no report this week

Marine Area 10

Marine Area 11

Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal)

Marine Area 13

no report this week

Freshwater – Columbia River (Ringold)

Hot Fishing for “Upriver Brights” (URB’s) on the Hanford Reach!

Guests Gary and Ron (l-r), with Neil, display the morning’s catch!

On Monday, I had the chance to ride along with my friends Dan and Neil Sullivan as they took two guests from Idaho out to catch “Upriver Brights” (URB’s). It was a fabulous day of fishing with 15 kings being hooked and 7 retained before 11:00 am!

If you are not familiar with URB’s, these are King salmon that predominantly spawn at or above the Hanford Reach area of the Columbia. These fish are known for their extremely large size, some reaching over 50 pounds! Additionally, these Kings are extremely strong because they have to fight their way back up Columbia all the way to their spawning grounds. Genetically, they have adapted to this long journey from the ocean and while their skin colors up; their meat stays in prime shape into October.

Dan is a pioneer in developing the fishing method of using the Pro-Troll 11-inch Pro-Chip Flasher with the Agitator Fin and the Brad’s Super Bait. He started using it 5 years ago and has perfected it for the URB’s. Additionally, for several years, he has also used this method with outstanding success for salmon at Buoy 10 in August and September plus for Springer fishing in the spring.

A wife shows her husband how to reel the big one in!

Over this time, he has generously shared this information with other anglers, and it has really caugth on! We saw over 200 boats on the river that morning and every one of them was using the Pro-Troll 11-inch Pro-Chip Flasher with the Agitator Fin and the Brad’s Super Bait. The reason that this is so effective is that the Pro-Chip flasher with the Agitator Fin will rotate at speeds as slow as mile an hour, while other flashers will only rotate at speeds at or above 1.8 MPH.

This method is really pretty simple. You start with a sliding cannonball weight on your mainline. 10 ounces on your front rods and 8 ounces on your back rods are good amount to start with.

Next you add a 2-foot “bumper line” of 40# mono between your flasher and weight stop. This allows your flasher to rotate freely while also separating it from the weight. However, even with the “bumper line”, you still need to let the gear out slowly to avoid tangles.

Dan nets a big URB! Note: You can see the weight, “Bumper Line” and Flasher.

Next you attach the Pro-Chip flasher with the Agitator Fin. Flashers with chrome, gold and green colors were the most effective on Monday. However, Dan says that changes with the day. So he starts every day with a mix of colors and lets the fish tell him which one they like!

Next he uses a Brad’s Original Super Bait filled with Tuna packed in oil. He fishes it with a 42-48 leader of 30 # mono with two barbless hooks. The Lady Bug pattern was the most effective on Monday but as with the flashers, that changes daily.

Dan most often trolls this rig downstream with just enough speed for the pulsing action from the flashers to show on the tip of

Dan holds up a bright fillet that was typical of Monday’s catch.

your rod. You want to keep your gear very close to the bottom because that is where the fish usually are! But do not drag the bottom or you will get snagged up!

There is no mistaking when a fish hits, because they just bury the Rod!

If you would like to go and enjoy this fishery with Dan and Neil, you can contact them at Rivers West Sportfishing or 509-521-9431.

Mark Gavin is a Salmon University staff member and an active member of several Puget Sound Angler Chapters. The cover image of this week’s Salmon University fishing reports was also contributed by Gavin. 

Freshwater – Lake Chelan

Dan Carter with his biggest fish from his first of 2 days out with Jeff..

Continuing hot is our late fall pattern of trolling the Barrens and Colyar Ledge for Mackinaw on Lake Chelan. Aso hot will be bank fishing and trolling for planter Rainbow Trout on Lake Chelan. We troll for lakers from 185 to 245 feet deep. Fish within 3 to 5 feet of the bottom and keep your speed around 1.3 mph. Glow in the dark Smile Blades from Mack’s Lure continue to be the go to attractor here on Lake Chelan. Put those in front of a 4 inch needlefish squid rig by Silver Horde, bait them with a piece of Northern Pikeminnow and scent everything with Pautzke’s Krill Juice to keep yourself consistently into the fish. WDFW will soon make it’s annual fall triploid Rainbow trout plant on Lake Chelan. They can be caught by a variety of methods. Catch them from shoreline locations with Pautzke’s Firebait in American Wildfire using a 30” leader on a slip sinker rig.

The Loutisis Family with their morning catch of Mackinaw.

You can also catch them trolling using Mack’s Lure Mini Cha Cha Squidders behind a Mack’s Lure 0000 Double D Dodger. Bait those mini cha cha’s with a piece of worm or a small nugget of Pautzke’s Fire Bait. Your fishing tip of the week is to make a plan and WORK the plan. Making those changes when your first presentation or location doesn’t work is the hardest thing to do. You know, “it worked yesterday”… Maybe something changed. On Chelan, somewhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour and 15 minutes without a bite is my limit. Then you have to change something. Don’t cross over that line from being appropriately persistent to just stubborn.

The kid’s tip of the week is to get them to those shoreline locations on Lake Chelan for those planter rainbows between school and dinner. You’ll make memories. Your safety tip of the week is to take a minute and check your hose from the gasoline fill to your fuel tank. Over time it can develop cracks and allow gasoline to pour into your bilge. Not good… Enjoy the fall wildlife viewing opportunities in the valley this time of the year.

For more info call Anton & Sandra Jones of Darrell & Dad’s Family Guide Service; darrellanddads.com; antonj@aol.com or call (509)687-0709 or toll free at (866)360-1523

Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir

British Columbia

Vancouver

no report this week

Vancouver Island (Saltwater)

no report this week

Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound

no report this week

Bamfield

Becher Bay

Salmon fishing was PRETTY SLOW in East Sooke. The best fishing has been way out in the strait and between 40 – 90 feet on the downrigger. There were very few, if any, springs caught. More hatchery coho are showing up in the mix. G-force spoons were the most productive lure. However, plastic baits have been popular as well. 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

 Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. Most salmon were caught when fishing with 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 has been the Gibbs Lemon Lime and the Bon Chovy.

Halibut fishing was FAIR this past weekend out in Haro Strait and off Discovery Island. 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 FAIR this past week. Most anglers are targeting Coho out in the tide lines off Race Rocks. The coho have mostly been ranging from 3-6 lbs, with a mixture of marked and unmarked fish being caught. That said, one angler brought in 14 & 10 lb coho from Race Passage. The 3^rd tide line was the most productive this past wee and most coho have been caught between 70 to 90 feet on the downrigger. Some chum salmon into the mid teens have also been caught and they are a little deeper in the water column. The chums like a slow troll and have ben caught, surprisingly, on bait and Coho Killer spoons. 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 FAIR this past week with reports of Halibut up to 57 lbs being brought in. 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 SLOW near Sidney. The Pender Bluffs have really slowed down. There are a lot of feeder springs in the Sidney Channel, but they are almost all 1” to 4” short of the minimum size for retention. Coho fishing has been slow except close to shore by the wharf at James Island. Many anglers are fishing using anchovies in Bloody Nose and UV Green teaser heads. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and Gold Nugget. A couple of halibut have been taken as incidental catches this past week. 

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 FAIR this past week. There has been the odd exception of springs into the mid 20’s, but its mostly coho are being caught, usually out in the shipping lanes and in 300+ feet of water. The second and third tide lines have been producing most of the fish. A few Chums have been caught. 3.5-4” G-Force spoons as well as hoochies are the top choices for Sooke anglers. G-Force spoons in Outfitters, Irish Cream and No Bananas and Hoochies in White Glow, Army Truck and Tiger Prawn are the go to colours that have been catching their fair number of fish. The most popular flashers recently have been the Ok’i Betsey, the Gibbs Outfitter and the Madi.

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com

Ucuelet

Victoria

Fishing for salmon was SPOTTY along the waterfront. Most anglers have switched there target fish to Coho and Chum. Anglers were finding success in 300 ft of water off Albert Head as well as off the eastern edge of Constance Bank. The coho are starting to show up in better numbers but still seem scattered along the Victoria Area. Anchovies, spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups. Chartreuse and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and Glow white. Gibbs Coho Killers, AP Needlefish and Coyote spoons in green, moon glow and silver colours have been very effective. The Lemon Lime and Bon Chovy flasher has been very effective recently. The Glow Green Splatter Back Coho Killer has been a very effective out at the Constance Bank.

Halibut fishing was FAIR this past week. Dogfish this week seem to be more of a problem. 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

Lakes

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com

Oregon

Columbia River

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) reports that, on the lower Columbia River last weekend, there were 556 salmonid boats and 77 Oregon bank anglers counted from Bonneville Dam downstream to Tongue Point. In the gorge, boat anglers averaged 2.51 fall Chinook and 0.09 coho caught per boat, while anglers fishing in Troutdale averaged 0.23 fall Chinook and 0.03 coho caught per boat. In the Portland to Tongue Point area, boat anglers averaged 0.56 fall Chinook and 0.03 coho caught per boat. At Buoy 10, boat anglers averaged 0.13 fall Chinook and 1.44 coho caught per boat. Bank anglers fishing in the gorge averaged 0.06 fall Chinook caught per angler; while bank anglers fishing Clatsop Spit averaged 0.19 coho caught per angler.

Tillamook Bay

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) reports that fall Chinook are available in tidewater in increasing numbers and that some hatchery coho are making their way through tidewater and into the lower river. Occasional summer steelhead are still being caught. Fishing for cutthroat trout is fair to good. The hatchery hole area is closed to all fishing through Oct. 15. In addition, the Dam Hole (near MP 7 on Trask River Road) is closed through November.

Great Lakes

Lake Michigan

no report this week