Home / Fishing Reports / Vancouver Salmon Fishing Report: December 17,2021

Vancouver Salmon Fishing Report: December 17,2021

Vancouver salmon fishing report

Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report 

I am pleased to report that the good fishing we had in November has continued into December.  It hasn’t always been easy to get out there with all the wind and rain in the forecast recently.  When we have made it out, we have generally had very good fishing and I expect this to continue.   

If you are thinking of heading out this weekend, Sunday looks better than Saturday.  There are some strong winds in the forecast for Saturday and up to 45 mm of rain or more in some areas.  The forecast changes a lot, so always take a look the evening before your day on the water and then again in the morning just before you head out.  

We have primarily been fishing lower Howe Sound, but Vancouver Harbour is definitely worth the effort this time of year.  It always fishes well in late December, starting right about now, and into January.  The Cap Mouth can be very good on the flood.  Other good spots to try are the Freighters usually on an ebb tide, or the Bell Buoy on a flood or ebb.  

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The great winter chinook fishing continues

Seals have been an issue in pretty much all the spots we have been fishing.  If you are the only boat there and the seals are following, you can pretty much guarantee you are going to get sealed once you hook up.  In that case, you might as well pick up and move.  At least if there are other boats around you have a chance, so that is one benefit to more people winter fishing these days.  

For the most part the bait has been close to the bottom and so are the chinook.  You don’t want to drag bottom, but you definitely want to keep an eye on your sonar and make sure you are adjusting your depth as needed.   

We have been doing well on brighter gear right now.  Chartreuse flashers like Salty Dawg, Lemon Lime, and Green Onion Glow are all solid choices.  Spoons and hootchies have been productive.  Skinny G, Coho Killers, G-Force, and Kingfisher spoons have all been doing well in brighter colours like Irish Cream and Trailhead.   If you are fishing hootchies it is hard to go wrong with a chartreuse splatter back.  

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Brighter gear is the ticket to success on the water these past few weeks

If you are looking for a change of pace and get a rare calm water day, don’t hesitate to head over to the Gulf Islands.  Fishing has been good around Nanaimo, Thrasher, and Porlier.  It hasn’t been easy to get there, but it has been worth the run.   

See you in the shop or on the water, 

Jason Tonelli