Fishing Reports for November 22

By on November 22, 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

The salmon fishing for predominately immature Chinook has been pretty good, with salmon being caught in all of the usual places for this time of year like the Clay bank area, Slag area, Pt. Evans, Pt. Dalco and Quartermaster Harbor focus in the depth ranges of 120’ to 160’ of water and around 10’ off of bottom. Trolling, Mooching and Jigging have all been successful. There is bait all over the area which has drawn a good number of immature Chinook and kept them around, be careful in releasing any unclipped and under 22” Chinook salmon.

There will be no winter Dungeness crabbing this winter in MA 11.

The Squid fishing seems to be best at high tide off the pier and is even better if that is just before sundown. It looks like another good Squid year.

Boat fishing for squid is best in 50-100 feet of water just off the bottom. For the latest report updates call (253)591-5325.

Squid Fishing Class December 2, 2017 4-6 pm Ages8+ Cost $15 Learn the fundamentals of squid fishing to include regulations, tackle, equipment, rigging, catching, cleaning and cooking.

More information (253)591-5325. The final squid class is offered January 13, 2018 from 4-6 pm but by then squid will all but have tapered off so we will focus on preparations for 2018 fall season and making jigs

Crabbing is closed until further notice on a winter crabbing in January, 2018

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

The Marina will be closed Thanksgiving day. Hours are 6:30 am to 5 pm 7 days a week currently.

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

We are seeing huge flights of northern ducks moving into the area. With water being dumped out of Moses Lake, as part of an annual lowering of the lake, the water level here at Potholes is still rising rapidly. Last year at this time the lake was frozen over and ducks had moved out of the area. We are seeing a wet and warm weather trend for now. My neighbor who hunts duck most every day was back home with limits of ducks by 8:30 am yesterday. As long as the lake remains clear of ice, duck hunting will remain good. In the meantime, not much fishing is going on.

Submitted by Tom Pollack (retired)

British Columbia

Vancouver

It looks like we are going to have another productive winter chinook salmon season. Like last year, we have had another encouraging start to our winter fishery in Vancouver Harbour, Howe Sound and the Gulf Island’s. There seems to be decent numbers of fish in most of the normal winter haunts. We have spent quite a few days on the water over the last few weeks, including and highlighted by an excellent 4 day Bowen Island Trip with a great couple (JT and Shannon)!

JT and Shannon with resident Orcas

Over the last few weeks we have had our fair share of varied weather conditions. We have enjoyed summer like sunshine and battled through Arctic winds and even a few snow flurries. As we move into December, the weather will likely be a little more consistent as winter sets in for a few months. We have covered lots of water in recent weeks and found quite a few undersized and some nice legal fish into the mid teens. Interestingly enough, the ratio for legals to undersized was actually higher in October than in November. The last couple weeks has provided better action, but some ays you have to weed through the undersized to get a legal.

We have spent most of our time in Howe Sound, but we did take advantage of some calm weather to head to the Gulf Islands and further up the Sunshine Coast last week. We found pretty good action in both areas, with good numbers of undersized and a few legals. As usual, we are fishing smaller spoons and hootchies fairly close to the bottom. Look for bait and there will be fish around it at some point.

In the winter months, we don’t change things up all that much in terms of our fishing gear. Over the years we have found a handful of set ups that work exceptionally well in our Vancouver winter salmon fishery. Here is a list of our go to spoons/hootchies/flashers in the winter:

  • Gibbs Delta– G Force: Bon Chovy and Trailhead (3.0 or 3.5)
  • Gibbs Delta – Skinny Gs: Outfitter and Bon ChovySilver Horde Kingfisher: Irish Cream, Herring Aide and Homeland Security Silver Horde Coho Killer: Irish Cream
    Yamashita Hootchies: Green and Chartreuse Spackleback and plain glow
  • Gibbs Delta Guide Series Flashers – Madi, STS, Lemon Lime and Bon Chovy

Winter is truly a spectacular time to fish in the Vancouver area. It is not just the consistent fishing, it is also about where we travel to get to the fishing grounds and what we see while trolling and traveling to the fishing grounds. We are often spoiled with a post card like backdrop and frequent wild life sightings!

Give us a call to set up a winter chinook charter! Better yet, check out our Bowen Island winter fishing packages! Great accommodation, amazing scenery and consistent salmon fishing, crabbing and prawning!

We are looking forward to winter and winter fishing salmon fishing in Vancouver, BC!

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. It shows Shannon with a healthy Georgia Strait Winter Chinook.

Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, and Ucluelet

no report this week

Bamfield

no report this week

Becher Bay

Salmon fishing was NOT TOO BAD this past week. Most of the fish seen at Cheanuh Marina came from the Bedfords to Whirl Bay and were running up to 10 lbs in size. Most of the fish have been caught on spoons with Coho Killers, Gibbs Skinny G’s in Cop Car and green & silver colors. The GIBBS Highliner Guide Series Outfitters and Lemon Lime, Silver Fever Hot Spot and Big Shooter Betsy have been working well. Fish close to the bottom for the winter springs.

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 SLOW in Oak Bay this past week. There were a few salmon coming in from the Flats and the Gap but most of them have been fairly small with a 8 lb fish the largest that we have heard about. There was bait in Oak Bay this past week so things are looking up. The salmon are feeding on needle fish and have been close to the bottom where the feed is located. Most of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom.

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 fishing.  It has really picked up inside the bay and at Whirl Bay. Most of the fish have been close to the bottom in 120 – 140 feet of water. That said, we did hear of one taken at 60’ on a shallow line in deep water. The salmon have been reported up to 12 lbs in size.  Spoons have been producing the best and the Skinny G’s, AP Tackleworks and Coho Killers are the top choices. Hoochies and squirts with a green and glow, or UV white have been popular color choices for plastic baits this week. Flashers that are popular include the Guide Series Madi, Outfitters and Lemon Lime.

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 in the Sidney area. Anglers have not been reporting any success. Previously, they had been catching springs but all of them have been undersized. The area holding the most fish has been the Sidney Channel. Anglers using spoons found that Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and 3.5″ G Force spoons the most productive 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 VERY GOOD this past week. Winter springs as large as 12lbs were caught this past week, but there were lots of fish in the 4 to 6 lb size. The best locations to fish for winter springs have been from the Bluffs west to Muir Creek. The hot combo this past week was a whiter hootchy behind a red flasher.  Most of the fish are quite close to the bottom. Spoons in the Coho Killers, Skinny G’s, and small 3.5″ G Force spoons have been good and anchovies are still a popular choice. Good choices for teaser head colors are Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze.  For flashers, Red/Silver Hot Spots, the Delta Guide Series UV Moon Jelly, Madi and the Lemon Lime Chartreuse are good choices. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top 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 PICKING UP off the waterfront this past weekend. Good weather on Saturday allowed a few anglers to have really good success with lots of fish caught. Most of the fish were from 3 to 6 lbs, although we did hear of a 10 lb spring caught off the flagpole. Constance Bank was really good on the east side. Closer in, the salmon were between Trial Island and Finlayson Point in about 124 feet of water. Spoons have been successful in getting hook ups with Irish Cream Skinny G’s, Green/Glow AP Tackleworks Anchovy 4” spoons and Green/Glow Coyote spoons popular choices.

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 GOOD in most lakes for trout and FAIR for bass.

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

Salmon University Staff
Salmon University is the top online resource for fishing in the Pacific Northwest. Follow us on Twitter @salmonuniv for the latest news and other updates.

Wikipedia