Fishing Reports for March 1

By on March 1, 2017

Washington

Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)

no report this week

Marine Area 2 (Westport)

no report this week

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

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)

“BIGGER and BRIGHTER,” our good friend Ty screamed as the beast made its third run back towards the Pacific. The Cookies N Crème Tailwagger trolled in the deeper waters off Possesion was the breakfast of choice for her first and final fish of a perfect chilly but calm morning.

The catching has been good although the weather could be a bit warmer in Area 9 lately. Tail Waggers and Ace-Hi flies have been doing the best on the larger fish. No monster teeners for us yet, but we wont give up trying !

See you on the water,

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

Marine Area 10

no report this week

Marine Area 11

The salmon fishing in area MA 11 opened 2/1/17. When winds/weather has allowed anglers have been fishing 120′ to 150′ trolling flasher and spoon or flasher squid from the Slag Pile to Les Davis, Quarter Master, and the shelf area off the Clay Banks. There has been plenty of bait seen but the salmon have been under legal size or wild fish for the most part. The February Point Defiance has 3 fish entered with the largest, a blackmouth weighing 3 pounds 9 ounces by Bill Combs. 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. A few resident coho have been caught in area 13 on flies. For an updated report call (253)591-5325.

Crabbing is now closed until July 1 with no winter crabbing in Area 11. 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.

Learn fall fishing opportunities and how to pursue the Basic Fishing Youth/Adult April 8, 2017 Saturday 10 am to 12 noon Cost $15

Point Defiance Marina Basic Fishing Adult 15+ March 4, 2017 Saturday 10 am to 12 noon Cost $15

Point Defiance Marina Basic Trailering Class- Ages 18+ April 15, 2017 Saturday 10 am to 12 noon Cost $20 Point Defiance Marina

The next Pier Peer in Tacoma – Marine Education Night is March 11, 2017 from 7:30-9 pm . See and touch marine life brought up from the deep by local divers and find marine life on lighted piers. Cost $8 for ages 8 +. Must have an adult with each youth.

Plan ahead for the ABC Boater’s Education Class on Wednesday Nights from 7-9 pm May 3-31, 2017. This class will provide the requirements for the mandatory WA State Boater’s Card for boats with 15 hp or greater. The class will provide a Boater’s Manual and Navigational Software. Cost is $50. The class is taught by Tacoma Power Squadron.

Boat House Tackle Shop open 7 days a week.

Boat lifts open from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm. Tackle Shop hours are 6:30 am to 6:00 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 Chelan

93 year young birthday boy, Ernie Gurthrie with Pepe’ and Roger Sorenson with their mess of Kokanee

What’s heating up is trolling the edges of Lake Chelan for Kokanee. Also continuing hot is trolling the trench on Lake Chelan for Mackinaw. Finally, fishing through the ice on Roses Lake is hot for rainbow trout.

On Chelan, we have located schools of kokanee around the edges of the lower half of the lake. They are varying in size from 9 to 14 inches. They are absolute acrobats on light gear and their delicate flesh has unparalleled eating quality. Work the edges of Lake Chelan from the surface to 200 feet. Look at your sonar and troll a Mack’s Lures Double D dodger trailed by one of Mack’s Lures orange or pink Mini Cha Cha Squidders baited with some Pautzke’s Fire Corn or shoepeg corn scented with Pro Cure’s Bloody Tuna just above the fish. Speeds of 1 to 1.5 mph will work best. Look around on the same contour once you find them.

Lake Trout continue to bite trolled presentations in the trench. This bite, that has been red hot since September has finally dropped back to a more normal 2 fish per hour. I would expect big fish to show up around Colyar’s ledge now, if our previous year’s experience are any help. Jeff’s Drifts baited with pikeminnow, were the best lure to solidly hook those light biting trench fish.

Roses Lake is producing rainbow trout through the ice. Fish with a slip sinker rig and Pautzke’s Firebait in Rainbow.

Your fishing tip of the week is to make small subtle shifts to stay on those kokanee. They are roaming a bit for their food. I’ve found that sliding along the same depth contour that I originally found them at is better than slipping into deeper or shallower water. Also, using some of that new Mack’s tape to change things up can reignite a slowing bite.

Dave (The Fishing Magician, AKA: The Commish) with brother Rick (the grand old guide of the lake ) Graybill's with their and Jeff's Kokanee.

Dave (The Fishing Magician, AKA: The Commish) with brother Rick (the grand old guide of the lake ) Graybill’s with their and Jeff’s Kokanee.

The kid’s tip of the week is a combination of two oldies but goodies from repertoire of managing primary grade school age kids. Kids from 5 or 6 to 8 or 9 will use misbehavior to get attention illegitimately. It is hard-wired into them. Step one is to ignore the behavior for a short bit then catch them doing something on task and praise that behavior. Step two is to use distraction to get them off the misbehavior. Step three is to then redirect them back on task. Unless the misbehavior is dangerous, responding to it reinforces it, even if the response is negative.

The safety tip of the week is to inspect your lifejackets for rips, tears and other winter wear. Can’t wait for our first burst of nice weather!

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. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also contributed by Jones. It shows the venerable Pepe out with the intrepid Jeff to get their Kokanee fix.

Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir

Things here at Potholes have not changed. At the Mardon dock there is still 14 inches of ice. The roads into the Quincy Game range are questionable. Later this week we have predictions of temperatures in the low 50s.

Report submitted by Tom Pollack.

Vancouver

Salmon fishing has been good over the last week and should continue until the end of April. We have seen lots of mature herring locally and in Howe Sound which has made for some exciting days on the water. This herring spawn that occurs during the winter/spring months tend to bring some bigger fish into the area. The average size fish is in the 7-15 pound range but fish in the 20+ pound range are not uncommon for this time of year. An average day you are getting 5-10 bites from a mix of legal and undersize fish. In the winter months we are also able to drop crab and prawn traps which overall makes for a great day on the water.

We are currently running our winter special which goes until the end of March. This is the best experience of the year and shouldn’t be missed. Give us a shout to get you on the water today!

For more info call Jeff or Jason at Bon Chovy Fishing Charters (604) 763-5460,bonchovy.com email: info@bonchovy.com.

Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound

no report this week

Bamfield

no report this week

Becher Bay

Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week and slower than last week. Springs are all throughout the area but the largest fish came from the inside of the bay rather than in the strait. The largest salmon of the week was a 10 lb spring caught inside the bay. The fish haven’t been too picky about what they will strike. Most of the anglers are using 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 catching their share of salmon and 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

Oak Bay

Salmon fishing was FAIR recently. There are small springs up to 8 lbs on the flats but the seals have been a problem here. Many of the local anglers are fishing at Constance and Border Bank, just t escape the seals. All of the anglers have been bottom bouncing or trolling close to the bottom. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons.

Halibut fishing was FAIR this past week. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.

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

Pedder Bay

Pedder Bay Marina reports salmon fishing was FAIR. The bay entrance produced some winter springs up to 8 lbs in size. The fishing was similar in Whirl Bay but the fish were found in deeper water there. Most of the anglers using artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom, but bait is also producing well. The fish haven’t been too picky about what they will strike 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 SLOW this past week. There were a few keeper springs coming from Wain Rock, Patricia Bay and Fairfax Point. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks spoons the most successful spoons this past year. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were the good 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 SLOW for springs. Most of the fish are running from 6 – 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 but the largest fish have been caught on bait. There are large herring in the area and the bigger fish are keying in on them. 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. We did hear that some halibut were caught west of Sooke.

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 FAIR this past week. Constance Bank was where most of the action was happening, with seals as well as salmon. Most of the salmon have been in the 4 to 10 lb size range but there are some larger ones into the teens around. Closer in, the 50-130 foot depths have been best off the waterfront. Good areas have been the harbour entrance, Finlayson Point, Clover Point and Brotchie Ledge. Your lure should be close to the bottom when trolling off Victoria. 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.

Halibut fishing was FAIR this past week. Constance Bank and Border Bank were the two best locations. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.

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

Lakes and Rivers

Fishing was SLOW in most lakes for trout and SLOW for bass. Winter run steelhead are now in most rivers on both sides of the Island.

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

Oregon

Tillamook Bay

no report this week

Willamette River

no report this week

Great Lakes

Lake Michigan

no report this week

Salmon University Staff
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