Fishing Reports for March 8
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
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
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. The past 3 days there have been several reports of fish in front of the Point Defiance Boathouse Marina to the Slag Pile in 140-150 feet of water ten feet off the bottom with flasher and squid or flasher and spoon. 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 Trailering Class- Ages 18+ April 15, 2017 Saturday 10 am to 12 noon Cost $20 Point Defiance Marina.
This Saturday is the last scheduled 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.
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
no report this week
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
Slowly winter is releasing her grip as we are seeing grass for the first time in months. While most all lakes are iced over we are starting to see the ice coating disappear from shore and out 10 feet. Now, daily, we are seeing afternoon temperatures in the 40s. Yet, more snow is forecast later this week and the passes are daily getting more snow. We drove yesterday into one of the lakes below the dam and experienced a very soft spot on the road. Soda Lake is not clear of ice and the lake level is very low. The lake level will be coming up when the gates on the canal out of Potholes are open. We are all fed up with the ice and snow.
Report submitted by Tom Pollack
British Columbia
Vancouver
Ryan and the Guys with a solid day on the water!
Salmon fishing has continued to be productive with the abundance of bait locally and in Howe Sound. This will continue for another 4-6 weeks which typically makes for some for the best winter fishing of the season. The average size fish is in the 7-15 pound range but fish in the 20+ pound range are not uncommon. We have mostly been running a flasher and hootchie combo which makes for some solid strikes. These fish are hungry, charged up and the brightest fish of the year! As an added bonus, prawning and crabbing is open and typically stays productive for a couple more months.
We are running our winter chinook special until the end of March, so now is the time to head north for a little spring action. We can also make arrangements for accommodations at Granville Island Hotel which is a 3 minute walk from our office/docks. Give us a shout or email us to chat about your options for getting you on the water.
For more info call Jeff or Jason at Bon Chovy Fishing Charters (604) 763-5460,bonchovy.com email: info@bonchovy.com. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports, featuring Jon with a beauty blackmouth, was also contributed by Bon Chovy.
Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound
no report this week
Bamfield
A couple nice winter Chinook and a basket of Spot Prawns
This past weekend saw nearly 500 participants taking place in the 29th annual Sproat Lake Loggers, Spring Chinook Derby.
This event takes place the first weekend in March each year and really kicks off the start of the fishing season for a lot of people. As usual there were many fish around and I would think almost everyone took home some Salmon. The fishing was good all around Bamfield area.
Top fish of the event was a nice 20.8 pound Chinook, follow by 16.5 & 15.5 pounds. Yours truly didn’t manage anything over 10.5 pounds but had a lot of fun anyway.
Halibut fishing has been good for those that have been out. Our weather on the outside has been limiting the effort being put in for Halibut. Soon we will
Nice 10.5 pound winter Chinook
be going pretty steady for Halibut as the weather improves.
For more info call Ken Bodaly at Rocky Point Charters, Bamfield, B.C. 250-728-3678 or the boat cell phone 250-735-4224 website:www.rockypointcharters.ca email: rockypointcharters@shaw.ca facebook:Rocky Point Charters
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week but 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 an 8 lb spring caught inside the bay. 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. A couple of “chicken” halibut were caught near Church Rock.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Salmon fishing was FAIR recently. There are small springs up to 6 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 to 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. Kinglsey Grant reported catching a 64 lb halibut near Trial Island while fishing a salmon head at 260 feet. 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 Marina reports salmon fishing was FAIR but very few anglers have gone out to try their luck. 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 and Hamley 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 3 to 8 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 are using artificial lures but the largest fish have been caught on herring or anchovies. 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. 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.
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 the most consistent action occurred. Most of the salmon have been in the 3 to 8 lb size range but there are some larger ones 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 as water temperatures are still low. Winter run steelhead are now in most rivers on both sides of the Island. The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has started their stocking of spring catchable rainbow trout into Vancouver Island lakes. On March 2nd, Elk Lake and Prospect Lake were each stocked with 1,750 trout weighing 238.82 grams each. The Cowichan River water level is at 1.28 meters near the lake and 1.2 meters near Duncan. There are steelhead in the river and some anglers are hooking up, but it has been slow with the cold water temperatures. The Riverbottom to Skutz falls area has been best for steelhead. Fishing for trout with egg patterns in the fly only area has been quite good.
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
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