April 1st marks the start of a new fishing season and it looks like it will be a good one for salmon fishermen on the Island. Chinook are showing up in big numbers around French Creek, Entrance Island and all along the East side of Gabriola and Valdez Island. Spoons like 3.5" Phat-E Cool Runnings and Glow Chartreus Hoochies like T-Rex have been taking the most fish. Troll close to the bottom in 200-240ft of water.
Around Ladysmith and South on the inside there are areas that are open to hatchery Chinook with no slot size. If you are heading down there the best lures have been Northern Tackle Blue Bananas behind a Chartreuse Anchovy #576 Hotspot Flasher.
We just got a new series of Oki flashers called the MJ series. They look like winners to me, but time will tell.
Prawning looks great from the first few reports I've gotten. We got a new shipment of Bauer traps that comply with the new escape door regulations. These are the most effective prawn traps, and are made on Vancouver Island and come with a 10 year warranty. If you need to modify your Bauer traps for the regulations we have the retrofit kits in stock.
In the fresh water the local lakes have been very hot. The trout stocking program did their fish release last weekend so it is go time. Trolling Berkley Flicker Minnows have been dominating in West Wood and Long Lake. With Lime Green and Black Silver being the top producers.
Tips Up!
steve@harbourchandler.ca