Fishing Reports for June 22

By on June 22, 2016

Washington

Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)

no report this week

Marine Area 2 (Westport)

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Tuna have arrived in Westport! Way earlier than normal so here we go. Salmon opens July 1st. Bottom Fishing is good. A lot of fun things to do in Westport.

Deep water Ling Cod fishing open this past week with really good results. What does that mean? It means that you can now legally bottom fish in waters up to 300 feet deep in the areas designated by the WDFW. This is exciting because it opens a lot of areas that are closed under the 180 foot restriction. Lots of new opportunity for all.

Black Rockfish, which is the staple in Westport, have been filling coolers every week. A day here and there with weather changes have been tough but over all fishing has been good.

Salmon fishing opens on July 1st which is much later than in many years past. What this means is we will be opening up in a definite summer time pattern. You will want to start looking in deeper water and using your larger baits. Bait is quite plentiful right now in deeper water so it would make sense that the fish would be there. Water temperature is still a little warm than usual so I plan on starting out like we fish last year. This would be in the 250 foot of water area. Fish deep and look for bait clouds. When you find the bait stay in that area. Use 4 to 6 inch Silver Horde spoons by themselves or behind a inline flasher. For your Flasher, Hoochie combos I am using UV on both.Success will come with persistence. Be safe when crossing the bar and watch the weather.

We are about to hit full stride in the Ocean with everything. With a short Salmon season and Tuna already out front things are going to get really busy. Make a plan to enjoy some fantastic fishing this summer here on the coast.  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 Lanier.

Marine Area 3 (LaPush and Forks)

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

Big Shrimpin’! Seems like the biomass of spot prawns has grown over the years in this area. I think the shrimp are now pretty much everywhere. Maybe a two to three degree rise in water temps could be the cause? One thing I’ve noticed as well: going to a longer season seemed to just spread out and lessen the pressure vs. a short series of weekend openers, where everybody rushes to go get some regardless of weather or tides.

Big Shrimpin’! Seems like the biomass of spot prawns has grown over the years in this area. I think the shrimp are now pretty much everywhere. Maybe a two to three degree rise in water temps could be the cause? One thing I’ve noticed as well: going to a longer season seemed to just spread out and lessen the pressure vs. a short series of weekend openers, where everybody rushes to go get some regardless of weather or tides.

Jessie Payne pulls a pot. Everyone should bring at least one or two student athletes along for these trips…to do all the work!

Prawns rock on in the ‘Juan’s! Prawning continues to be good in Marine Area 7 West. With a 160 per person limit, it really makes the trip worth while. Prawn tails sealed in a container with water freeze well. Makes for a nice treat to pull out when the season is over. Nice to have shrimp cocktail while watching the Seahawks in October.

At right, Jessie Payne pulls a pot. Everyone should bring at least one or two student athletes along for these trips…to do all the work!

Submitted by Kevin Klein, Team Parker Boats NW

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)

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The small area from Hoods Canal to Foulweather Bluff was opened up for crabbing last Thursday.  Most anglers did very well with limits of large Dungeness Crab.   Crabbing is open Thursday through Monday in this area, closed Tuesday and Wednesday.  Good bait seems to be Turkey and Chicken Legs.

Salmon University Staff

Marine Area 10

no report this week

Marine Area 11

The salmon fishing is still closed but we may hear by this weekend if NOAA approves our permit to have a salmon fishery this year.

The Taste of Tacoma event is this weekend so if salmon fishing open, getting on the water early will be key because from about noon on there will be a lot of traffic and very limited parking for the rest of the day. The Taste of Tacoma runs 6/24 through 6/26/16.

The few fishermen and women that have ventured out lately have been catching some flounder and sole.

Crab fishing opens 7/01/16 in Area 11 and is open in Area 13 currently.

Point Defiance Marina has rental boats and motors and launch and overnight moorage facilities with pump out stations and shore power. In addition we have storage space for bouts up to 17 feet as well as kayak storage. For more information call 253-591-5325.

Basic Fishing Classes are offered throughout the summer months. 2 Hour classes are $15.00 and can be designed for youth and adults. Boat House Tackle Shop open 7 days a week.

Boat lifts open at 5am tackle shop open 5:30am tackle shop close 8:30pm boat lifts 8:50 and facility 9:00pm. For more information call 253-591-5325 Call 253-591-5325 or visit us on Facebook “Point Defiance Marina”

Sails and Trails Camp for youth ….Have a youth ages 11-15 looking for a week long day camp that provides fishing, sailing, and kayak instruction as well as beach and trail hiking with marine and forest education. Check out the Sails and Trails Camps offered at Point Defiance Marina and Tacoma Youth Marine Center. Camps are M-F 8 am to 6 pm and are available for July 11-15, 18-22, or 25-29, 2016. For more information genea@tacomaparks.com or (253)591-5325. This is a great way to introduce teens to these on the water opportunities. Cost $250 per week session.

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 – Cooper Lake

DCIM100GOPROG0145517.I got a late start yesterday to drive up over Snoqualmie Pass to fish Cooper Lake. Cooper is one of the few lakes in our state the hold brown trout. I’m always looking for that trophy but it didn’t happen on this trip. A few small browns and rainbows and one decent sized bow really put up a good fight.

If you’re looking to get out of town and be remote, Cooper Lake is beautiful. Snow capped mountains are the backdrop of this lake and it’s one that does not allow any motors (including electric). Bring your float tube or kayak and you’ll have a blast (though there is plenty of areas you can fish from the bank).

Keep an eye on the wind. In the spring and early summer, the wind kicks up about 2pm. I saw that most people on the water didn’t have PFDs or Lifejackets on. Come on people! The water has not even hit 50 yet.. be smart!

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

Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir

Thing are changing rapidly here at Potholes but still we are seeing days with a lot of wind and whitecaps. The lake will continue to drop until October. The total drop in water level will range from 15 to 22 feet so every week you will get a different look. This past Saturday my son Scott and his family came over for Fathers Day to fish. Saturday was just too windy.  Sunday we chose to try Soda Lake which is high. We launched on the south end on a gravel launch. We saw no other boats and found out why after catching only about a dozen and releasing undersized walleye. Last year at this time we caught quality fish but not this year. After Scott and his family left I was just drifting into a nap when there was a banging on the front door; I awoke to see my other son Matt and his family arriving to spend a couple days fishing Potholes. We did fish back in the dunes towards the job core to try to get out of the wind and it was tough to make a presentation. We caught a few largemouth but we saw several deer including two monster bucks, still in velvet. That made the day. After noon we fished the Crab creek channel for walleye and they were not very cooperative as we caught but 2 so we did go back in the dunes and fished the west side. Lots of vegetation now showing along with large school of newly hatched fry, Late after noon we moved to the dam face for smallmouth fishing dropshot worms and caught many as well as donating a lot of gear to structure to the bottom.
The reports I have received from my neighbors is that walleye fishing has been spotty. I know that with weather fronts the fishing will drop off. This week we are seeing improving weather conditions so do not miss out on the warm weather and sun.

Report submitted by Tom Pollack.

British Columbia

Vancouver

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Rob with a beautiful Howe Sound Spring.

This past June has been unlike any other June we have experienced in local waters….. In a GOOD WAY! We have seen incredible amounts of anchovies in local waters. This has kept us very busy and entertained with feeding chinook and coho on the lines! There has been some slow days, but there has been more than enough spectacular days in the mix to make up for them. It will be interesting how long the salmon and bait hang around of Bowen Island, we hope for a while!

The South End of Bowen Island from Cape Roger Curtis to Cowan’s point is where the majority of the angler effort has been taken place. The anchovies push in and out with the tides and currents and the salmon are usually not far behind. The schools of anchovies are often easy to locate as they are very close to the surface and their location is given away by a dark mass in the water or the seagulls hovering above them. Because of the shallow nature of the anchovies, a lot of the fish have been caught very shallow from 20 to 70 feet. There has been a mix of legal chinook, undersized chinook and wild and hatchery coho feeding on the anchovies. With luck, all this bait will stick around in local waters and keep these feeding fish around off Bowen Island for a while.

Adam with a big spring!

Adam with a big spring!

Typically in the latter part of June, we are focusing on the Gulf Island’s for chinook salmon and starting to to scout Vancouver Harbour for early coho salmon bound for the Capilano River. There has been fish over on the Gulf Island’s and we have caught a few coho off Point Atkinson already. However, with the good fishing on most days around Bowen Island this June, we have not spent all that much time in the Gulf Island’s as the fishing has been better on the Vancouver side! As we get in to early July we will more than likely start fishing West Vancouver more as it is looking like we will be having a very good coho year.

We have been running mostly spoons and have not been worrying about running anchovies much. Our favourite Gibbs Delta and Silver Horde Spoons have been doing an excellent job keeping the rods moving. We have been running the G Force Bon Chovy and Trailhead, Skinny G Outfitter, and the Silver Horde Herring Aide and Killy Mcgee. Some days, especially in heavy current, hootchies have been working well. A few hootchies that have worked for us have been the chartreuse spackleback, glow and plain white Yamashita Hootchies. Our favourite Guide Series Flashers like the Madi, STS, Bon Chovy and Lemon Lime have been doing well as always. If you are looking for the right gear and bait for local waters, please stop by our charter/tackle shop on Granville Island.

Give us a call or an email if you are looking to get on the water!

Tight lines.

For more info call Jeff or Jason at Bon Chovy Fishing Charters (604) 763-5460,bonchovy.com email: info@bonchovy.com.

Vancouver Island (Saltwater)

no report this week

Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound

no report this week

Becher Bay

Salmon fishing was SPOTTY for anglers at the Trap Shack, Beechey Head, and Aldridge Point.  Most of the Chinooks coming in were 8lbs- 12lbs in size with the odd fish in the 20’s.  Anglers using bait are finding anchovies in Green Glow, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads are working well.  Summertime depths between 40’ and 70’ are starting to work well.  For flashers, the Purple Onion, Lemon Lime and Bon Chovi have been good again this week.

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 with the Flats being the most popular spot this week.  Good options for gear in Oak Bay are Needlefish Squirts in Purple Haze, Army Truck or White Glow; or Coho Killers in Irish Cream, Cop Car or Splatter Back.  Use a 5’ leader for Coho Killers or a 3’ leader for Needlefish.  For flashers, Chart Blade Lemon Lime, Madi and Bon Chovi have been working well.  Anglers have been catching springs in the mid to high teens with the odd one in the twenties.  Fishing close to the bottom in depths of 70’- 110’ has been working best, although, the odd fish has been coming in from mid depths.  Oak Bay has been picking up in the last couple days and is expecting to get better this coming week.

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 OKAY this past week.  Most anglers are fishing in 50’- 80’ of water, close to the bottom.  The tide change for ebb to flood has been the best time to catch fish.  Anglers have been fishing with anchovies in Glow teaser heads trolling behind flashers in Glow Green, Lemon-Lime and Madi.  The fish being brought in are ranging from mid to high teens in size.

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 17lbs in size.  Trollers fishing with tiny strip or anchovies were using Bloody Nose and Glow 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 in Sooke was SLOW for springs this past week.  The salmon coming in were in the mid to high teens with the odd larger Spring up to 20lbs.   Sooke anglers have been using Anchovies with teaser heads in Chartreuse Green or Glow trolling behind Lemon Lime flashers.  The tides have been better in the afternoon in Sooke.  Anglers fishing off Sherringham Point, Otter Point and the Bluffs at a depth between 40’ and 80’ 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

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

Victoria

Fishing for salmon was GOOD off Victoria.  The best fishing was out at Constance Bank again this week.  Anglers have been successful using G-Force and Skinny G spoons in Irish Cream and Splatter Back; or anchovies with teaser heads in Bloody Nose, Chrome Joanne, or Blue Green Chrome.  Squirts were successful in getting hook ups as well with Pink Haze and White Glow remaining to be good colour choices.  For flashers, the Madi, Bon Chovi or Chart Blade Lemon Lime have been working well.  At Constance, anglers have been catching Springs fishing the bottom in depths of 70’- 130’ of water; or 50’- 70’ off the Breakwater.  The springs coming in were in the high teens and low twenties.

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

All bass fishing is closed to retention until June 15th. Bass fishing is GOOD.  Langford Lake has been very busy 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

Stamp River

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

Report submitted by Jim at Blue Max Charters out of Milwaukee. He can be reached at 414-828-1094.

Salmon University Staff
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