Fishing Reports for June 8
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
After a few weeks out of town and quite a bit of road miles in the southeasteast USA we finally made it home to Westport to get ready for a very busy summer ahead. We met a lot of great people and got to see some beautiful country along the way. A very special thank to Mitch Coleman of Floridaze Adventures in Mexico Beach, Florida for spending some time talking to me about local fishing. Yes, they have season and allocation issue there like we do. He runs a great charter service and loaned me a great picture of a True Red Snapper they caught while we were there. Give him a call if you are in the area.
This week’s pictures for Westport come from my friend Kevin Vasereno of the charter boat Goldrush. Ling Cod fishing has toughened a bit and most of the charter boats have had to go exploring new areas to find willing biters. Live bait is now available again at Westport so this will certainly help with motivating the bite. Some of the closer spot have been worked pretty hard so you will need to find new ground to find the Lings. Just keep working north.
Rock fish continue to be biting good and with a few live baits you should hit limits pretty quickly once you locate the schools. Bait, Jigs, and Flies will all work. Find rock piles and hard bottom.
This Thursday, June 9th, I will be doing a talk on Albacore Tuna fishing out of Westport at the PSA SnoKing meeting in Edmonds. Meeting starts at 6:30 at the south county Senior Center. Hope to see you all there. They always have a Great raffle and it will include Tuna gear.
June 26th will be the last day our tackle shop will be open in Westport. We are running great specials to sell-out by then so if you are in the area make sure you stop in. You can still get a few of your favorite things after that but you will have to contact me directly.
As always have Fun, be Safe, and I’ll 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 contributed by Kevin Vasereno of Goldrush.
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 4 during June.
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 June.
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 June.
Salmon University staff
Marine Area 7
Oliver Marica, 6 years old, got his first prawn trip in with dad Alex, and Lance and Karen Rhinehart. Do you think he’s “buggin'” dad to go again?!
Ling cod fishing and some prawning remain open in the San Juans. Ling is open through June 15th, and the Prawn limit is now 160 per person in Marine Area 7 West. Make sure and check WDFW regulations before you go.
Oliver also loves to fish, and crab. Here he has diagrammed out his strategy for landing on big numbers of dungeness. Watch out Discovery Channel, Oliver’s Dinghy is in the house! Probably with dad aboard as well…for now.
Summer Chinook should open as scheduled July 1st. As part of the negotiation process of salmon season setting, the State and treaty tribes agreed to a two hatchery clipped Chinook limit in July. The Bellingham Salmon Derby is a GO for this year, July 8th-10th. Go to bellinghampsa.com for more info. In addition to salmon and prawns, recreational anglers will be able to catch crab in mid July. If our weather and fishing continues like it has been this Spring, it’s going to be a long, hot, seafood filled Summer. Gotta get out on the water!
Submitted by Kevin Klein, Fidalgo-SanJuan Islands Chapter PSA, CCA Northsound.
Marine Area 8.1
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reports “Fair” prospects for cutthroat in Marine Area 8.1 during June.
Salmon University Staff
Marine Area 8.2
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reports “Fair” prospects for cutthroat in Marine Area 8.2 during June.
Salmon University Staff
Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reports “Excellent” prospects for ling cod in Marine Area 9 during June.
Marine Area 10
no report this week
Marine Area 11
no report this week
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
no report this week
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
The hot days of summer have started. The past few days here at Potholes the temperatures have been over 100 degrees, however, by this coming weekend the temperatures will be more friendly. The hot temperatures have keep a lot of fishermen off the lake. My wife Linda and I got out two days last week for about three hours before the heat and bugs (not mosquitoes) got to us. With no wind there were millions of these pests in the air on the lake. Each day we fished on the main lake concentrating on humps and got three and five walleye. We are still working on catch and release because of last falls catch. Most fishermen are working north of the state park and up towards the high dune or over in crab creek. The walleye we caught ranged from 17 to 20-inches and were released.
The cherries are now at all the fruit stands as well as Moses Lake Saturday market. Also, in the park we live in we are seeing newborn Killdares and Quail, an added attraction for us. Our garden is starting to give us fresh produce in abundance.
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
Andrew and Blair with their nice Halibut caught on fresh Salmon belly and herring fished off of a spreader bar.
Salmon fishing in Barkley Sound had varied results this past week with Chinook fishing being mainly on the slow side. There have been times when a great bite happens in one spot and just a mile or two away you will get nothing all day so be prepared to try a few spots. The Chinook being caught are nice fish though, ranging in the 10 – 20 pound class. Look to the banks for the best fishing right now.
A few Coho are being taken but not in great numbers yet. Sockeye are starting to show up in the Alberni Cannel and fishing should pick up in the next week or two for them.
Halibut fishing has been good all year and there should be no reason to see it change over the next few months. Lingcod and other bottom fish are plentiful as well 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 SLOW for anglers at the Trap Shack, Beechey Head, and Aldridge Point. Most of the chinooks were running up to 10 lbs in size but there were few hatchery Springs. Sean Hutchinson caught the largest spring salmon this past week, a 26.6 lb hatchery spring, while fishing near Cherry Bay. Anglers using bait are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working well still. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in Bon Chovy or Outfittters colours were also effective. For flashers, the Purple Onion, Lemon Lime and Bon Chovi have been good. Very few halibut 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
Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. The Gap and the Flats were popular spots this past week. Over the weekend, there were 70+ boats at the Flats. Jigging seems to work just as well as trolling. The salmon have been feeding heavily on needle fish on the Flats. The main bite period has been at the end of the ebb and the start of the flood. Anglers fishing with bait have been using anchovies or tiny strip in Glow teaser heads. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons and APT Needlefish spoons. Drift anglers have been getting fish on Needlefish Darts or Deep Stingers.
Mike Donah his wife Cathy and daughter Jess, from Plattsburgh N.Y. caught a 72 lb, 132cm halibut, an 18 lb hatchery chinook, and a limit of Lingcod and Black Rockfish in Oak bay on Wednesday near the flats. The halibut was caught on salmon bellies, the rockfish and lingcod on Smart Baits Jessy swim baits, and the salmon on a 4 3/4 oz green and gold Dart Jigging spoon in 94 feet of water.
Halibut fishing was FAIR this past weekend. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well to stay away from dog fish was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow. The halibut being brought in were ranging from 20- 40lbs with few exceptions.
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 FAIR this past week. There were some 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. 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.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sidney
Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. The best spots around Sidney were Coal Island and Fairfax Point. The few fish that were being brought in were ranging up to 10 lbs in size. Sidney Spit has been better than last week but still remains slow. Trollers fishing with tiny strip or anchovies were using Bloody Nose and UV Green teaser heads. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackle needlefish spoons were successful. Anglers jigging have also been catching springs and are using Needlefish Darts and Deep Stingers. The Powder Wharf and Shag Rocks area remain to be 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 remained SPOTTY for springs this past week. This may be because there was a very fast tide as well as many killer whales in Sooke. There is some oversize, unclipped springs in the area as well as some springs up to 10lbs. The top choices for Sooke anglers are the White Lightening or Irish Cream Coho Killers trolling behind the Madi or Bon Chovi Flasher. Hootchies in Cop Car, Purple haze and White have been effective in the past month. Anglers fishing off Sherringham Point, Otter Point and the Bluffs have had the most success this past week.
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 FAIR off Victoria. The best fishing was out at Constance Bank again this week. Anchovies were a good bait to use and Glow and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups as well. Good choices in plastic baits are the Pink Haze and White Glow. Gibbs Outfitters or Bon Chovi Skinny G trolling behind a Moon Jelly flasher has also brought results in Victoria.
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, very low for this time of year. 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. 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. Chartreuse and Fluorescent Yellow 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. 2” Tomic Plugs have also been working well for Trout.
All bass fishing is closed to retention until June 15th. Bass fishing is GOOD. Langford Lake has been very buy with bass anglers this past week. White Buzz baits, as well as Texas rigged Yum Dingers in Watermelon Flake or Berkley Oil Slicked Worms, have been working well. 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 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
How – Total salmon all week. Chinooks and Coho have dominated the catch all week. Chinooks went for Magnum Reaper spoons in blue/silver or green/silver. White or green Howie’s flies also working well run behind a white flasher. The big Chinooks are active 40 to 50 down. Reapers and Vulcans have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan in green or blue has also been good on the downriggers. Run them 50 feet behind the ball 45 feet down to the bottom. Six inch flashers or dodgers with green or blue Howie’s peanut flies have been my go to bait for Coho. Tie your flies 16 inches on 6 inch dodgers, 13 inches for 6 inch flashers. All orange dodgers and flashers. I hope this helps. Slide Diver are producing with flies set at 2 small ring 40 feet of line out.
Lake Trout action was slow today but we didn’t fish their favorite spots. Brown Trout action was just ok on 2 color lead core with small spoons. Rainbow Trout were hitting Vulcan OL Sherbet spoons in the top 15 feet
Speed – For all fish speed has been very critical with the warmer 50 degree water. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed at the ball. The boat speed of 2.0 to 2.2 has been best. The faster speed triggered the Chinook action.
Where – I fished in and out again. West wind has pushed the warmer water out in 125 to 200 feet but anglers near shore are catching fish. We did not get out over 160 feet of water yesterday. Head north in Whitefish Bay and set lines in 50 feet. Troll north east 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.
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