Fishing Reports for October 5
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
Outstanding Albacore fishing ensues as more hot water barrels towards the PNW!!!We have more 64+ degree water and Tuna offshore from Westport than we’ve ever seen at this point in the season. There’s some real amazing stuff happening out there right now!
We’ve fished through October every season thus far and even made a few November trips each of the last two years. My prediction will be nothing short of that and quite honestly I’m expecting more November fishing this year.
The size of these fish is impressive and our run time to the prime zones is only about 1.5 hours thanks to our 290 Defiance boats and big Honda outboards.
Everything is fishing good right now…live bait fishing is off the hook, troll action is good, fly rod tuna, lots of jumper patches and birds to keep you busy.
Outstanding fishing and we finally have some space available.
Report submitted by Mark Coleman, All River and Saltwater Charters; 425-736-8920. The cover image of this week’s reports was also contributed by Coleman.
Marine Area 3 (LaPush and Forks)
no report this week
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)
no report this week
Marine Area 5
no report this week
Marine Area 6
no report this week
Marine Area 7
Marine Area 8.1
no report this week
Marine Area 8.2
no report this week
Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)
no report this week
Marine Area 10
no report this week
Marine Area 11
Pier Peer in Tacoma Marine Night
Saturday September 17 , 2016 from 7:30 – 9 pm Ages 8+ Cost $8 each Family Night on the Point Defiance Pier learning about marine life that divers find and that can be seen in the night lights off the pier. More information here.
Point Defiance Marina Fall Swap Meet
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
no report this week
Freshwater – Lake Cle Elum
While most fishermen are flocking to the rivers to chase down salmon, a buddy and I decided to drive to the mountains to fish Lake Cle Elum. Gone are the ski boats (or any boats for that matter). The lake is very low. You’ll need 4 wheel drive to get down the sandy slope down to the lake. We picked a couple of windless days to launch our kayaks. You could see rippling of kokanee at the surface of the lake and the occasional sockeye porpoising up top.
Follow the bait… We each put on small spoons and let out a few colors of lead core line. Mackinaw Lake Trout will often follow schools of kokanee. My buddy was quick to pick up the first fish trolling while I worked the bottom in 60 to 100 foot of water jigging. After a quick couple of photos we were fishing again. Both of us hooking nice fish at the same time. I could see the suspended fish following my my jig and I got hit as soon as it hit the bottom.
Here’s a little video footage:
Cle Elum has been heavily gill netted by the tribe trying to control the lake trout population which ultimately effect any sockeye fry in the lake. There are still plenty of fish to be found if you put in the time.
Report submitted by Brad Hole of Kayak Fishing Washington. (also, on Facebook)
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
With most of the crops now out of the fields and daily temperatures dropping there is not the need for the use of the summer high of the draw down of water out of Potholes. As a result, the Potholes level is now starting to raise. The water temperatures are dropping and more fish are being caught. Also the high pressure of summer fishermen is dramatically down. Bass fishermen are finding the best Largemouth fishing up in the Crab Creek area. With the lake level raising more fishermen are going back in the dunes. Yet unless you know the ways in go slowly as the lake is still about 15 feet low compared to spring time levels. Larger Smallmouth are being found up in Linn Coulee. Also Smallmouth are along the face of the dam.
Walleye we still are seeing mixed results with one boat catching several fish and the next boat being skunked. The better results are by those being successful that cover water and are fishing well away from the crowds. Also fishing spots on the lake where they have not fished before. There has also a blade bite going on in fishing waters from 30 to 60 feet deep and if you are on them there seems to be good concentrations of fish. This blade bait fishing is a newer method for most fishermen and a colder water presentation, usually fishing down the slope of a drop off.
Day time temperatures remain mild but for the most part my summer shorts are seldom used and a sweat shirt is close at hand. The Blyth launch is still not useable because of water levels for most boaters but very soon the water level will good. I am not seeing yet flights of ducks or geese but with colder weather up north and the fields being cut we will start seeing the birds soon. I am seeing deer tracks each morning behind my house and will be checking my trail camera in a few minutes.
Report submitted by Tom Pollack.
British Columbia
Vancouver
As we move into October we will start to spend more and more time off the Fraser River Mouth targeting coho, chum
Vancouver Island (Saltwater)
no report this week
Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, and Ucuelet
Bamfield
Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Although the Springs are slowing down, some nice Cohos are coming in. The coho fishing has been steadily improving and anglers are catching lots of wild coho with a few 7-18 lb hatchery fish. Those who targeted coho did quite well using Coho Killers and the Mongoose Coyote spoon this past week. Anglers using bait are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working best. Also good are spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in Bon Chovy or Outfitters’ colours. For flashers, the Betsey, Lemon Lime and Twisted Sister have been good. Kirt Rompain and Kurt Horne caught 3 Coho and a surprise 24lb spring caught between the Head and the Bedfords in 400′ of water 82 feet down using anchovy.
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 GOOD this past week. There were more winter springs showing up however the cohos have slowed down this week since the rain . Most of the salmon anglers who fish Oak Bay have moved over to either Sooke or the waterfront. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons. Anglers jigging have been using Needlefish Darts, Point Wilson Darts or Deep Stingers.
Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week. However, 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 GOOD this past week. The coho fishing is out at the shipping lanes where there are a lot more hatchery springs than in close. Most of the hatchery coho have been from 8 to 14 lbs and even larger unclipped fish have been caught as well. The bite periods have been early in the morning, on the tide changes and late in the evening. G Force spoons in Outfitters and Irish Cream were the top bait this past week. For those using anchovies, 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 GOOD this past week. 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 this past week. The Pender Bluffs produced some coho as and a couple of springs in the high teens but the bite periods were infrequent. The coho were suspended at 80-90 feet. There were small, undersized springs off Hambley in 130-140 feet of water. The springs are being caught on anchovies and the Bloody Nose teaser head have been working best. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G the most successful spoons this past year. Anglers jigging have also been caught springs using Needlefish Darts and Deep Stingers. The Powder Wharf and Shag Rocks area are popular 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 GOODfor coho but slow for springs. Otter Point, Possession Point and Secretary Island were the hotspots. The coho fishing has been very good and many of them are large. The hatchery fish were running from 8-16lbs and some of the wild, unmarked coho were even heavier. The best coho fishing has been out on the tide lines with white/glow hootchies and Irish cream Coho Killers being popular lures this past week. Anchovies are still a good choice for bait and good choices for teaser head colors are UV Green, Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. For flashers, Super Betsey, Madi or Bon Chovi have been effective recently.
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 FAIR this past week. The cohos have slowed down since the rain over the week. The wild coho were as large the mid teens in size and hatchery coho up to 12 lbs were caught. There were good bites at times and other long periods were there was nothing happening. The best depths have been 40 to 75 feet on the downrigger. Good areas have been Macauley Point, the V21 buoy (green can), the breakwall, Brotchie Ledge and Clover Point. Most of the springs have been from 8 to 15 lbs in size but some big ones were caught as well. Spoons have been successful in getting hook ups and Anchovies have been a good bait to use as well. Bloody Nose, UV Green and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers and 3.5” Cop Car spoons have brought good results in Victoria.
Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week with the best areas being 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. Thomas Thiele caught a nice, 127cm, Halibut weighing in at 52lbs. He caught it at Constance Bank (West) at a depth of 280ft using Salmon Belly.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Lakes
Fishing is GOOD in most lakes for both trout and bass. All streams within Management Units 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, and 1-6 are opened once again for fishing. Effective immediately to 23:59 hours Friday September 30th 2016 the Nitinat River will open to recreational angling for chinook and coho. The daily limit will be 4 salmon per day of which: • Two (2) may be chinook, of which only one (1) may be greater than 77 cm. in length, and• Two (2) may be coho, marked or unmarked.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Oregon
Tillamook Bay
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that fishing on the bay is fair with fall Chinook starting to show up; a few fish are being caught.
Great Lakes
Lake Michigan
no report this week