Fishing Reports for May 11
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
As the old saying goes “all good things must come to end”. So the Deep water halibut season ended today. It was very good and very productive. Lots of smiles and fish.
Next up in Westport is the Salmon opener July First. Don’t forget bottom fishing the rest on May and June. Have Fun, be Safe, 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.
no report this week
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Lingcod fishing is expected to be “Excellent” in Marine Area 5 during May.
Salmon University staff
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu)
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Cabezon and Lingcod fishing is expected to be “Excellent” in Marine Area 5 during May.
Salmon University staff
Marine Area 6
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Cabezon and Lingcod fishing is expected to be “Excellent” in Marine Area 6 during May.
Salmon University staff
Marine Area 7
no report this week
Marine Area 8.1
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reports “Excellent” prospects for cutthroat in Marine Area 8.1 during May.
Salmon University Staff
Marine Area 8.2
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reports “Excellent” prospects for cutthroat, and “Good” prospects for halibutin Marine Area 8.2 during May.
Salmon University Staff
Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reports “Poor” prospects for Chinook and Coho in Marine Area 9 during April.
Marine Area 10
no report this week
Marine Area 11
The Salmon fishing is closed for all water from area 5 thru area 13. The sole and flounder fishing is improving.
The Ling Cod fishing has been good with 11 caught this month the 26″ to 36 inch size limit and several sub legal ling cod released. Large Live herring is the best method to catch ling cod. Toliva Shoals and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge areas are the most popular, be careful when handling rockfish they must go back. For more information call 253-591-5325.
Lingcod season is open 5/01/2016 and ends 6/15/2016 for ling cod 26-36 inches. All others must be released. Limited to fish 120 feet of water or less
Shrimp Season opens from 7 am to 3 pm Saturday, May 14, 2016 in Area 11.
Basic Fishing Classes (adults 15+) 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.
ABC Boater’s Education Classes 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.comStart 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.
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal)
no report this week
Marine Area 13
Salmon fishing is closed indefinitely in Marine Area 13. According to the WDFW, Marine Areas 11, 12 and 13 will remain closed to halibut fishing “to protect threatened and endangered rockfish species. ”
Salmon University staff
Freshwater – Lake Chelan
Sammy Arnott of Snohomish came out for his 16th birthday to get these Macks. He brought his Dad, John along.
What’s hot is fishing for 11 to 15 inch Rainbow Trout on Wapato Lake. Trolling for Lake Trout continues hot on Lake Chelan in Manson Bay and along Colyar Ledge once again. Kokanee Fishing continues to be spotty, but can be good at times from Fields Point to Rocky Point.
Wapato Lake continues to produce Rainbow trout at a phenomenal rate since it’s opener in April. Fishing Pautzke’s Fire Bait in American Wildfire on a slip sinker rig with a 30 inch leader from an anchored boat will work. We pulled a Mack’s Lure Wedding Ring baited with Pautzke’s Fire Corn behind a Mack’s Double D Dodger at 15 to 35 feet deep at 1.6 mph to trigger loads of bites. A green 1/8 ounce spinner also worked.
Laker fishing continues to be terrific early in the morning along Colyar Ledge. I would suggest staying until you are blank for an hour. Some days that happens by 9AM. Others the bite can last until noon. Manson Bay has been my secondary location working depths of 175 to 225 feet deep. As always, fish within 3 to 5 feet of the bottom and keep your speed around 1.2 mph. The Mack’s Lure Bead and Blade combo our guide, Jeff Witkowski has developed has been very productive. Bait this rig with a chunk of Northern Pikeminnow.
Big Lou, Little Lou (3) and Sarah Woods of Lacey came out for Big Lou’s Birthday. Little Lou said he would catch the biggest fish, and he did!
Trolling for suspended Kokanee can be hot and cold. Pull Mack’s Lure’s Mini Cha Cha Squidders in Orange or Pink on a short leader behind their Double D Dodgers in 00 to 0000 sizes. Bait the Mini Cha Cha’s with Pautzke’s Fire Corn in natural, pink or yellow. We have caught these dwarfed landlocked sockeye anywhere from 37 to 120 feet deep. Locations have ranged from Fields Point, to the Yacht Club all the way down to the blue roof condos.
Your fishing tip of the week is an oldie but goody. Periodically check your hook points when banging the bottom for Lakers on Chelan. Pounding the wood and rocks can turn a hook point and cost you fish. Twenty seconds with a file and you’ll be back in business.
The kid’s tip of the week is to pick your battles. Taking on every single misbehavior of a toddler can be exhausting and counterproductive. Sometimes ignoring minor misbehaviors can extinguish it better than corrective action. Sometimes, the function of those behaviors is to get attention. Even negative attention is attention…
The safety tip of the week is to really start keeping a lookout for woody debris as Lake Chelan fills. Manson Bay has a lot of debris in it now.
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
High winds kept fishing participation down. Yesterday the wind created rollers high enough that at the Blyth launch water was just about coming into the parking lot. Not a boat launched yesterday. My family came over for Mothers Day, including daughter Ann from Nebraska. I got her and her husband JJ out for an evening fishery off the dam and then up into Linn Coulee. The dam was very grabby but small mouth were there. The lake looks as if it is still coming up and bass fishing up in the dunes remains good. With the height of the water there are very few places to camp on the dunes. Walleye are starting to move to the outer dunes area into the mouth of Crab Creek amd around the high dune. Also Linn Coulee down fron the bridge is producing walleye.
With all the family members here we fished from the bank at Windmill Lake with some success. Also, walking out in the sage brush ticks are showing so get some spray for both ticks and mosquitos. The weather this week is looking good so try to get here before Memorial Day madness.
Report submitted by Tom Pollack.
British Columbia
Vancouver
no report this week
Vancouver Island (Saltwater)
no report this week
Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound
The 2016 summer saltwater salmon fishing season is here with many sport fishermen already salmon fishing with success on the Pacific Rim waters for the past few weeks. The 2016 salmon forecasts for salmon migrating to the big watersheds to the south and also returns to West Coast Vancouver Island rivers’ and streams look extremely favorable. Many individuals have considered the past few sport fishing seasons as extremely good but the 2016 predictions of transient and local returns especially for Chinook and Sockeye salmon are looking phenomenal. Chinook returning to the big river systems in Washington, Oregon and California are expected to be fantastic. The systems with big returns are predictably the Columbia River, Sacramento River and the Klamath River systems. These transient salmon from late April through August migrate just outside Ucluelet, Bamfield, and beautiful Barkley Sound. Barkley Sound holds huge quantities of rich bait fish as do the many banks off the Vancouver Island West Coast that hold these migrating salmon which normally feed heavily before continuing their long migration. Returns of West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook hatchery fish are forecast to be more than double the average returns. These salmon begin to show along the west coast and into Barkley Sound in early August and peak from mid August into early September. Salmon fishing on the surf line and inner portion of the sound will be excellent through the late spring and all of the summer months as these waves of salmon make their way to their natal river systems. Many of the transient and local returning salmon will be predominately four year olds which means there will be opportunity to land some good sized Chinook in the upper twenty to low thirty pound range. Some of the early summer run Chinook have showed up along the Barkely Sound surf line and the islands outside the Ucluelet Harbor. A large wave of salmon should begin to occur in the second half of May. The early salmon usually migrate relatively close to the beach in May and then along the various sandy banks off the coast in in the summer months. Salmon fishing in the out and inner portion of the sound should be very good through the late spring and all of the summer months as these waves of salmon make their way to their natal river system. To date a low number and Barkley Sound until mid May. The salmon usually migrate fairly close to the beach in May and then along the various sandy banks off the coast in the summer months.
Sockeye Salmon returns to the Aberni Inlet this year will not likely be that of the 2015 returns which was absolutely incredible. Returns this year are looking historically good. The pre season forecast is for eight hundred thousand to one million. There has been suggestion that by mid season due to many indicators that the run size could be upgraded. The Sockeye Sport Fishery usually gets underway by mid June and is a fabulous opportunity for families and al avid sport fishermen of all ages.
The summer of 2016 looks absolutely phenomenal in terms of sport fishing opportunities. Those fisher persons that prefer open water or for those that enjoy areas that have protection from prevailing wind patterns the saltwater salmon fishing no matter where individuals decide their destination on Vancouver Islands west coast, the opportunity to land a Pacific salmon from six pounds to thirty-five pounds should be a dream come true.
The Alberni Inlet is currently very quiet. By mid June however there will be plenty of excitement as sports boat travel the inlet in search of Sockeye Salmon. The returns are expected to to be very good. Environmental conditions are excellent. The sockeye should begin to school in the Inlet in early June. Water conditions should be relatively good for a decent flow into the Somass River and also because of a low snow pack the warmer river and inlet water will likely slow the migration down. Early in the season the Sockeye travel in relatively shallow water but will move into the deep as the air and water temperatures increase. Water temperature of eighteen degrees and above normally slow the migration down. Normally good Sockeye Sport fishing can contine from mid June to the first week of August. Sockeye fishing is a lot of fun and is a great time for families to get out on the water and take part in one of British Columbias best sport fisheries. Sockeye like a slow troll and are attracted to the boats with lots of color in the water fairly close to the boat. Most experienced Sockeye fishermen will have six to eight flashers in the water. Most of the lures are on a short leader from eighteen to twenty-eight inches in length behind a red or green glow hotspot flasher. Sharp hooks are very important as the sockeye gum structure is very soft.
The early transient summer run of Chinook and Winter or feeder Chinook fishing in Barkley Sound has been off and on during the last few weeks The feeder chinook will always be found wherever the bait is found. Feeders are just what they are termed as these hearty salmon feed heavily especially on tides changes. Austin Island, Village Reef, Vernon Bay and Swale Rock have had some good days with Chinook up to seventeen and twenty pounds but on average a lot of the salmon have been ten to thirteen pounds. The salmon have been a mix of transient and feeder Chinook. Anchovy in Rhys Davis green glow and chartreuse teaser head holders have been working as have a variety of coyote spoons with the three and three and a half inch Irish Cream being productive. The green splatter needle fish hootchies and blue and silver gold star spoons have recently been the best lures. Meares and Austin Island from ninety to one hundred and twenty feet have both been fairly with the best fishing opportunity on the tide change when the bait rolls in. Closer to Bamfield, Cape Beale, Whittlestone and the west side of Edward King down to Kirby Point have been very consistent for those sport fishermen out on the water. However like the west side of Barkley Sound an area can be hot one day and completely dead the next. The salmon have been in 140 feet of water but up against the rocks closer to Edward King the feeders have been in twenty-five and thirty-five feet of water. Bait is important if fishermen are to find the salmon. Army Truck Hootchie, needle fish hootchies in blue and green, Irish Cream and Army Truck spoons in smaller sizes, have all been working well. Cape Beale and the protected side of Folger Island have also had some relatively decent Halibut fishing. When the weather has been good the three and seven mile and an area called the chair has produced some salmon and halibut catches off the bottom.
The summer fishing opportunities look more than fabulous for Barkley Sound and the surf line and of course offshore waters. The big numbers of Chinook that will migrate down the Vancouver Island coastline will produce some very good fishing opportunities for local fishermen and of course guides and their guests.
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
no report this week
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was GOOD for anglers at Beechey Head and in the Bay. Most of the chinooks were running from 7 to 12 lbs in size but there were some larger hatchery springs up to 18.5 lbs. There some good size unclipped springs caught and released as well. 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. Only a few halibut up were brought back to the marina.
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 FAIR this past week and slower than the previous week. The Flats have been holding some springs up to 20 lbs and the fish have been feeding heavily on needle fish. It’s been best in 60-140 depths. The main bite period has been at the end of of the ebb and the start of the flood. Good trolling lures have been Green Splatterback Coho Killers, Skinny G spoons and APT Needlefish spoons. Drift anglers have been getting fish on Needlefish Darts.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend. 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
Pedder Bay
Salmon fishing was VERY GOOD this past week. There were lots of springs in the 8 – 13 lb size range and a smattering of hatchery springs into the high teens. Both whirl Bay and Pedder Bay held salmon. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom, often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom, in 120-150 feet of water, while others are getting nice fish at 60 – 80 feet in 80’ of water along the kelp beds and rocky shore lines. The tide change for ebb to flood has been the best time to catch fish. Most of the salmon have been feeding on small squid, so white hootchies and small spoons, such as the G-Force, Coyote and Gypsy, in the glow colours were very effective. Flashers that remain popular include Glow green, Lemon-Lime and Madi. Devin Mayo weighed and then released a 29 lb unclipped spring this past weekend at Pedder Bay.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. 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
Kevin Hicks with his derby winning Chinook
Salmon fishing was FAIR this past weekend. The Sidney Anglers’ Association held their annual salmon derby this past weekend. There were 250 tickets sold and 50 chinooks weighed in. The winning fish was a 25.3 lb Chinook caught by Kevin Hicks. Second place went to Dick Price with a 22.3 lb Chinook. Third place went to Island Outfitters co-owner Ward Bond for a 21.8 lb Chinook. Fourth place went to Buck Hullman for a 21.6 lb Chinook and fifth went to Trevor Skakun for a 21.1 lb Chinook.
All areas around Sidney produced springs into the teens and low twenties this past week but there was no real hot spot. Many trollers were fishing with tiny strip or anchovies in Bloody Nose and UV Green teaser heads. Others are using Coho Killer, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackle needlefish spoons and they are catching fish as well. Anglers jigging have also been catching a lot of springs and are using Needlefish Darts and Deep Stingers. The Powder Wharf and Shag Rocks area has been good for jigging salmon.
Devin Mayo weighed and then released a 29 lb unclipped spring this past weekend at Pedder Bay. Kevin Hicks won the Sidney Salmon Derby with Dick Price second and Ward Bond third.
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 FAIR for springs this past week. Most of the salmon have not been very large, with the exception of some unclipped springs that were caught and released. 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
This group of happy anglers fished with Al out of Ucluelet and landed this fish at Great Bear. The guest were from Vancouver B.C. and Montreal.
Sylvan playing a fish Mara Rock outside the Ucluelet Harbor
Ucluelet offers magical salmon sport fishing and it is one of those places that one can have opportunity to land a twenty pound salmon twelve months of the year. The salmon fishing continues to be relatively consistent close to the Ucluelet Harbor Mouth. There have been some nice sized clipped Chinook bound for distant rivers. The first big wave of migratory fish will show up in the middle of May. We are expecting some great fishing out on the various banks. Usually in May the fishing will be closer to the Harbor with good spots being The Alley, Beg Island, Great Bear, Mara Rock, Sail Rock and the Red Can to name a few. As we get into June however the hotspots will become the Turtle Head, Inner and Outer South Bank, the Wreck and perhaps for some out as far as The Big Bank. Recently The Alley, Sail Rock and Great Bear have provided some good fishing with limits being bagged on Chinook salmon. The Spatter Back Hootchie and needle fish hootchie in blue, green and a bit of silver have been working very well There have been a few nice fish taken at South Bank that are migrating and these fish have been in the mid teens and have been taking smaller coyote spoons. Green Nickel and Knight Rider have been working fairly well behind a green or red glow hotspot flasher. Needle fish hootchies and army truck hootchies have also been working well with 42 inches of leader behind a flasher. By the middle of this month we should really start seeing the migratory push and by June there will be plenty of tales about the numbers of salmon in the nearby waters and the big one that got away. This will definitely be the year that anyone that desires to land a Pacific salmon will have a genuine opportunity to have this dream come true.
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 / The cover of this week’s fishing reports was also contributed by Doug.
Victoria
Pacific Angel Shark off Clover Point – The first one ever sighted in Canadian waters
Fishing for salmon was FAIR off Victoria. Most of the fish on the bank have been just around the minimum size for retention. However, if you stick it out, there are some better fish to 16 lbs available. Not many of the fish were reported to have come from close in along the waterfront. There are some large unclipped Chinook that have to be released in the area. Anchovies were a good bait to use 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 Lemon Lime and Madi have been effective flashers lately.
Mark Cantwell photographed a Pacific Angel Shark 100 feet out from the end of the Clover Point in 40-50 feet of water this past week. He sent the image to DFO and it is the first ever confirmed sighting of this species in Canadian waters. It was 4-5 feet in length.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend. The best areas have been Constance Bank, Border Bank and the Mud Hole. 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
Cowichan RiverThe water level is still fairly low for this time of year and the water level is 0.55 meters at the lake and 0.51 meters near Duncan today. Fly fishing at the top end of the river for trout has been good and insect hatches are becoming common. The rainbows, cutthroats and resident brown trout are actively feeding on these hatches and migrating salmon fry. Bead head nymphs are the top producer there. Good patterns are Pheasant Tail, Prince, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears and Stone fly nymphs. A fry imitation or a Wooly Bugger will also work, especially for the brown trout. When the fish are feeding on the surface, the Goddard Caddis has been a good fly to fish.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Lakes
Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing close to 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 are catching trout 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. Ron flower caught a 3 lb 9 oz rainbow trout at Quamichan Lake on a Black Wedding Band spinner.
All bass fishing is closed to retention until June 15th. Bass fishing is GOOD. At this time of year some of the bass are moving into the shallows and many are on spawning beds. Look for the fish suspended by drop offs close to shore along docks, branches, and any overhanging structure. During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well too. Crank baits have been effective too when fished with a fast retrieve. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “is also a good choice when fishing drop offs and docks, most productive in 4” Yum bait colors 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 catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon could be good. Fish the channel edges on the outgoing tides.
Great Lakes
Lake Michigan
The pattern hasn’t changed but the big Chinooks are in. Chinook are coming on small or magnum size spoons. Reapers and Vulcans made by Badget Tackle have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan in green or blue has been hot on the downriggers. Run them 50 feet behind the ball 15 feet down to the bottom. Six inch flashers or dodgers with green or blue Howie’s peanut flies also caught fish. Ripped one Chinook on a Slide Diver today. Tie your flies 14.5 inches on 6 inch dodgers, 24 inches for 6 inch flashers. All orange dodgers and flashers. I hope this helps.
Lake Trout action was slow today but we didn’t fish there favorite spots. Coho fishing has been spotty. We did find some action in 80 feet off the Filter two days ago on spoons. For all fish speed has been very critical with the warmer 51 degree water. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed at the ball. The Chinook are hitting Reaper Magnum Glow spoons at first light and blue or green with silver back all day. The boat speed of 2.2 to 2.4 has been best. The faster speed triggered the Chinook action.
Where!
Fish are hanging in close to shore or the break wall. We did not get out over 50 feet of water yesterday. It can be a zoo in close with all the traffic and it may be better to head out the north gap Milwaukee follow the shoreline working 40 feet of water. Have a great fishing season. Let’s go fishing!
Report submitted by Jim at Blue Max Charters out of Milwaukee. He can be reached at 414-828-1094.
