Marine Area 3 (LaPush and Forks)

Marine Area 6

no report this week

Report submitted by Nelson “Spud” Goodsell of Salmon for Soldiers (FISHTALE 2).

Marine Area 10

no report this week

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 genea@tacomaparks.com
(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.

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

In the meantime I did not have a chance to see just what went on at Potholes over the past weekend. The winds yesterday brought out the kite surfers and not a boat on the lake. Looking ahead for the balance of the week we will be seeing temperatures in the high 70 degree range with the lake warming up into the mid 50s. Several more April lakes to include Warden have been well stocked with rainbows so plan a trip east this weekend.  I did try to get out last Wednesday and found after launching my Lund that the motor would not shift into foreward gear so it is up getting repaired in Euphrata.

Report submitted by Tom Pollack.

British Columbia

no report this week

Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound

Vancouver Island is a majestic geographical area of tall coniferous forests and breath-taking scenic views of rugged terrain and coastlines battered by winter storms. There are also a continuous display of rugged coastlines with wonderful exquisite and secluded beaches with pristine calm water which can be found in Barkley Sound and the waters of the Alberni Inlet. Not only does the West Coast of British Columbia have an unbelievable landscape but the salmon fishing in many areas is nothing but world class. This is truly one area, of this great nation, where individuals have opportunity of hooking into a twenty pound salmon twelve months of the year.

Prawn fishing in the early spring is usually very successful in Barkley Sound locations

It is now April and most avid fisher people say that the 2016 saltwater fishing season is officially here. With weather patterns now becoming more predictable anglers can get out on the water with a little more ease in those many areas that are not located in “protected” waters. The migratory flow of early Chinook salmon headed down the coast line to natal streams to the south begins in April. Feeder or winter Chinook salmon are also in local waters in April and into early May. The Migratory salmon and the feeder Chinook gorge on the ample amounts of bait fish. April can certainly have some very good fishing days in Barkley Sound and around the Ucluelet Harbor. Not only is the ocean fishing good but the Stamp River is often very good with large numbers of wild and hatchery Steelhead in the Lower and Upper River. Many say that April can often be the best month of the year to fish winter Steelhead. This is also a month with very little fishing pressure making it a time where keen river anglers can fish the Stamp in solitude.

The 2016 fishing season is shaping up to be a fantastic saltwater season. There are many indicators that show the season should be very good for Chinook and Sockeye salmon. Alberni Inlet Sockeye and West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook Forecasts are excellent for the current year of angling.

Prawn fishing in the Alberni Inlet Sub Area 23-2 opened on April 1st. The China Creek, narrows, and Mctush areas are very popular for sporties. Much of Barkley Sound has been open all winter where the prawn fishing has been very good. Traps are usually set in 175 to 230 feet of water. Often in April and early May the Alberni Inlet is covered with red buoys. Make sure if putting out traps that lots of weight is used to keep your traps down. The best bait for prawn fishing is Carlyle Just Tuna Cat food and Ace of Baits prawn pellets.

Sockeye fishing in the Alberni Inlet in 2015 was unbelievable. We hope that 2016 will be as good.
A family from Vancouver fished with Doug of Slivers Charters and did well Sockeye fishing in the Alberni Inlet. We expect, with weather and environmental conditions, that Sockeye Fishing in the Alberni Inlet should be under way by mid June in 2016.

We expect that the Sockeye sport season will get underway by June 15th and that limits in the first part of the season will be four per person and a two day possession limit of eight. Last year well over two million Somass Sockeye Salmon returned to the Somass River system. Pre season forecasts for 2016 are indicating that returns will be around 800,000 which is still a very good and ample return.

The salmon fishing in Barkley Sound has been hit and miss for winter Chinook.

The weather at times has made it difficult for sport fishermen to get out on the water. The last week of March and into early April however has been quite the opposite. Water and Weather conditions were more than perfect and salmon fishing has been quite good in many locations. The Sproat Lake Derby which occurred in early March had a twenty-four pound salmon take top spot. Barkley Sound has been “alive” with bait fish over the past month. The herring spawn in Barkley Sound has been spectacular and with the start of the early summer run of Chinook headed to southern watersheds we are expecting some wonderful fishing out on surf line locations. Areas like Kirby Point, Cree, Effingham, and Edward King have recently had a few good reports of hatchery Chinook being landed. Areas on the inside such as Vernon Bay and Swale Rock have also had some good fishing for winter feeders. As time moves forward into late April and early May the fishing should really improve. We are definitely looking for some great fishing during the summer months. Forecasts are showing that the mid summer Chinook migratory flow to the Willamette and Columbia River will be very strong with most of the Chinook predominately being four year olds.

Great early spring Chinook landed at Meares which is located on the surf
line of Barkley Sound. Chinok salmon landed using anchovy.

With the weather patterns becoming more reliable those getting out to Barkley Sound should plan on fishing on the troll using hootchies, coyote spoons, or anchovy. One guide boat this past week did well at Effingham and Kirby landing over a two day period eight Chinook in the ten to fifteen pound category. The Chinook were hitting four inch cop car and the green-nickel and blue-nickel coyote spoon. Army Truck and green and blue needlefish hootchies were also working very behind a green glow hot spot flasher. The salmon are deeper. Fishing in one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty feet is not uncommon depths to fish. If you get close to the bottom around Swale Rock, Folger Island or opposite the Bamfield Wall don’t be surprised if a halibut hits your bait or lure.

For more information and/or reservations, call Doug Lindores at Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing (250) 723-2435; (250)724-2502; cell (250)731-7389 or 1-877-214-7206 www.catchsalmon.ca or www.catchsalmon-ca.com; dlindy@shaw.ca

Bamfield

Kayla holding her lingcod that is as blue as her jacket.

Halibut fishing was good this past week with some nice catches fishing just outside the surf line, and in Barkley Sound. The fish ranged from 24 – 47 pounds and most were caught on Bait. Herring, Octopus or Salmon was working as well as a couple we got on mudraker jigs.

Lingcod opened April 1st with a daily limit of 3 fish over 65cm. Fishing has been good.

Prawns opened April first in areas 23-3 and 23-4 and has been quite good for the first few days as well.

Salmon fishing has slowed down a bit right near Bamfield for the moment but has picked up out near the surf line. There is starting to be a few larger Chinook mixed in with the winter feeders now.

For more info call Ken Bodaly at Rocky Point Charters, Bamfield, B.C. 250-728-3678 or the boat cell phone 250-735-4224 website: www.rockypointcharters.ca email: rockypointcharters@shaw.ca facebook: Rocky Point Charters

Becher Bay

Salmon fishing was GOOD for anglers in East Sooke. Anglers were catching springs in the bay, near Beechey Head and the Bedfords. Most of the fish were running from 6 to 10 lbs in size and the largest was a 14.6 lb spring from the Bedfords. Anglers have been successful with all types of gear. Anchovies in glow teaser heads have been very effective. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in Cop Car, Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were also effective. For flashers, the Madi, Lemon Lime and Purple Onion have been good. Some halibut up to 50 lbs were also brought back to the marina. There were also quite a lot of halibut brought into Cheanuh Marina from Race Rocks and points east.

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 SLOW this past week and few people were fishing salmon in this area. The Flats have been holding some smaller size springs fish recently for those trolling close to the bottom. It’s been best in 100-140 depths. Good lures have been Green Splatterback Coho Killers, Skinny G spoons and APT Needlefish spoons.

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 week. There were springs at the entrance to the bay and at Whirl Bay. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom and often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom, in 120-150 feet of water. Ross Hopkins got an 18 lb spring near the Can Buoy at 125’ in 160’ of water on an anchovy fished in a Purple Haze teaser/flasher combination. However, David Turenne was fishing at 36’ in 60’ of water near Bentick Island when he landed an 18 lb fin clipped chinook. There were many nice hatchery springs in the 11-18 lb range brought in this past week. 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.

Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week and fish up to 52 lbs were caught on the weekend. Best areas were Race Rocks, William Head, 27 Fathom reef and Constance Bank. 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

Sidney

Salmon fishing was GOOD near Sidney, but lots of the fish were just a little too small for retention. The Sidney Anglers held their Premier Salmon Derby this past weekend and 7 salmon were weighed in. The winning fish was a 10 lb 6 oz spring caught near Hamley Point by Mark Kosick. Second place went to a 9 lb 10 oz spring caught by Murray Kosick and a 9 lb 6 oz spring caught by Doug Ellison came in third. Prior to the derby, Mark Kosick landed 18 & 16 lb springs while test fishing in preparation for the derby. Springs have most recently been caught by Hamley Point, Cal Island, Moresby Island and in Satellite channel. There have also been a number of boats fishing in the north end of Saanich Inlet. Most anglers are fishing using tiny strip or 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. Halibut fishing wasn’t too bad either. 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. 

Ucuelet

West Coast fishing during the winter months can often be difficult.  It can take a day or more for the water to settle after a storm but by mid-April weather conditions become more of a reliable factor.  We are currently fishing feeder Chinook and the beginning of the early summer hatchery Chinook migrating to southern streams.  The crab fishing is fantastic and up into Barkley Sound the sport prawn fishing is very good.

This is the time of year that we can often fish for a variety of wonderful tasting seafood delights.  Often we can fish for what is termed a “seafood safari” and individuals can enjoy a day of crabbing, prawning, and rock and lingcod fishing (opened April 1^st) and of course salmon.  The salmon fishing close to the Ucluelet Harbor has definitely picked up over the past week.  Beg Island, Great Bear, Forbes, Sail Rock, and The Alley has been producing some nice salmon into the mid teens.  The herring spawn around Ucluelet has happened and there are big balls of needlefish and pilchards in the area which brings the salmon in close to the beach during tides to feed.   Trolling is the best method to fish and it is important to watch the sounder and stay within about thirty feet of the bottom.  Usual fishing depths for the areas mentioned are 90 to 120 feet.  Coyote spoons have been working.  The three and a half and four inch Irish Cream, glow green, and green nickel have been the best.  Anchovy in a Rhys Davis teaser head in glow green, chartreuse, or army truck behind purple, red or green glow flashers have been used with success by a few guides although spoons seem to be the best choice at the current time.

Summer fishing out of Ucluelet looks very good.  The mid-summer run of migratory Chinook salmon and also West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook are forecast to be quite strong.  The Chinook are predicted to be predominately four year olds which suggest some bigger salmon in the high mid to high twenty pound range.

We are looking forward to a great year with some fantastic salt water salmon fishing opportunities in 2016.  If you have not done so it is time to organize your 2016 fishing trip.

Fishing for salmon was GOOD off Victoria. Constance Bank was good early in the week but the best fishing was closer in on the weekend. The harbour area produced really well on the weekend with 24.5, 18.25, 15 and 12 lb springs being caught.  Anchovies were a good bait and Bloody Nose and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups. 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.

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

Lakes

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has started their spring releases of catchable rainbow trout from the Vancouver Island Trout Hatchery. On March 17^th, Kemp, Matheson and Spectacle lakes received 500 trout each with an average size of 250 grams. On March16^th, Durrance Lake received 187 brood stock trout with an average size of 675 grams and 1,255 trout with an average size of 242grams. On March 8^th, Lookout Lake received 175 trout and Ida Anne Lake received 75 trout with an average size of 225 grams.  On March 3^rd, Elk Lake received 2,000 trout and Shawnigan Lake received 1,950 trout with an average size of 232 grams. On February 29^th, Prospect Lake received 2,000 trout, Thetis Lake received 1,000 trout and Glen Lake received 500 trout with an average size of 222 grams. On March 3^rd, Elk Lake received 2,000 catchable rainbows and Shawnigan Lake received 1,950 trout averaging 232 grams.

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

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