[doublesteve]

I guess someone has to say it! I think we are in the duldrums right now and are all waiting expectantly for those winter feeders to start moving in. Around the Sunshine Coast last winter, we ended up having some remarkable fishing from late November, right through to February. There were lots of nice fish being caught, including one I heard of that exceeded 30lbs off Hutt Island!!! I still think the nice 7-10lb winter springs are some of the best eating out there, but hey, would not turn down a nice one like that! Anyway, the usual tricks are in play, the glo-spoons, the glo-hootchies, pretty much anything that glows I guess. My usual haunts are out at Gower Point, Hutt, Tunstall, Cotton Point, etc. etc. But perhaps there may be some tackle or locations that might be a nice addition to the usuals, no? Anyone thought of going out to mid straight and fishing along some of the banks out there? I think Halibut has a no fish zone for rockfish conservation, but any thoughts would be nice! Look forward to hearing from you all.....

s.

 

[farny]

I have never fished hutt Island but I am going to this winter ,one of the more productive lures last year for me was a green and white needle fish hoochie

 

[fishinmagician]

May give the winter fishery a crack tomorrow. I'm on vacation all week. Then again, maybe I'll take a crack at last dance with stinky white springs...hmmm..who knows?!

 

[Dorman Point]

I found a chartreuse/green croc was the most productive for me last winter in Tunstall and Hutt, with Punk Skunk and glow army truck Coyotes to be close runners-up -- all without flashers. I spent very little time fishing plugs, though I think I will give them a more concerted effort this year, as they used to produce for me quite a few years ago. Anyone have input on that?

 

[fishinmagician]

Here's this little blurb which I found floating around on the internet...from none other than our very own Winter Spring Fishing Specialist...David Korsch of Predator Charters.

David Korsch, Predator Charters, Horseshoe Bay

David Korsch fishes the clear, deep waters of Howe Sound on the Vancouver side of Georgia Strait where winter baitfish size is between 2- to 4- inches (shiners and young herring). He believes in ‘matching the hatch’, so to speak, and employs 3- to 4-inch models.

David also pulls the pin on his plugs and offers the observation that this prevents plugs being thrown during surface fights. The plug slides up the line away from the fish and thus cannot swing around at close quarters to add leverage on the hook.

To compensate for barbless hooks, run a slightly larger 4/0 or 5/0 single hook. Local favourites include the 171 and 413, or green/yellow or green/white, as well as blue/green and blue/purple plugs.

Howe Sound is very deep water with glacial toes spreading out beneath the surface. These regular-surfaced structure 100- to 200-feet down are fished right on the bottom where the fish lie – commonly they will not rise even 10’ to a lure.

David’s interesting approach is to run two lines per downrigger. The deep line is attached right at the cannonball, with the plug line inserted 10 feet up. His interesting bit of tactical strategy depends on the propensity of plugs to dive due to their shovel front nose. With 40- to 50-feet of mainline behind the release clip, the plug will dive right to the bottom and thus, two lures per downrigger fish the precise fish zone favoured by feeder chinook.

Contact: David Korsch, Predator Charters, Cell: 604-329-8642; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.predatorcharters.com.

 

[fishinmagician]

Well..I've retired the hootchies, anchovy rigs and "big spring gear" until next summer. It'll be SPOONS SPOONS AND MORE SPOONS!!!!

Anyone else ready for action?

 

[wopper]

Getting ready! Just a quick question for those in the know. Your thoughts on running flashers in the winter fishery! Yes, no, maybe dummy flashers?

 

[Dorman Point]

I find I have as much success without dummy flashers in the winter, as with them. I think having less gear in the water is one of the real pleasures of the winter fishery, so I rarely use any flashers this time of year.

 

[fishinmagician]

No flashers required if you choose... A Dummy Flasher however is a good idea...KoneZoners rejoice!!!

There is one other fun thing to do...if you're looking for QUALITY size fish...use a slightly larger spoon and/or larger hook which doesn't kill the action of the spoon. That way when you get a strike..you KNOW its a "KEEPER"!

 

[farny]

Fished west van today got a nice 12 pound red and one udersize on anchovy

 

[scoopy]

Hi all,

Fished Bell bouy to North arm and managed 1 coho smolt. Pulled up and went to Pt Atkinson Trolled for awhile and managed a shaker. Nice day on the water.


Matt

 

[doublesteve]

Went out Sunday as well... beautiful day on the water. Fished Gower point, the Gap at gibsons harbour, and down to chaster creek. Only thing to report was a 4" ling cod. To bad the fish didn't co-operate. Will be trying out towards Tunstall bay and Hutt Island next weekend.... will keep you posted.