Fishing Reports for August 9
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
It’s been fairly slow fishing in Marine Area 7 for Chinook. There have been some fish coming through but it’s hit and miss, with not a lot of nets flying. However, we may see better fishing anytime so it’s still worth a shot. You never know when you might hit ’em dead on!
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
The Chinook fishing has slowed down quite a bit since the weekend but should start picking up any time these fish are coming back to their spawning grounds, look to find them along the Gig Harbor shoreline, Pt. Evens as well as the Clay Banks area Trolling, mooching and jigging should all work, many of these fish will be suspended so don’t be afraid to fish 40′ to 70′.
The Coho fishing is still pretty good for fish from about 3lb. to 5lb. fish at about 60′ trolling flasher and artificial squid and a little faster than you would for Chinook also you can find these fish inside and outside the Kelp line along the Gig Harbor shoreline, Browns Pt. to Dash Pt. and Pt. Dalco to the Girl Scout Camp area off of Vashon Island.
There is also Pink salmon in the area try the usual spots Browns Pt. to Dash Pt. and the Shoreline near Quarter Master Harbor off of Vashon Island.
The Dungeness crabbing remains slow although I have heard of some fishermen fishing in 150′ to 180′ of water and having some success.
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
Again today we recorded temperatures over 100 degrees. We got out early and caught a good number of Largemouth bass and got off the water before noon. With smoky conditions and hot, hot temperatures there are not many fishermen on the water. The water sports people dominate the water. The Blyth launch is almost out of water. Lots more sand dunes are showing and lots of rocks are showing mid dam.
Still, the bass fishermen are making their way up into the dunes. I saw a photo of a large walleye taken up in the dunes by Pete Fisher that had the profile of a just spawned out fish. While we had been waiting for warm weather now we are looking for a cooling off period. Also the smoke can go away.
Submitted by Tom Pollack (retired)
British Columbia
Vancouver
no report this week
Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, and Ucluelet
The summer months are quickly moving by and the salmon fishing in many areas of Vancouver Island just seems to be getting better as we move closer into mid-August. The salmon fishing in Barkley Sound and the West Coast out of Ucluelet and Bamfield for Chinook, Coho, and Pink Salmon has been extremely good. Unfortunately the Alberni Inlet Sport Sockeye fishing has dried up. There were three or four good weeks of unexpected sport fishing which was very much a success. The Chinook and Coho on the surf line and the various banks are beginning to become a little more abundant and larger by the week. Many of these salmon continue to be migratory fish moving to destinations or watersheds well to the south. We are expecting some of the salmon returning to Pacific Rim rivers, streams, and creeks to appear by the second week of August. This should in fact help develop a much stronger sport fishing opportunity considering that the returns of Chinook and Coho to West Coast Vancouver Island are above average and will be mixed in with the migration of salmon to the south. August and the early part of September should have fascinating sport fishing out on offshore waters, most of Barkley Sound, and the Alberni Inlet. The Alberni Inlet is expected to have a good return of Chinook and Coho. Usually by the 15th of August good numbers of these Chinook begin to show in Inlet areas close to China Creek and the Port Alberni Harbor.
Port Alberni Inlet / Barkley Sound – The sport fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet for Sockeye has pretty much slowed to a stand-still. The sockeye return forecast was to be approximately one hundred and seventy thousand. Returns through the counters by the end of June reached well above that number. On July first sport Sockeye fishing opened and on July eighth the per day catch limit jumped to four. The total escapement to Sproat and Great Central Lakes to date is approximately two hundred and seventy thousand. The catch by all user groups is close to one hundred thousand with sport fishing landing close to thirteen thousand. The Chinook return to the Somass system should begin with salmon showing in good numbers in Inlet areas by the 15th of August. Pre-season forecasts are showing above average returns of Chinook returning to the terminal area of Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet. Most of these fish will be returning to the Robertson Creek Hatchery. The age class of this year’s return is predominately in the forecast issued four and five year olds. With this in mind there should be a good number of Chinook in the twenty to twenty-five pound class and some weighing over thirty pounds.. Coho numbers are expected to be above average. Coho returns to the Pacific Rim and the many creeks and stream tributaries of the Somass system through conservation have become very strong over the past years. We should see Somass-Stamp River Coho begin to show in Barkley Sound close to the middle of August and peak during the second week of September before moving into the inlet.
Parts of Barkley Sound have had some good fishing through June and July and the first few days of August. However if one were to sum the fishing up the word “inconsistent” could be used. The fishing at times has been wonderful and has often been followed by a lull. Meares or Effingham Island, Austin and Cree have been very good and have provided the most consistent sport fishing to date with good Chinook and Coho fishing. The salmon have been out in the deep water on the low tide and often on the flood move in towards the rocks and feed on the huge quantities of rich resourced bait fish. Chinook have been in 70 to 120 feet of water and have been averaging from the mid-teens to a few in the mid-twenties in terms of weight. The Coho have been in twenty-five to eighty feet of water and are gorging themselves putting on a pound a week and are currently averaging eight to ten pounds. Most of the salmon continue to be migratory fish moving to watersheds to the south. Recently there has been a few West Coast Vancouver Island salmon landed. We are expecting the local salmon to begin to show in abundant number almost now. This is not to say that some Somass Chinook and Coho have not already arrived as there have been some fairly early returns to the Somass system over the past ten days. When fishing the waters of Barkley Sound it is ideal if sport fishermen have some anchovy on board. To this date anchovy has not been essential as the salmon have been hitting various coyote spoons, Coho killers, and hootchies behind glow and kinetic flashers. In Coyote spoons, silver glow, lime green, green and blue nickel, watermelon, and cop car have all been working. In Coho Killers the Herring Aid, Cookies and Cream and Kitchen Sink have all been good. The bait in the area has been small so the smaller spoons are currently recommended. If using anchovy have at least a six foot leader using teaser heads in army truck glow, purple haze, green haze and cop car. We are expecting Barkley Sound to have some continued great salmon fishing. With the late summer run of migratory salmon and local salmon returning to their natural streams and creeks there should be some terrific sport salmon fishing right into mid-September in all of Barkley Sound.
Ucluelet – There has been some good fishing but again in an “on and off” situation close to the Ucluelet Harbor. The best fishing however has been out on the Big Bank with the Rats Nose, the egg, and the gully providing some of the best overall opportunities. The salmon have been in the midwater and also in the sand at the bottom with the halibut. Halibut and salmon have been really consistent on the Big Bank. When bait fish are in the different areas during the summer months the sport fishing is normally extraordinary. The inner and outer south bank and the turtle head have seen most sport fishermen fishing in the fifty foot level down to almost the sandy bottom at 135 to 150 feet. South Bank like Barkley Sound has been on and off. Hootchies and Spoons have been working. The Sonora, Blue Meanie, Jack Smith and the white mini Turd have all been working very well. Some sport fishermen are using bait and having great success but like Barkley Sound bait is not essential. Over the past week those guests using our guided boats have been landing Chinook salmon that have started to get a bit larger with a few Chinook getting up to the twenty and twenty-five pound weight class. Sport fishermen in their own boats have also been landing some bigger fish. The hatchery Coho offshore are also getting up and over the ten pound mark with a few fish in the low to mid teens being landed. August and September are really exciting months to be on the water. These are the two months that bigger Chinook and Coho begin to arrive along the west coast of Vancouver Island, B.C. as they have been spending weeks during their long migration feeding constantly on bait fish.
The saltwater sport fishing in 2017 has been relatively good on the surf line and offshore west coast Vancouver Island locations. We are really expecting the inshore areas of Barkley Sound to pick up as well as the Alberni Inlet by mid-August. If you are thinking of a fishing trip there is still time to organize. August and the early part of September is a great time to come.
Somass-Stamp River – The Stamp River September and October salmon and summer steelhead fishing should be unbelievable again this fall. Coho returns are looking extremely good with Chinook returns being above average. For those that enjoy fly fishing the 10th of October right through until mid-November is often the best time. Space for guided trips in the river during the fall is very limited so organize early so there are no disappointments.
For more information and/or reservations, call Doug Lindores at Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing (250) 723-2435; (250)724-2502; cell (250)731-7389 or 1-877-214-7206 www.catchsalmon.ca or www.catchsalmon-ca.com; dlindy@shaw.ca.
Bamfield
no report this week
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week when it wasn’t blowing too hard. Most of the springs were coming in from Aldridge Point to Beechey Head. The pink run was a little slower this past week but some large ones were caught. 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, red/silver Hot Spot and Betsey have been working well. Anglers casting off the rocks are also getting into some nice fish. Cheanuh Marina once more 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 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 70 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 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 picked up as well. Christa Fremont caught a 22 lb 1 oz spring near Church Rock on anchovy fished in a green glow teaser head. .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.
Halibut fishing was SLOW 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 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 the Sidney Channel, Hambley Point and Fairfax. We did hear that there were some large pink salmon off Pender Island. Anglers jigging 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 FAIR over the last week. Otter Point to Muir Creek has been good for to springs. The pink salmon fishing was best in the 400+ foot depths. The pinks have been as large as 8-9 lbs. Most anglers are fishing for springs are using bait with anchovies being the most popular choice. Fishing shallow and close to shore has been the key to catching the larger fish. Good choices for teaser head colors are red, chartreuse and Bloody Nose. For flashers, the Delta Homeland Security, Red/Silver Hot Spot and Betsey have been working well. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze have been effective hootchy colors. Use small pink hootchies if targeting the pink salmon. Spoons have also been catching salmon and Coho Killers and Skinny s. G’s have been good in No Bananas and Outfitters colors.
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. The most productive area was Constance Bank early in the week and along the waterfront on the weekend. The area from Brotchie to Trial Island produced some fish. Garth Hallam caught a 19½ lb spring on Saturday off the waterfront. 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 weekend. Earlier in the week, George Kahan landed a 131 cm, 74 lb halibut off Constance Bank, using salmon belly as bait. That’s the heaviest one so far this year and is now #1 on our leader board. 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
Fishing was FAIR in most lakes for trout and GOOD for bass. No changes from previous reports.
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)