The new year is off to a great start for winter Chinook fishing. The best reports are coming from the South end of Gabriola, from the Flat Tops, down to Tent Island and Sampson Narrows. The average sized fish is 10-12lbs but there are larger fish up to 14lbs in the mix. The fish are deep between 150-24ft down. Mostly right off the bottom, but there are some schools higher up. Make sure you are using your depth sounder to the best of it's ability to identify these suspended schools of fish.
Large Big Eye spoons in glow patterns have been working the best. Howe Sound Security and Derby Winner have been proven winners. Glow flashers like Chartreuse Glow Crystal are working well with these spoons.
Speaking of Howe Sound the reports from there are excellent. I noticed the Vancouver fishing guides are not coming over to our side of the Straight and it turns out it's because they are doing well close to home. Bowen Island and area is producing some larger fish with a few in the 15lb range coming in.
French Creek and up to Comox also has a lot of winter Springs, again a little bigger than those around Nanaimo. With the mature herring showing up larger plugs like 5" Tomic 158 and 4" Spin Fish in Touchdown have been the hot lures. Run both of these lures with dummy flashers and you will load up.
In the store we spent our weekend expanding the tackle department. We now have even more space and what must be the largest selection of fishing tackle in B.C. Come check it out.
The mature herring are rolling in, so get your sabiki jigs while stocks last. If you see a school of herring drop your sabiki jig down and wait for multiple fish to bite on. Catching herring is very easy, and productive.
Thanks to Till for the report and picture of his catch in the South Gabriola area.
If you have a report, either good or bad please email me.
Tips up, steve@harbourchandler.ca