Fishing Reports for August 2
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
We’ve been on the fish for almost four weeks now and doing good overall with a mix of sizes and scores everyday.
We’re seeing really warm sea surface temperatures already (mid 60’s) and have a lot of other pelagics around like Mako shark, bluefin tuna, and Yellowtail.
We fish live bait for these impressive torpedo shaped killers which makes for an extremely excited hands on experience. Trolling has been very good as well with lots of multiple hook-ups each time.
There are fish stretches out from north of Grays canyon south past Astoria canyon and starting around the 125 line and out (around 44nm, which is about a 2 hour run for our Go fast boats.
Things are headed in the right direction for a long and productive season!
Report submitted by Mark Coleman, All River and Saltwater Charters; 425-736-8920. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also contributed by Coleman.
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
Peter landed his first salmon on his first trip to the San Juan’s from Denmark.
Chinook fishing is hot and cold in the Islands. The fish are scattered and you just have to land on them. Crabbing has been productive.
Submitted by Kevin Klein, Team Parker Boats NW.
We hit Mid channel at first light Sunday morning. Bouncing bottom at 120-feet. Went 4/7 – all really nice fish. Hearing Aid coho killer for the win.
Report submitted by Dane and Gabe of Team Rod Rog Arches.
Marine Area 8.1
no report this week
Marine Area 8.2
no report this week
Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)
It is not OVER till it’s OVER…and it’s OVER… another super short season in Area 9 has come to an end. It’s time for the gill nets to go in Elliott Bay.
The fishing was on and off over the shortened season with the best catches up by Port Townsend. One the final day, the crew of the PainKiller got to work in the mud at 120 feet with Coho Killers and quickly got their limit. “The fish were coming in in waves,” noted Jason M. Some days you had to work for them all day and some days they were all over.
Area 10 should be closing soon for Chinook with the recent 2 fish limit rule in place. It will then be a fin-clipped Coho season in Area 10 just in time for the Salmon for Soldiers extravaganza on August 26th.
See you on the water !
Marine Area 10
no report this week
Marine Area 11
The resident Coho fishing is a good opportunity right now to get some fresh salmon and lots of fun use some light gear and fish close to shore where you will see lots of small bait fish and troll 1/2oz. and a small plug cut herring or strip of herring there are lots of them around, some good spots are the Browns Pt. area, Pt. Dalco to the Girl Scout Camp. And, in the Narrows, work the kelp line.
The Chinook fishing has improved and we have seen a couple of limits this morning best area has been the Slag Pile, Owen Beach to Shelf area in about 120’ to 150’ of water near bottom however some have been suspended also the Gig Harbor shoreline should be getting better any day. Pictured is Lenny, one of the tenants at PD Marina with a 20 pound 3 ounce Chinook from this area
Dungeness crabbing has been slow but there has been some legal crab being caught in deeper waters and there is still plenty of Red Rock crab to be had.
For an updated report call (253)591-5325.
Crabbing is open in Area 11 and 13 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.
PSA SKC Salmon Derby Saturday August 5 and PSA Gig Harbor Salmon Derby Saturday August 12. Tickets $35. Ages 14 and under are free.
Great Cash Prizes and Drawing Prizes Tickets available at Point Defiance Marina or online at pugetsoundanglers.net.
Report submitted by Point Defiance Marina. For more information contact: Art Tachell, Boathouse Marina Technician, 253.591.5325 art@tacomaparks.com www.pointdefiancemarina.com.
Marine Area 12
no report this week
Freshwater – Lake Chelan
no report this week
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
Now and through this weekend we will be seeing temperatures in the low 100s. Plan to fish, get on the water early and get off by noon. I fished with a good friend, Jeff Dillion, and was rigged with drop shot rigs. We fished the north shoreline on Linn Coulee and focused on humps we found off the shoreline. The temperature was much hotter then the fishing. We caught a few small mouth in Linn Coulee and then moved to the east side of Goose Island. Again, we fished not the shoreline but humps we found well off shore. In total, we caught and released 10 small mouth with nothing worthy of a photo session. With temperatures in the mid 90s it was time to get out of the sun. I spoke to a couple fishermen up in the dunes and they score with nice largemouth until the temperatures drove them off the water.
Report submitted by Tom Pollack.
British Columbia
Vancouver
The last couple weeks have provided us with some good chinook salmon fishing on our full day trips to the Gulf Island’s. Our local fishing has been very hit or miss. We should be seeing good numbers of pink salmon in Vancouver Harbour right now, but it has been very slow. Local fishing should pick up as we should see a push of coho soon and Fraser Chinook will start to build in numbers in coming weeks.
When weather has allowed, we have been making the run across the Strait to fish the east side of Gabriola Island. Fishing has been consistent on most days with some nice fish up to 25 pounds. The fish are deep and dragging bottom in 100 to 220 feet seems to be the most productive. Last year, we enjoyed good chinook fishing in the Gulf Island’s well into August.
Local fishing has been pretty tough overall. We have seen a few ok days off the West Vancouver shoreline and off the Bell Boy, but we have not found much consistency. There is a few pinks around, the odd coho, and increasing numbers of chinooks. It seems as though most of our half day trips are now getting a shot or two at mature chinooks each trip. We are excepting chinook numbers to start to increase in coming weeks as the Fraser River Summer Chinook run starts to enter local waters in August. Peak time for summer red chinook in Vancouver is from August 12th or so into early September. As the red chinook numbers slow in early September, the big white chinook are there to replace them. Even though things are unseasonably slow now in local waters, we are anticipating a good August chinook fishery.
We have been running mostly hootchies and spoons over on the Gulf Island side for chinook. Our go to set ups over on the Gulf Islands have been glow Yamashita Hootchies (white glow and spacklebacks in blue, green and chartreuse) and Guide Series Gibbs Delta Flashers (Lemon lime, STS, Bon Chovy, Madi) Skinny G’s in Blue/Chrome and the Outfitter have also been effective. On the Vancouver Side we have been running primarily anchovies and the odd glow hootchie thrown in the mix. Our charter shop has all the right gear for local waters, stop by if you are on Granville Island.
Sturgeon fishing has been pretty good on the Fraser RIver. Now that the river has dropped the fishing has been more consistent with some great fish up to 8 feet being hooked up. The next few months presents very good opportunity for sturgeon.
August is just around the corner and we are looking forward to the Fraser River Chinook run that will be entering local waters in coming weeks!
Give us a call or an email to get out 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 report was also contributed by Bon Chovy.
Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, and Ucluelet
no report this week
Bamfield
no report this week
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week when it wasn’t blowing too hard, which was most of the week. Most of the springs were coming in from Aldridge Point to Beechey Head. The springs are getting larger and fish as large as 33 lbs have been weighed in at Cheanuh Marina. The pinks have also been showing up in increasing numbers. The best depths to fish have been from 40 to 70 feet. Anchovies are now the most popular bait. Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose and Mint Pearl. Trolling Skinny G spoons on a 36” leader has been working great. The best color combinations being Nickel/Blue, Outfitters and No Bananas. For flashers, the Homeland Security and Raspberry Jelly have been working well. Anglers casting of the rocks are also getting into some nice fish. Cheanuh Marina nonce again has rental boats available for non boat owners.
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 HOT & COLD in Oak Bay this past week. There has been some good-sized fish over 20 lbs coming in from the flats and the Gap but not too many. Anglers jigging have been catching more and larger salmon than those trolling. When I was out this past week everyone jigging was catching springs while all the trollers were catching nothing. Good jigging lures have been 2¼ oz Point Wilson Darts, GIBBS Minnows and the Delta Mac Fish. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 40 to 135 feet, depending on where the feed is located. Most of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend on the big tides and it was way too windy as well for most boats. 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. The bay was fishing well again this week, and it was out of the wind as well. Several 30+ lb springs were caught inside the bay, close to the kelp beds. The most productive area for trollers has been near the can buoy at the mouth of the bay and along the kelp beds. Trollers are doing best trolling from 30 – 70 feet on the downrigger and/or just off the bottom. The area from Church Rock to the Bedfords has started to pick up as well, especially for pinks. Jiggers were doing better than the trollers and have been fishing near the Race. Anchovies are now the most popular bait for trollers. Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose and Mint Pearl. Spoons are also producing well, especially the smaller ones around 3.5”. Needlefish spoons worked the best with Skinny G’s, Left Coast Hammers, AP Tackleworks needlefish and Coho Killers the ones to use. Hoochies and squirts with a green and glow, or UV white have been popular color choices this week. Flashers that are popular include the Hot Spot Silver Fever, Bon Chovy and Betsey.
The Take a Kid Fishing Festival was held on Saturday at Pedder Bay Marina. Even though it was windy and rough, 90 kids got to fish with almost all boats catching pink salmon. It was another successful year for this great fishing festival.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week plus it’s been too windy for most boats much of the week. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well are 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
Sidney
Salmon fishing was SPOTTY in the Sidney area. There have been a few fish coming from Coal Island and Hambley Point. We did hear that it has picked up off Pender Island. However, anglers jigging near the Powder Wharf were consistently catching springs. Good jigging lures have been 2¼ oz Point Wilson Darts, GIBBS Minnows and the Delta Mac Fish. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most productive spoons this past week. Suggested colours are Trap Shack and Bon Chovy. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good producers of fish with teaser heads in UV Purple.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sooke
The salmon fishing was GOOD over the last week. Secretary Island to Otter Point has been good for to springs up to 33 lbs. More pink salmon were also caught, especially in the 400 foot depths. The pinks have been as large as 9 lbs. Most anglers are fishing for springs are using bait with anchovies being the most popular choice. Fishing shallow has also been the key to catching the larger fish. Good choices for teaser head colors are Red, Tiger Prawn, Glow chartreuse Tiger Prawn and Bloody Nose. For flashers, the Delta Homeland Security, Red/Silver Hot Spot and Betsey have been working well. Hootchies in all White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze have been effective teaser head colors recently. Spoons have also been catching salmon and Coho Killers and Skinny G’s have been good in No Bananas and Outfitters color patterns.
The Consultants Invitational Fishing Derby was held on July 29th. There were 44 chinook salmon and 46 Pink salmon weighed in at the derby. The winning chinook weighed 21 lbs 10 oz and was caught by Dave Bonella. The second place finisher was Bruce Moore with a 19 lb 4 oz chinook. Third place went to Jay Shilling for an 18 lb 5 oz chinook.
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 SPOTTY off Victoria this past week when the wind didn’t keep you off the water. The most productive area again was Constance Bank as the currents weakened. The area from Albert Head to Trial Island has been spotty although Clover Point produced some fish. Most boats fishing the waterfront came up empty. Some pink salmon are also starting to be caught offshore. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups, Nickel/Blue Skinny G’s and Blue/Silver Coyotes, Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons have brought some hookups. Greg Kutyn landed a 30½ lb lingcod while fishing for rockfish.
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. The halibut have been very deep with depths of over 300 feet the most productive. 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
The Cowichan River’s water level is at summer levels, just under 0.4 meters. Lots of people are now using float tubes to drift down the river during the day, so that can put the trout down. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been GOOD at dawn and dusk. Fish a Dry Fly in the early morning and later in the evening or fish a Nymph in the faster water. Both have been working well.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Oregon
Lake Michigan
Mixed bag all week. Hot and cold action this past week has lead to inconsistent catches. We still had lots of fun. Chinooks and Coho numbers were down the last two days with Lake Trout picking up the slack. We have good days and difficult days. Chinooks went for Magnum Reaper Peacock spoons in blue/silver. White or green Howie’s flies also working well run behind a white flasher. The big Chinooks are a guess however we had some excellent days fishing them in the warm water with spoons or flies. Downriggers on the bottom with size 0 dodgers and Spin n Glows are taking the Lakers. Reapers and Vulcans have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan in green or blue has also been good on the lead cores for exciting Rainbows. I hope this helps. Slide Diver are producing with #3 silver J plugs set at 2 with small ring. Run them 70 feet of line out 70 behind the diver .
Lake Trout action was some what improved all week on magnum spoons on the bottom.
Brown Trout action was just ok on 2 color lead core with small spoons. One here and there.
Rainbow Trout were hitting Vulcan Dolphin Green and Silver spoons in the top 40 feet.
For all fish speed has been very critical with the warmer 68 degree water. The temp break to 53 is down 100 feet. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed and temp at the ball. The boat speed of 2.0 to 2.2 has been best. The faster speed triggered the Chinook action.
I fished anywhere from 70 to out over 150 feet. Follow the temperatures and fish the zone. Near shore action on McKinley pier has been very slow with only a few Browns being caught. Head north in Whitefish Bay and set lines in 80 feet. Troll north east have a great fishing season. Let’s go fishing! Note We are offering an extra hour for $35 when added to a five hour fishing charter. Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2017, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
Report submitted by Jim Hirt at Blue Max Chaters (414-828-1094)
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