LOCAL FISHING REPORTS
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
– If you’re bass fishing now, look for the large post-spawn female bass cruising around logs, rocks and weed edges recovering from their spawning effort. If you can’t trigger a reaction strike, go back with a slower lure (tube or top water) and a bite is almost guaranteed!
SALTWATER OVERVIEW
– OVERVIEW – Fishing was PICKING UP for springs. Some salmon are now being caught at relatively shallow depths and not just near the bottom. Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend.
SOOKE
– The salmon fishing has been GOOD for springs. Most of the hatchery fish are running from 6 to 10 lbs in size but we’ve heard of some from 20 to 27 lbs. Also, some of the salmon are being caught at summertime depths (50-80 feet). The best fishing has been from the bluffs westward. More and more anglers are using bait, and anchovies are the most popular choice.
BECHER BAY
– Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. Most of the salmon caught this past week were hatchery springs from 6-10 lbs. That said, there were some larger springs, both clipped and unclipped around. A 23 lb clipped spring was taken by O’Brien Point. There have also been quite a few larger wild springs that had to be released. The best depths for trolling have been from 60 – 100 feet on the downrigger and the fish are closer to shore. The Trap Shack to Beechey Head was been the best area
PEDDER BAY
– Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD salmon fishing but nothing big. The most productive area was from Whirl Bay to the Bedford Islands. It was slower inside Pedder Bay. Most anglers are still using artificial lures and trolling close to the bottom, but anchovies are also producing well. Anglers jigging at the mouth of the bay and in the channel have been catching more salmon than those anglers trolling.
VICTORIA
– Fishing for salmon was SPOTTY this past week. Constance Bank was the best area when the tides and currents weren’t ripping too badly, but that wasn’t very often. Along the waterfront the salmon fishing has been very slow.
OAK BAY
– Salmon fishing was HOT & COLD in Oak Bay. There are hatchery springs into the upper teens on the Flats but the fishing has been inconsistent. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 65 to 140 feet, depending on where the feed is located.
SIDNEY
– Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Los of springs have been caught from Pender Island to Sidney Spit. Jigging has been very effective in the shallower spots while trollers are doing better in the deeper waters.
FRESHWATER OVERVIEW
– Fishing was GOOD in most lakes for trout and bass.
TROUT
– Elk and Langford Lakes are giving up the biggest rainbow trout.
BASS
– Bass fishing is GOOD as the bass move into shallower water to spawn. There is no longer a closed season for bass retention on the island.