Fishing Reports for January 20
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Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
Hello from the coast! No, not the Washington coast but from the Panhandle of Florida and the town of Mexico Beach. What a beautiful place. Did you know that Mexico Beach is home to the largest collection of man made artificial reefs in Florida. What an amazing job this community has done collaboratively to restore and create habitat in places where there was none. These reefs are thriving with fish. Great Job!!!!! The state of Washington could sure take a few lessons from this community.
Not much to report from the Washington coast except a couple of productive Clam digs up around Copalis and on Long Beach. Still nothing in sight for the twin harbors but we are hopeful. Crabbing is good when you can get out. Initial reports from the commercial guys is very promising. Use caution however if you headed into the ocean lots of pots around. This time of year many folks will fish the beaches for Surf Perch or the jetties for Rockfish. Both are productive but be careful. Waves and wind can make thing dangerous in a hurry.
Ling Cod fishing opens March 12th in MA2 and so is the traditional opening of the charter season. Most offices including myself are taking reservations for the summer season. Weekends and popular days book up fast so keep that in mind. Halibut season is probably full for most already. Tuna fishing starts around mid July. We will not know when the Salmon season will start around mid April after the PFMC meets. If I were a betting man I would guess around very late June.
I hope you all are having a productive winter season in the sound and are gearing up for the summer. I will be at a few of the shows and will be at the boat show Thursday February 4th. Come say hi at the Lowrance/Simrad booth.
Be Safe, have Fun and we will see you in Westport!
Report by Kevin Lanier, owner of KC Sportfishing Charters 425-328-8558, President PSA Ocean Anglers, VP PSA State Board. Photos by Cyndi Lanier, Owner of Dockside Art,Gifts,and Tackle Westport Wa. 425-328-8559.
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 and “Poor” prospect for Coho during January in Marine Area 6.
Marine Area 7
Salmon fishing has been fair in the ‘Juans. Right place, right time, there’s some fish. The Roche Harbor Salmon Classic is this upcoming weekend. Picture is Pete Nelsen with the 2013 winner. Good luck Pete, I hope you take 2nd!
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 smalls !” We made a quick switch to Hootchies this weekend and even though the hook-ups were far between, our motto of “no smalls” paid off. We focused on Possession and the East bar did the best for us. The red racer hootchie and the new spatter back red racer (OE and Sportco) did pretty well when tied 35 inches behind a purple striped flasher using 50 pound mono. 130-160 feet on the bottom. There seemed to be some shrimp there. This week we plan to move closer to the Port Townsend area in search of some fat feeding blackmouth. Drag em in the mud at Mid-Channel Bank!
See you on the water !
Marine Area 10
no report this week
Marine Area 11
The salmon fishing is currently closed in area 11 until February but area 13 from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge south is open for salmon fishing. The few reports that I have been getting indicates a few fish being caught recently. 2 anglers out last week due to weather with a 5 pound blackmouth being caught at Fox Island. Also try trolling Pt. Gibson, Green Pt. and the mouth of Wollochet Bay also mooching Pt. Gibson can be productive. For more information call 253-591-5325.
Crabbing is now closed.
The Squid fishing is slowing some with it picking up some today at the area docks but Squid fishing time is running short. For more information call 253-591-5325.
Open daily from 7 am to 5 pm. On January 25 our hours change to 7 am to 5:30 pm as we get ready for the February 1, 2016 Area 11 Chinook fishing to reopen after being closed in January
Great Seahawks Tek Fit t shirts and hoodies in safety reflective and yellow for the Seahawks fan Call 253-591-5325 or visit us on Facebook “Point Defiance Marina” See you at the Sportsman show next week with some good discounts.
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 “Fair” prospects for Cutthroat during January in Marine Area 12.
Marine Area 13
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Fair” prospects for Coho, and “Poor” prospects for Cutthroat during January in Marine Area 13.
Freshwater – Lake Chelan
What’s hot into the middle of January is trolling the Barrens for Lake Trout on Lake Chelan. Heating up is catching Kokanee uplake from the Narrows, trolling in depths of 100 to 500 feet deep. Also hot, for those of you longing for a warmer climate is trolling for multiple species out of Cabo San Lucas.
Working depths of 185 to 210 feet in the Barrens at speeds of 1 to 1.2 mph within 5 feet of the bottom continues to be very productive. Jeff’s Drifts and Mack’s Lures Cha Cha Squidders have produced numbers of fish from two to five pounds as well as a monster Mack.
Up above the Narrows, fish Colyar’s ledge with Mack’s Lures mini cha cha Squidders in orange and pink for nice kokanee. Bait those lures with Pautzke’s Fire Corn. The odd suspended Mack or fin clipped cutthroat is a bonus. You should fish just above or through suspended schools from 50 to 220 feet deep over bottoms from 100 to 500 feet deep.
Guide Jeff Witkowski with his 27.6 lb Barrens caught Mack!
Slow trolling live baits on either the Sea of Cortez or Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas produced 13 species of fish in a week of fishing. Dorado and wahoo were the most common fish, with a whopper Striped Marlin and an ultra light gear Rooster fish thrown in for good measure. It was a great break from winter!
Your fishing tip of the week is to remember scent when fishing. We like to smear all our hard lures with Pautzke’s Krill Juice for trout and salmon. We believe this works as a cover scent so fish committed to biting will not shy away at the last moment.
The kid’s tip of the week is plain common sense. Since kid’s bodies have less mass than ours, they are less tolerant of cold than adults. Give them an extra layer. Build a warming fire where safe and legal. Take warming breaks in the vehicle where fires won’t work. Keep the sessions short. Make sure it is fun so they will want to do it again. Especially pay attention to their fingers and toes.
The safety tip of the week is to use this slower time of the year to make sure your safety gear has been checked and is in shape for the peak boating season. Fire extinguishers need to be recharged and inspected. Replace used or worn items. For us that is usually band aids and anti-inflammatories like aspirin, Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Check lifejackets and throwable cushions for worn spots and tears to be repaired or replaced as needed. Make a list and check the items off.
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
Winter chinook fishing in Howe Sound and the Gulf Island’s has remained productive. We are seeing a mix of legal and undersize fish and on most day trips we are seeing 5 to 12 hook ups. There has been some really nice fish caught this week, including a spectacular 28 pound Chinook Salmon caught by one of our colleagues. We have heard of a few other fish in the 20 plus pound range caught in Howe Sound.
Prawning has been decent with 75 to 150 prawns per soak being about average. Crabbing has been picking up with now that the commercial crabbing season is closed. We drop traps for dungeness crabs on every trip and prawn traps on our full day trips. (weather permitting)
From January 15th to March 31st we are running our annual Winter Chinook Charter Special. Right now our Canadian dollar is at a 15 year low and the savings for our clients from the United States is crazy. With the exchange rate being so lopsided, we have some amazing rates for day charters and overnight packages complete with waterfront accommodations. We have full day trips for 4 people on for $565.00 US per boat. A package with 2 full days fishing and one night accommodation at a seaside cabin is $399.00 US per person based on 4 people on a boat! Please call or email for more details! Great rates for a winter fishing trip.
For more info call Jeff or Jason at Bon Chovy Fishing Charters (604) 763-5460, bonchovy.com email: info@bonchovy.com.
Vancouver Island (Saltwater)
no report this week
Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound
no report this week
Bamfield
no report this week
Becher Bay
Teegan Harding with his 18.2 lb winter spring
Salmon fishing was GOOD for anglers in East Sooke. Anglers were reporting good success in the bay for springs up to 18+ lbs. Teegan Harding landed an 18.2 lb spring near Lamb Island this past Monday. Inside of Frazer Island and towards the marina has been good. It’s also been good over by the Trap shack and Whirl Bay. Most of the fish being brought back to the marina weigh between 5-8 lbs in size. Anchovies in glow teaser heads have been very effective in luring the winter springs. 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.
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 GOOD this past weekend. Those who did go out caught fish that were mostly in the 3-5 lb range. Most of the fish were caught close to the bottom in 120-150 feet of water inside the bay by the Navy Buoy. The trolling pattern has been to do figure eights between the Deep Hole and the Can Buoy. The anglers are fishing close to the bottom are often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom. There is also lots of bait right inside the bay, and probably salmon feeding on them there as well. 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. And you can’t go wrong fishing anchovies in a Bloody Nose teaser.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sidney
Salmon fishing was FAIR near Sidney. Most of the winter springs have been short of the minimum size for retention but we did hear of a couple of 7-8 lb keepers from near Coal Island. 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 is now closed 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 GOOD recently, but still not a lot of anglers out fishing. There are lots of small 3-7 lb springs off Sooke right now and not too many larger fish. It’s been good around the 140 foot contour. 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 Lemon Lime.
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 weather was poor much of the week so not too many anglers were out. The fish have been found just about everywhere at some point, but they are following the bait schools so you might have to move around a bit to find them. The larger fish of last week seem to have moved on and most of the salmon are weighing between 3-5 lbs. 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 White Glow. Coho Killers, AP Needlefish, G Force and Coyote spoons in Green Splatterback, Moon Glow and glow white & green colours have also been good. The Purple Onion, Lemon Lime 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
Lakes
Trout fishing was FAIR on most lakes in the South Island area this past week. Cowichan Lake has produced some large cutthroat trout for those trolling 3” plugs, but that is strictly a catch and release fishery for large trout.
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 catch-and-release for sturgeon may be good and recommends fishing the channel edges on the outgoing tides.
Great Lakes
Lake Michigan
no report this week
