Fishing Reports for November 18
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
no report this week
Marine Area 3 (LaPush and Forks)
no report this week
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)
no report this week
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu)
no report this week
Marine Area 6
no report this week
Marine Area 7
no report this week
Marine Area 8.1
no report this week
Marine Area 8.2
no report this week
Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)
no report this week
Marine Area 10
no report this week
Marine Area 11
The salmon fishing is very slow more because of weather conditions this last week or so when the weather calms down and we get more fishermen on the water we will get a better idea what the salmon fishing is like. Typically this time of year the best areas are the Clay banks, shelf between Pt Defiance and Pt. Dalco, Quartermaster Harbor and near Les Davis pier.
Crabbing continues to be fair with a few legal Dungeness crab being caught along with some nice Rock crab in the usual places like Quartermaster Harbor, Commencement Bay Shoreline and the Dash Pt. area.
The Squid fishing remains excellent at the area docks so if you have ever wanted to try Squid fishing now is the time to do it and you can also jig Squid by boat as well. For more information call 253-591-5325
Squid Fishing Class at Point Defiance Marina –Learn the regulations, and how to jig squid, care for, prepare, and cook. For ages 8+. Saturday December 5, 2015 from 4-6 pm.
Sign up online at MetroParksTacoma.org/GO or 253-591-5325.
Pier Peer in Tacoma –See and touch creatures brought up from local divers. Participate in plankton and sea life netting to view the variety we have in Puget Sound as you learn about these amazing creatures from Tacoma Nature Center and Point Defiance Marina educators. Saturday, November 14, 2015 from 7:30-9 pm Cost $8 For ages 8+. Every youth needs an adult chaperone. Complimentary Hot Chocolate and Coffee.
Polar Bear Plunge at Point Defiance Marina Boat Launch – January 1, 2016 ; Run at 11 am (1 mile Inaugural Run and Plunge ) 11:30 am Cub (Youth Ramp Plunge ) 12 noon Launch Dock Plunge ( Swimmers ) Free Event; Life jackets, Hot beverages, snack bars, heated changing tents, Point Defiance Pirates Present ; information tables discounted Zoo and Aquarium passes. Volunteers needed.
Sign up online at MetroParksTacoma.org/pier-peer or 253-591-5325.
Report submitted by Point Defiance Marina. For more information contact: Art Tachell, Boathouse Marina Technician, 253.591.5325 art@tacomaparks.comwww.pointdefiancemarina.com. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also submitted by the Point Defiance Marina and features Gene Anderson with a 3 and 8 pound coho caught trolling herring.
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal)
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Excellent” prospects for Chum, and “Fair” prospects for Coho during November in Marine Area 12.
Marine Area 13
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Excellent” prospects for Chum, and “Fair” prospects for Coho during November in Marine Area 13.
Freshwater – Lake Washington
Cooler temperatures, strong winds and rain are starting to change the surface temperatures of Lake Washington – now hanging in the mid to low 50’s. These changing temperatures have brought several fish closer to shore. While a down rigger from a boat can get you down to deeper depths, using lead core line and a light weight kokanee rod can be a lot more fun to target cutthroat trout. Lead core line was around long before we had down riggers. Your trolling set up is sometimes 200 feet or more behind you making it less likely to spook the fish. While we did mark schools of bait in the 50 to 80 foot range, we found better luck hugging the shoreline in 25 to 30 feet of water in our kayaks to be more effective getting cutthroat to bite. Apex Trout Killers and Needlefish in various colors landed us a few “porky” trout – who seem to be gorging themselves on stickleback in the lake.
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
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
no report this week
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was VERY SLOW for anglers in East Sooke. Anglers are now concentrating their effort s inside the bay. There were a few winter springs caught, just not too many and most are too small to keep. G-force spoons were the most productive lure. However, plastic baits have been popular as well, especially in UV and/or glow patterns. 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 and the Purple Onion have been good. Four halibut were brought into the marina on the weekend.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
16 year old Walker Grant with his 50 lb halibut
Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. Some winter springs have been caught but very few coho have come from this area. 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. 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.
Pedder Bay
Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. Winter springs up to 7 lbs were being caught inside the bay. The anglers are fishing right on the bottom and often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom. There are a lot of shaker chinooks all around this area. 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 VERY GOOD 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 SLOW near Sidney. There is a lot of bait around Coal Island and Sidney Spit, so there should be some fish there. Most of the winter springs are short of the minimum size for retention. Most 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. Prawning has been quite slow in Saanich Inlet.
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 VERY SLOW this past week. There are lots of undersize springs off Sooke right now and few keepers. The 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 have been very popular. Hoochies in White Glow, Army Truck and Tiger Prawn 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
no report this week
Victoria
Fishing for salmon was VERY SLOW along the waterfront but a bit better out at Constance and Border Banks. Winter springs up to 9 lbs were caught this week on the bank. There were also a lot of smaller ones on the bank. 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 Skinny G in Irish Mist and Outfitters have been very effective in catching the winter springs. AP Needlefish and Coyote spoons in green, moon glow and silver colours have also been good. The Purple Onion and Bon Chovy flashers have been popular recently.
Halibut fishing was GOOD 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
Lakes
Fishing is FAIR on most lakes. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.
Nicholas Robbins with an Elk Lake rainbow caught trolling a wooly bugger
Trout fishing was FAIR on most lakes in the South Island area this past week. The Vancouver Island Fish hatchery is continuing the fall stocking program of catchable rainbow trout. On November 6th, Spectacle Lake received 277 catchable rainbow trout averaging 200 grams. On November 4th, Prospect Lake received 700 catchable rainbow trout, Durrance Lake received 1,900 catchable rainbow trout, Glen Lake received 500 catchable rainbow trout and Elk Lake received 2,000 catchable rainbow trout averaging 231 grams.
Bank anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore and right on the bottom. Orange Garlic and Pink Garlic have been good choices recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are fishing Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines. Trollers have been doing well with Gibbs Gang Trolls and Gibbs Wedding Bands. Other good trolling lures are the Apex Trout Killers in rainbow, green or black and white patterns. Flatfish and/or Kwikfish have also been effective in sizes 5 to 7 in Frog, Black with Silver Flake or Rainbow Pattern.
Bass fishing is VERY SLOW. Soft plastics rigged Carolina style are working well and crank baits 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
no report this week
Oregon
Tillamook Bay
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that fishing for Chinook is fair to good and that trolling herring or spinners have been the two most popular techniques. The ODFW recommends fishing he lower bay on the softer tides and further up the bay on the large swings and reminds anglers that the bay closed to wild coho retention for the rest of the year.
Great Lakes
Lake Michigan
no report this week
