the time to use to heavier leaders (40 to 50 lb Test) as the big mature chinooks migrate though local waters. With a lighter leader, your chance of losing a big spring to a weak spot or a nick in the leader is greatly increased. Be sure to check your leader after catching each fish to make sure that it is still in good shape.

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Fishing Tip for August 05
Tip of the Week
If you want to catch big chinooks at this time of year, you need to fish tight to structure. Whether it’s a kelp bed, a reef, or the bottom of a mud flat full of needlefish, you will catch more big springs by fishing as close to the structure as possible.

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Fishing Tip for July 29
Tip of the Week
Right now, wise salmon anglers are mixing their gear for best results. If you are fishing more then one rod, then you should have spring salmon gear on one side of the boat and pink salmon gear out on the other side. That way, you are targeting two separate species and stand your best chance of catching whichever one shows up next.

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Fishing Tip for July 22
Tip of the Week
Think Pink! The Pink Salmon are starting to show up and most anglers can’t wait to cash in on this bonanza. The most popular way to catch the pinks is to troll in the top 20 -50 feet of water with small pink or orange hootchies on 2 to 3 foot leaders behind revolving flashers.

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Fishing Tip for July 15
Tip of the Week
Identify your salmon! Wild Coho, Sockeye and Chum salmon look very similar to an inexperienced angler, but only one (Chum) is legal to retain. And at this time of year you are much more apt to catch wild coho and sockeye than a chum in local waters. Pink salmon look similar to chinooks, but fortunately, both of these can be kept for the table. Be sure of what you’ve caught and refer to the fish identification pages of your tidal water Sport Fishing Guide if you have any questions.

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Fishing Tip for July 08
Tip of the Week
After you catch a fish, always, always, always check your leader for tooth marks or scratches. It’s amazing how you always seem to hook and lose that big monster of a fish to a broken leader. The leader probably wouldn’t have broken if you had noticed the small scratches left on it from a battle with a previous fish.

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Fishing Tip for July 01
Tip of the Week
Catching too many dogfish? Try increasing your trolling speed to just a little bit faster than normal, to cut down on the number of hook ups. Be sure to check your baits action, especially if you’re using bait, to make sure that it’s got the correct action at the higher speed.

Fishing Tip for January 28
Tip of the Week
When you’re trout fishing with Powerbait, it pays to try different colors if the action slows down. Trout can be quite color selective and having the right color can trigger a bite. Many anglers will use two contrasting colors, such a red and green, when searching for that hot color.

Fishing Tip for January 21
Tip of the Week
Think pink for steelhead! The winter steelheading is finally picking up the Cowichan and other rivers. And the most successful color to fish on the island is pink. Whether it’s a worm, yarn, or spin ‘n glos, think pink when you tie on your lure.

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Fishing Tip for January 14
Tip of the Week
Check you halibut gear! The season is closed for the rest of the month so it’s the perfect time to inspect your rods, reels, line and lures and get ready for the coming season opening. Replace worn rod guides, frayed lines, fix and/or oil up the reels and replace any leaders with nicks or scratches. And don’t forget sharpening those hooks!

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Fishing Tip for January 07
Tip of the Week
Try fishing a fly rod for winter springs to put more fun into your fishing. Just load up a fly reel with some monofilament line, put it on the rod and fish it off your downrigger like you do your heavier gear. You’ll have a lot of fun, as the winter springs will feel just like those 30+ pound fish you catch in the summer.

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Fishing Tip for January 01
Tip of the Week
Buy Two! Murphy’s Law dictates that if you have a hot lure, you’re sure to loose it, and if you don’t have a back up you’re out of luck. So next time you pick up the newest hot lure or fly, consider buying two.

Fishing Tip for December 17
Tip of the Week
Use the Net! No not the one in your boat, but the one that’s hooked up to your computer! There are now lots of good web sites that will give you up to date info on your favorite fishing hole or direct you to a new potential honey hole. Also, you can find out about the latest improvements in tackle and techniques. In fact you can visit ours at www.fishingvictoria.com to keep up on the latest news in our area. Christmas is coming and the smart angler will make sure that they have filled out their “wish list” at Island Outfitters. Help make it easy for others who want to get you fishing or hunting gift at this time of year!

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Fishing Tip for December 03
Tip of the Week
After you catch a fish, always, always, always, check your leader for tooth marks or scratches. It’s amazing how often you seem to hook and lose that big monster of a fish to a broken leader. It probably wouldn’t have happened if you had noticed the small scratches left on the leader during a previous battle with a fish. Christmas is coming and the smart angler will make sure that they have filled out their “wish list” at Island Outfitters. Help make it easy for others who want to get you fishing or hunting gift at this time of year! Christmas is coming and the smart angler will make sure that they have filled out their “wish list” at Island Outfitters. Help make it easy for others who want to get you fishing or hunting gift at this time of year!

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Fishing Tip for November 26
Tip of the Week
Gear down for fun! With almost all of the salmon fairly small in size at this time of year, why not bring out you light steelhead or even trout gear and use that for your salmon fishing instead of your heavy summer tackle. A 4 to 6 lb winter spring on an appropriate sized rod will put up a heck of a fight and bring a smile to your face. Christmas is coming and the smart angler will make sure that they have filled out their “wish list” at Island Outfitters. Help make it easy for others who want to get you fishing or hunting gift at this time of year! Christmas is coming and the smart angler will make sure that they have filled out their “wish list” at Island Outfitters. Help make it easy for others who want to get you fishing or hunting gift at this time of year!

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Fishing Tip for November 12
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 lure 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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Fishing Tip for November 05
Tip of the Week
Speed up for winter springs! They are much more active feeders than the summer fish, and by trolling a little faster than you would in the summer you can cover more water and present your lure to more fish. And don’t forget to keep your bait close to the bottom too.

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Fishing Tip for October 22
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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Fishing Tip for October 08
Tip of the Week
Cover water! Most of the time when you hit one Coho, you hit another Coho, and then another. This is because Coho usually travel in schools in search of baitfish. In order to locate some Coho, it is important to continue covering different water and depths until you have found a school. Try spreading your lines all at different depths and try not to get stuck sitting in one spot against the tide.

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Fishing Tip for October 01
Tip of the Week
Protect your rod tip! Many salmon anglers place a large bead on their line before tying on a terminal swivel. The bead prevents the angler from reeling the swivel into the rod tip’s eye and breaking it. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Fishing Tip for September 17
Tip of the Week
Go where the fish are! This time of year the salmon are migrating to the rivers to spawn. If you want to catch the big ones now you should head towards river mouths where the fish stage before heading upstream. And be sure to keep abreast of any fishery notices or closures.

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Fishing Tip for September 04
Tip of the Week
Be alert and courteous to the boats around you! When boats are fishing close together and one boat hooks a big spring, well that fish is going to make a big run (usually straight back). You should always move away from the boat that’s fighting a fish or get your gear up and away from the fish. You’ll appreciate it when you’ve hooked that slab and other boats keep out of your way.

Fishing Tip for August 27
Tip of the Week
It’s in the bag, or is it? Many a nice fish is lost because of anglers not netting the fish properly. When you net a fish, you should always lead the fish into the net headfirst. Because fish don’t swim backwards, any movement by the fish should force it deeper into the net. Don’t try to scoop the fish up from behind if you want to land the big one.

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Fishing Tip for August 20
Tip of the Week
Set your drag – properly! The best way to set your drag is with an accurate measuring scale, the same type that you use to weigh a fish. Your drag should be set to slip at approximately 30% of your line’s breaking strength when pulled directly off of the reel.

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Fishing Tip for August 07
Tip of the Week
If you want to catch big chinooks at this time of year, you need to fish tight to structure. Whether it’s a kelp bed, a reef, or the bottom of a mud flat full of needlefish, you will catch more big springs by fishing as close to the structure as possible.

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Fishing Tip for July 17
Tip of the Week
Take some binoculars fishing! You can use them to see what other successful anglers are using for bait, spot bait ball ups from a distance, or check for changes in the weather conditions by scanning the horizon. Or you can just enjoy the views or nature and make your day of fishing more enjoyable!

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Fishing Tip for July 03
Tip of the Week
After you catch a fish, always, always, always check your leader for tooth marks or scratches. It’s amazing how you always seem to hook and lose that big monster of a fish to a broken leader. The leader probably wouldn’t have broken if you had noticed the small scratches left on it from a battle with a previous fish.

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Fishing Tip for June 19
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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Fishing Tip for June 12
Tip of the Week
Check your lines, frequently! When trolling for salmon, you should never leave a line down more than 20 to 30 minutes without checking to see if your bait is still working properly. Quite often a fish will strike it without getting hooked and ruin the bait, or you will get some weed on the bait, or maybe even have a small fish on that you don’t even know about. Only by checking your line can you know if you’re still fishing.

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Fishing Tip for January 30
Tip of the Week
Spruce up your teaser heads! As well as the usual artificial eyes on the market, you can now get Fish Scale Kits made by Rhys Davis for customizing all teaser lures. You can add new scale finishes to old teaser heads or replace the battered and tooth marked ones from newer teaser heads. These scales can be used on any make of teaser head and you can even change the shape to your own custom design. In fact, the fish scales can be added on to almost any type of lure, your imagination being the only limiting factor!

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Fishing Tip for January 23
Tip of the Week
Check you halibut gear! The season is closed for the rest of the month so it’s the perfect time to inspect your rods, reels, line and lures and get ready for the coming season opening. Replace worn rod guides, frayed lines, fix and/or oil up the reels and replace any leaders with nicks or scratches. And don’t forget sharpening those hooks!

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Fishing Tip for January 16
Tip of the Week
Try fishing a fly rod for winter springs to bring more fun into your fishing. Just load up a fly reel with some monofilament line, put it on the rod and fish it off your downrigger like you do your heavier gear. You’ll have a lot of fun, as the winter springs will feel just like those 30+ pound fish you catch in the summer.

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Fishing Tip for January 09
Tip of the Week
Try fishing a fly rod for winter springs to bring more fun into your fishing. Just load up a fly reel with some monofilament line, put it on the rod and fish it off your downrigger like you do your heavier gear. You’ll have a lot of fun, as the winter springs will feel just like those 30+ pound fish you catch in the summer.

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Fishing Tip for January 02
Tip of the Week
When fishing for salmon, follow the bait. Schools of needlefish and herring are often pushed around by the action of tides, especially on flats, and it pays to locate and then stay with the bait. Once you’re on the bait, it’s only a matter of time before the salmon show up.

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Fishing Tip for December 26
Tip of the Week
What’s your Line? Is it strong and kink free or is it weakened from hard fishing? If its monofilament, it’s a good habit to regularly check the first 20 to 30 feet of line for kinks, nicks, and scratches. Cutting off the weakened section can reduce the chances of losing that big one to a broken line.

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Fishing Tip for December 19
Tip of the Week
Want to fish your favorite river, but don’t know what the conditions are like? Get on your computer and go to http://scitech.pyr.ec.gc.ca/waterweb/formnav.asp?lang=0 for real time water conditions on most major river systems in B.C. or the Yukon. You’ll find real time information on water level, volume, temperatures, and more, before you leave home. Christmas is coming and the smart angler will make sure that they have filled out their “wish list” at Island Outfitters. Help make it easy for others who want to get you fishing or hunting gift at this time of year!

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Fishing Tip for December 12
Tip of the Week
Think pink for steelhead! The first runs of winter steelhead are now starting up the Cowichan, the Stamp and other rivers. And the most successful color to use on the island is pink. Whether it’s a worm, yarn, or spin ‘n glos, think pink when you tie on your lure. Christmas is coming and the smart angler will make sure that they have filled out their “wish list” at Island Outfitters. Help make it easy for others who want to get you fishing or hunting gift at this time of year!

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Fishing Tip for November 28
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 lure 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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Fishing Tip for November 14
Tip of the Week
Now that the winter springs are here, why not maximize your fishing enjoyment by matching your gear to the size of the fish. Put away your heavy salmon tackle that you use for those 20 lb plus salmon and use trout or steelhead rods for fishing the 6 – 10 lb winter springs. When fished off of a downrigger, you’ll catch just as many fish and have a ball doing it!

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Fishing Tip for December 26 2005
Tip of the Week
What’s your Line? Is it strong and kink free or is it weakened from hard fishing? If its monofilament, it’s a good habit to regularly check the first 20 to 30 feet of line for kinks, nicks, and scratches. Cutting off the weakened section can reduce the chances of losing that big one to a broken line.

Fishing Tip for November 07
Tip of the Week
Protect your rod tip! Many salmon anglers place a large bead on their line before tying on a terminal swivel. The bead prevents the angler from reeling the swivel into the rod tip’s eye and breaking it. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Fishing Tip for October 31
Tip of the Week
Don’t break that rod! Lots of anglers fishing for salmon in the rivers do not size their lines or leaders properly for the size of rod they are using. And we see plenty of broken rods as a result! If you want to use heavy line, use a rod built to take the strain. If you wan to use a light rod, use a light leader, which will break before the rod breaks.

Fishing Tip for October 17
Tip of the Week
Cover water! Most of the time when you hit one Coho, you hit another Coho, and then another. This is because Coho usually travel in schools in search of baitfish. In order to locate some Coho, it is important to continue covering different water and depths until you have found a school. Try spreading your lines all at different depths and try not to get stuck sitting in one spot against the tide.

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Fishing Tip for September 19
Tip of the Week
It’s in the bag, or is it? Many a nice fish is lost because of anglers not netting the fish properly. When you net a fish, you should always lead the fish into the net headfirst. Because fish don’t swim backwards, any movement by the fish should force it deeper into the net. Don’t try to scoop the fish up from behind if you want to land the big one.

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Fishing Tip for September 06
Tip of the Week
At this time of the year you have to pay particular attention to fishery openings and closures. It almost seems as if some areas are only open for salmon on a day-to-day basis. What is closed one day may be open the next, and vice versa. So the day before you go fishing, phone federal fisheries or visit their web site to find out what opportunities are available and avoid any unpleasant surprises.

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Fishing Tip for August 29
Tip of the Week
Wired? You don’t have to be. You can replace your downrigger’s wire line with Spectra Fiber line and enjoy some new benefits. It’s quieter, doesn’t rust, tracks deeper in smaller diameters and can be handled with bare hands without getting cut. Also, it won’t cut your line as easily if a fish tangles the line on one of the downriggers. I’ve made the switch, you might too.

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Fishing Tip for August 15
Tip of the Week
Now is the time to use to heavier leaders (40 to 50 lb Test) as the big mature chinooks migrate though local waters. With a lighter leader, your chance of losing a big spring to a weak spot or a nick in the leader is greatly increased. Be sure to check your leader after catching each fish to make sure that it is still in good shape.

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Fishing Tip for August 01
Tip of the Week
If you want to catch big chinooks at this time of year, you need to fish tight to structure. Whether it’s a kelp bed, a reef, or the bottom of a mud flat full of needlefish, you will catch more big springs by fishing as close to the structure as possible.

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Fishing Tip for July 04
Tip of the Week
After you catch a fish, always, always, always check your leader for tooth marks or scratches. It’s amazing how you always seem to hook and lose that big monster of a fish to a broken leader. The leader probably wouldn’t have broken if you had noticed the small scratches left on it from a battle with a previous fish.

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Fishing Tip for April 25
Tip of the Week
Change your line. The start of the season is the best time to replace last season’s old, worn and weakened monofilament lines. Damage from abrasion and exposure to UV rays over the past year limits the life span of your line, and you don’t want to try and land that fish of your dreams with line that is just waiting to break.

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Fishing Tip for March 28
Tip of the Week
All fishing and hunting licenses expire at the end of this month! So be sure to get your new licenses before your next trip outdoors. The new freshwater regulations are out and the new saltwater regulations should be out soon. There are changes in the regulations, so take some time to read and review the regulations before going out and accidentally getting trouble.

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Fishing Tip for February 21
Tip of the Week
You’re never too old to learn, so why stop learning? Seminars by well respected and experienced anglers are a good way to pick up the latest trends in gear and gadgets and learn new tricks. So if you’re going to be at this weekend’s boat show, or any outdoor show, be sure to take in at least one of the seminars.

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Fishing Tip for February 07
Tip of the Week
Bottom fishing for trout is best way to catch trout right now and sinker selection can go a long way towards catching your limit. You’ll always do best with a sinker that is not directly attached to your line. Thread the line through a barrel sinker, attach it to a Crane swivel and tie the leader to the other end of the swivel to make a sliding weight system. That way, the fish can take the bait and run with it without feeling the weight.

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Fishing Tip for January 24
Tip of the Week
When fishing for trout with Power Bait use a small hook. You want to make sure the hook is completely covered by the bait, so that the trout will not feel anything unnatural when they gently mouth the bait.

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Fishing Tip for January 10
Tip of the Week
Most savvy salmon seekers attach Gagnon or heavy cod line to the end of their downrigger lines before attaching their weights. This softer line better withstands the bottom bouncing that fishing for winter springs entails. If you prefer not to make your own, you can get commercially made Downrigger Snubbers that are designed to withstand the same abuse of bouncing on the bottom.

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Fishing Tip for December 28

Use the Net! No not the one in your boat, but the one that’s hooked up to your computer! There are now lots of good web sites that will give you up to date info on your favorite fishing hole or direct you to a new potential honey hole. Also, you can find out about the latest improvements in tackle and techniques. In fact you can visit ours at www.fishingvictoria.com to get on the latest news in our area.

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Fishing Tip for December 20

Most anglers troll a lot of plastic gear (hootchies or squirts) this time of year. Color and leader length are the keys when trolling these lures. First, make sure that the leader is short enough to provide good action to the lure, and second, make sure that you are using the right color or color pattern. If you are not having any action with one pattern, start switching colors until you find the one that the salmon want. Christmas is coming and the smart angler will make sure that they have filled out their “wish list” at Island Outfitters. Help make it easy for others who want to get you a fishing, hunting or outdoor gift at this time of year!

Fishing Tip for December 13

Forget about your flasher if you’re using spoons, anchovies or herring as bait for winter springs. The water clarity is so good in the winter that the fish can spot your bait from much greater distances than in the other times of the year. Besides, it is so much more fun to play a fish without any flasher on the line. Christmas is coming and the smart angler will make sure that they have filled out their “wish list” at Island Outfitters. Help make it easy for others who want to get you a fishing, hunting or outdoor gift at this time of year!

Fishing Tip for November 22

Tip of the Week

Speed up for winter springs!
They are much more active feeders than the summer fish, and by trolling a little faster than you would in the summer you can cover more water and present your lure to more fish. And don’t forget to keep your bait close to the bottom too.

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Fishing Tip for November 08

Now that the winter springs are here, why not maximize your fishing enjoyment by matching your gear to the size of the fish. Put away your heavy salmon tackle that you use for those 20 lb plus salmon and use trout or steelhead rods for fishing the 6 – 10 lb winter springs. When fished off of a downrigger, you’ll catch just as many fish and have a ball doing it!

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Fishing Tip for September 20

It’s in the bag, or is it? Many a nice fish is lost because of anglers not netting the fish properly. When you net a fish, you should always lead the fish into the net headfirst. Because fish don’t swim backwards, any movement by the fish should force it deeper into the net. Don’t try to scoop the fish up from behind if you want to land the big one.

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Fishing Tip for September 13

Go where the fish are! This time of year the salmon are migrating to the rivers to spawn. If you want to catch the big ones now, you should head towards river mouths where the fish stage before heading upstream. And be sure to keep abreast of any fishery notices or closures. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fishing Tip for September 06

Lots of anglers are now targeting hatchery coho as the fish of choice. Be sure to increase your trolling speed, shorten your leaders and fish shallower if you want to get in on the coho action. Coho feed much closer to the surface and like a much faster moving lure than Chinook. And for some real excitement, try trolling bucktail flies right on the surface in the wake of the boat.
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Fishing Tip for August 23

Set your drag – properly! The best way to set your drag is with an accurate measuring scale, the same type that you use to weigh a fish. Your drag should be set to slip at approximately 30% of your line’s breaking strength when pulled directly off of the reel.

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Fishing Tip for August 16

It’s always important to match the size of your bait to the size of the natural bait in the waters that you fish. When salmon fishing with very small minnows or anchovies that don’t fit in a regular teaser head, try using a tiny strip teaser head instead. You’ll be surprised how well you can fish a whole small minnow in the teaser head designed for Tiny Strip.

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Fishing Tip for August 09

Rain, rain, come again. A good summer rain, like we had last week, can really trigger hot action on the rivers. Trout, especially browns, will go on a feeding binge when the rivers start to rise. Also, summer steelhead will become more active while fish holding in estuaries will get the cue to enter the river. So next time it starts to pour, grab the gear and hit the rivers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fishing Tip for August 02

If you want to catch big chinooks at this time of year, you need to fish tight to structure. Whether it’s a kelp bed, a reef, or the bottom of a mud flat full of needlefish, you will catch more big springs by fishing as close to the structure as possible.

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Fishing Tip for July 26

Dogfish eating your bait before the salmon can get to it? You can minimize this problem by increasing your trolling speed. The dogfish have a hard time trying to attack quickly moving bait while the much faster salmon have no trouble at all.

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Fishing Tip for July 05

Sharpen your Hooks. The first tip that any experienced angler will give is to sharpen your hooks. This will always increase the number of bites that become hookups, which in turn become fish landed. It’s an old saw but still true. Sharpen your hooks.

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Fishing Tip for June 07

Not all chinooks are caught deep. This is especially true early in the morning, late in the evening, or during low light conditions. During these periods you should make sure that you have at least one line no deeper than 20 to 30 feet while trolling for big springs.

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Fishing Tip for May 24

Sun glasses! With polarized lens! Don’t go fishing without them. Not only do they make it easier to spot fish and check your gear in the water, they protect your eyes. And don’t for get to use sunscreen as well. It’s not healthy to come home looking like a cooked lobster at the end of the day.

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Fishing Tip for May 17

For many anglers it is the beginning of fishing season and they are about to take their first trip of the year. Before you go on that long anticipated first trip, go over all your gear in detail. Replace last year’s line with new line, get rid off old leaders and replace them with new ones and clean up anything that’s tarnished. It wouldn’t hurt to do an inventory of all your gear and make sure that you have everything that you need before venturing forth. Every year we hear a sad story of someone out for the first time and hooking a monster, only to lose it to worn tackle that they just didn’t bother to replace. Don’t let that be you.

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Fishing Tip for May 10

Big jigs are a very effective way to catch halibut as most anglers know. You can now improve your jigs by adding Berkeley 8” Power Grubs to your jigs. The large size and scent of this Powerbait should increase your hookups on the big flatfish.

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Fishing Tip for May 03

Many nice salmon are lost each season by anglers ripping the hooks right out of the fish’s mouth. This is especially true of anglers who insist on “setting the hooks” on a salmon that has tripped the line from the release on the downrigger. When you fish off of a downrigger, the fish hooks itself while pulling the line from the release and by “setting the hooks” you only increase your chances of having the big one get away.

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Fishing Tip for April 26

When fishing for halibut, you should always add lots scent to your bait or lure. Halibut are definitely more attracted to a bait or lure that has X- 10, Bait Oil, Butt Juice, or even a homemade scent additive, than to unscented bait. Some anglers even go so far as to put artificial scent on rags tied to rocks and then drop them around their anchored boat to help attract halibut

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Fishing Tip for April 19

It’s transition time again for chinook anglers. While there are still deep running winter fish around, returning migatory springs are also starting to show up. These fish are found much higher in the water column, and anglers who want to catch them should keep at least one line off of the bottom and at middle water depths.

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Fishing Tip for April 12

Change your line. The start of the season is the best time to replace last season’s old, worn and weakened monofilament lines. Damage from abrasion and exposure to UV rays over the past year limits the life span of your line, and you don’t want to try and land that fish of your dreams with line that is just waiting to break.

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Fishing Tip
Keep your rod tip low to the water if you want to increase the number of hook ups. By having the rod tip low, you increase the length of the stroke when you strike to set the hook. This helps in removing any slack in the line and gives a positive hook set.

FISH TIP

Buy Two! Murphy’s Law dictates that if you have a hot lure, you’re sure to loose it, and if you don’t have a back up you’re out of luck. So next time you pick up the newest hot lure or fly, consider buying two.
14/01/2004

FISH TIP

The jig is up! That’s right; jigs are again this year’s hot steelhead lure on Vancouver Island. Hot pink has been the favorite color, although orange and reds or a combination of colors will also work. Most steelheaders are fishing the jigs below a drift bobber, rather than bottom bouncing. So if you want the latest, get a jig.
30/12/2003

FISH TIP

Protect your rod tip. Many salmon anglers place a large bead on their line before tying on a terminal swivel. The bead prevents the angler from reeling the swivel into the rod tip’s eye and breaking it. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
01/12/2003

FISH TIP

Try fishing a fly rod for winter springs to bring more fun into your fishing. Just load up a fly reel with some monofilament line, put it on the rod and fish it off your downrigger like you do your heavier gear. You’ll have a lot of fun, as the winter springs will feel just like those 30+ pound fish you catch in the summer.
24/11/2003

Fish Tip

Now that the winter springs are here, why not maximize your fishing enjoyment by matching your gear to the size of the fish. Put away your heavy salmon tackle that you use for those 20 lb plus salmon and use trout or steelhead rods for fishing the 6 – 10 lb winter springs. When fished off of a downrigger, you’ll catch just as many fish and have a ball doing it

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Fishing Tip for June 05
Tip of the Week
Not all chinooks are caught deep. This is especially true early in the morning, late in the evening, or during low light conditions. During these periods you should make sure that you have at least one line no deeper than 20 to 30 feet while trolling for big springs.

report, please email us at info@fishingvictoria.com.

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Fishing Tip for May 29
Tip of the Week
Change your line. The start of the season is the best time to replace last season’s old, worn and weakened monofilament lines. Damage from abrasion and exposure to UV rays over the past year limits the life span of your line, and you don’t want to try and land that fish of your dreams with line that is just waiting to break.

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Fishing Tip for May 22
Tip of the Week
When fishing top water plugs for bass and that monster comes up and smashes the surface going after lure, WAIT until you feel the pull of the fish on the line before setting the hook. Quite often the fish will miss the lure on the strike and it will come back to hit it again if you haven’t pulled it away.

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Fishing Tip for May 15
Tip of the Week
When fishing for trout with Power Bait, always make sure the hook is completely covered by the bait. You don’t want the trout to feel any metal when they gently mouth the bait. And don’t use too heavy a weight as to alarm the fish when it picks up the bait.

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Fishing Tip for April 24
Tip of the Week
Its transition time again for Chinook anglers. While there are still deep running winter fish around, returning migratory springs are also starting to show up. These fish are found much higher in the water column, and anglers who want to catch them should keep at least one line off of the bottom and at middle water depths.

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Fishing Tip for April 17
Tip of the Week
Sharpen your Hooks. The first tip that any experienced angler will give you is to sharpen your hooks. This will always increase the number of bites that become hookups, which in turn become fish landed. If you’re fishing the big money derby this weekend, the last thing you want is to miss hookups. Sharpen your hooks and good luck in The 10th Annual Just for the Halibut Derby.

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Fishing Tip for April 10
Tip of the Week
When fishing for halibut, you should always add lots scent to your bait or lure. Halibut are definitely more attracted to a bait or lure that has X- 10, Bait Oil, Butt Juice, or even a homemade scent additive, than to unscented bait. Some anglers even go so far as to put artificial scent on rags tied to rocks and then drop them around their anchored boat to help attract halibut.

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Fishing Tip for April 03
Tip of the Week
Double up for halibut! When you bait up a herring for halibut, add a small piece of octopus to the trailing hook. That way, if a halibut steals your herring, you can leave the bait down and get the fish when it comes back for the octopus a few minutes later.

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Fishing Tip for March 20
Tip of the Week
All fishing and hunting licenses expire at the end of this month! So be sure to get your new licenses before your next trip outdoors. The new freshwater regulations are out and the new saltwater regulations should be out soon. There are changes in the regulations, so take some time to read and review the regulations before going out and accidentally getting trouble.

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Fishing Tip for March 06
Tip of the Week
Low clear water in the winter can make steelheading tough. To get fish under these conditions you have to fish much smaller and lighter gear than you normally would at this time of year. Try 6 or 8 LB leaders with single eggs or size 14 Spin n Glo’s to entice the steelhead into striking.

Fishing Tip for February 27
Tip of the Week
Maintain, service, and repair your gear. These stormy winter days are the perfect time to get into your tackle box, organize it again, get rid of the old or bad lures, take stock of what’s missing, buy or replace what’s needed, change the line on the reels, service the reels, and replace worn or missing guides on your rods. So take advantage of this time and get a head start on the coming year.

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Fishing Tip for February 20
Tip of the Week
Herring are staging for their annual spawning run into Victoria Harbour and up through the Gorge. Try and locate the schools of big herring and then fish large baits, plugs or hootchies near them if you want to catch the big winter springs.

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Fishing Tip for February 13
Tip of the Week
Join a fishing club. It’s a great way to meet other anglers and learn about new techniques to improve your skills. More importantly, it’s an effective way to get input and representation into the decision-making by our federal and provincial governments.