Fishing Reports for November 9

By on November 9, 2016

Washington

Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)

no report this week

Marine Area 2 (Westport)

no report this week

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

no report this week

Marine Area 8.1

no report this week

Marine Area 8.2

no report this week

Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)

derbytime

“Going to be lumpy,” I told my derby crew as we pointed the Fishtale 2 towards Possession this Saturday. Luckily the fishing was excellent as the wind continued to push up some nice choppers throughout the morning. To avoid any “smalls” we switched out to the new Silver Horde Pearl UV Green Spatterback 5″ plug to try to find the winning fish. That and the 3.5″ Yellowtail Kingfisher spoon put some nice fish on the deck. We didn’t catch the winner but we had a great time on the water with friends fishing IN THE MUD at 140 feet.

Special thanks to the Everett PSA and Bayside Marine for their very generous Derby donation to Salmon for Soldiers. These donations will get a lot of veterans on the water this year.

See you on the water!

Report submitted by Nelson “Spud” Goodsell – Salmon for Soldiers, IGFA Life Member, FISHTALE2

Marine Area 10

Results of the first day of the 71st Tengu Blackmouth Derby on Nov 6
21 members fished, 3 blackmouth
1) Justin Wong 8 lb 11
2) Benny Wong 5 lb 6
3) Steve Nitta 4 lb 14

Great weather for the opener of the 71st Tengu Derby on Sunday as 21 members weighed in three nice blackmouth. All three fish were caught from the Elliott Bay Marina, mid-morning. Lots of shaker action all over the Bay with multiple reports of keepers lost at the boat from West Point, the Marina, and Duwamish Head. No reports from the Harbor Island area since there was heavy netting going on. Members reported marking bait everywhere and catching a number of squid too.

Salmon University staff

Marine Area 11

The salmon fishing in area MA 11 is closed until 2/1/17, in area MA 13 there has been a few legal Chinook caught around Fox Island mostly near Pt. Gibson, Green Pt. and the entrance to Wollochett Bay. Trolling flasher and spoons or artificial squid in 120′ to 150′ of water about 10′ off of bottom seems to be most productive.

Squid fishing has been decent a little inconsistent but should improve. Crabbing is now closed until we hear if we will have a winter season starting January 1, 2017. For a more up to date report call 253-591-5325

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 year. 2 Hour classes are $15.00 and can be designed for youth and adults. Boat House Tackle Shop open 7 days a week.

Fall Fishing Class November 12, 2016 10 am to 12 noon (Age 15 +/ Adults) Cost $15. Learn fall fishing opportunities and how to catch fresh and saltwater fish.

Boat lifts open from 6 am to 6 pm. Tackle Shop hours are 6:30 am to 5:30 pm. For more information call 253-591-5325 Call 253-591-5325 or visit us on Facebook “Point Defiance Marina.”

Squidding classes at Point Defiance Marina December 3, 2016 from 4-6 pm

Cost $15 Learn the regulations, locations to fish, equipment and tackle . Also care, cleaning and cooking

Call 253-591-5325 or genea@tacomaparks.com

Pier Peer Tacoma Marine Education Program with Tacoma Nature Center and Point Defiance Marina. Saturday, November 19 from 7:30-9 pm Cost $8.00 (Must be age 8 + and each child must have an adult with them). See and touch marine creatures brought up by local divers as well as participate in a lighted area dip net for smaller sea life to observe and release. Great way for the family to see nighttime marine life on the Puget Sound.

Report submitted by Point Defiance Marina. For more information contact: Art Tachell, Boathouse Marina Technician, 253.591.5325 art@tacomaparks.com www.pointdefiancemarina.com.

Freshwater – Grays Harbor Rivers

image2

Fishing for King and Coho (and unavoidably Chum) salmon has been good this month.  Dodging high water has been a bit of a challenge but we’re used to that and making the best of plenty of rainfall.
Fishing wrapped kwik-fish or cured salmon eggs on the backtroll has been the overall best producer for kings.  Coho have been on the hardware, spinners and feather or squid jigs.
Late October and early November are prime time for Grays Harbor river Coho and Humptulips river chinook salmon so please give us a call to get out on the river.  This is the. Eat time to experience a drift boat float trip with one of our top guides.
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. 

Freshwater – Lake Chelan

Eric Berger of Seattle with his boys Julian and Keenan with their mornings catch of Mackinaw.

Eric Berger of Seattle with his boys Julian and Keenan with their mornings catch of Mackinaw.

What’s hot is trolling for Lake Trout near the Yacht Club on Lake Chelan. Also hot is trolling for Kokanee on Lake Chelan. On Lake Chelan we have been running up to the Yacht Club to catch our fish. Worden Lures venerable T4 Purple Glow Flatfish has been productive as well as Jeff’s Drift Rigs made from Mack’s Lures Smile Blades and tapered beads. Speeds of 1 to 1.2 mph worked best.

Guide in training, Shawn Murphy of Chelan with his and Jeff's morning catch of Chelan Kokanee and Cutthroat.

Guide in training, Shawn Murphy of Chelan with his and Jeff’s morning catch of Chelan Kokanee and Cutthroat.

Also on Lake Chelan, fishing for Kokanee near the Yacht Club has been hot. Mack’s Lures 00 to 0000 chrome scale dodgers trailed by their mini cha cha Squidders or wedding rings baited with Pautzke’s Fire Corn has gotten these mostly 12 and 13 inch fish to bite.

Your fishing tip of the week is to use your electronics to fine tune your presentation to increase your catch rate. During this reporting period we used our Depthfinder and GPS to have great days for both Mackinaw and Kokanee on Lake Chelan. For Kokanee, the fish were concentrated in a narrow band in a small area. Jeff pounded that area by setting the lure depths just above the schools of Kokanee to have a Banner Day. The Mack’s were concentrated near the bottom moderately spread out, but near similar depths. Jeff kept on that pattern to stack the Macks. Without the Depthfinder and GPS it would have been a much slower day.

The kid’s tip of the week is to keep your ear to the ground for the annual fall stocking of Roses Lake. This usually provides a couple of weeks of great angling before ice up right around the Thanksgiving Holiday. My grandkids have some nice memories of this. Maybe yours can get some memories too?

The safety tip of the week is make sure you are ready for towing in the winter here in Eastern Washington. A snow brush, a shovel and chains are a good idea. A can of that deicer spray has come in handy over the years for a variety of things.

The Zervas of Friday Harbor with their mornings catch of Chelan Lakers. Their Hillside B&B is a great place to explore the San Juan's from.

The Zervas of Friday Harbor with their mornings catch of Chelan Lakers. Their Hillside B&B is a great place to explore the San Juan’s from.

I will ascend onto my soap box for my report leading into Veteran’s Day to share my thoughts and feelings before moving on in future reports. I believe the best thing that we can do to honor our war dead is live well and joyously. However, I think it is occasionally necessary to reflect and appreciate their sacrifices. My friend, Terry Gilden was killed in the Beirut Embassy bombing of 1983 by militants. The mission there was to bring the bloody civil war in Lebanon to an end. In 1993, my friend, Randy Shugart was killed by militants of a Somalian warlord. The mission there was to clear the way for food supplies to reach hundreds of thousands of starving civilians in rural Somalia. While critical thinking is necessary and skepticism can be useful, make no mistake. Flawed as we might be, we are the good guys because men like my friends answered the call and do their best to implement our national will. George Orwell said it best: “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” Just reflect for a moment about the lifestyle we enjoy and give thanks for these men.

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

Election day is upon us as I sit here writing this fishing report. Whatever the outcome I just wonder what is the future for the sport we all love. Like the election, the direction of our fishing will be controlled by money and greed. Enough said.

The primary activity here at Potholes is that of duck hunting. The level of the lake continues to raise as the outlet at the dam is closed off and a lot of water is coming in. It is still a little early for the northern flights to come in as temperatures here continue to be warm with no frost. Yet experienced hunters are still getting opportunities. One of my close neighbors is coming in by 11 am with 6 to 10 ducks, several days of the week.

With my wife Linda recovering from major back surgery I remain close to her side to help out and try to keep her from doing to much. I do plan to excape for a few hours to walk into a trout lake for quality trout fishing before the hard freeze comes to lock them up. I do have in mind some new tricks to try on walleye. It is never too late to learn something new to me.

Report submitted by Tom Pollack.

British Columbia

Vancouver

no report this week

Vancouver Island (Saltwater)

no report this week

Vancouver Island (West Coast)

Two beautiful late summer Chinook land by Mardie and Fred of Ontario. Fishing with Slivers Charters the two salmon were landed using anchovy in a Rhys Davis glow army truck teaser head.

Two beautiful late summer Chinook land by Mardie and Fred of Ontario. Fishing with Slivers Charters the two salmon were landed using anchovy in a Rhys Davis glow army truck teaser head.

It is almost mid-November and the great memories of the past salt water salmon fishing season are very fresh. The summer of 2016 had many memorable days of fishing in many of the local fishing areas. The Sockeye fishing in the Alberni Inlet from mid June through the first week of August was excellent. Barkley Sound had an abundance of salmon in August and the first part of September. Coho salmon which were forecast to be poor were actually in very good numbers and by mid August were weighing up to fifteen and sixteen pounds. Chinook numbers forecast to return to West Coast Vancouver Island were not what was expected. Returns to the Somass River system are currently close to fifty thousand. The forecast return was more than double that number and never materialized. However on the bright side there were definitely enough Chinook in the system to make the Chinook salmon season a success. The forty-fifth Labor Day Salmon Festival during the 2016 Labor Day Weekend was definitely remarkable. There were many registrants and plenty of salmon landed and weighed in. The fourth largest Chinook recorded in the history of the derby was landed. The fifty three pound salmon was the largest Chinook since 1991. The salmon derby was definitely a terrific boost for Port Alberni. With all of the great 2016 salmon fishing results still memorable we are now slowly preparing for the summer of 2017. The summer and fall salmon Season is now over and salmon returns, even though the Chinook were not as strong are still relatively healthy for conservation measures. Pre seasonal 2017 forecasts for local West Coast Vancouver Island Sockeye, Chinook, Coho, and the salmon runs migrating to the big southerly watersheds have not yet been forecast. The various fishing departments will likely begin to share returning numbers in the early part of 2017.

Charly from Arizona land this beautiful Chinook fishing the waters of Barkley Sound in very late August. Fish was landed using anchovy.

Charly from Arizona land this beautiful Chinook fishing the waters of Barkley Sound in very late August. Fish was landed using anchovy.

November and much of October has had more wind and rain than usual. The Stamp River has had very high water conditions through much of the fall and at the moment is at an above average level. There have been times that fishing the Stamp for Fall-Summer Steelhead has been difficult because of the very high water conditions but it is hoped that the rain will become less and the river will get to normal levels so that the Fall Steelhead will go into a feeding frenzy on the dropped naturally spawned river eggs. Less rain and less water entering Stamp River will reduce water levels and will allow for some great Steelhead fishing for the second half of November and into early December.

Salmon returns to the Somass system were better than what was forecast for 2016 especially for Sockeye and Coho. Over one million Sockeye Salmon returned to the Alberni Inlet with four hundred and forty thousand escaping to the Sproat and Great Central Lake systems. Coho which were looking dismal have had over thirty thousand pieces return to the Somass River. Chinook Salmon were not close to pre season forecasts but with a return of just about fifty thousand there are excellent egg counts for Robertson Creek Hatchery and for a natural river spawn. The Somass River system is a key stream for Sockeye, Chinook, and Coho. The Chinook numbers in terms of return still allowed for the necessary 57 million egg count at Robertson Creek Hatchery. Fisheries and Oceans Canada in partnership with Hupacasath First Nations facilitate a counting operation from late May to early November. The fish way is open daily and the salmon are counted by video and computer and trained observers. The salmon migration in the River system as mentioned is video-taped and counts are better than 95% accurate.

Stamp River

Water levels in the Stamp are currently at an average level for mid-November. The Summer-Fall Steelhead fishing for the past few weeks could be described in two words as “mediocre” or slow. Water levels are too high and there is currently severe flooding along the Somass. The Upper Stamp fishing pressure is very “LOW”. The best angling opportunity when water levels come down will likely be just above the Ash River. The Chinook and Coho wild spawn has thinned out but there are plenty of eggs in the river system. The problem is that with the severe flooding the gravel beds and natural egg spawn may be washed out. The Lower River has seen little fishing lately but expectations are that in the next few weeks or when water levels decrease that some late Fall and Winter Steelhead will begin to show and pick up the Stamp River fishing.

The Stamp Fall River fishing for salmon was excellent.

The Stamp Fall River fishing for salmon was excellent.

With the Coho spawn being very strong with the fairly decent Coho returns anglers when it is possible to fish the river should mimick what the Steelhead are feeding on. A bait ban been in effect from “the bucket” so fish egg imitations are a must. Guides are using single egg imitations. Jensen eggs are the most popular. Also gorkies, and spin-n-glows will do well.

When the fishing in the Lower River picks up especially below the bucket sport fisher people should use gooey-bobs, pink worms, and spin-n-glows in bc orange and regular orange colors. We are expecting the Stamp River which is British Columbia’s premiere fishing destination river to have some terrific Steelhead fishing right through March of 2017

Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, Ucluelet

The Alberni Valley hosted the forty-fifth Labor Day Salmon Festival in early September. The fourth largest Chinook, in the derby history, weighed just over fifty three pounds was landed by Dan Weatherby of Chilliwack B.C. This big Chinook was landed close to the Bamfield Harbor mouth at Brady Beach. A small cookies and cream spoon in fairly shallow water landed this fish which won the Chilliwack residence fifteen thousand dollars. The Bamfield Wall was definitely a hot area to fish during the derby and most of the month of September. Daily first place finishes were Brian Lawrence landing a twenty-seven pound Chinook on Sunday and Justin Kumagai of Port Alberni landed a twenty four pound Chinook on Sunday. Both anglers won $5,000 for landing the biggest fish of the day.

Sport prawn fishing will have openings in the Alberni Inlet. It is important to check with the regulations and check with the DFO for winter openings. The openings are often for 15 days. Again it is important to check all DFO regulations and openings. Most individuals at this time of year will prawn close to China Creek, the narrows and Cous Creek. Currently salmon in the Alberni Inlet is slow but often Winter Chinook will travel up as far as China Creek if there is bait in the area.

Barkley Sound is one area on the west coast that is protected on the east and west shorelines. It is an area that can often be comfortable for winter fishing. Winter or Feeder Chinook fishing usually picks up in December and carries on well into early April. The rule is often where one finds the bait the salmon will be there. The Chinook are usually in deep water from 115 to 140 feet. Good areas of the Sound to fish are areas close to Poett Nook and Sarita Bay. Vernon Bay, Swale Rock, Mayne Bay, and the back end of Canoe Pass can also be excellent areas to fish. Often hootchies in blue, green, various whites and blue-green colors are the best lures. Of course there are days when the fish will touch nothing but anchovy. Winter Chinook trips also include some prawn and crab fishing.

Ucluelet has already experienced some good Feeder Chinook fishing. The Inner and Outer South Bank earlier in October allowed sport fishermen to have success on salmon up to 17 pounds. This is unusual for the fall but a couple of terrific days for weather permitted a few keen anglers to get out a few miles offshore. Earlier in the fall the T-Rex hootchie was good but recently those anglers fishing on good weather days and close to the Ucluelet Harbor at the “Red Can” Mara Rock, and The Lighthouse Bank have been using white hootchies and also a green needlefish hootchie. A four inch cop car and cookies and cream spoon have also been good lures behind a green or chartreuse hotspot flasher. During the winter Ucluelet offers some of the west coasts best prawn and crab fishing. The Bottom fishing is also very good. One must remember that the Pacific Ocean during the winter can have some magnificent storms but also there are superb days for fishing as the ocean can be completely flat. Winter fishing is often very close to the harbour. Safety of course is always a priority. Ucluelet hopefully will once again be a fisherman’s paradise in the summer of 2017. The migratory fish headed to the large watersheds to the south begin showing as early as late May and continue into late August or early September.

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. The cover image of this week’s reports was also contributed by Doug.

Bamfield

no report this week

Becher Bay

Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. Most of the fish at the marina have been halibut and more people are fishing for halibut than for salmon. As for chinooks, only small winter springs up to 6 lbs were caught this past week. Most of the anglers are now switching over to artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom. Spoons, especially G-Force and Skinny G spoons, in Bon Chovy or Outfitters’ colours have been very effective. Anglers using bait are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working best. For flashers, the Betsey, Lemon Lime and Green/Silver Hot Spot have been good. Halibut fishing has been GOOD and more people are fishing for halibut than for salmon.

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 again this past week. There were some springs up to 5 lbs caught on the flats but not too many. Most of the springs are too small for retention. The coho haven’t been running strong in this area as well. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons. Anglers jigging have been using Needlefish Darts, Point Wilson Darts or Deep Stingers.

Halibut fishing was VERY GOOD 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. All of the recent action has been from small winter springs. Both Pedder Bay and Whirl Bay have held lots of these fish. Small spoons with green color have been the best lure to use. Most of the springs are just under or just over the minimum size for retention. Most of the anglers are now switching over to artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom. Spoons, especially G-Force and Skinny G spoons in Bon Chovy or Outfitters’ colours, have been very effective. Hootchies and squirts with a green and glow color combination have been good plastic baits to use, especially with a 28” to 32” leader. Anchovies were still working this past week. 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 VERY GOOD this past week. Kevin Mitchell landed a 75.3 lb (132 cm) halibut in the West Race area that weighed 75.3 lbs. He caught the fish on Octopus and takes over 3rd place on our leader board.  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 did hear of small winter (feeder) springs caught by the east side o Sidney Channel in about 50-60 feet of water.. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most successful spoons this past year.

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com

Sooke

Halibut fishing has been GOOD and more people are fishing for halibut than for salmon. The salmon fishing was SLOW for springs and most of the fish are on the small size. Most of the anglers are now switching over to artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom. The top spoons for Sooke anglers have lots of green, glow or Moon Jelly as the primary color. 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, you can’t go wrong with a Super Betsey, Madi or Bon Chovi Flasher. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze 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 SLOW this past week. The best fishing has been out at Constance Bank where there are some feeder springs up to 6 lbs. However, most of the springs there are around the minimum size (45 cm) for retention or smaller. We’ve heard of springs to 7 lbs plus coming from the waterfront. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups but you have to check you line every 10 minutes for shakers. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons have brought good results at Constance Bank.

Halibut fishing was VERY 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.

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 FAIR for bass. Fishing for salmon in the rivers is now in full swing and anglers are having EXCELLENT results.

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com

Idaho

no report this week

Oregon

Tillamook Bay

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) reports that fishing on the bay is fair. Fall Chinook are being caught throughout the bay. Success rates are varying greatly from day to day but there are definitely some fish around. There are also decent reports of hatchery coho being caught. ODFW conducted creel interviews at Memaloose on the upper bay last Friday and saw a harvest rate of 0.2 fish per rod for Chinook. Anglers are reminded that there is no retention of wild coho in the bay this year, so all coho kept must be adipose fin clipped.

Due to a wetland restoration project between the tidewaters of the Trask and Wilson Rivers, public access to the Wilson River tidewater from the end of Goodspeed road, and to the Hospital Hole on Trask tidewater, are currently unavailable.

Great Lakes

Lake Michigan

no report this week

Salmon University Staff
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