Fishing Reports for March 15
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)
The weather has kept most off the waters this past week or so but there have been some reports of nice fish in Browns Bay near Edmonds and Columbia Beach (Area 8-2).
Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we will be out on the salt again soon.
Marine Area 10
no report this week
Marine Area 11
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
Finally we are seeing the ice going away at Potholes and the lakes around the area. While there is some ice on Potholes, the boat launches for the most part are clear. We will be seeing temperatures today in the 60s and generally in the mid 50s this week. I drove the road down to Long Lake yesterday and found it has been recently plowed and is in very good shape. Most of the lakes were either clear of ice or the ice was breaking up. It is looking good for this weekend for your first trip over. Last weekend we drove over to the west side and back and the road both ways was good. Yes, there were some chuck holes but over all the season over here is started.
Report submitted by Tom Pollack
British Columbia
Vancouver
A great day on the water makes for a great dinner!
We have had another good week on the water. It looks like the colder temps are behind us and the warmer temps couldn’t come soon enough. We typically see some of our best fishing for winter chinook from now until early-mid April. There is still a ton of bait in Howe Sound which bods well for our feeder chinook. These fish are chrome and pound for pound are the best fighting fish of the year. The average fish is in the 7-15 pound range but fish in the 20 plus range are not uncommon this time of year. Crabbing and prawning continue to be productive which should last for another 4-6 weeks.
Our winter chinook special is on until the end of March. Our 8 hour days for salmon fishing, crabbing and prawning is one of the best experiences of the year. Give us a call or email to discuss your options to get 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, showing Brittney and Amy with a couple of winter springs, was also contributed by Bon Chovy.
Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound
no report this week
Bamfield
no report this week
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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