Fishing Reports for December 28

By on December 28, 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

Lofty Salmon Claus Rory O'Connor usually got the job done in 2016. Christmas Eve was no different, as he fooled this yule tide fatty, delivering fillets to the smoker. Here's to a better 2017. Lets all try to do our part to make it fair and just for recreational anglers. My wish is that all of us in the sport fishing community make it our New Years resolution to get involved in fish issues, and push for transparency and equality in this upcoming years season setting process. Happy New Year to all, and to all, get ready for the fight!

Lofty Salmon Claus Rory O’Connor usually got the job done in 2016. Christmas Eve was no different, as he fooled this yule tide fatty, delivering fillets to the smoker. Here’s to a better 2017. Lets all try to do our part to make it fair and just for recreational anglers. My wish is that all of us in the sport fishing community make it our New Years resolution to get involved in fish issues, and push for transparency and equality in this upcoming years season setting process. Happy New Year to all, and to all, get ready for the fight!

Winter Chinook fishing is fair in the Islands when the weather permits. Anglers have been having success on Silver Horde spoons, in all shapes, colors and sizes. Troll within 10 ft. of the bottom for best results. Crab is open through December 31st, so this is the last shot for awhile. Get a limit of Dungies and Nookies on Saturday before the Huskies take on ‘ Bama. Not sure if the Dawgs will make ’em Bow Down, or if the Crimson will Roll Tide. Even though I’m a Coug…gotta say…BOW DOWN! Wish I was illiterate so I didn’t have to read or write that. And no Wazzu jokes…Cougar grads can read and write, mostly.

Submitted by Kevin Klein, Team Parker Boats NW.

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

Squid Fishing continues to be good in Area 10 / Shilshole and around Elliot Bay.  Daytime squid fishing has been good in front of the Big Wheel in Downtown Seattle.  If you’re jigging near the bottom there are a lot of squid egg sacs attached to rocks and debris on the bottom (see photo).

While you can try your luck at a variety of different piers around these areas, we have had good luck during the day in 60 to 90 feet of water in Shilshole Bay.  I like to run two different squid jigs (smaller/lighter one up top) with a 10 to 12 inch mono leader in between them.  For fishing deeper water from a boat or kayak tie off a 2 to 3 oz weight with a short mono leader to the bottom squid jig.  Look for schools suspended or right on the bottom. When you get into larger schools, double and triple hook ups are easy to achieve.

Report submitted by Brad Hole of Kayak Fishing Washington. (also, on Facebook)

Marine Area 11

The results of the first annual Point Defiance Squid Fishing Derby on December 17, 2016, sponsored by the Boat Top Shop and Danielson Tackle Company, are available here.

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.  The largest Blackmouth in our December Monthly derby so far is from there and weighs 7 pounds 4 ounces.   Squid fishing from a boat off Pt Gibson has brought limits.

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.  It does not look good at this point.   For a more up to date report call 253-591-5325.

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 – Beaver Lake

I got my kayak out for a quick pedal today at Beaver Lake in Issaquah. It appears all the “meatball” rainbows they dumped in the lake a couple months ago have all been caught. I only marked a few fish on sonar and saw a couple rise at the surface. I pulled a Mack’s Glow Fly Wedding Ring up top and switched over to a Wiggle Hoochie that has performed great in previous trips. I had the entire lake to myself – that should have been a sign.  I ended up pulling off the water early to hit Lake Sammamish to see if I could redeem myself with a cutthroat trout.

Report submitted by Brad Hole of Kayak Fishing Washington. (also, on Facebook)

Freshwater – Lake Sammamish

There’s been a bunch of chatter online about how good the fishing has been on Lake Sammamish. This is the time of year when the midge hatch happens on the lake which brings several cutthroat trout and birds to the lake’s surface to feed.

We got a late getting to the lake arriving just after noon.  A quick paddle towards Issaquah Creek and my fish finder was showing several fishing right below the surface.  Getting them to strike right off the bat was a bit of a challenge. My friend and I trolled from our kayaks about 45 minutes before I was able to land my first fish.  I was trolling a Mack’s Lure FlashLite Spinner Blades with a trailing Glowfly Wedding Ring.  I landed one 16 inch cutthroat trout that I released.  My buddy had the best luck trolling a Needlefish spoon in a rainbow trout pattern.  That one lure landed him 4 nice cutthroat before the day was over.  I struggled to land another fish going through several different lures in my tackle box.  Most of the fish seem to be found in the middle of lake just shy of the weather buoy.

Though Lake Sammamish has a bag limit of 5 cutthroat trout, please only take what you plan to eat and practice Catch & Release.  These fish are not stocked and it would be nice to see this great fishery continue for years to come.

Report submitted by Brad Hole of Kayak Fishing Washington. (also, on Facebook) The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also contributed by Brad.

British Columbia

Vancouver

no report this week

Vancouver Island (Saltwater)

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 for the very few anglers who went out fishing. Most of the anglers have switched 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 FAIR.

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 to GOOD recently but very few, if any, anglers were out fishing. 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 FAIR 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 GOOD this past weekend in the bay. The bay entrance has held lots of springs from 3 to 8 lbs and Whirl Bay has produced springs up to 10 lbs. Most of the anglers have switched 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 FAIR 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.

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

Sidney

Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. We’ve heard of springs up to 14.5 lbs caught recently near Deep Cove and Wain Rock. There were some undersize springs caught in the Sidney Channel near the Red Can. 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 had been GOOD for springs with most of the fish under 10 lbs in size. The area around the basin entrance was best but the fish are moving around more on the outside 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 recently but very few anglers were out on the water.. The best fishing has been out at Constance Bank where springs up to 12+ lbs have caught. That said, some springs are also coming from close in between Albert Head and Clover Point. 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 FAIR with lots of dogfish around eating the bait. Some anglers did well with Powerbait grubs. Also working well, and discouraging to dogfish, was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow. Anglers that were fishing were mostly using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait.

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

Lakes

Fishing was SLOW in most lakes for trout and SLOW for bass during this past week’s cold spell. Some winter run steelhead are just starting to enter the rivers.

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.

Great Lakes

Lake Michigan

no report this week

Salmon University Staff
Salmon University is the top online resource for fishing in the Pacific Northwest. Follow us on Twitter @salmonuniv for the latest news and other updates.

Wikipedia