November 2011
By Ken Shagren, Fishing Pro Staff, Dave’s Sports Shop
“Remember to check the official WDFW regulations before going out!”
(2011 Regulation pamphlets are in-store, come in and get your copy!)
Welcome to the Dave’s Sports Shop fishing report page. Check in with us as we attempt to keep you informed on where the fish are biting and what is working to catch them. We will try to keep the information current so that we can help you decide where the best opportunity for success will be located.
NORTHWEST WASHINGTON
FRESHWATER
Don’t give up fishing the Nooksack and Skagit systems for Coho in the month of November. Bright fish will continue to show up through most of the month and maybe even into December. Both streams will now fish better in their upper reaches and for the Nooksack that means from Lynden up to and including the south and north forks. The Everson to Nugent’s Corner stretch always seems to fish well in November provided that the river stays in shape. If the main Nooksack has questionable clarity, check out the south fork first and then the north fork for fishable water. There have been on and off reports of success near the South Fork hatchery which fishes best after a good rain. The north fork should start to see returns of Chum salmon, known as “dogs” and this fishery should build as the month goes on. There have already been reports of chum salmon caught in the main stem Nooksack. Remember that the Nooksack River North Fork closes to salmon on November 30.
Vibrax spinners continue to be effective lures for Coho with silver and brass blades having chartreuse, red, green, blue or silver bodies being the popular choices. Corkies or yarn along with cured salmon roe is a great combination. Jigs are starting to get a following on the Nooksack as well. Try pink and purple or black and red but be willing to experiment with other colors such as chartreuse. Chums are notoriously lock jaw on the Nooksack; however, they will respond to jigs as well as any other lure.
The Skagit River continues to fish well from Sedro Woolley up to the Cascade River. Look for deep slow moving pockets, current breaks caused by logs or debris and back eddies. You may have to do a little searching but there are fresh fish present and there should continue to be fish through November and into December. Dick Nites, Vibrax spinners and jigs tipped with shrimp continue to account for Coho success on the Skagit. There are a few Chums showing up in the Skagit as well, but remember there is no Chum retention on the Skagit this year and they must be immediately release.
SALTWATER
Salmon fishing closed in Area 7 on October 31. However , fishermen had been marking lots of bait in the San Juan Channel which could bode well for the December 1 Blackmouth opening. The season for crab has been extended until December 31 and is open seven days a week. Remember that the Dungeness crab limit is 5 with a 6 ½ inch minimum size and all must be males in a hard shell condition. The Red Rock crab limit is 6 with a minimum size of 5 inches of either sex.
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
FRESHWATER
There are still quite a few Coho in the Vedder as the season begins to wind down. The kings have worked through with the exception of a few reported in the upper river. For the Silvers use Colorado spinners and small spoons such as Dick Nites as well as jigs and yarn tufts. Peachy King has been the popular yarn color and good salmon roe never hurts. There are a lot of Chums in the river but there is no retention so be sure that they are released unharmed. The Chums can be great sport as a catch and release fishery in November.The Harrison River has been good for a mixed bag of Chums, Silvers and some Kings. There is a 2 Chum retention in the Harrison. A few Coho are moving into the Chehalis River from
the Harrison and this will continue to increase throughout November. There is a Chum retention on the Chehalis until November 30.
Bar fishing on the Fraser has been good for Silvers, Chum and the occasional King. The Fraser was in excellent shape as of this report. Sturgeon fishing has also been good using salmon roe, lamprey eels and salmon parts.
Steelheaders take note that there have been excellent reports from the Thompson River since its opening on October 29.
SALTWATER
We will resume reports from Vancouver Island and vicinity in early spring. Check back with us then.
