Fishing Reports for August 19
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has estimated “Excellent” prospects for Chinook in Marine Area 1 during the month of August.
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
Prime time fishing has arrived in Westport but so has the wind and weather. Salmon fishing has slowed a bit due to the continual
passing of weather fronts through the area. Fishing is still good but we are having to search more and work to get our fish. Chinook are still out in the deep water and deep in the water column but are not as schooled up as last week. Fish are running in the low to mid teens with an occasional big fish in the mix. I am around the docks pretty much every day and the vast majority of the fish are in the size range. Coho have still not shown in the numbers we expect this time of year but they are coming in waves.
Unfortunately it looks like we have some very strong winds rolling in this week which will keep us at the docks but, Salmon fishing should still be strong through the end of August. Silver Horde Purple Haze Hoochies and Cookies and Cream spoons and what the are hitting. Bait fishing is really slow in the deep water but working really well on the beach
Tuna fishing is still good with most fish showing in the 32 to 38 mile range from Westport. Do not let the warm water fool you the key right now is finding the clear blue water. Trolling has not been real productive but once you hook a troll fish get your live bait in the water quick and keep the tuna at the boat. Cedar plugs and XRap diving plugs are working best for us right now.
The next big event i
n Westport is Salmon Tales which is held the last weekend in September. This celebrates the history of salmon fishing in Westport. Come join us for the Smoked Salmon contest, fishing seminars, Great food and other cool stuff.
Have Fun be safe and we will see you in Westport!
Marina Area 3 (LaPush and Forks)
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has estimated “Good” prospects for Chinook and Coho in Marine Area 3 during the month of August.
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)
no report this week
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu)
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has estimated “Excellent” prospects for Pinks in Marine Area 5 during the month of August.
Marine Area 6
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has estimated “Excellent” prospects for Pinks, and Sockeye in Marine Area 6 during the month of August.
Marine Area 7
This Chinook came flying out of the water three times before we were able to collar it in a crowd of boats. We had the bellies off the fillets for dinner that evening. Marinate in Teriyaki sauce for an hour, then throw on the BBQ in a tin foil boat with the marinade. Keep checking them, it doesn’t take long. Save the collars, too…it’s like eating a stick of butter that’s good for you.
Salmon fishing has picked up in Marine Area 7 recently. More Chinook have moved in, as well as Coho. And, of course, massive schools of Pinks continue to infest the Islands. Hootchies 36” behind a 11” flasher have been the hot King set up for us. Any color as long as it’s green.
Submitted by Kevin Klein, Fidalgo-SanJuan Islands Chapter PSA, CCA Northsound. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also submitted by Kevin.
Marine Area 8.1
no report this week
Marine Area 8.2
no report this week
Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)
“Finally!” – I thought to myself as the Coho reports started trickling in this week. Lagoon Point to Bush had some great action. Deep water of 250 plus/tide rips/90 feet on the rigger and Coho Killers 28 inches behind the flasher. These Dancing Darters will be putting on weight daily while slowing making their way into the inner Sound. Remember to keep the speed up and try dipping your rod tip in the water if they take to the skies.
See you on the water !
Report submitted by Nelson “Spud” Goodsell (IGFA Lifetime Member; President, Salmon for Soldiers 2015; FISHTALE 2)
Marine Area 10
Marine Area 11
The Chinook salmon fishing has been slow overall with the exception of the Gig Harbor shoreline where the fishermen trolling flasher and artificial squid have been fairly successful. Also the Girl Scout Camp area is producing some Chinook as well.
The Pink fishing is not as good as I expected it to be but the fishermen that are targeting these fish have found some in the usual places like Browns Pt. to Redondo and Neil Pt. near Quartermaster Harbor.
The crabbing is slow with a few legal crab being caught amongst lots of female and small male crabs.
Point Defiance Marina, For more information contact: Art Tachell, Boathouse Marina Technician, 253.591.5325 art@tacomaparks.com www.pointdefiancemarina.com
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal)
no report this week
Marine Area 13
no report this week
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
We have had no wild fires close to the Potholes yet. We have been sharing wildfire smoke from fires far away. The temperatures have been mild running in the mid 80s. If there is wind is normally comes on mid morning and who knows how long it may last. This past weekend we had our oldest son Scot and his family come over. The granddaughters wanted to play on water toys before going fishing. Finally we ran into the dunes area to a familiar beach where we could fish and the kids could do some swimming. A fun time for all.
Sunday we tried for some perch and found some off the dam face and outside a rock outcropping mid dam. Some of my neighbors are getting out early, like day break and doing well for perch or walleye off the front of the dunes. We did pick the first watermelon from our garden and sent our kids heading home to the west side. A major traffic jam on I 90 West so a detour they took thru Yakima with the return trip taking almost 6 hours.
Report submitted by Tom Pollack
British Columbia
Vancouver
no report this week
Vancouver Island (Saltwater)
no report this week
Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound
no report this week
Bamfield
As we would expect for this time of the year Salmon fishing has been great out on the banks and inside Barkley Sound as well. All of the offshore areas are producing nice Chinook in the 15-25 pound range, with the odd 30+ and lots of smaller fish as well. Coho are there on most days and the pinks are starting to drop off a bit. Fishing on the inside has been consistent with lots of Chinook under the 77cm limit that can be retained as well as a good number over 77cm that must be released. Coho are quite abundant most days. Halibut fishing is good as well as rockfish and a few lingcod on the banks.
For more info call Ken Bodaly at Rocky Point Charters, Bamfield, B.C. 250-728-3678 or the boat cell phone 250-735-4224 www.rockypointcharters.ca email rockypointcharters@shaw.ca
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT in East Sooke. There are still lots of pink salmon but not as many as last week. The pinks are spread throughout the entire area so you don’t have to search very far to find them. The best fishing has been on the flood tide in the tide rips and tide lines. The spring salmon fishing has really picked up. The Trap shack area was especially good to anglers on over the week. The best fishing there has been in tight to shore in 100 feet of water or less and between 40 – 70 feet on the downrigger but a big spring could show up anywhere or at anytime. Most springs were running from 10 to 25 lbs in size with the occasional 30 lber being caught. Anchovies were the most productive bait for the springs and No Bananas and Halloween Candy were productive teaser heads. However, spoons and plastic baits have been popular due to anglers switching to artificial baits because of the amount of bait needed to weed through all of the pinks! The Glow/Green Stripe hootchy has been effective for springs this past week. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in the Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were effective. For flashers, the Lemon Lime, Super Betsey and the Purple Onion have been good.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Oak Bay
Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. There were lots of springs caught but it was spotty at times.. Most salmon caught were when fishing lures right on the bottom (60-110 ft) on the Flats and by the Gap. The fish were hitting needlefish spoon and squirts. Anglers also caught fish jigging right on the bottom. G-force and Skinny G spoons in No Bananas and Outfitter colours worked just fine. Coho Killers in Gold Nugget and Green Splatterback have been pretty productive too. The best flasher have been the Gibbs Lemon Lime and the Bon Chovy.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend out in Haro Strait and off Discovery Island. Anglers that have been fishing are using mackerel, extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Pedder Bay
Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT this week. Limits of pink salmon, some nice springs, a few hatchery coho and some catch and release wild coho and sockeyes were reported by Pedder Bay Marina. There were lots of springs in the area, especially in the bay, it was good in shallow water between the Deep Hole and the blasting sign near Race Passage and over towards William Head. Springs as large as 30+ lbs were caught but most springs were in the teens and low twenties. Rob Alcock picked up a nice 30+ lb spring on a Gibbs/Delta Skinny G spoon this past week. All of the pink salmon has kept the rental boat fleet very busy and there are usually waits at peak times. It’s a great place to take the family for lots of action. Anglers jigging in the bay were also catching springs using the 8 oz and 6 oz Gibbs/Delta Jumbo Anchovy jigging lure. Anchovy was the most productive bait when trolling for springs with Glow Green and Bloody Nose being top choices in teaser heads Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in the Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were effective Flashers that remain popular include Super Betsey, Lemon-Lime and Purple Onion.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. Anglers that were fishing were using mackerel, extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sidney
Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT near Sidney. The pink salmon have been close to Pender Bluffs and most boats are getting limits there.. The springs are also showing up there in good numbers and they have been hitting Electric Chair hootchies trolled between 50 – 60 feet on the downrigger. first Many anglers are fishing using anchovies in Bloody Nose and UV Green teaser heads. Squirts have been out-producing hootchies and the hot patterns for springs now are Orange/Black/White, Purple Haze and Electric Chair. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and Gold Nugget.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sooke
The salmon fishing was EXCELLENT this past week. The pink salmon are still here and most Sooke anglers targeting them have reported limit catches, even though there were fewer of them this past week. The springs were more abundant than in previous weeks and good catches came form all areas, with many boats getting limits. Most of the springs were weighing between 10 to 20 lbs, but there were lots in the twenties and some in the 30+ size. The bigger springs are being caught in the 35 – 60 ft depths. Some hatchery coho and sockeye are also being found in the mix. Sockeye and wild coho still have o be released. Anchovies are the number one choice of bait for Sooke anglers. Teaser heads that have been performing well with anchovies and herring are Chartreuse, Green Glow Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. G-Force spoons in Irish Cream and No Bananas have been catching their fair number of fish. Coho Killers have been quite effective in catching pinks. A few sockeye have been caught but they are closed for retention. The most popular flashers recently have been the Ok’i Betsey, the Gibbs Outfitter and the Jellyfish UV.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Ucuelet
Fishing has been consistent at Big Bank, South Bank, Southwest Corner and Long Beach bank the past couple weeks for Chinook mostly in the 10-20lb range. The average size seems to be a bit bigger around South Bank some days, though Big Bank has had a few good days for decent size fish as well. Southwest Corner hasn’t had fast action but has been consistent. Lighthouse Bank has had good days and great days. Glow hutchies are working everywhere better than normal and especially at Lighthouse Bank. Small 3 inch Silver Horde spoons seem to be working better on South Bank.
Halibut are being caught at Big Bank, the Wreck, and in few spots on Amphitrite bank. We are mostly anchoring up for them and fishing salmon heads or power bait.
Submitted by Sam Vandervalk of Salmon Eye Charters (1-877-777-4344). Salmon Eye is recommended by USA Today, Cruise America and New York Times bestselling author Peter Greenberg in his book The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to the Greatest Experiences Around the World.
Victoria
Fishing for springs was EXCELLENT, both at Constance Bank and along the waterfront. It was easily the best week of the summer and lots of springs were caught by anglers. The springs were virtually everywhere from Harling Point to Esquimalt, depending on the tide, There were some pink salmon mixed in with the along the waterfront. Out at Constance Bank there were lots of pinks. Salmon were being caught both by trolling and jigging at the bank with the jiggers having an easier time of not hooking pinks. Most of the springs were in the teens and twenties but there were a couple over 30 lbs landed. Ryan McGinn brought a spring that he caught into the store that weighed 30.1 lbs and was caught off Macauley Point on anchovy. Anchovies, spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and pink squirts. Gibbs Coho Killers, Sitka needlefish and Coyote spoons in green, moon glow and silver colours have been very effective. The Lemon Lime flasher has been very effective recently. The Glow Green Splatter Back Coho Killer has been a very effective out on the bank.
The Clover Point Anglers Association held their 21st Annual Salmon derby this past weekend. First place went to Paul Wardell for a 22 lb 14 oz spring caught on anchovy close to Clover Point Sunday morning. His father, Mike Wardell, came in second with a 16 1/2 lb spring also caught Sunday morning. The pair caught two other nice springs that morning to get their daily limit. Third place went to Dave Bury for a 16 lb spring caught jigging in 30 feet of water near Harling Point.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend. Anglers report that the dogfish were less of a problem this past week. Most anglers that were fishing were using mackerel, extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Cowichan River
All rivers on Vancouver Island in Region 1 are now closed until further notice with the exception of the Campbell/Quinsam Rivers and the Qualicum River. To see a description and a map of the areas covered by the stream and river angling closures visit: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/regulations/#anglingclosure
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Lakes
Fishing is GOOD on most lakes as the water temperatures climb. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake. Bass fishing is EXCELLENT. At this time of year most of the bass are in the shallows. During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well too. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “is also a good choice when fishing drop offs and docks. The most productive colors in 4” Yum baits are Smoke or Pumpkinseed. 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.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Stamp River
All rivers on Vancouver Island in Region 1 are now closed until further notice with the exception of the Campbell/Quinsam Rivers and the Qualicum River. To see a description and a map of the areas covered by the stream and river angling closures visit: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/regulations/#anglingclosure
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Oregon
Tillamook Bay
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) reports that Spring Chinook fishing closed July 31 for transition to the fall season August 1. Expect slow fishing until later in August. Trolling herring or large bladed spinners are the two most popular techniques.
Great Lakes
Lake Michigan
Nickie Stephson hauled in this huge Lake Trout and caught a cooler full of fish.
West wind continues and has pulled the fish into fifty to eighty feet of water. Badger Tackle Reaper or Vulcan spoons getting it done in the regular or magnum size.
How Chinook – The Reaper Fish N Chip Magnum spoons are best when on 6 color Leadcores. Divers set at #1.5 with 90 feet of line out another option.
How Lake Trout – Action for Lakers has been steady. Same presentation as for Chinooks have been best. Over the last week I have taken Lakers 40 to 80 down over 60 to 100 feet of water. Option #2 Copper and Lead cores are also good. Best action has been in 85 feet.
How Coho – Coho have slowed down. One here one there on white flashers and Howie LLB flies.
Rainbow Trout – Vulcan regular Green Dolphin spoons on 4,5 and 6 color lead core best. They have turned on over the last 7 days. You must fish deep to catch this jumping fish in about 110 feet of water.
Where – Fish are north or south of Milwaukee. Fish the complete water column for the best action. Set up in 50 feet and fish out to 110 and back in. Fish the gaps at first light is another option for Brown Trout and a few Chinooks. Our best speed was 1.9 to 2.0 mph measured at the ball with the Depth Raider. The current has been strong watch your speed!
Have a great fishing season.
Report submitted by Jim Hirt. Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com.
