​End of Summer is hot for Springs

 As the summer begins to slide towards fall, the Salmon are starting to stage closer to shore and structure. Nanaimo and area continues to be very hot, with larger Chinook now rolling in. They will be holding in tight while they wait for the fall rains. Therefore it's time to start trolling or jigging in close to shore. Last Sunday the fish where in the Pipers Lagoon and Neck point area. Jigging Half Jigs in very shallow water was the winning method as they were in too shallow to troll. But normally trolling the 200ft couture line just north of Neck Point is a good plan.

There was a lot of whale activity on Sunday too. A pod of Humpbacks with a baby was hanging around The Finger's and later moving over to Gabriola. Also a pod of transient Killer Whales came past the Fingers about an hour later. There is also incredible phosphoresce in the water at night. So it's a good time for a sunset cruise.

This is also the time of year I start changing over from mostly green lures and flashers to purples, gold and red. Try UV Purple Splatterback Hoochies, spoons like Resurrection and Raspberry flashers. On the West Coast use spoons like Copper Nugget, and Spring Roll behind a Purple Footloose flasher. Purple Haze Teaser heads are also doing well. And we have all sizes of Fresh Anchovies.

On the West Coast Tofino, Banfield and Barkley Sound are all very consistent right now for Chinook. The Alberni Derby should be a good one this year. 

Halibut is still excellent off-shore. Trolling Gibbs 9" Jumbo hoochies in Peanut Butter have been working. 

So get out and enjoy what's left of the summer. I'll see you on the water.

Tips up,

steve@harbourchandler.ca