Fishing Reports for May 3

By on May 3, 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)

no report this week

Marine Area 10

no report this week

Marine Area 11

Fishing report:  Ling Cod season is open May 1- June 15, 2017  for a one fish limit 26-26 inches slot length in 120 feet or less in depth.     Most anglers fish with live herring  on the bottom on slack tides in areas where there is structure for them such as the Tacoma Narrows.  Area 13 is now open for hatchery chinook and coho.   Anglers are trolling 10 feet off the bottom in 120-140 feet of water with flasher spoon or flasher squid.   Also some have been catching salmon jigging.  Pt Fosdik and Wollochet bay have been giving up a few chinook as well.  For more information call 253-591-5325.

For an updated report call (253)591-5325.

The shrimp opening in Area 11 is scheduled for May 6, 2017 from 9 am to 1 pm .   Area 13 is May 6 and May 20 from 9am to 1 pm.

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 Basic Fishing Youth/Adult June 17, 2017 Saturday 10 am to 12 noon Cost $15 (ages 8+).  The Adult (Age 15+) is on May 27, 2017 form 10 am to 12 noon.  Cost is $15 .  To sign Up call 253-591-5325.

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.  Info call 253-591-5325.

ABC Boater’s Class II for beginning boaters on Monday and Thursday nights from 7-9 pm , June 5-19 (5 nights total) 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.  Info call 253-591-5325.

Summer Camps Available Sails and Trails Camp for Ages 11-15.  Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm.  Cost $260/wk.  Participants spend the week fishing and educational trail hikes at Point Defiance and Sailing and Kayaking at Tacoma Youth Marine Center.  Also one day is spend at Foss Seaport Center with hands on marine science.  July 10-14, July 17 21, July 24-28, July 31-Aug 4.

Point Defiance Marina Swap Meet.  Come Shop or Sell/Trade on Saturday, May 20, 2017 from 10 am to 3 pm.  Cost is $15 for a 10X 10 covered space.  More information call (253) 591-5325.

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

We had a lot of wind this past weekend. There were tournaments both Saturday and Sunday. I went over to Mardons Sunday for the final weigh in with winds of 25 to 30 MPH wondering just how the anglers faired. I saw a bag of bass weighing in at 22.62-pounds caught by, I believe, a team with a fisherman by the name of Lampere. I did not stay around to catch the 2 day totals and will be getting that report too late for my deadline. With the conditions, I was in awe as to how good fishing was. The large fish I saw weighed Sunday was 6.46-pounds.

I also got a good report from Chris Ward fishing Crab Creek with worm harnesses catching several Walleye. There is a 2 day tournament here at Potholes this Saturday and Sunday so this will be a good test for this fishery. Up in Linn Coulee has also been a good spot. I understand that many of the Walleye tournaments will be heading up in the sand dunes. The lake is dropping fast, now down 3 feet so be careful .

Trout fishing has been good at Worden, Windmill and Canal lakes. Trollers are having luck trolling a wedding ring tipped with a small worm. Bank anglers are having luck with chartruse Power Bait or a small marshmello with a piece of worm and using a slip sinker.

Remember to get your new fishing license and the price did not increase.

Report submitted by Tom Pollack

British Columbia

Vancouver

We have seen another solid week of fishing locally, off of the south end of Bowen Island and in the Gulf Islands. This is a great time of year with lots going on. We continue to see our offshore fishery be consistent as well as see our fishery pick up in Howe Sound. With the snow pack melt upon us, the Gulf Islands offers some great opportunity for chinook fishing on our full day trips. This offshore bite should continue for a few more weeks and then transition to a shallower structure bite. We see big waves of fish pushing through and heavily feeding on herring.

The average chinook are in the 10-20 pound range however there has been a few big fish caught, a 30 plus pounder! This is a possibility from now into July when we start to see some of the Squamish run fish making their way home. May 1st marks the opening of our bottom fishing season in the Gulf Islands. We have already been into a few ling cod and the best is still to come. At this time of year our 10 hour trips really shine! It allows us to travel a bit further to catch the bite. Crabbing is open for about another month and we are dropping traps on all of our trips. Give us a shout to discuss your option to get you on the water for a some of the year’s best fishing.

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 was also contributed by Bon Chovy.

Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound

Fishing has been up and down for Chinook but mostly good. The past few days we are getting some nice Chinook in the teens around Great Bear and Sail rock. Chinook are also being caught around Effingham and Swaile Rock. Small spoons seem to be the best and the normal colors of green and blue are working for Silver Horde and Coyote. The Chinook are down from 80-120 feet for the most part. The fish are biting on all parts of the tide, so it is more about putting it right in front of their noses. We have not been fishing halibut yet but that will come very soon when the weather gets better. On most days we have been fishing in protected water. A couple of boats have tried south bank but fishing still seems to be better in protected water.

Submitted by Sam Vandervalk of Salmon Eye Charters (1-877-777-4344). Salmon Eye is recommended by USA Today, Cruise America and New York Times bestselling author Peter Greenberg in his book The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to the Greatest Experiences Around the World.

Bamfield

no report this week

Becher Bay

Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week when it wasn’t too windy. The best fishing has been near Beechey Head, the Trap Shack and Aldridge Point. There were some oversize springs caught as well as the more common smaller 6-12 lb hatchery springs. The best depths for trolling has been 100 – 110 feet on the downrigger. Some large wild springs were caught and released inside the bay near Frazer Island. More anglers are using bait now and are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working best. Spoons, especially G-Force and Skinny G spoons, in No Bananas or Outfitters’ colours have been very effective. For flashers, the Red Glow Hot Spot, Lemon Lime and Green/Glow Hot Spot.

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

Oak Bay

Larry Dalziel with his 22.5 lb hatchery spring caught in Sidney

Salmon fishing was GOOD recently. There are hatchery springs into the teens near Brodie Rock and on the Flats. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 65 to 145 feet, depending on where the feed are located. All of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons. Sandlance lures and squirts (needle fish) are best in pearl, white & green, or white glow. Good jigging lures have been Point Wilson Darts and the Delta Mac Fish. Unfortunately, the seals have been a problem here.

Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. The halibut were recently taking salmon heads or bellies, large herring and octopus. Be sure to get setup about an hour and a half before the slack to catch the tide swing and to be able to stay on the bottom. 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 GOOD salmon fishing, when it’s not too windy, for hatchery springs from 6 to 12 lbs in size. The fishing was best in Whirl Bay. There are lots of needlefish in the area and salmon are targeting them. Most anglers are using artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom, but anchovies are also producing well. Spoons, especially G-Force, Skinny G and AP Tackle works spoons in Outfitters’, Bon Chovy or No Bananas colours, have been very effective. Hootchies and squirts with a green and glow color combination have been good plastic baits to use. 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 Hot Spot Red/Glow, 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. Fin clipped salmon into the 20’s lbs were caught this past week. Larry Dalziel caught a 22.5 lb hatchery marked spring early in the week fishing in Sidney. ALL areas around Sidney have produced keeper springs recently. Right now, Sidney is the best area to fish if you are looking for a large salmon, especially with no maximum size restrictions on unclipped salmon in place here. Fishing should be excellent in the upcoming Sidney Angler’s Salmon Derby this coming Saturday. Good areas recently were Hamley, Coal Island, Saanichton Spit, Fairfax and Pender Island. There are some nice fish around Wain Rock and Cole Point as well. There are still a lot of undersize fish too, providing frequent action.  Anglers using spoons found silver Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most successful spoons this past weekend. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good producers of fish. Tickets are still available for the Sidney anglers’ Annual Salmon Derby.

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 hatchery fish are running from 6 to 10 lbs in size. There have been a few larger unclipped fish that have been caught and released near Sheringham Point. The best fishing remains in 110 to 130 feet of water with the salmon close to the bottom looking for needlefish. Good areas have been near Otter Point, the Bluffs, and Tugwell Creek. Most of the anglers are using artificial lures and the Skinny G needlefish spoon in the Outfitters color scheme has been the most effective spoon. The top spoons for Sooke anglers have lots of glow, red 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. Halibut fishing has been slower west of Sooke and the fish have been in shallower water than usual.

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 much slower because of the big tides on the bank. Along the waterfront the fishing has definitely been slower than on the bank but hatchery springs up to 10 lbs were caught. Best areas have been Albert Head, Brotchie Ledge and Clover Point. Your lure should be close to the bottom when trolling off for springs this time of year. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons have brought some hookups. Like elsewhere, needlefish are the predominant feed right now.

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

Lakes and Rivers

Chad Vandermolen with his 5 lb rainbow trout

Fishing was GOOD in most lakes for trout and bass as water temperatures are rising.   The Cowichan River’s water level is still too high for decent wading. The water level is now at 1.54 meters near the lake and 1.34 meters near Duncan. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been good, especially if you are in a drift boat. Bead head nymphs have been working well and some March Browns have been hatching during the day.

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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