Fishing Reports for December 14
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
Submitted by Kevin Klein, Team Parker Boats NW. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also contributed by Klein.
no report this week
Marine Area 8.2
no report this week
Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)
no report this week
Marine Area 10
Results of the sixth day of the 71st Tengu Blackmouth Derby on Dec 11: 21 members fished, 2 blackmouth caught.
- Gary Wong 4 lb 11
- Chuck Hammer 4 lb 7
Southwest winds made it hard for 21 members to fish as only two blackmouth were weighed in on Sunday. The winning fish came off the Elliott Bay Marina while the other came off Harbor Island. Members reported shakers caught everywhere and very little bait in the Bay. Also squid all over the bottom in shallower depths.
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 good from boats at 90-12 feet in front of the Marina and at the pier on high water and late from afternoon/evening. Bottom fishing for flounder has been good.
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
Squid Fishing Derby Saturday, December 17, 2016 from 4-6:00 pm. Check In at 3:30 pm at Point Defiance Marina Pier. All fishing from the PD Marina Pier. Limited to 40 participants. Adult Prizes provided by The Boat Top Shop for PD Marina Gift Cards for $50 1st, $30 2nd, $20 for 3rd place. Youth Prizes and Drawing Prizes are from Danielson Fishing Company. Register at 253-591-5325 or genea@tacomaparks.com. Free Entry Fee
Polar Bear Plunge January 1, 2017 Point Defiance Marina Boat Launch. Cub Plunge 11:30 am and Bear Plunge 12:00 noon. Volunteers needed. Shuttle to parking provided. More information. 253-591-5325 or genea@tacomqaparks.com
Limited Hats provided by BECU to the first 300 Plungers. Free hot chocolate/coffee, tea, and snack bars. Changing and heated tents on site. Wear foot protection (shoes/water shoes )
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. Learn fall fishing opportunities and how to pursue thm.
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 – Potholes Reservoir
With below freezing temperatures and ice forming on the lake and ramps there has been no sign of anyone fishing so there is no report. We are seeing more deer in the evenings moving into the fields to feed. Last evening we saw 14 deer that had risked crossing the highway to feed. We have also had deer in our side yard and on occasion very large bucks. Field hunting for geese has been very good but for success you would have to hunt on private property that is normally on a land lease agreement.
Tom Pollack – retired
British Columbia
Vancouver
We have enjoyed a solid start to our winter chinook salmon season in local waters! Some days have been challenging with weather, but on the days we have made it out, the action has been quite good. There is a mix of legal and undersized fish around as usual. Some days you have to sort through the undersized to get a legal or two, but it sure seems like the rods are moving consistently a little more than normal so far this fall/early winter.
The winter chinook have been scattered throughout all the usual winter fishing areas. Howe Sound, English Bay and across the Strait of Georgia will all have fish right now. The hot spot may vary from day to day, but keeping an eye on your sounder and moving around a bit often helps in the winter. These fish are actively feeding fish and if you find the bait, you will find the fish. Nothing new! In the winter months it is key to keep your gear very close to bottom,
As usual a variety of different lures will catch winter chinook. We usually stick to smaller G Force, Skinny G and Silver Horde Spoon with green/white/chartreuse type colour combinations. So far this year our best producing spoons have been the 3.0 G Force Trailhead, and Bon Chovy and the Skinny G in the Outfitter or Bon Chovy patterns. We have been running the spoons behind Guide Series STS, Lemon Lime, Bon Chovy, and Madi Flashers.
We have lots of gear in stock at our charter shop on Granville Island. We are open from Tuesday to Friday in December from 11 to 5pm. You can always call us outside of our posted hours and we can usually help you out with gear selection for winter chinook. We also have CHARTER GIFT CERTIFICATES available if you are looking for a great Christmas gift. In January 2017, we will be running our “Winter Charter Special” that we have been running for almost 10 years now! It is a great way to experience our winter fishery at a very good rate. Here is the link from last year for more details. Pricing will be the same.
For our Neighbors to the South…we haven’t forgotten about you! Our winter special rates are available to you and with the favorable exchange rates now is a great time to head north for some feeder chinooks, crab and prawns. Our posted rates are in Canadian dollars. Give us a call to set up a day on the water or come up for a weekend and make the most out of your experience.
For more info call Jeff or Jason at Bon Chovy Fishing Charters (604) 763-5460,bonchovy.com email: info@bonchovy.com.
no report this week
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. Mostly small winter springs up to 8lbs were caught in the bay. It’s been good from the Bedfords to Church Rock also with similar size fish. 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.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Salmon fishing was FAIR to GOOD this past week. There were some springs up to 10 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 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
Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Pedder Bay has held lots of springs from 4 to 8 lbs and Whirl Bay has produced springs up to 10 lbs. 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 Brass/Silver, 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 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 SLOW this past week. We’ve heard of very few fish caught recently. The best spot has been the Sidney Channel. 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
The salmon fishing was GOOD for springs with most of the fish under 10 lbs in size. The area from the harbour to the trailer park had been good but the fish are moving around more now.. Most of the anglers have switched over to artificial lures and are 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 though 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. Shrimping has been very good in Sooke Basin.
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 GOOD this past week. The annual Frostbite Derby was held at Esquimalt Anglers’ with 130 participants. The weather conditions were poor. Fifteen salmon over 5 lbs were weighed in during the one day derby. The largest salmon was a 12.8 lb spring caught by Joe Sherpa. Second place went to Trevor Skakun with a 10.7 lb spring. Third was Gord Simpson with a 10.5 lb spring. The winner won $500, second place won a downrigger and a bottle and third place a downrigger. The 50/50 draw was worth $700. The best fishing has been out at Constance Bank where springs up to 12+ lbs were caught. 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.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Lakes
Fishing is FAIR in most lakes for trout and SLOW for bass. Fishing for salmon in the rivers is slowing as the spawning season comes to and end.
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 (ODFW) reports that Chinook fishing is fair to slow on Tillamook Bay. Chinook fishing will probably slow down as the end of the run nears but some Tillamook-area rivers are known to have late Chinook so there are still some possibilities out in the bay. Keep an eye on the weather.
There are some large wild coho being caught; remember that coho fisheries are hatchery fish only (adipose fin clipped), and all unclipped coho must be released. Know how to identify coho by the white gum line at the base of the teeth, and the ribbed tail fin rays (Page 95 of the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations). Don’t assume it’s a Chinook just because it’s large.
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.
Willamette River
It’s great to have a “Bucket List” when it comes to fishing. That could be a destination, a new species or a different way to target fish. I accomplished all three on Sunday while fishing the Willamette River in Portland. A group of kayak fishermen get together every year for their annual Sturgeon Slay Ride Meet Up. The fishery is catch and release only using single barbless hooks. The bait can be what ever left over herring, squid or fish you have sitting in your freezer. With a 3 to 6 oz lead weight, lower your bait and allow it to sit on the bottom . Wait for their rather subtle bite, set the hook and then hang on for a ride! There’s a reason this area is nicknamed “Jurassic Park”. Sturgeon are true dinosaurs and deserve to be admired and protected. Nearly everyone in our group caught at least one fish. We left with smiles, sore arms and memories we won’t forget.
Report submitted by Brad Hole of Kayak Fishing Washington. (also, on Facebook)
Great Lakes
Lake Michigan
no report this week
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