Fishing Reports for July 27
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
Salmon fishing has been really good on some days and a struggle on others. Chinook ranging from just legal to 30 pounds have been caught this week in Westport. Fish are starting to show in small numbers on the north and south beaches in 40 feet of water or less but, the majority of the fish are coming from the 200 to 250 feet of water area. This is about a 12 mile run out. The weather, as I type, is keeping most of us at the docks and with the upcoming weekends forecast it will most likely be another blowout.
This week the fish have transitioned away from bait and the Silver Horde Gold Star hoochies have stepped to the forefront. A Green Spatterback behind your favorite flasher has been the ticket. 30 to 36 inches of leader puts you in the right mode to attract these fish. 190 to 250 feet down on your Downrigger has been the strike zone as of late. I have also been applying a little ProCure Herring or Anchovy Gel scent to my hoochies for added effect.
On the beach, it is a spoon and bait show. No Flashers, run a straight herring or Silver Horde spoon behind a Diver or shallow Downrigger.
Tuna have moved out and south and have slowed way down this week. There is a lot of warm water out here so, there is no line to hold fish. We are doing a lot of searching and finding small pockets of fish. Troll small baits to help locate fish
We are at a two Chinook bag limit in Westport and the season is scheduled to run until the quota is met or August 21st. Whichever comes first. Trollers with downriggers are currently far more successful than Moochers at this point.
Come see us in Westport soon because the are just 4 more weekends to fish Salmon in MA2.
Marine Area 3 (LaPush and Forks)
no report this week
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)
Submitted by Don Dybeck, Port Hadlock, Wash.
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu)
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Chinook fishing is expected to be “Excellent” in Marine Area 5 during July.
Salmon University staff
Marine Area 6
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Chinook fishing is expected to be “Excellent” in Marine Area 6 during July.
Salmon University staff
Marine Area 7
Fishing for clipped Chinook has been fair in the San Juan Islands. The average size fish is around 10 lbs, as we wait for some larger Summer fish to move in. Try Silver Horde Ace-Hi Flies 32″-36″ behind an 11″ flasher. Coho KIlers have been working as well.
Prawning closes in Marine Area 7 West at 9 p.m. July 28th, so time to get one last shot if possible. Crab is open Thursday’s through Monday’s, so the 28th could be a full meal deal if work doesn’t get in the way. Might be a good day to come down with the sickness.
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 July.
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 July.
Salmon University Staff
Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)
“It’s a TOAD!” I screamed to my buddy Jorgen while pulling plugs in deep water off the East side of Possession bar this weekend. The current was moving and the beast was reluctant to swim near the Fishtale 2, but Jorgen kept the line tight and finally we got him to the net. Not many fish like this come from the inner sound … at least not for me !
Our goal was to get a bit away from the crowds, so we found a nice trolling lane from the N.E. Green Can to the South East tip of Possession. Trolling both the Glow White and also the new Herring Aide Plugs we found our limit trolling 180-200 ft deep in 250-300 feet of salt. Seemed like we were flying at 3.3mph but it worked.
Not too much time till the CLOSURE so get out on the water and enjoy a fresh King on the BBQ !
See you out there !
Report submitted by Nelson “Spud” Goodsell of Salmon for Soldiers (FISHTALE 2). The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also contributed by Goodsell.
Marine Area 10
no report this week
Marine Area 11
A few fish caught the Clay Banks and Shelf . Jigging has been productive and trolling just off the bottom in 120-150 feet of water. For a more updated report call 253-591-5325. The crabbing continues to be a little slow but improving, try different depths and different baits some of our regular fishermen are being successful.
There are also reports of Squid being caught off of the area docks at night. For a more updated report call 253-591-5325.
Crab fishing opened 7/01/16 in Area 11 and is open in Area 13 as well.
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 boats 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.”
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
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reports “Good” prospects for cutthroat in Marine Area 13 during July.
Salmon University staff
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
Hot, Hot, Hot. That will explain what we will see this week and the coming weekend. It will be in the high 90s to low 100s. For you sun lovers this is the weekend you have been waiting for. Fishing has been just fair. Yesterday I launched to try out the duck hunting boat I just purchased after a carb rebuild and the suggestion that the auto oiler was not working. At the State Park launch I ran into two boaters- bothvery good fishermen. From daybreak and until mid morning each had landed one walleye. These two fishermen will catch when no one else can. There will be a walleye tournament over here mid August and this should prove just how good or fair fishing can be. Most all the boaters launching are water sports participants and not fishing.
Report submitted by Tom Pollock.
British Columbia
Vancouver
no report this week
Vancouver Island (Saltwater)
The Silver Horde San Juan Island’s Pro Staffers from Friday Harbor made the trip to Tahsis last week. Fishing for all species started out good, and ended up great by the time they left. Chinook are in big time, and Coho are there too. Silver Horde spoons were the hot lure.
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- Andy and Carol Holman, with Andy’s dad Dave, and Vicki Klein, put a hurtin’ for certain on the salmon.
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- Vicki Klein got on the leader board with her first legit 30lb King. Yipee tyee!
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- Tahsis was a very special adventure, and everyone agreed…we’ll be back!
Submitted by Kevin Klein, Team Parker Boats NW.
Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, and Ucuelet
The 2016 saltwater sport fishing season is closing in on some world class angling opportunities on B.C.’s West Coast. The month of August and the first half of September should provide six to seven weeks of fabulous sport fishing for anglers fishing the Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound and offshore Ucluelet. Chinook forecasts are literally off the chart in terms of returning four and five year old Chinook to the rivers, streams and creeks of West Coast Vancouver Island. The forecast of great returns to the Somass, NitiNat, and Sarita River systems are expected to be the best returns over the past fifteen years.
Mike from Calgary fished with Doug from Slivers Charters and landed this twenty-five pound Chinook at Cree Island in Barkley Sound. This salmon hit an anchovy in a green haze teaser head.
The Sport Sockeye Fishery in the Alberni Inlet CONTINUES to be very good. To date the sport Sockeye season has provided some terrific angling opportunities for everyone. The 2016 season is not like the previous year but with forecast returns of almost 1.2 million Sockeye the sport fishery and been very good. Due to cooler water and air temperatures in June and the first half of July the returns of Sockeye to the Somass River system have been excellent. To date escapement has been four hundred and twenty thousand to Sproat and Great Central Lakes. The summer rain and cooler temperatures in the area has led to excellent migration through the salmon ladders.
Currently the Sockeye are schooling from Cous Creek out to the narrows. The Sockeye in the Alberni Inlet are currently sitting in eighty to one hundred and ten feet of water. They are hitting short leader lengths from eighteen to twenty-four inches in length behind a variety of hotspot flashers. The mp2, mp15, pink and blue, pink and black, and the pink with either the green or white head hootchies all seem to be working very well for most of the sport anglers. Many anglers are also using “Black Hooks” behind a green plaid chartreuse hotspot flasher or the purple onion hotspot flasher. Sockeye are attracted to the boat by color. Many anglers will have eight flashers behind their boat. Four are often dummy flashers and the other four with lures of choice. The Sockeye are averaging four to eight pounds. Sockeye are the number one commercial salmon. They are wonderful for summer barbeques and when vacuum packed properly last the winter for those special occasions. With good numbers of fresh Sockeye coming into the system on a daily basis we are hoping the Sockeye Sport fishery will continue into the August Long Weekend.
Sockeye fishing is a wonderful fishing opportunity for the whole family. It is a fun fishery for young and old. Don’t miss out on this opportunity in the Alberni Inlet this July and early August.
Sockeye salmon landed by Geoff and Cliff from Tswassen B.C. All fish came from the Alberni Inlet
The salmon fishing in Barkley Sound has been relatively inconsistent. The best fishing has been out on surf line areas. The islands close to the Ucluelet Harbor Mouth, Meares, Austin, Cree Island, Kirby Point, Edward King and the Bamfield Wall have all had times during the past few weeks with some good Chinook sport fishing. Areas close to the Ucluelet Harbor that have had a few fantastic fishing days are Great Bear and Sail Rock. The inner and outer South Bank, Long Beach, and the Starfish have had some of the transient salmon heading to the big water systems to the south create some wonderful sport salmon fishing opportunity. The salmon in the Sound and inside waters have been hitting anchovy in green glow, army truck, and green haze Rhys Davis Teaser Heads. Small three and a half inch spoons have been working the best. The cookies and cream, Irish cream and the TKO spoons have been excellent. They match up to the very small bait size. The Sonora cuttlefish, Jack Smith and a variety of Turds have been working well out on the banks. The best lures however have been the smaller spoons. Dragging the small spoons close to the bottom has created the best opportunity.
We are looking forward to some great sport fishing opportunities during the last week of July, all of August and the first half of September in the Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound and offshore. The numbers of transient and West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook headed to the big watersheds to the south and local rivers and streams are forecast to be very strong which will provide some world class sport salmon fishing.
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
Ryan Mace caught a 28. 5 lb spring Sunday on anchovy in a Glow Mint Pearl teaser head off Beechey Head
Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. Beechey Head and Aldridge Point were the most productive locations to fish. Debbie Campbell caught a 34.4 lb spring off Beechy Head Sunday, on an anchovy fished in a Rhys Davis Bloody nose teaser head behind OK’I gold Betsey flasher at 53 feet. Debbie takes over first place on our leader board. Ryan Mace caught a 28. 5 lb spring Sunday on anchovy in a Glow Mint Pearl teaser head off the Head as well. Anglers using bait are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working well. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in Bon Chovy or Outfitters’ colours were also effective. For flashers, the Purple Onion, Lemon Lime and Bon Chovi have been good.
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. There are some fish in the area, just not too many of them and they were scattered. There has been a lot of bait to hold fish, but the just haven’t shown up in any numbers. 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. Anglers jigging have been using Needlefish Darts or Deep Stingers and have been doing much better than those trolling for salmon, with some anglers getting limits of 11-20 lb springs.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow. Also working well, and discouraging to dogfish, was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow.
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 SLOW this past week. Almost all the salmon caught near the entrance of Pedder Bay. Jeff Zamluk caught 3 springs on Wednesday night including one fatty at 27lbs! Jeff was fishing in the flood tide rips, using a green/yellow hoochie with a green/yellow/green flasher with 80-110 feet of line in about 130-180 of water. There was a lot of bait in the bay and anglers jigging near the bait schools were hooking the most salmon. Many of the jiggers were getting limits while anglers trolling were getting skunked. The springs were mostly on the small side, but fish up to 20 lbs were taken.. Anchovies also caught fish, but not as many as the ones taken jigging. Good choices for teaser head colors are UV Green, Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Flashers that are popular include the Betsey, Lemon-Lime and Madi.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend. The 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 9” Jumbo Squids 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 VERY SLOW this past week. We’ve heard on one spring about 12 lbs being taken at Pender Bluffs and that’s about it. 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 are popular for jigging salmon.
Effective July 25, 2016 at 00:01 hours until October 14, 2016 at 23:59 hours, you may not retain chinook salmon in the following waters: Subareas 18-6 to 18-8, 18-10.
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 this past week. Muir Creek, Otter Point and Secretary Island were the best spots for fish. Most of the springs are not very big but there are some larger springs up to 34.5 lbs in the area. Neil Webb caught a 25 lb spring off Otter Point on Sunday. today Anchovies are now the top choice for bait and good choices for teaser head colors are UV Green, Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze.The top spoons for Sooke anglers are the White Lightening and Irish Cream Coho Killers, trolled behind a Betsey, Madi or Bon Chovi Flasher. Hootchies in Cop Car, Purple haze and White have been effective in the past month.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com.
Victoria
Fishing for salmon was VERY SLOW off Victoria. There were a few caught along the waterfront near Esquimalt, and some of good size, but not very many. About 1 in 10 boats has been catching a salmon. Anchovies have been a good bait to use and Bloody Nose and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Spoons and squirts have been successful in getting hook ups as well. Good choices in plastic baits are the Pink Haze and White Glow. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers, Gibbs Outfitters or Bon Chovi Skinny G trolling behind a Moon Jelly flasher has also brought results in Victoria. Green/Gold Hot Spot flashers have also been good to use.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week with the best areas remaining being East Constance Bank, Border Bank and the Mud Hole. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well, and discouraging to dogfish, was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Cowichan River
no report this week
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.
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
