Fishing Reports for January 25
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
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)
APRIL 1st! The rumors are out there … an April 1st Opener? That is April Fools Day you know…
Still closed. See you on the 9th hole.
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 slowing down over the past week with few people out fishing for them on the pier. 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.
GEAR Up for the Feb 1, 2017 Area 11 Salmon season reopening.
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 – Potholes Reservoir
We are still froze in now at over 60 days with snow on the ground. Not much fishing. I will be at the Puyallup Sportsmen show this week working in the Scotty Downrigger booth. I do expect a lot of you to stop by just to say hello. If there are downrigger questions I can help you. I do look forward to seeing a lot of you.
Report submitted by Tom Pollack.
Vancouver
We have seen some good fishing locally and in Howe Sound on our 8 hour charters. We have been spending most of our time in Howe Sound which has provided quite good fishing for feeder chinook in the 7-12 pound range. Things will continue to improve leading into March. We have seen some bigger fish in the area which is right on time. Howe Sound has a big herring spawn in the winter months and it tends to bring a few bigger fish into the area to feed on these mature herring.
This is a great time for our American neighbors to make a trip north for some of the tastiest fish of the year. We are running our winter special until the end of March. The special pricing along with the strong American dollar makes this even more intriguing. Give us a shout or email to discuss your options to get you on the water for some of the best action of the year.
For more info call Jeff or Jason at Bon Chovy Fishing Charters (604) 763-5460,bonchovy.com email: info@bonchovy.com.
Vancouver Island (Saltwater)
no report this week
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Winter springs up to 12.5 lbs were seen at the marina. Springs are all throughout the area and it didn’t really matter where you were fishing. Most of the anglers have switched over to artificial lures and are 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.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Salmon fishing was GOOD recently. There were some springs up to 10 lbs caught on the flats but not too many. Most of the springs are small. 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.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Pedder Bay Marina reports salmon fishing was EXCELLENT in the bay. The bay entrance has held winter springs up to 12 lbs, as has Whirl Bay. Most of the anglers have switched over to artificial lures and are 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.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sidney
Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. A nice 16 lb spring was caught at Wain Rock at 40 feet on the downrigger on an AP Herring spoon. There were springs in the teens also coming from Coal Island and James Island. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most successful spoons this past year. This past week, anchovies and Tiny Strip were the best producers of fish.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sooke
The salmon fishing has been GOOD for springs. Most of the fish are still less than 10 lbs in size. The best fishing has been from the harbour entrance westward to Otter Point in 110 – 150 feet of water. The salmon are holding close to the bottom so you have to troll deep. Most of the anglers have switched over to artificial lures. 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. Most of the salmon have been in the 5 to 8 lb size range but there are some larger ones into the teens around. The 80-130 foot depths have been good off the waterfront and you lure should be close to the bottom. The same depth and technique has been working well out at Constance Bank. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons or AP Tackleworks herring spoons have brought good results.
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. Some winter run steelhead are now n most rivers. COWICHAN RIVER – Not too many anglers were fishing in the river after the river blew out on Monday. Water levels are near 1.7 meters near the lake and 1.6 meters near Duncan. There are steelhead in the river but it has been spotty fishing this winter. The Riverbottom area has been best for steelhead. Not many steelhead have reached the upper reaches of the river yet. Fishing for trout with egg patterns in the fly only area has been quite good. Anglers fishing egg patterns have been catching browns, rainbows and cutthroat trout.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Oregon
Lake Michigan
no report this week