Mark from Footloose Fishing Charters fished Thursday and Friday this week. On Thursday, they caught four from 9-10 pounds, whilte Friday they caught this 18 pounder and a couple of smaller ones. Both days in front of the Sooke Bluffs, all of the salmon were caught using anchovies.

So, in our on again - off again winter spring fishing, it seems to be on once again.

Sooke's weather looks a bit iffy Saturday, with some big winds tonight and continuing into tomorrow. However, Sunday is forecast to be calm.

Time to get out there and enjoy some prime Vancouver Island fishing!

Good luck out there.

Some mixed reports over the past week, some productive days, some few and far between days, but still just enough hope to get you motivated to get out there.

Reports below from a couple of local Sooke guides fishing for fun on the weekend.

Ryan from Fresh Fishin': "Fished Saturday from 10 till 11 in the morning off the bluffs in 140ft of water bouncing bottom with a "Chameleon" Coyote Spoon, 3ft behind a Super Betsy flasher. Caught the first fish trolling midway down the Sooke Bluffs towards the Tin Shed. 12 pounder. Then after landing that fish, I turned around and headed back to that spot where 5 minutes later, i had an awesome fight with a 16 pound spring. The 16 pounder was a white flesh fish. Still tastes the same to me. Sunday I was out at 930, by 10 30 I had about a 6 pounder that I released to get bigger...missed a couple hits...great sunny day".

Des of Vicious Fishing: "we caught 6 nice fish today, lost a 14 pounder to a seal, only thing we got back was a huge head."

Towards Victoria, Don and Chelsea ("the Newfs") reported getting lucky with a couple of nice ones off Albert Head -- a 10 and 13 pounder. Way to go Newfs! Don sent in a picture from earlier in 2008.

Get out there and try you luck...the weather's fine, the sun is out, and there's fun to be had.

Good times!

The bad weather has finally broken, and more people are able to get out there fishing once again. The last few days have been clear and cold, nice winter fishing weather!

Last week there were some reports of larger salmon being caught, 15-20 pounds plus. Mark Price from Footloose Charters caught a 26 pounder and 8 pounder, using anchovies, right out front of Sooke Harbour. Later in the week he and his group caught 8 springs, 7-10 pounds.

However, from the sounds of things, these big ones have moved elsewhere, as most reports coming in this week have been been back to typical winter springs: 8-10 pounders. Again, the fishing continues to be right off the bottom in 120-150 feet of water, bouncing the bottom with glow hootchies or with anchovies.

Roy from Blue Wolf Charters sent in these "Before" and "After" pictures of a fun winter spring fishing day....not from this year, but what the heck. Good times!

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In other Sooke fishing news:

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Press release for an upcoming fishing derby: looks to be quite a big event!

The Vancouver Island Salmon Classic will be held September 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th , 2009 bringing together some of the most skilled anglers in the world to participate in one of BC’s highest prized fishing competitions. A Southern Vancouver Island seaside community will be home to this $175,000 cash prize derby. With a $100,000 first prize, $50,000 second prize and a $25,000 third prize!

Sooke Harbour is a prime location, known for its natural beauty and accessibility to the sparkling clean waters of the Pacific Ocean, where the much-desired Chinook salmon journey the depths. The quaint community of Sooke is located just 35 minutes from Victoria, British Columbia and 45 minutes from the International Airport.

The Vancouver Island Salmon Classic will challenge anglers in a fishing competition located in one of North America’s most fertile fishing grounds, crowning the champions with prize money that only few anglers can imagine. A minimum of 40 teams must be registered by July 15^th, 2009 and only a maximum number of 75 teams can participate for the $100,000 Grand Prize!

So, get your fishing team together and sign up early to ensure your teams entry!

For further information, please visit the official website: www.salmonclassic.ca

For inquires please contact Matthew Mackenzie, Key Official of the Vancouver Island Salmon Classic, by phone at 1-866-616-3236 or via email to info@salmonclassic.ca.

The Vancouver Island Classic is a world-class event, which will be unforgettable for the lucky few that choose to participate!

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Pacific Salmon Foundation Dinner: Feb. 21, at UVic, Tickets $85

It is a dinner and auction, the website link details last year's event. This is the organization that gets the funds from the salmon stamps on our licenses and pursues salmon conservation projects, so it's for a good cause.

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Good luck out there!

Our first report of 2009…Happy New Year to the many friends of Sooke Fishing Adventures around the world. 2008 ended dramatically in Sooke with lots of snow and cold weather. Most of the latter half of December was a write-off for fishing, with frozen gear and iced up driveways, not to mention some windy days. However, a few diehards still got out there.

Ryan from Fresh Fishin’ Charters provides the following December fishing report: “I caught a few springs over the Christmas holidays, 140 feet bouncing bottom off the Sooke Bluffs. Glow clear/white hoochies with a super betsy flasher have been the ticket. Two of the springs I caught on the same day were loaded with shrimp”. That sounds like a pretty good Christmas present…a little feast from the sea to counter the turkey over-indulgence.

In the first week of 2009, the weather appears to be thawing, once again opening up fishing opportunities for those wanting to chase salmon in Sooke waters. There are still some blustery days out there, so you have to pick your spots, but there’s the occasional clear and cold day offering glassy seas…so get out there and catch some fish! Just make sure to bring your thermos and your toque….brrr.

Good luck out there!