Fishing Reports for May 25
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
Hello this week from the Sunny Gulf Coast of Florida. Cyndi and I are taking a little vacation to see our family and our grandson.
Fishing continues off Westport this week with halibut officially closed but still a lot of Bottom Fish to be had. Ling Cod have slowed a bit and we are having to search more to find them but, Rock fish still are being very aggressive. Shrimp flies and jigs seem to be the best bet to catch these but they will not pass up a herring or anchovy as well if you drop it in front of them.
Salmon Season opens July 1 and so far things are looking promising
As always 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. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also contributed by Cyndi Lanier.
The Lingcod and Seabass craziness continues out of Westport this week with limits (2 Lings, 10 Seabass) almost every trip!!! Spring is the best time to harvest your bottomfish do to the shear abundance and quality.
We’ll be fishing on these guys through July as well as salmon starting July 1st and Tuna sometime around then as well. Another highlight is starting June 16th, the deep water lingcod fishing restrictions will lift and we’ll be able to target even more areas.
If you’re in the business of trying this fishery in your own I’d suggest using medium weight spinning setups with a tandem dropper loop and shrimp fly rig. This is our primary rockfish setup. For lingcod you can rig a slightly heavier conventional rod and mooch herring in many of the same areas as you would for rockfish.
Report submitted by Mark Coleman, All River and Saltwater Charters; 425-736-8920. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also contributed by Coleman.
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
Tyler Rhinehart shows off a keeper LIng on a beautiful, calm day. He wears the red pants so you can’t see all the fish blood on them from his kills. Beware heavy weather on the days he wears the brown pair.
Submitted by Kevin Klein, Fidalgo-SanJuan Islands Chapter PSA, CCA Northsound.
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 halibut in 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
Salmon fishing is closed until further notice. The spot shrimp fishery was a success most fishermen got their limits in area 13. Mqay 31 is the final day it is open in that area. The Ling Cod fishing continues to be slow with vary light fishing pressure, the best spots to catch Ling Cod continues to be near the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and Toliva Shoals. The Sole and Flounder fishing remains pretty good look for flat sandy bottom with eel grass for the best fishing.
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
Basic Fishing Classes (Adults 15+) Cost $10 May 28, 2016 10 am to 12 noon at Point Defiance Marina. Pre-register at MetroParksTacoma.org/GO or call 253-591-5325 Youth ages 14 and under Cost $15 June 18, 2016 10 am to 12 noon Learn beginning fundamentals for fresh and salt water angling including regulations, equipment, tackle, rigging, knots, casting, fish identification, landing and care for fish.
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)
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
Darin and Becky Finck of Mollala, Or with their catch of Lake Chelan Kokanee and Cutthroat.
What just “keeps on keeping on” is trolling in the early morning above the Yacht Club on Lake Chelan for Mackinaw. The Lower Lake Kokanee bite has really kicked in too. Finally, the Cutthroat trout fishing from the shoreline on Lake Chelan is still going strong.
Roberta with her 12.1 pound big fish.
On Chelan, fish Colyar Ledge above the Yacht Club for quality Lakers along the 190 to 210 foot bench. Troll at speeds of 1 to 1.3 mph as close to the bottom as you can without snagging. Jeff’s Drift Rig with a Mack’s Lures smile blade in Glow and baited with a triangle of Northern Pikeminnow has been the “go to” presentation. Silver Horde Kingfisher Lite spoons in Chartreuse double glow Splatterback are a great low drag option for the outrigger rods.
The Kokanee fishing has been spectacular in the lower basin fishing Mack’s Lures 0000 Double “D” dodgers trailed by a Kokanee Pro Wedding Ring baited with Pautzke’s Fire Corn.
Fishing from the bank and docks on Lake Chelan for Cutthroat Trout with slip sinker rigs is still smoking hot right now. Use Pautzke’s Fire Bait in American Wildfire on a 30” leader to get these mostly 11 to 16 inch fish. They are also easily caught trailing a flatline flatfish as a cheater rod while trolling for Lakers and Kokanee.
Your fishing tip of the week is to keep that piece of Pikeminnow shorter than the tip of the trail hook. You don’t want it to keep a fish from hooking itself on your trailer.
Roberta “big fish” Iliff with Mike Chandler and Ron Wilson of Fairfield and Lincoln, WA with their catch of Lake Chelan Mackinaw and Cutthroat.
The kid’s tip of the week bears repeating. It is to get them ready for Lake Chelan’s late spring / early summer shore bonanza. Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pikeminnow are all available in the next month from docks and other public access points on Lake Chelan. This can provide some fast action for kids with a short attention span.
Your safety tip of the week is to strap on your patience for this next week with all the tourists that will be launching and retrieving at Mill Bay. Be kind and plan on more time at the launch between 10AM and 6PM over the weekend!
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
This past weekend there was a two-day bass tournament as past of the Northwest Bass series. The Potholes just keeps on producing good quantities of large bass. Seventy-four 0f the 75 teams entered bass at the weigh-ins, combining their catches for both Saturday and Sunday. More than 800 bass were weighed and released to grow larger with almost no dead fish. Each team weighed in an average of five fish each day. I was amazed as to the average of the fish being weighed at over 3-pound plus many in the five to six pound range. The primary sponsor was Jeff Priester who donated $25 of each entry paid to the habitat project going on here at Potholes The large bag for the two days was 38.15-pounds by the team of Mawdsley and Butler with a check for largest bag and another for the largest fish on Sunday. It was a challenge both days because of high winds with most all fishing up in the dunes area. After the event the net pens by the Blyth launch broke and ended up on the dam face. This year no food was supplied by the state so no fish were lost. At the end of the last weigh in there was a large raffle with all prizes donated and proceeds being donated to the habitat project.
With all the boats on the water there was still a lot of water for the Walleye fishermen. I did talk to several Walleye who reported that thing were slow but did catch enough to be interesting. Worm harnesses in the firetiger, chartruse or orange seemed to be working in Linn Coulee , Crab Creek channel or up past the State Park and towards Winchester. Also Crappie are showing around the Mardon docks with over 300 taken in a day.
With the three-day weekend and weather looking good there are fish to be caught and lots of water to use.
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
Salmon fishing for the past couple of weeks has been slow in Barkley Sound for the most part. There are however days when some nice Chinook have been taken. Kirby Point, Edward King, Cape Beale always seem to have a few. Fishing the tide changes has been important to catch these Chinook. Sometimes the bite doesn’t last long.
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 PRETTY SLOW for anglers at Beechey Head and Aldridge Point. Most of the chinooks were running from 5 to 10 lbs in size but there were some larger hatchery springs up to 15 lbs. There some good size unclipped springs caught and released too. Most anglers are now switching over to using bait. 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 into the marina.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Oak Bay
Carolyn Cupido caught this huge Lingcod on Monday by the Pender Island Bluffs.
Salmon fishing was SPOTTY this past week but some fish were being caught each day. The Flats have been holding some springs up to 18 lbs but most are from 6 to 8 pounds. The salmon have been feeding heavily on needle fish on the Flats. It’s been best in 90-130 depths and jigging is working just as well as trolling. The main bite period has been at the end 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 although the weather wasn’t. 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 GOOD this past week. There were lots of springs in the 7-9 lb size range and a smattering of hatchery springs into the mid teens. Pedder Bay held the most baitfish and salmon and hatchery salmon up to 15 lbs. It was slower off whirl Bay. Many anglers are still fishing close to the bottom, often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom, in 120-150 feet of water, while others are getting their fish at 50 – 90 feet along the kelp beds and rocky shore line. 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, Milky Way, jellyfish squirts 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.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past 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 SPOTTY this past weekend. The best areas around Sidney were Coal Island, the Powder Wharf and Saanichton. Most 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.
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 SLOW for springs this past weekend. Most of the salmon are still less than 10 lbs in size but there are some better hatchery fish around. Gary Caton caught a nice 15½ lb hatchery spring on a Cop Car hootchy off Otter Point this past Saturday. There are some oversize unclipped springs in the area as well. Anchovies have been the top, especially with Cop Car, Chartreuse and Purple Haze teaser heads. The 3”-4” Kingfisher, Gypsy and G-Force spoons are also top choices for Sooke anglers. Good colors have been Kitchen Sink, Irish Cream and No Bananas. Hootchies in Cop Car, Purple haze and White 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. A few halibut up to 63 lbs were also caught this past week. Halibut hot spots were found east of Secretary Island and near Sherringham Point.
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 SPOTTY off Victoria. The best fishing was out at Constance Bank, but it was hard fishing there due to strong currents this past weekend. Not many fish were reported to have come from close in along the waterfront. There are some large unclipped Chinook that had to be released in the area. Anchovies were a good bait to use and Bloody Nose, Mint Pearl 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 Jellyfish, Milky Way and White Glow. Coho Killers, AP Needlefish, G Force and Coyote spoons in Green Splatterback, Moon Glow and Gold Nugget have also been good. The Lemon Lime and Madi have been effective flashers lately.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend with the strong currents. 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 River
The water level is very low for this time of year and the water level is 0.27 meters at the lake and near Duncan today. Fly fishing at the top end of the river for trout has been good and insect hatches are happening daily. 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.
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 spring Chinook are available in decent numbers, and angling is improving. Trolling herring or large bladed spinners are the most productive techniques. Keep your gear near the bottom while trolling slowly.
Great Lakes
Lake Michigan
No report this week.
