Fishing Report
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Freshwater Fishing Saltwater BC, Canada
FISHING REPORT
July 20, 2011
By Ken Shagren, Fishing Pro Staff, Dave's Sports Shop
"Remember to check the official WDFW regulations before going out!"
Welcome to the Dave’s Sports Shop fishing report. Check in with us as we attempt to keep you informed on where the fish are biting and what is working to catch them. We will try to keep the information current so that we can help you decide where the best opportunity for success will be located.
The daily limit is 3 fish over 18 inches per angler. Fish under 18 inches are considered kokanee in the creel count. This is the second consecutive year that anglers will be given the opportunity catch sockeye at Baker and is the culmination of a successful program by the WDFW in transporting fish above Baker Dam to the lake. Last year one of the most successful methods included using a small pink squid rigged 9 to 12 inches behind a Chrome size 0 flasher trolled very slowly at a depth of approximately 40 feet. Some success was also experienced using glow beads and a single black or red hook. Baker Lake is designated as Area 825 on the salmon catch record card. Dave’s Sport Shop has all the gear and the latest information you will need for success.
The Nooksack river opened for Pink salmon or “Humpies” on July 16 to a high and muddy river due to intense rain earlier in the week. Very few fish have been reported rolling and it may be toward the end of July before this fishery kicks into gear. Pink spoons and jigs will be the ticket here when the fish show up. The Skagit river will open on August
1 and the same lure choices will work there as well.
Lake Samish is still consistent for Kokanee. The fish are being found at
35 to 60 feet and are taking Wedding Ring spinners, pink mini squids, small Apexes, and pink flies behind a Sling Blade or small 4/0 or 3/0 dodger. The lures are being tipped with a live or Gulp maggot. Area 7 salmon fishing got off to a fabulous start around the San Juan Islands. Cypres Island at Tide Point and Eagle Bluff on the incoming tide has had good reports as well as Strawberrry Island. The WDFW expects that over 300,000 more Coho will enter Puget Sound this year.
Also, this is a Pink salmon “Humpy” return year and nearly 6,000,000 Pinks will be coming back to Puget Sound area rivers not to mention another 17,000,000 returning to the Fraser River.
Dungeness and Rock crab opened in Area 7 South on July 15. Be sure to check the boundaries that define Area 7 South as the remainder of Area 7 does not open until August 15. Make certain that all floats are clearly marked with your name and address. Each person is allowed two crab pots and each pot must have an escape lid that is tied down by biodegradable (100% cotton or equivalent) cord. Crab fishing is limited to Thursdays through Mondays. Check the WDFW rules pamphlet for additional regulations.
FRESHWATER
The Fraser River opened for the retention of
Chinook “king” salmon on Saturday, July16. The limit is 1 per day
with a minimum length of 30 cm
(11.8 inches) and a maximum of 77cm (30.3 inches) until July 28.
Between July 29 and August 31 the daily limit is 4 Chinook of which
only 1 may be over 50 cm (19.7 inches). From September 1 to December
31 the daily limit is 4 and only 1 can be over 62 cm (24.4 inches).
The Fraser River is running quite high and fast with debris floating
downriver as a fairly deep interior snow pack melts and flows
downstream. Sturgeon fishing has been good with a lot of fish
reported in shallow water out of the main strong currents.
The Vedder River opened up for red Spring Chinook “Kings” on Friday
July 1.The river is running quite high so it would be best to try
the lower river with cured salmon eggs and bright colored corkies
and yarn. Kings have been reportedly hooked around the Campground
Run area. Also, there are lots of sockeye in the Vedder that are
providing catch and release action. Sockeye cannot be retained in
any portion of the Chilliwack/Vedder system.
Reports from Kamloops area lakes continue to be good. Chironomids,
micro leaches, and shrimp patterns are the choice of fly fishers in
this area and wedding band spinners, small spoons or flatfish type
lures are the choice of trollers. Chironomid fishing at Tunkwa Lake
has been very good and kokanee fishing at Nicola lake continues to
be good for numbers.
Merritt and 100 Mile House area lakes have been reported to be fishing very well also. If you are fly fishing in the BC interior be sure to bring a wide assortment of flies. It’s a good idea to carry chironomids, mayflies (dries and nymphs), damsels, dragons, caddis (dries, nymphs, and pupa), ants, leeches, boatmen, and scud patterns. A good selection of beaded and non-beaded micro leeches is also indispensable as they can imitate leeches, scuds, damsels, juvenile dragons, and mayflies.
SALTWATER
Fishing out of Ucluelet and Bamfield has been
consistent all spring and early summer for migratory Chinook
“Kings”. One guide out of Ucluelet has described the action as
phenomenal with the inner and outer South Lighthouse Bank, the Wreck
and the Turtle Head all being fantastic. The mid summer run which is
forecast to be very good for numbers. These fish also tend to weigh
into the 30 or 40 pound class. Guides and sportsmen are reporting
having success using four inch green and blue nickel Coyote spoons
and also T-Rex and purple Haze hootchies with a 42 inch leader
behind a glow Hot Spot flasher. Those using anchovies are attaching
them to a purple haze, chartreuse, or glow army truck Rhys Davis
teaser head.
Fishing has been reported to be very good out of Port Renfrew at
Swiftsure Bank for Kings, silvers, and lots of halibut. The Sooke
area is reporting waves of pinks that are making fishing for any
other kind of salmon difficult. Humpys to 9 lbs have been reported
in that area.
This Fishing Report is Sponsored by Dave's Sports Shop in Lynden. Check them out for all of your fishing and hunting needs. www.DavesSports.com
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