Fishing Reports for December 9

By on December 9, 2015

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

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Fair” prospects for Chinook during December in Marine Area 6.

Marine Area 7

Fishing was fairly slow in Marine in Marine Area 7 during the two derbies last weekend. It blew a little bit too, as you may have heard…or seen. Perseverance paid off for the winners, as the top fish were caught on Saturday during both tournaments. Mike McAuley took the $10,000 First Prize for the Friday Harbor Salmon Classic with an 18.6 lber, and Ryan Kies won the Resurrection with a 19.6 lb fish.

Good job to all the winners!

Submitted by Kevin Klein, Fidalgo-SanJuan Islands Chapter PSA, CCA Northsound. 

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 continues to be slow with little fishing pressure and poor weather conditions lately.

The Squid fishing remains fair from the area docks and fishing from boats as well.

The Crabbing has been fair and improving a little bit with light fishing pressure.

The Point Defiance Marina is hosting a book signing event for Frank Haw author of his new book Washington’s Sport of Kings Views of a Fisheries insider, Frank worked for the WDFW for decades and is still very involved in recreational fisheries today. The event will be held 12/16/2015 from 11:30 AM to  1:30PM.

Report submitted by Point Defiance Marina. For more information contact: Art Tachell, Boathouse Marina Technician, 253.591.5325 art@tacomaparks.comwww.pointdefiancemarina.com. 

Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal)

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Poor” prospects for Chum, and “Fair” prospects for Coho during December in Marine Area 12.

Marine Area 13

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Fair” prospects for Chum, and “Good” prospects for Coho during December in Marine Area 13.

Freshwater – Lake Washington

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Welcome to winter fishing weather at it’s best.  The Pineapple Express is moving rain, wind and unstable temperatures across the region.  Lake Washington’s water temperatures have taken another dip to around the 50 degree mark.  It’s been challenging finding bait and fish in the lake.  We’ve been averaging about one fish per trip.  The cutthroat trout are hard on the strike but the cooler temperatures have taken  little “spring out of their swim”.  We have gotten a few fish to go aerial but many hold under the water’s surface until they see the kayak.
If you can find a break in the weather, get out on the lake and give it a try.  On Saturday I managed to land this post spawn 19″ female cutthroat that managed to swallow the Mustad Slow Death hook I had trailing behind my spinner.  Opening her up there were about 50 loose eggs and she was pretty scrawny.  Are the cutthroat spawning earlier this year?  I still think there’s a lot to learn about the cutties in our lake.  Tight Lines.
Submitted by Brad Hole, Kayak Fishing Washington, 206-313-5567–kayakfishingwashington.com. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also submitted by Brad. 

Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir

This past week, with snowy and icing conditions at the boat ramps, there was very little activity at the ramps. The latter part of this week  is to bring warming weather for a few days so seize the moment. I had a doctor appointment on the westside this past Monday and found out for myself just why we are not seeing many westside hunters and fishermen braving the pass. With no experience the past few years on the installation of chains on my auto I doubled my travel time driving home. I will be practicing just the correct way to install chains in my driveway instead next to the highway. Also, I will be looking to upgrade my chains to a better quality. I thought just to have a pair in the trunk was all that was needed and not learning along side the highway.
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 FAIR for anglers in East Sooke. There were more winter springs caught but most are not too big. Most of the anglers reporting success were getting their fish in Whirl Bay. 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

Oak Bay

Salmon fishing was PICKING UP this past week. Some winter springs have been caught and they were too small for retention. 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.

Halibut fishing was GOOD 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 VERY GOOD this past weekend. Not many anglers were out fishing, but those who did go out caught fish that were mostly in the 5-7 lb range. Most of the fish were caught close to the bottom in 120-150 feet of water. The anglers are fishing tight to the bottom are often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom. Small spoons, such as the G-Force, Coyote and Gypsy, in the glow and/or any bright colours were very effective. Hootchies and squirts also produced well. Flashers that remain popular include Glow green, Lemon-Lime and Purple Onion.

Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past week. Everyone who went out after halibut caught fish and nothing less than 25 lbs was seen at the marina. Anglers that were fishing were using 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, but almost no one has been out, so it’s only speculation about what it’s really like. There was a lot of bait around Coal Island and Sidney Spit, so there should be some fish there. Most of the winter springs have been short of the minimum size for retention in previous weeks. 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 as well.

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 PICKING UP recently. There are lots of undersize springs off Sooke right now and a few keepers into the mid teens. The 3”-4” Coyote, Gypsy and 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 Purple Onion, 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 GOOD off Victoria. The salmon are all along the waterfront from Esquimalt to Trial Island. There were a lot of salmon on Constance Bank as well. Anchovies, spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups. Bloody Nose 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. Gypsy, AP Needlefish, G Force 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.

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

Cowichan River
No rain and cold weather has allowed the river levels to drop steadily all week. The water level at the lake is over 1.3 meters and it’s over 1.15 meters near Duncan. Chum fishing in the lower river has been slowing down. There are some coho in the river but it is strictly catch and release. At the top end, egg patterns are the flies to use now when targeting trout. Effective until December 31, 2015 the daily limit for chum salmon is two (2) adults in the following portion of the Cowichan River: Downstream from the Mile 66 Trestle Bridge to the Highway No. 1 Bridge (Silver Bridge). Anglers are reminded that coho retention (both adults and jacks) remains closed at this time. The Cowichan River is Open to Fly Fishing Only from the Weir in Cowichan Lake downstream to the Mile 66 Trestle (CNR Trestle).
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. Many of the lakes are undergoing the fall turnover. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake. 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

Stamp River

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

Salmon University Staff
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