Fishing Reports for September 13
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
Albacore fishing really broke loose this week with volumes of cooperative fishing flooding the offshore zones straight out and NW from Westport, WA. Fishing zones SW also popped this week and last.
We’ve had a good season thus far with a few dips here and there but last week everything we were fishing on…birds, jumpers, tuna, etc…multiplied 10 fold.
With daily waters temps of 65-66 degrees I’d expect a long and late season this year. In talking with many longtime commercial Albacore fisherman, they’re expecting good fishing as late as Thanksgiving.
The troll bite is pretty much over now and it’s all a run and gun bird/jumper live bait game.
Give us a shout or good luck if you make it out on your own!
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
There are some nice Kings coming through the Islands right now.
Submitted by Kevin Klein, Team Parker Boats NW.
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
“Kinda Small.” That is the feedback from most anglers fishing Area 10 so far. They coho are out here but they are still “kinda small.” To focus on the larger slamming Silvers, try a white ace high fly tucked inside a green/white glow hootchie with a 28-30 inch 50lb leader behind the flasher. Use one LARGE siwash hook instead of two small hooks and keep the troll fast.
See you on the water!
Report submitted by Nelson “Spud” Goodsell – Salmon for Soldiers, IGFA Life Member, FISHTALE2.
Marine Area 11
The salmon fishing has been good with a mixed bag of smaller chinook and coho. The bulk of the chinook are being caught along the Gig Harbor shoreline in about 40’ to 80’ of water early in the morning or late in the evening, fishermen are also catching fish at the Clay banks, Dalco area and from the Slag area to Owen Beach some of these fish are suspended as well but if you see fish on your depth finder near bottom then get your gear there.
The Coho fishing is still decent small fish from 3lbs to 5lbs are being caught along the kelp beds or out in deeper water from 30’ to 60’ deep and in the usual spots you find Chinook. Larger coho are being caught in the rip tides trolling 30-60 feet deep with flasher and herring, squid, or spoon.
Pink salmon are being caught along the shore line outside of Quartermaster Harbor, Dash Pt., Browns PT., Puyallup River Mouth and Gig Harbor shoreline and also trolling deeper water from 30’ to 60’ of water.
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
As the water level here at Potholes seems to show, we are seeing less water going out then coming in. As a result, more bass fishermen are now venturing partially back in the dunes. Bass fishing is still good throughout Potholes. This past weekend was a noisy one on the lake as the go fast and noisy boats had their weekend on the water. There were no accidents or major motor blow ups. I went over to the west side for some major work on my boat. I plan to catch some Walleye this week as I have talked to several fishermen with some Walleye success. When I asked “where did you catch them?” I got the usual answer of “out there on the lake.”
Cooling temperatures and smoke disappearing plus Honey Crisp apples are good reasons to come over. Also a good time to scout out locations for the up and coming duck season.
Submitted by Tom Pollack (retired). The cover image of this week’s reports was also submitted by Tom Pollakc.
British Columbia
Vancouver
no report this week
Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, and Ucluelet
no report this week
Bamfield
no report this week
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week for mostly smaller stuff. The springs are spread out from the Bedfords to the Trap Shack, but the best fishing has been in the afternoon and evening on the flood tide off Aldridge Point and the Bedford Islands. The best depths to fish for the springs have been from 40 to 80 feet. The pink salmon have been running from 7 to 9 lbs on the average and best fishing for them has been far out on the tide lines. Coho are also showing in good numbers offshore in over 600 feet of water. Anchovies are the most popular bait. Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose, Mint Pearl and Chartreuse. The best color combinations for spoons have been Nickel/Blue, Outfitters and No Bananas. For flashers, the GIBBS Highliner Guide Series Outfitters and Lemon Lime, Gold Fever Hot Spot and Big Shooter Gold Betsey have been working well. Anglers casting off the rocks are also getting into some nice fish.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Oak Bay
Ky Baumler with his 34.5 lb chinook
Salmon fishing was SLOW in Oak Bay this past week. There were a few salmon coming in from the Flats and the Gap but not very many. Anglers jigging have been catching more and larger salmon than those trolling. Good jigging lures have been 2¼ oz and 3 oz Point Wilson Darts, Deep Stingers 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. Only a few coho and pinks have been caught here.
Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past week before the season closed. 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 FAIR salmon fishing. All areas from Church Rock to William Head produced some Chinook salmon, but there was no real hotspot. There were more fin clipped coho coming in and they, as well as the pinks, were mostly caught in 500+ feet of water out from Whirl Bay. With the coho and the pinks, you were either in them or not. You just had to search for the schools and then try to stay with them. For chinooks, trollers are doing best trolling close to the shore and the kelp, from 30 – 70 feet on the downrigger and with anchovies for bait. Good teaser heads to fish have been the Bloody Nose, Chartreuse and Mint Pearl. Spoons are also producing well, especially the smaller ones around 3.5”. The most popular spoons have been Skinny G’s, Left Coast Hammers, AP Tackleworks herring and Coho Killers. 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 Gold Fever, GIBBS Guide Series Outfitters and Lemon Lime and Big Shooter Gold Betsey. Jiggers were also doing well fishing near the kelp beds and by Bentick Island in the Race.
Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past week before the season closed. 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
Sooke
The salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. The best locations to fish have been Possession Point, Otter Point and Muir Creek. Most anglers fishing for springs are using bait, with anchovies being the most popular choice. The larger springs have been deeper, between 80 to 120 feet on the downrigger. The pink and coho salmon fishing was best in the 600+ foot depths. Good choices for teaser head colors are red, chartreuse and Bloody Nose. For flashers, the Delta Guide Series Outfitters, Gold Fever Hot Spot and Betsey have been working well. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze have been caught some fish. Use small pink hootchies or spoons if targeting the pink salmon. Spoons have also been catching salmon. Coho Killers and Skinny 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 the waterfront this past week. The most productive area was from the Flagpole to Clover Point. Most of the salmon caught were chinooks with some as large as the mid 20’s. Some pink salmon are also being caught and they have been from 4 to 9 lbs in size. The best fishing for pinks was way off shore around Constance Bank. Anchovies have been the best bet with 12 & 14 pack anchovies the best sizes to fish. The best teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose, UV green or red or Army Truck. Spoons have been somewhat successful in getting hook ups with 4” AP Tackleworks Moonglow Herring spoons, Irish Cream Skinny G’s and Green/Glow Coyote spoons good choices.
Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past week before the season closed. Ron Howard used herring to pull a 70 lb, 132 cm, halibut off Constance Bank the day before the season closed. This fish is the third largest weighed in at the store this year. The halibut have been very deep with depths of over 300 feet the most productive. Many anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon heads 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
no report this week
You may also be interested in ...
