Vancouver Island Fishing Report Archives

Vancouver Island Salmon, Steelhead & Halibut Fishing Report

I usually look at April as a month of transition, the real turning point that takes us into another fishing season on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Aside from being in the peak of the season for spring run Steelhead on our small-medium sized west draining rivers, our saltwater fishing opportunities have been sporadic and somewhat limited since the turning of the New Year.

Up until this stage of the season, foul weather usually limits where we can fish for relatively small, yet scrappy feeder Chinook salmon. The Halibut fishing is very limited to the windows of calm weather that allows us venture to offshore banks.

Even our fairly abundant Sea-Run Cutthroat seem scarce, and act lethargic to well presented offerings. This welcome time of the season is when the tides turn for the better, much better. A combination of factors help promote spring time fishing success, with more reliable weather conditions and the movement of transient fish topping the list.

Very consistent action can be expected for Chinook Salmon averaging 10-25lbs.with the odd fish entering the 30lb. Tyee Class. Trolling the bait fish rich banks outside Tofino with Plugs, Spoons, Hoochies or Bait will increase success. Plan to go equipped with the top producers like 50/50 Coyote Spoons, 3-6 inch Tomic Plugs in #602,#158,#500.Glow Green-Oil Slick, Green Tractor-Back, Pearlescent White and Army-Truck hoochies in both Needlefish and Octopus sizes. Teaser Heads for your Anchovies or medium Herring in Chartreuse, glow-green and Army-truck are a must have piece of gear.

The new colors from Rhys-Davis are going to make a strong presence along with increased catches this year. For early season Halibut, you can fish with a variety of different painted lead jigs, but my preferred techniques are slowly trolling cut-plug Herring along the bottom or still fishing with a spreader-bar and baits such as Herring, Octopus, Mackerel or a strip of Salmon belly. Try and find water that drops to at least 130 -150 ft. before soaking your bait.

If you are a Trout fisherman, this month offers fantastic opportunities for Sea-run Cutthroat Trout, native spring Steelhead and resident Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout that inhabit the remote lakes in the area. The Sea-runs cruise the beaches and river estuaries feeding mainly on small shrimp, Sculpins and early Salmon fry coming down from local rivers. Small spoons and spinners work well but these baits are better imitated by flies like epoxy shrimp, gold muddlers, and other well presented fry patterns.

For remote Steelhead fishing this spring, we’ve caught and released good numbers of these native beauties, with this month always the best of the year. We’ve had most success on flies with a number of fish on spoons like #35 brass Koho. The remote lakes in the area are producing well with chironomids, leeches and half-back nymphs.

For more information on the Tofino B.C. area, and the fabulous fishing opportunities that it offers, call me at 1-888-5-FISHBC. E-mail jay@steelheadsalmonhalibut.com or drop by our Fly & Tackle shop as you drive into Tofino.

Check out our many other updated fishing reports for the Tofino and Ucluelet areas on the Vancouver Island west coast. For accommodation info and fishing packages, see the specific pages on our site at www.tofinofishing.com

Sign up for our

Email Newsletter

Email Marketing you can trust

Tofino, Vancouver Island,
British Columbia Canada

Sport Fishing Charters and Accommodations

Full service Fly & Tackle outfitter for Tofino and Ucluelet.