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Best
Fishes
Larry Quigley
Here is the local Fishing reports
from our friends at Island
Outfitters
Reported by: Tom Vaida
Salt Water Fishing for March 23
Overview
Fishing was FAIR overall for winter springs. However, a slot size
restriction has been put in place. Effective March 11th through
May 15th you can only retain spring salmon between 45 to 67 cm
in length when fishing between Cadboro Point and Sheringham Point.
Halibut fishing is FAIR and anglers have been getting fish up
to 75 lbs! There have been changes to both the daily limit and
possession limits for 2008, so be sure you learn the changes before
you go out.
EARLY BIRD TICKET NIGHT for the The 12th Annual Just for the
Halibut Derby will be Tuesday, April 8th at the 6 Mile Pub. Festivities
start at 6 PM. See you there!
Sooke
Salmon fishing was GOOD for winter springs. Most anglers caught
springs, with most of the fish falling within the slot size for
retention. A few boats even had limits of salmon. The best depths
have been from 115 to 150 feet. There are larger fish west of
Sheringham Point for those anglers willing to travel a long distance.
The best plastic baits to try are the Tiger Prawn, Glo Below or
White hootchies or squirts. The best flashers have been the Silver/Green
and the Jellyfish. With spoons try Army Truck, Mongoose or a Green/Glow
color combinations with 4”, Gypsies, Titans and Coyotes. Anchovies
are still catching fish and for teaser heads try Rhys Davis Anchovy
Specials or JDF Teasers in Army Truck or Purple Haze.
HALIBUT Halibut fishing was FAIR and only one “chicken” halibut
was weighed at the marina. Extra Large herring and/or Octopus
are the most popular baits and are usually fished off spreader
bars. However, if the dogfish become a nuisance, you can use Mudraker
or Lucky Jigs or the Glow in the Dark bullet Jigs.
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was QUIET this past week. Most of the salmon have
been small and within the legal retention size. They are being
caught from Whirl Bay to the Bedford Islands. The fish have been
close to the bottom in 160 or more of water. Very few fish were
coming from the inside of Frazer Island between the island and
the Flag Pole. Anchovy and herring are the popular baits these
days for winter springs. Purple Haze gear (flashers, teaser heads,
squirts and hootchies) has been producing well recently and would
be a good bet. If you fish spoons, try Mongoose or Green/Glow
color patterns. In plastic baits, Purple Haze and White hootchies
have been effective. The Cricket squirt has also been good. The
most productive flasher was the Purple Haze.
Pedder Bay
Salmon fishing was FAIR this past weekend. Most of the action
was coming from Pedder Bay, where anglers were getting springs
near the Can Buoy. Most of the fish were small around 5 to 6 lbs,
and within the legal size range for retention. However, we did
hear of large fish in the high teens being caught and released
near Whirl Bay. Anglers trolling bait should use small to medium
anchovy or herring in Purple Haze or Glow teaser heads. The best
flashers have been the Purple Haze and the Jellyfish. If you prefer
to fish artificial bait, give Mongoose, Green/Glow or Army Truck
4” or 5” Coyote, Gypsies or Titan spoons a try. For plastic baits,
Cricket, Purple Haze or White hootchies and squirts are good for
springs.
HALIBUT Halibut fishing was SLOWER this past weekend. That said,
a 55 lb halibut was weighed in by Gary Ivie at the marina. Extra
Large herring and/or Octopus are the most popular baits and are
usually fished off spreader bars. However, if the dogfish become
a nuisance, you can use Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or the Glow in
the Dark bullet Jigs.
Victoria Waterfront
Fishing was VERY GOOD this past week. Both Constance and the Waterfront
produced fish. At Constance Bank, anglers reported that the salmon
were close to the bottom and that the seals were still a problem.
Many of the fish there were within the slot size for retention.
Closer in, Albert Head, and Esquimalt were the hot spots. Again
the fish were close to the bottom feeding on small herring. Ed
Beatty and Guy Dean caught their limit of springs between 4 to
8 lbs this past Saturday by carefully fishing between the many
crab traps at 130-180 ft. Good flashers have been the Red/Glow
and the Purple/Glow Hot Spots and Oki’s. Plastic baits such as
Cricket, Tiger Prawn or Purple Haze squirts fished behind White
Glow or Purple Haze flashers have been catching fish too, especially
if the fish are deep. Spoons have been very effective at times
and the Cop Car, Salmon Cruiser, Kitchen Sink and Mongoose patterns
have been the best. There have also been reports of herring being
caught in the Gorge on the ebb tides.
HALIBUT Constance Bank was FAIR for halibut this past weekend.
A couple of boats got limits but nothing over 57 lbs in size.
Extra Large herring and/or Octopus are the most popular baits
and are usually fished off spreader bars. However, if the dogfish
become a nuisance, you can use Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or the Glow
in the Dark bullet Jigs.
Oak Bay
Fishing was FAIR this past week. The best depths to fish have
been from 100 to 150 feet and you should fish close to bottom
around the ledges and reefs. Sean Kapralek went to the north side
of Cadboro Point and trolled up a 12 spring on a Purple Haze hootchy
at 110 feet. If you use bait, try small anchovies in Glow teaser
heads. Also effective are squirts in Tiger Prawn J-79, Cricket
or Purple Haze colors. Smaller Spoons such as 3.5” or 4” Watermelon
and Cop Car Coyote spoons are always a favorite in Oak Bay at
this time of year.
HALIBUT Halibut fishing was QUIET with halibut only one weighed
in at the marina. Extra Large herring and/or Octopus are the most
popular baits and are usually fished off spreader bars. However,
if the dogfish become a nuisance, you can use Mudraker or Lucky
Jigs or the Glow in the Dark bullet Jigs.
Sidney
Fishing was FAIR near Sidney. It seemed that there were salmon
in most locations and some of them were of decent size. Steve
Dvorsky landed a 14½ lb spring near Moresby Island. Bob
Haney caught a 9lb spring in the Sidney Channel. We also heard
of an 8 lb spring from Coal Island. Your best bet would be to
troll within 20 feet of the bottom with Anchovy or squirts such
as the Cricket, Tiger Prawn or Jellyfish.
Notable Catches
A 55 lb halibut was weighed in by Gary Ivie at the Pedder Bay
Marina Ed Beatty and Guy Dean caught their limit of springs between
4 to 8 lbs this past Saturday by carefully fishing between the
many crab traps at 130-180 ft near Albert Head. Sean Kapralek
went to the north side of Cadboro Point and trolled up a 12 spring
on a Purple Haze hootchy at 110 feet. Steve Dvorsky landed a 14½
lb spring near Moresby Island. Bob Haney caught a 9lb spring in
the Sidney Channel. If you have any fishing info, notable catches
or tips that you would like to share or have included in our fishing
report, please email us at info@fishingvictoria.com.
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Fresh Water Fishing for March 23
Overview
Trout fishing is PICKING UP, bass fishing is SLOW on the local
lakes. Steelheading is SLOW on the Cowichan and SLOW on the Stamp
River. If you have any fishing info or notable catches that you
would like to share or have included in our fishing report, please
email us at info@fishingvictoria.com.
Stamp River
Fishing is still SLOW but there were few around this past week.
Small waves of fish are entering the river a couple of times a
week. The seals don’t seem to be a much as problem right now.
The fish that are being caught are a nice fish that 10-14 lbs.
A few kelts started to show up as well. There is not a lot of
pressure on the river with all of the poor reports and this is
the only reason why guides are getting a few fish.
Cowichan River
Steelhead fishing is SLOW on the river. Water levels are still
low, about 1.1meters. Fish are spread out along the whole length
of the system, most having been in the river for several weeks
and many of the fish are paired up on their redds. A few fresh
fish have entered the river recently, some of which are fin clipped.
Recently the fish had been hitting small baits in orange, pink
or red colors. Other good lures to use on the Cowichan are Jensen
Eggs, Gooey Bobs. Spin n Glos and Pink Worms. Fly anglers are
finding the low water conditions very conducive for good fly fishing
for both trout and steelhead.
Local Lakes
Trout fishing is PICKING UP on most lakes in the south island.
The water temperature is slowly warming and the fish are more
active. Anglers fishing Powerbait from shore have consistently
been catching some nice rainbows. Pink Powerbait Eggs with Shrimp
scent has been the hot bait recently. Elk Lake has been fair for
2 to 3 lb rainbows. Some fly anglers are reporting good success
with chironomids. Other fly anglers are fishing with the old standbys:
Micro-Leeches, Wooly Buggers, Careys and Doc Spratleys, but mayfly
and caddis nymph patterns such as Pheasant Tails, Halfbacks and
Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears are also good to try. Gear fishermen have
been doing well trolling Luhr Jensen Needlefish spoons in a variety
of colours or Tomic Wee-Tads in frog or rainbow patterns. Flatfish
and/or Kwikfish have also been effective in sizes 7 and smaller
in Frog, Yellow with Red Spots or Blue/Silver. Smaller Rapalas
in Rainbow Trout or Brown Trout also work well, as long as they
get down deep enough. Also, Willow Leaf Lake trolls with a worm-tipped
GIBBS Wedding Band will almost always catch some fish. By the
way, all wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released
at Cowichan Lake.
The Vancouver Island Hatchery reports that they are gearing up
for another season of lake stocking, starting up on the last week
of March. They have a great crop of Fraser Valley Rainbow Catchables
that they will be putting into Island Lakes within the next few
weeks. The catchables they are stocking will be a little larger
this year than previous years. This year they will be stocking
59,000 Catchable Rainbows in the spring as well as 36,000 Taylor
Cutthroat, 14,600 Blackwater AF3N Rainbows and 12,600 Pennask
AF3N. Some new lakes that will be stocked with catchables will
be Kemp, Matheson, Prior and Michael Lakes. Lakes releases will
be from Victoria to Port hardy and include the Forbidden Plateau
Lakes. In the fall they will be putting another 63,500 Catchables
into local area lakes. On the schedule for March 12th are Shawnigan
and Somenos Lakes, for March 17th Chemainus, Fuller, Mayo, Long
and Green Lakes, and on the 18th, Westwood, Spider, and Colliery
Lakes 1, 2 and 3.
Bass Fishing
Bass fishing has been SLOW. They are still in deep water now.
Suspending Rapalas (X-Rap, Husky Jerk) are working with a bit
slower retrieve and a lot of twitching action for the bigger fish.
The larger sized smallmouths are biting near the drop offs in
deeper water. Shawnigan Lake, Prospect Lake and Elk and Beaver
Lakes are the best spots for bass on Vancouver Island. St, Mary’s
Lake on Saltspring Island would be another good spot to try.
Notable Catches
If you have any fishing info, notable catches or tips that you
would like to share or have included in our fishing report, please
email us at info@fishingvictoria.com.
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Fishing Tip for March 23
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 02
Tip of the Week
When you’re jigging herring and you feel one on the line don’t
immediately land the fish. The struggling action of a herring
on a jig will attract other herring to the other jigs, causing
multiple hookups and more herring landed.
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Fishing Tip for February 24
Tip of the Week
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.
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Fishing Tip for February 17
Tip of the Week
The number one tip to catching fish is to go fishing! You can’t
catch them at home sitting in front of the TV or computer. Even
in poor weather or adverse conditions, you can catch fish if you
use the right techniques. Sometimes you might have to target a
different species, but there will be fishing opportunities available.
You’ve just got to go put in the time and the effort, and if you
do, you’ll be rewarded.
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Fishing Tip for February 04
Tip of the Week
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.
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Fishing Tip for January 27
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.
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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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