South island report

I have been out a few times at different spots over the past few weeks trying out my trolling rig (thanks Zee and all the others who helped me with the setup). Friday I launched at Muir Creek, just west of Sooke. The launch site is great--30 yards from the parking lot and you are into the creek. It is then only a couple of hundred yard paddle  to the mouth and a 10 minute paddle out to the reef and a great spring salmon spot. This is definately a place to try if you come for a visit. I tried for almost 3hours using anchovy and then an artificial strip but no luck. Saw 3 nice springs caught. I am still on the learning curve re trolling from the yak. Things that are dead easy, like checking the roll of your anchovy, are not so simple in the yak, which is why I switched to strip. I am really enjoying the challenge tho. As I try different places, I will try and give  a report on how fishable and accessible they are from a yak .
T2

Nice detail.  I'll have to make it up your way one of these days!

-Spot-

Halibut season opens here on March 1st, with some long stretches of good tides in the middle of the month. If anyone--DVO or Lo-in-slo or ? want to get together to try off my place at Albert Head or down at William Head, let me know.
T2

Good halibut tides for the weekend--if anyone wants to go I'm leaving from Taylor Rd. on Saturday am first thing. First time fishing in my new (to me) AI.
T2

T2, I wish I had read this earlier in the year!  I am in Langford, and Albert head is a five minute drive for me.  The In-laws are in Metchosin and one minute from Weir's beach launch site.

trying to get with co-workers to go up on the Cowichan for the first time after Brown trout.

We'll have to wet a line together at some point Rick. This weekend I am taking my power boat up to Renfrew after coho on the salt but there are a number of estuary possibilities this fall. A few years ago I launched a blow up kayak at the mouth of the Sooke River and paddled up to fly fish for chum above the bridge--they are a blast on the fly! That fishery isn't even rolling yet so that could be good. Also, as of the first of the month we will be able to keep 1 unclipped coho so on the right day we could try off Whiffen Spit or Otter Point and troll for them. I caught a couple of wild coho the last time I was out fishing out of the yak off Otter  (trying,unsuccessfully, for chinook) but I had to throw them back. Good to hear from another yak fisher--we are thin on the ground(and the water) in this neck of the woods. As for halis--we definitely  need to plan some trips when the season opens in the spring. I achieved one of my kayaking goals by catching a couple of nice springs trolling this summer but my other major unfulfilled goal is to catch a hali from the yak--and I'd feel better in terms of safety going out with someone to chase for them.
Tom

I launched at Billings Spit into Sooke basin, peddling 500 metres to the Sooke River estuary on Saturday. We tried fishing at the estuary where we could keep salmon but no luck so we went up river into the fly fish only non retention area and got a couple of chum. Great fight on the fly rod! We had a few showers but mostly a great fall day on the river.
T2

Sounds great Tom!!
I will try and take my peddler(Outback) up Sooke river and past the bridge to try for the chum Salmon this weekend!  My  Wife and I are off from Thursday till Tuesday this weekend, We were originally going to the US mainland but plans changed.

Looking forward to "hooking" up with you soon!

Rick

Sounds good Rick. I have an inlaw function I have to go to this weekend and I can't pin them to a day or else I'd suggest we try this weekend. Trying to get my wife's family to commit is like herding cats.
Tom

I'm going out from my local launch at Albert Head on Saturday to try for winter springs. There is a derby on which I've entered (I think I'll be the only kayaker) so it should be fun. This will be the first time winter trolling--I'll be using a drysuit, 10 lb ball for getting down to 140 ft on the rigger and my old colour sounder/plotter from my power boat. It's been blowing gales here every second or third day so hopefully it holds off for Saturday.
 If any local yakkers want to join me pm me or meet me at Albert Head beach 7:30-8 AM on Saturday morning. (weather permitting)
Cheers,
T2

I spent 3 hours off Albert Head on Saturday trolling for winter springs. It was slow, I only had 1 3 lb spring to the yak which was released. I was fishing in 125 -160 ft of water with 125-140 ft out on the rigger with a 10 lb ball. There was a 6 knot breeze blowing which helped me troll although I did have to peddle most  of the morning. I don't think I could have handled the 10 lb ball without the help of the sail. Still figuring this all out...
T2

Beats not catching anything!

Beats not catching anything!

Absolutely, Rory! Don't get me wrong--I love learning new stuff and I am enjoying exploring all the possibilities of fishing from the yak. After I landed at the beach at Albert Head, I sat on a log and ate my lunch looking over the water. Beauty day!
T2

Which hobie do you have?

I've got the Adventure Island as well as the Revolution. I was using the AI on Saturday--I love it. I'll post a pic on how I have it rigged when I get home.
T2