3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8Z 3L2
Tel: (250) 475-4969 Fax: (250) 475- 6942
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Reported by: Tom Vaida
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – Another week with light angling pressure on the South Island, and once again, those that did go out found it PRETTY SLOW in most areas for feeder (winter) springs. There is a coast wide halibut closure for recreational anglers in effect.
Sooke – Salmon fishing was POOR for winter springs through the week and weekend. Those that did catch fish caught 6 to 8 pounders and nothing big. The weather has not been great either so not too many anglers have been going out. The best fishing has been from Secretary Island to Otter Point, especially along the Bluffs. Most anglers fishing for springs are using a variety of artificial baits but anchovies and herring are catching most of the fish. Rhys Davis Anchovy Specials or JDF Teasers in Chartreuse Glow, Mint Pearl and Purple Haze have been productive. The best hootchies or squirts to try are the Pistachio, Electric Chair or White. The best flashers have been Red/Glow, Super Betsy and the Hot Spot Purple/Glow. With spoons try Mongoose, Cop Car or any Green/Glow color combinations with 4” Gypsies, Titans and Coyotes.
HALIBUT - There is a coast wide halibut closure for recreational anglers in effect.
Beecher Bay – Salmon fishing was SLOW according to the folks at the marina. Several boats went out but very few came back with springs. Most of the springs were not too big either, mostly under 8 lbs in size. The majority of springs were caught in the bay on the outside (south side) of Fraser Island. Inside the bay, the fish have been within 10 feet of the bottom so be sure to fish deep. Most anglers fishing for springs are using artificial baits now. The Electric Chair, Purple Haze and White hootchies have been good for the winter springs. If you like to fish spoons, try Mongoose or Green/Glow color Coyote, Titan or Gypsy spoons. The Purple Haze, Bloody Nose and Mint Pearl teaser heads behind the Purple Haze and Green or Red Glow flashers have been the most popular combinations to fish.
Pedder Bay – Pedder Bay Marina reports FAIR fishing for salmon this past week. Not too many anglers were out but some boats did well on fish up to 10 or 12 lbs. Shawn Heise has caught his limit of two springs (up to 10 lbs) three times this past week, with anchovies and white hootchies being the most successful baits. He caught the fish in three spots: in Whirl Bay, near the Can Buoy at the mouth of the bay and in Parry Bay. The fish have been really close to the bottom in the bay but also at 140 feet in 200 feet of water. Most anglers fishing for springs are using artificial baits now. If you’re using hootchies and squirts, try the Electric Chair, Purple Haze or White. If you prefer to fish 3.5” or 4” spoons, give Mongoose, Green/Glow or Cop Car Coyote, Gypsies and Titan spoons a try. The most popular natural bait has been anchovies with fished with Red or Purple Glow flashers. Try using Purple Haze, Nose Bleed or Mint Pearl teaser heads.
HALIBUT - There is a coast wide halibut closure for recreational anglers in effect.
Victoria Waterfront – Salmon fishing was PETTY SLOW this past week, especially right along the beach. That said, Louis Meszoly caught a 15 ½ lb spring on a White hootchy last Wednesday off Clover Point. The seals remain a real problem too since the seals stole many of the few hooked by anglers. The seals were especially bad by Brotchie Ledge and Clover Point. On most days, the fish do move around with the currents so if you’re not getting them near one spot, you might want to move to another spot. On the ebb tide Albert Head and the Gravel Pit are good spots to try. On the bright side, we did hear that some more herring were caught off the Craigflower Bridge last week.
It was SLOW out at Constance Bank this past week too. Lots of boats caught nothing, including many of the guides. That said, some springs up to 17 lbs did get caught, but most were in the 8 to 12 lb size range. Most of the fish caught were taken on anchovies or herring. With bait, good teasers have been the plain Green, Purple Haze and Nose Bleed. Electric Chair or White squirts fished behind White Glow or Purple Haze flashers have been catching fish, especially if the fish are deep. Out on the bank Green/silver Coyote spoons and Purple Haze hootchies are also catching fish. Good flashers have been the Red Glow, Purple/Glow and the Green/Glow colors.
HALIBUT – There is a coast wide halibut closure for recreational anglers in effect.
Oak Bay – Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. One reason is that just about all of the Oak Bay regulars are running around to the west side of Trial Island to fish the waterfront. However, a few anglers have been fishing the Flats and we know of at least one fish in the 10 – 12 lb size caught there. The best depths to fish were from 90 to 140 feet, and about 20 feet off the bottom around the ledges and reefs. Anchovies or Tiny Strip were the best bait. Also good are small squirts in Mint Tulip, Purple Haze or J-79 colors. Smaller Spoons such as 3.5” or 4” Green/Silver and Cop Car Coyote spoons are also a favorite in Oak Bay at this time of year.
HALIBUT – There is a coast wide halibut closure for recreational anglers in effect.
Sidney – Fishing is NOT GOOD near Sidney. We’ve only heard of one legal salmon caught, a 8 to 10 lb spring caught at the north end of Sidney Channel. A couple of sub legal springs were taken in the channel as well. All of the springs are very deep now, right along the bottom. Fish close to the bottom for best results, as that is where the bait is holding. The best lures to use for springs now are Electric Chair or J-79 Squirts, Tiny Strip, Purple Haze and 4” Cop Car spoons.
Notable Catches – Shawn Heise has caught his limit of two springs (up to 10 lbs) three times this past week, with anchovies and white hootchies being the most successful baits while fishing out of Pedder Bay Marina. Louis Meszoly caught a 15½ lb spring on a White hootchy last Wednesday off Clover Point. If you have any fishing info, notable catches or tips that you would like to share or have included in our fishing report, please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
FRESHWATER
OVERVIEW – Trout fishing is FAIR and bass fishing is SLOW on the local lakes. There are steelhead in the rivers now and steelhead fishing is SLOW to FAIR. If you have any fishing info or notable catches that you would like to share or have included in our fishing report, please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Stamp River – We haven’t heard anything new this past week. The previous week,the river system had been producing GOOD steelheading. There had been fresh fish below the “bucket” and fresh runs higher up as well. Guide boats were getting multiple fish days for their clients.
Cowichan River – The water level has increased overnight and is around 0.84 meters near Duncan. Steelhead fishing has been SLOW due to low water levels and high water clarity. Access to the river is no longer a problem. There have been reports of both hatchery and wild steelhead being caught in the middle part of the system from the Bible Camp to Stoltz. The fish are also starting to color up quite a bite. Good lures to fish are Spin ‘n Glo’s, Corkies, Gooey Bobs and the always reliable Pink Worm.
Local Lakes – Trout fishing is FAIR on most lakes in the south island area. However, Durrance Lake has been very good for 12” 15 rainbows. Fly anglers will find leeches, streamer patterns and chironomids are the most effective flies now. Anglers fishing Powerbait from shore have also been finding a few rainbows in Elk, Prospect and Langford. Sunrise Powerbait Eggs with Shrimp scent and green Powerbait paste have been the hottest bait recently. Gear fishermen have been doing very well with the new Baitrix Trout lures in Holographic colours, especially for larger fish. They have also been doing well trolling Luhr Jensen Needlefish spoons in a variety of colours or Tomic Wee-Tads in frog or rainbow. Flatfish and/or Kwikfish have also been effective in sizes 7 and smaller in Frog, Yellow with Red Spots or Blue/Silver. Smaller Rapalas in Rainbow Trout or Brown Trout patterns also work well. Lastly, Willow Leaf Lake trolls with a worm-tipped GIBBS Wedding Band will almost always catch some fish. By the way, all wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.
Bass Fishing – Bass fishing was VERY SLOW this past week as the water temperature remains cold. Try fishing soft-plastics and slower moving lures or drop shotting. As they become less active, bass like a meal that they don’t have to work as hard for. Remember, the fish don’t stop feeding all winter long; it may just be a little harder to entice them! Langford Lake and St. Mary’s Lake on Saltspring Island in particular have been especially good recently. Shawnigan Lake, Prospect Lake and Elk and Beaver Lakes have been good spots for bass too.
Notable Catches – If you have any fishing info, notable catches or tips that you would like to share or have included in our fishing report, please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
Low clear water in the winter can make steelheading tough. To get fish under these conditions you have to fish much smaller and lighter gear than you normally would at this time of year. Try 6 or 8 LB leaders with single eggs or size 14 Spin n Glo’s to entice the steelhead into striking.
Island Outfitters Leader Board – 2009
Halibut
We are now waiting for the first “barndoors” of the season to be weighed in at the store when the season opens.
Salmon
We are now waiting for the first big springs of the year to be weighed in at the store. Maybe you will be bringing in the big one!
2009 DERBIES and EVENTS
Island Outfitters starts and ends the year with the free for fun and prizes Salmon and Halibut Leader Board. Simply weigh your catch in at Island Outfitters and the top five fish in each category on December 31st wins a special prize. Everybody who enters a fish gets a prize! Maybe it will be you bringing in the big one!
Please let us know about your derbies in 2008!
The 13th Annual Just for the Halibut Derby will be held on April 18th and 19th. First prize is $7,500 cash, 2nd prize is $2,500, and 3rd prize is $1,000 cash. A hidden weight “Bonus” prize is sponsored by SG Power. Tickets are available at Island Outfitters, Trotac Marine, Pedder Bay Marina or Cheanuh Marina. Call 250-475-4969 for more information.
April 5th: The Sidney Anglers’ Premier Derby: Open to paid up members only.
Saturday, April 11th. Elk Lake Take a Kid Fishing Derby. Tickets are Adults - $25, Children under 16 - $10.For more info contact Laurie McBride at Tel: 250-658-2915. Cell: 250-812-6152. or E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
April 30- May 1st -2nd - The Port Sidney Marina is holding their 14th Annual Salmon Derby There is $17,500 in total prizes. Largest salmon wins $10,000.. Call Wayne Pullen at 250- 655-3711 for information on the event
May 17th: The Sidney Anglers’ Spring Derby: Open to paid up members only.
June 14th: The Sidney Anglers’ President’s Derby: Open to paid up members only.
June 20th – 21st: 23rd Annual Alpine Juan de Fuca Salmon Derby -- The Island’s largest invitational derby. $80,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. Tickets are $90 per rod, which includes a derby shirt, hat, and entrance to the awards banquet. For information on the derby visit the web site www.jdfsalmonderby.com or call (250) 478-6153.
July 24th - 26th: The 9th Annual Davey Derby will take place at the Port Renfrew Marina on the weekend of July 24, 25, and 26. This year's derby will once again feature a prize table totaling over $12,000.00 with all proceeds going to charity and salmon enhancement. Tickets are $45.00 a rod and can be purchased at the Port Renfrew Marina or in advance. Please check out http://daveyderby.ca for more info or contact Audie Williams at 250-416-1275 or e-mail.
August 23rd: Esquimalt Anglers annual members’ salmon derby.
August 30th: The Sidney Anglers’ Roundup Derby: Open to paid up members only
