no report this week

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Good” prospects for cutthroat during March in Marine Area 8.2, and “Poor” prospects for Coho.

With the drop in wind and rain the salmon fishing picked up a little with a few fish being caught this past week at  Quarter Master Harbor, Slag and Clay Bank areas.   The typical depths to fish are in 120′ to 150′ of water and within 10′ of bottom there has been some bait right on the bottom. Flasher and spoons seem to work best this time of year.   The tenants have been going out and caught fish up to just under 7  1/2  pounds.  There have been several wild blackmouth caught and released so we are starting to see a few salmon caught, but weather dictates the number of anglers able to fish.

For latest information call (253) 591-5325.

Crabbing is now closed in Area 11

Parent or guardian welcome to register and learn with their youth.  Cost $10 April 2, 2016 10 am to 12 noon at Point Defiance Marina.  Pre-register at MetroParksTacoma.org/GO or call 253-591-5325 Learn beginning fundamentals for fresh and salt water angling including regulations, equipment, tackle, rigging, knots, casting, fish identification, landing and care for fish.

Cost $10        May 28, 2016      10 am to 12 noon at Point Defiance Marina.  Pre-register call 253-591-5325 Learn beginning fundamentals for fresh and salt water angling including regulations, equipment, tackle, rigging, knots, casting, fish identification, landing and care for fish.

Open daily from  6:30 am to 7:30  pm .

Call 253-591-5325 or visit us on Facebook “Point Defiance Marina”

Learn the basic fundaments of care, proper and safe trailer connections, towing, launching, docking, and returning the boat to the trailer and the trip home. Saturday, April 16, 2016 10 am to 12 noon@ Point Defiance Marina Complex Cost $20 – Questions: Gene Anderson (253)591-5325; genea@tacomaparks.com

Wednesdays 7-9 pm May 4- June 1, 2016 Taught by Tacoma Power Squadron Learn what you will need to be a safe boater and receive your mandatory WA State Parks Boater’s Education Card.  Cost $50 (Includes a student manual, CD, and an introductory navigation software CD from RosePoint Navigation)

Questions: Gene Anderson (253)591-5325; genea@tacomaparks.com

Start collecting those Swap Meet items for the Point Defiance Marina Swap Meet on Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 10 am to 3 pm. Covered Space will be limited…A great way to clear up your lockers or garages with tackle and gear others may really need. No firearms, bullets, tobacco, or alcohol products. Contact Information: Gene Anderson at (253) 591-5325 or genea@tacomaparks.com

• Register Now for a 10 X 10 Space

• Space is limited.   Deadline to register May 19, 2016 .  Registration form required and can be obtained at PDM Boathouse

• Cost: $15.00 PDM Locker Tenants receive $5 off

• No admission fee for shoppers

• Tables can be rented to sellers at $5 per table.  Must reserve in advance at PDM Boathouse.

Marine Area 13

Coastal Clamming

While we wait for Spring to warm up the lakes and turn on the trout bite, I took a few visiting family members to the Washington Coast for some razor clam digging.

Having a couple “newbies” in the bunch, we struggled to find them right out of the gate. It wasn’t long before we found the honey hole.  Digging up one razor clam exposed a couple other holes in the hard sand in the vicinity.  It was approaching 5:30pm and we could see the tide starting to come in.  It challenging try to time the incoming water with getting your hand out of the sand. It took us about 90 minutes but the five of us dug 75 clams.  We spent another 90 minutes cleaning them and enjoyed a small portion of our bounty for a meal that evening.

Report submitted by Brad Hole of Kayak Fishing Washington (206 313-5567).

Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir

We are coming to an end, shortly, of something that happens here every year. I have gotten information from several good walleye fishermen that have been going out and getting skunked.  We have been waking up to 27-degree water and that has put Walleye and bass in a no bite mood.  There have been a few spawner sized that  have been caught and hopefully released. There have been a few good sized bass also up in the dunes where water at 47 degrees has been reported. Another reason for the non biters has been a full moon that is now going away.

Trout fishing in some of the walk-in lakes has been reported good. You will find them in pockets, so if you are not catching fish move around finding them is the trick. The next few days the temperature is forecast to be warming up so come on over and join the fun. Sandhill  cranes are still here in good numbers. Linda and I just  saw thousands next to Frenchmens Hill Road. They are filling their stomach for the long trip north.

Report submitted by Tom Pollack.

British Columbia

Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past weekend. Bruce Cook weighed in a 63.2 lb halibut at the store yesterday. Chris Row from Brockville, Ontario caught a 129cm fish that weighed in at 63 lbs. Walker Grant caught a 126cm Halibut that weighed in at 54 lbs. 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 Mudraker, Lucky or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. There were springs at the entrance to the bay but most of the larger fish, up to 20 lbs, came from Whirl Bay. The anglers are fishing close to the bottom and often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom, in 120-150 feet of water. There is still a lot of bait right inside the bay. 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. 

Sidney

Salmon fishing was GOOD near Sidney. Moresby Island has produced the most keepable salmon, but that’s not the only spot where keepers were caught. Coal Island and the Red Can near Sidney Spit also gave up some decent size fish this past week. The majority of the winter springs caught recently have been short of the minimum size for retention though. There have also been a number of boats fishing in the north end of Saanich Inlet. 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.

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 for winter springs this past week. We’ve hear of fin clipped chinooks as large as 20 lbs coming from near the Sooke Bluffs. Adam Orser got a nice double header at the Bluffs with the two chinooks weighing 15 & 12 lbs. Adam was bottom bouncing a Kingfisher Kitchen Sink spoon off the bottom in 92 feet of water when he hooked the pair. We also know of another boat that landed 20 16, 10 & 6 lb springs while trolling anchovies at 120 feet in 150 foot depths. Anchovies have been the top bait recently, especially with Cop Car and Purple Haze teaser heads. The 3”-4” Kingfisher, Gypsy and G-Force spoons, as well as hoochies, are also top choices for Sooke anglers. Good colors have been Kitchen Sink, Irish Cream and No Bananas. Hoochies in White Glow, Army Truck and Tiger Prawn have been catching their fair number of fish. The most popular flashers recently have been ones with Moon Jelly patterns such as the Madi and the Lemon Lime.

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was contributed by Island Outfitters.

Ucuelet

Victoria

Fishing for salmon was FAIR off Victoria. The fish were some salmon near Constance Bank and Albert Head (on the pinnacles). Most of the salmon are still not very large in size, mostly “charter specials”. Brotchie Ledge to Ross Bay has also produced some fish, but not too many. 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 Cop Car colours have also been good. The Purple Onion, Lemon Lime and Madi have been effective lately.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past weekend, the best weekend of the year so far. The best areas have been Constance Bank, Border Bank and Albert Head. 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 Mudraker, Lucky 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

The water has been dropping for a week and is 1.85 meters at the lake today and 1.55 meters near Duncan. The water clarity has been good. There is a dangerous sweeper above the Skutz Fall pull out and another one above the Bible Camp.. Anglers have been catching steelhead and the occasional brown trout, mostly from drift boats. For steelhead, good lures to fish are Spin ‘n Glo’s, Beads and yarn, Gooey Bobs and the always reliable Pink Worm. Spoons can also be a great lure in these conditions. We’ve also heard of fly anglers hooking up with steelhead too. Fly fishing at the top end of the river for trout and steelhead has been good.

Oregon

Tillamook Bay

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon could be good. Fish the channel edges on the outgoing tides.

Great Lakes

Lake Michigan

no report this week