2009 Summer Fishing Report

These past couple of months turned out very good springs of good size, and continued to move through our area. We have had steady fishing off Gibsons, Trail Islands, Epsom Point, and the coho and pinks rolled into Selma Park and Sechelt Inlet. .

The forecast looks good for the coho and pink in Sechelt Inlet, Davis Bay and Selma Park with some nice fish. The second wave will be in the end of the month and will be over five pounds. Work the early morning and late evening tides with rooster tails in pink, yellow or orange. Cast out in front of the schools as they swim by the boat. If the jumpers won't take them then try trolling 20-40ft deep with spoons or white hootchies at a fast pace. Lastly, lets not forget the fly fishing as they are some of the most productive fishers at this time of year.

The springs move in the Inlet in August and in front of Davis Bay and this has been the best kept fishing secret on the coast. We spend so much time casting to coho or pinks and we miss out on some of the best opportunities to nail some big fish. Trolling 60-100ft with white or blood and bones hootchies or coyote spoons in black/white, green/silver or green/white will work well. Early morning tides are the best or late in the evening, but unlike the coho the springs do turn on during some of the day time tides. The Sechelt Band's hatchery and Chapman Creek releases 150,000 chinook annually.

The hatchery coho are open so check out the old holes such as Sangster, Upwood, Epsom, Pirate Rock, Merry Island, Trail Island and Camp Bing. They should all see some good coho fishing in August. Find the feed and you will find coho no matter what depth.

Fishing 2 hours before the low water slack with hootchies and coyote spoons have been working well in Army Truck, Blood/Bones, Green/White. It pays to mix up the colours and find the hot colour for the day. Of course you are not giving your all, if you are not trolling bait. With all the new head teaser colours you can mix colours with your bait as well. You may find that as the water gets murky, you will probably do better with dull or darker colours other than bright greens. Don't for get your flasher, line colour and leader length has a lot to do with your success as well. A lot of the fish have been holding from 60' -100', and you will find fish deeper but a good starting point is from 80' -120'. Then look for bait balls and move your lures to that level. Fish a little higher in the evenings between 40'- 80'. At this time of year fish can be holding or travelling in 30-50ft of water so when you check your line it's a good practice to pop it off the downrigger clip and let it float up to the surface. This will change the action of your lure and allow you to fish a variety of depth all the way to the surface. Vary the time you check your bait. It is also very important to clean the jelly fish off your line and flashers, and make sure that you give them wipe. It doesn't hurt once in awhile to give them a soak with warm soapy water.

Lure choice will also depend on the water color, of late it has stayed murky, and thus the reason olive green (army/truck) or dark green have been a good producers. We can expect the water to clear and then lean towards the lighter and brighter greens, or blue. Same with your flasher colors stick with what has been working on one side and play with different colors on the other, especially when the water clarity or color changes, or is different than the last time you were on the water. Bite times are important; of late the low tide bite has come on two to three hours before the slack and has stayed steady for an hour past the tide. On the other hand the high tide bite has come on hot near the high slack and then over, don’t get caught running off to find fish at another spot while missing the bite. Depths, fish around Secret Cove, Epsom Point 120-150ft but as you move closer to Howe Sound and home rivers you may find 80ft to be were the lunkers are holding.

Coho opened June 1st.

Lings closed as of Sept 30th.

Clams - prior to harvesting clams always check to make sure you are not digging when there is a PSP Closure by checking out DFO's Fishery Notice on PSP levels at: DFO Red Tide Closures for area 16 or call (604) 666-2828.

To view DFO Management Area maps in order to ensure you know where the boundaries are for various areas or sub-areas that you are interested in fishing, check out their website at: Management Areas Pacific Region.

You won't get better fishing information for the Sunshine Coast.

We hope to see you soon!!!!

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