For those anglers that have played a large Salmon on light gear without a flasher, Dodger or weight etc… you know the thrill of the battle that can only be experienced fishing this way. The first thing I noticed was the salmon fought differently they were not fighting the flasher or weight they were fighting me. I noticed a lot more surface action, high jumps and tail walks. Definitely great excitement for all. Here’s, how you do it. Read More
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I recently got wind of a Small Mouth Bass lake here on Vancouver Island that has 8lbs Small Mouth and 10lb Rainbows. Hearing that immediately put me into research mode to verify the legend. Well. It’s true and it’s only an hour’s drive from my farm. I’m not equipped for fresh water fishing right now as I have to build a small boat. Luckily I still have my electric trolling motor and spare sonar.
Anyways, all this talk of Bass made me think of the Baitrix Soft Bait Minnow and put me back into research mode. Searching out the local sporting goods superstore and local tackle shops, I found lots of minnow baits to choose from. Being naturally competitive I purchased 2 brands that had wild claims of being the best. One claimed fish would hold onto the bait for the longest time. I could see them catching fish but they all looked like Muppet’s to me. Read More
I’ll bet there won’t be many sport fishermen out being a weekday. I’m going hell or high water. I know where there are some halies close to town, If I can get to them before the locals do. I’ll have to catch my fish Thursday and Friday before the weekend anglers get out and scooped them.
For most of March Halibut will stick around the sound as long as there is bait. The Herring all but collapsed in the sound due to over fishing. Traditionally the spawning Herring kept the Halibut close to shore and in Barkley Sound. I don’t know if there are enough pilchards and herring to do the job anymore. I sure don’t want to go off shore in my 20 foot open boat this time of year.
Halibut Gear
An Important Message for all Boaters
I’ve been hearing about the winter outflow for years and how deadly it can be. I thought the stories and warnings were mostly legend until last weekend.
My friends Jennifer and Amanda and I left town in the fog headed into the sound for some Crabs and Rock fish. By the time we got to China Creek the fog had burned off and the sky was clear and blue, (made me think of Alberta for just a moment) the wind started to build as we traveled down the Alberni Inlet, blowing outward towards open ocean. By the time we got to the Devil’s Kitchen we were traveling at the same speed as the wind, 25mph and it was starting to get quite lumpy. We headed for calm water out of the wind to set our Crab traps and spend the day fishing. Read More
A while back, watching WFN I saw this fellow had an artificial softbait about the size of your artificial minnow. It was not as realistic as the Baitrix line but what was so interesting was how he hooked it and fished with it. Using just a bare 2/0 jig hooked through the side of the bait. He called it “side swimming wacky jig head rigged” (where do they get these names?). He was Bass fishing somewhere in the southern U.S. catching Small Mouth and Large Mouth Bass one after another having the time of his life. Made me wish I was there.
Freshwater Shoreline Fishing
He was working a shore line with an electric motor and casting into every dock and weed bed he could find, letting the artificial minnow pause a bit to sink then pumping the rod with light jerks to wag the bait causing it to swim in the direction of the head. When it swam too far from the structure he would re-cast. “Wow” Read More
