2025 Nanoose Bay/French Creek Reports

[QBFishing1962]

What's your definition of trolling fast?

5km/h and faster…

 

[Ryan A]

If you are deeper than 50’ you will catch too many chinook. Even if you are very careful, you are doing the damage. Best to stay shallow…45’ or less. If you troll fast, you will find them. I would say 25% are clipped.

So how deep do you fish to not damage the unclipped coho?

 

[MRWood]

6 to 10 k opposed to 3 to 5 for springs

10k is like tuna trolling speed. I don’t think most people’s kickers will go that fast.

 

[QBFishing1962]

So how deep do you fish to not damage the unclipped coho?

Please do whatever makes you happy.
I am just trying to help whomever is struggling to find Coho. I would hope, that it goes without saying, that if one could avoid any unwanted bycatch, that it would be logical thing to do…

 

[Ryan A]

Gonna drag the new summer collection around in anticipation of the Chinook opening and see how they do weather pending

 

[salmonkiller01]

I get coho just as much as anyone. Trolling speed is rigger line angle 30-40 degrees. Depending on tide 1.8- 3.0 mph. 15 pound balls at 115’.

 

[banger17]

6 to 10 k opposed to 3 to 5 for springs

Maybe? And blasting off to the moon while you are at it?
I’ve always caught plenty of coho doing 3-
3.5 knots versus the more usual 2-3 for springs and others.

 

[M1SF1T]

Maybe he means KMPH, not knots...

 

[Admin]

This is a fishing reports thread and members come to these threads for that purpose, now and in the future, in the archives. If you want to have a conversation about trolling speed, please start a new thread.

 

[Rad Gumbo]

Out yesterday around 1. Non stop. Clipped/non clipped 40/60. 6 small springs, 1 10lb. 30-50 ft on the riggers. From harbour mouth to anywhere near or far was ON. Spoons behind flashers ,any colour combo. 2.6 - 3 knots still tagged springs ,even with much shorter leaders. Lots of small concentrations of bait spread over a large area and calm water made for a great first fish of the season ! Everyone coming and going at the ramp happy and relaxed............sounds like a fish tale but true!!!!

 

[BcChrome]

Washing machine out there this morning ! Couldn’t find any coho this morning unfortunately, nothing like 2 weeks ago. Caught a few small springs and one beauty ~ 15 pounds. No crab in the traps either, anyone having luck with crab ? At least we weren’t skunked, one big yellowtail on the troll.

 

[lordofthesprings]

we had similar experience yesterday too
only springs
friends got into the coho around chrome island though

 

[Nate Steinberger]

Got out today for the afternoon tide and the only break in wind all week, and what a beautiful evening it was!
Found the coho quick at Gerald then I was searching for a spring so popped over to ballenas and found a nice 70cm in short order there. So many wild coho to deal with, had to be 10:1 wild to hatch today and was happy to see not many nets coming out today to release those fish. All gaff releases on my boat. 97 on the rigger for the coho and 170 on the bottom for the spring.

 

[Copper Moon]

Got out today for the afternoon tide and the only break in wind all week, and what a beautiful evening it was!
Found the coho quick at Gerald then I was searching for a spring so popped over to ballenas and found a nice 70cm in short order there. So many wild coho to deal with, had to be 10:1 wild to hatch today and was happy to see not many nets coming out today to release those fish. All gaff releases on my boat. 97 on the rigger for the coho and 170 on the bottom for the spring. View attachment 118616

Sounds like there was good fishing all over that area and matching weather.
Picked up a 78 by Douglas and lost another similar right at the boat.