2026 Nanaimo Reports
- Thread starter Admin
- Start date
A-a-Ron
Well-Known Member
Not sure if you do this already, but when chasing winters if you’re into a bunch that size, it’s tempting to stay put… but move around a little, even just a half mile, or change depth contour. I don’t spend more than 30min if it’s slow or if it’s 55-60cm fish, especially around Thrasher.
My winter success went up noticably when i stared doing this.
Maybe you do this already but good tip for other guys
Rain City
Crew Member
darin359
Member
That’s a good point thanks, and yes ive gotta get better at not staying put and just waiting for the big one to bite. My first time fishing thrasher for winter springs so also getting familiar with the lay of the land out there so I’ll consider it a successful day I guess. Didn’t lose any cannon balls lol. Lots of bait out there!
sweettjim
Well-Known Member
the keeper springs dont hang out with the undersize springs feeding as well?
A-a-Ron
Well-Known Member
I’m sure they do but in my experience fishing winters, when you start hitting a school they’re usually mostly similar size. But sometimes not
EstevanPoint
Well-Known Member
@A-a-Ron with the top tip of the year not even a week into 2026!
You’re not only injuring many small fish, but it’s taking away fishing time when you’re dealing with resetting gear. If you don’t want to move, you can also try putting on larger gear like a plug or bigger spoon. Smaller spoons are super effective but you can be more efficient fishing the larger gear, targeting larger, keeper sized fish.
Try a dummy flasher (3-4 feet behind the ball) with a tubby 4 or 5 inch Tomic 10-12 feet from the clip. Really efficient combo in the winter that helps keep your lines in and fishing for keepers. A standard plug will work, but the tubby works better with that shorter leash.
darin359
Member
Well said, I definitely change my tactics or location if I’m into nothing but shakers but it was tough as some of those 50-60cm fish really fight above their weight class. I eventually threw a plug and a larger spoon down but still same results. I’ll take @A-a-Ron advice and move around abit more out there. Just need to get back out there now!
A-a-Ron
Well-Known Member
Thanks man. Probably 75% of the tips I’ve learned are from this site, so just giving back
Rain City
Crew Member
In Vancouver proper it's tough because the fish don't stack up like they do in the Nanaimo area. You can jig the West Van shoreline in the summer months in shallower water for sure. In winter it's doable but at the depths we're finding them in Howe Sound/Bowen/Bell Buoy areas it's tough to keep the gear straight up and down. There's way more shallow structure around Nanaimo that holds bait near the surface. Find the bait balls and jumpers, jig away.
I should also mention that I'm not a veteran, just very vocal
Last edited:
Thanks for the prompt reply. What about weight at the end of the line, and hook a few feet up? Would that setup work? And if trolling were needed, is a downrigger absolutely necessary..,....i'm old school in that i like to keep things simple....hate to have one thing for this, another thing for that.....and then **** just gets piled up before you even know it.In Vancouver proper it's tough because the fish don't stack up like they do in the Nanaimo area. You can jig the West Van shoreline in the summer months in shallower water for sure. I'm sure it's doable but at the depths we're finding them in Howe Sound/Bowen/Bell Buoy areas it's tough to keep the gear straight up and down. There's way more shallow structure around Nanaimo that holds bait near the surface. Find the bait balls and jumpers, jig away.
I should also mention that I'm not a veteran, just very vocal
Rain City
Crew Member
Use the search function and look up high tech jigging or downrigger setup or anything else like that. You have a long way to go and this isn't the thread to learn it on. Tons of info in other threads. Good luck
Bearded wonder
Well-Known Member
Got out yesterday in the fog. Water was glass but lots of wood in the water. Tired Entrance but very slow. Headed to the Fingers area for a couple tacks. Released a couple small springs and one coho of keeper size but little small for us. Odd catching coho down deep 180 in the mud, puked up small bait when releasing.
Tried plugs, spoons and hootchies but nothing was hot.
Tried plugs, spoons and hootchies but nothing was hot.
EstevanPoint
Well-Known Member
Coho of keeper size in January! That's awesome. Very cool to see they are over-wintering in the Strait at that size too. Have seen lots of small ones around in recent years, but nothing that big at this time. Maybe another bumper year for Coho in the Strait is ahead.
Aces
Well-Known Member
Hope so. Those early June fish are amazing eating quality. Their flesh is like prime sockeye
