Fishing Reports for January 4
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
Digging razor clams in the winter isn’t for everyone. The temperatures were at the freezing mark for the two day evening dig. Trying to squeeze in a quick dig before the tide rolled in proved to be a bit challenging. My buddy and I would spend two hours struggling to get our limit. Cold hands and 15 clams between us, we decided that a cold beer sounded much better.
Report submitted by Brad Hole of Kayak Fishing Washington. (also, on Facebook)
Fishing for hatchery Steelhead continues into the New Year now and there’s still some nice fish to catch. I’m the mix are some wild steelhead and even a few nice Coho. Yes fresh Coho!With this cold snap the river levels are finally near normal and the water clarity is quite clear. Our team employs a number of different techniques for Steelhead and the overall best producers have been drifting cured eggs and float/jig fishing.
By mid January the fishing will shift over to mostly wild Steelhead and we’ll offer those trips through March.
Give us a call or get out there yourself! Good luck!
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
R and R Charters on the troll out of Anacortes
Winter Chinook fishing has been fair in the San Juan Islands. Blustery conditions have kept anglers off the water on many days. For those that did get out around the Holidays, there were some larger Blackmouth to be had. Silver Horde spoons in 3-4″ sizes have been working just fine. These fish are aggressive, and hardware seems to be working just as well, or better than bait. Crabbing is now closed in Marine Area 7.
The Bluewater Bar and Grill in Friday Harbor will be hosting a salmon derby Saturday, January 7th. $100 per boat entry fee, and $1000 for largest legal Chinook as top prizes. Pay at the Bluewater, in person or by phone, anytime before Friday 6th at 9 pm. Weigh in will be at the Parker demo boat, slip E-7 at the Port of Friday Harbor Marina, near the floating rest rooms at 4:30 pm. Appetizers and Seahawk’s football afterwards at 5 pm at the Bluewater!
Let’s all make it our New Year’s resolution to get involved in recreational fishing issues, and provide more opportunity for anglers. Whether it’s joining PSA, CCA, or donating to NSIA, signing a petition, or going to public meetings, we all need to make our voices heard. This year’s WDFW season setting meetings in April will be the most important in years. Will we continue on the same path towards the downfall of recreational fishing in Washington State, or can things get better? I’m not going to say it’s up to you, but it will definitely help for each of us to do what we can do.
Submitted by Kevin Klein, Team Parker Boats NW. The cover image of this weeks’ fishing reports was also contributed by Klein.
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
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.
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 them.
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”
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 – Lake Sammamish
We had a good dose of cold weather today but the sun came out and made it somewhat tolerable. Despite the cold temperatures, word must be getting out on Lake Sammamish. There must have been 10 boat trailers in the parking lot today. I believe I was last to arrive at 11am.
The lake was calm. You could see snow on the tree tops surrounding the lake. As I peddled out to the middle of the lake my kayak became covered with hundreds of bugs hatching off the lake. I watched as birds worked the surface and a few cutthroat would rise on occasion. The bite was slow. I talked to one other fisherman that had landed one fish.
I would fish half the day with a Mack’s Smile Blade Spinner tipped with a worm. That brought two cutthroat trout to the boat. I’d switch over to an Apex and a spoon with nothing to show for it. The sun went behind the clouds and it got even colder. Time to call it a day.
Report submitted by Brad Hole of Kayak Fishing Washington. (also, on Facebook)
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
Since Thanksgiving we have had snow on the ground. The next few days we will be seeing temperatures at and below zero. No boat fishing going but ice fishing is still going on at Moses Lake and up in Linn Coulee. Also Soda and Long lake should be looked at. On the main Potholes the dunes area is froze in solid. Ice on the main Potholes is still forming but the low temperatures this week could just cover the lake with ice. Call Mardon resort with current ice conditions. The goose shooting is still good for those who have access to feeding area for geese.
Report submitted by Tom Pollack.
British Columbia
Vancouver
no report this week
Vancouver Island (Saltwater)
no report this week
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. Small winter springs up to 9 lbs were caught in the bay by the 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 was SLOW this past week.
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 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 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
Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week in the bay. The bay entrance has held winter 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 SLOW 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 FAIR this past week. Recently, springs up to 14.5 lbs were caught 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 but very few anglers were out on the water. The most fish have come from out at Constance Bank where springs up to 12+ lbs have caught. That said, some springs up to 11.5 lbs 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. The seals are once again becoming a problem for anglers.
Halibut fishing was SLOW with lots of dogfish. Some anglers have done 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.
Willamette River
What a road trip to end 2016. Friday I drove down to Kress Lake (35 miles north of Portland) to try my luck at catching one of the 30 ten pound steelhead they tossed in the lake. One hour of finish was about all I could take. Zero fish.
I pinged my buddy in Portland, Robert Perea, who encouraged me to join him for some sturgeon fishing. I only had trout gear with me and a clam gun for later. Robert hooked me up with a rod and bait. I got about 90 minutes of fishing him landing one 4 foot sturgeon.
Robert, on the other hand, would land his personal best (11 footer) that day, followed by an 8 footer. Glad I was there to capture the moment.
Report submitted by Brad Hole of Kayak Fishing Washington. (also, on Facebook)
Great Lakes
Lake Michigan
no report this week
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