Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Now what?

Most of the hunting is over, ice fishing is a possibility, but, other than wasting time on internet forums, what does a sportsman do?

Load ammo and test BP loads for shotguns over the chrony, and mess with eclectic stuffiness cool Lee Enfields and Sniders
Oh, and make shot for next season ( see above!)
Cat

Call predators.

This is my favorite hunting season of the year! Cougar, lynx and wolves. I don't hunt coyotes or bobcats much anymore.

Fishing.

OVERVIEW � Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT around most of the south island, but most of the fish are still relatively small. Halibut fishing is now closed and the opening date for this coming year has not been announced yet.

SOOKE � Salmon fishing is EXCELLENT in Sooke. The best fishing for winter springs is has been from the harbor entrance to Otter Point in 100 to 120 feet depths. There was a Frostbite Derby this past weekend and the winning fish weighed 18 lbs. There were quite a few fish over 10 lbs and in the teens. The springs are deep, holding close to the bottom. Anchovies are working well in Bloody Nose and UV teaser heads. Glow and UV hootchies and squirts, Coho Killers and G-Force spoons are working well also. Use a flasher with lots of green if you are fishing for coho.

HALIBUT � Halibut fishing was GOOD, but the season closed on January 1st.

BECHER BAY � Salmon fishing was GOOD for winter springs up to 12 lbs in size. The best fishing for larger springs was over by Church Rock and Whirl Bay. It was still good in the bay for springs to 5 lbs between Fraser Island and Lamb Island. For springs try 100'+ depths and fish close to the bottom. Many anglers are having good success fishing anchovies. The best teaser heads for anchovies were Green Glow and the Bloody Nose. However, artificial lures such as UV /glow squirts, coho killers, and G-Force spoons have been working well also. For flashers, use one with lots of glow for the springs.

PEDDER BAY � Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT this past week. There were lots of winter springs being caught at the mouth of the bay and in Whirl Bay. Most of the action was close to the bottom in 90 to 120 feet near the buoy. Most boats caught their limit while fishing there. Anchovies were the most productive bait with Green Glow, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads. Squirts will work too with UV colors like the Jellyfish, Purple Haze and Electric Chair the best patterns. The best flashers have been the Purple Glow and Purple Haze. Coho killers and G-force spoons have been working well too!

HALIBUT � Halibut fishing was GOOD, but the season closed on January 1st.

VICTORIA � Fishing has been EXCELLENT for winter springs both along the waterfront and at Constance Bank. Lots of limit catches were reported., especially on Saturday morning. The salmon were scattered all throughout the area and the only problem was the large number of seals following boats and stealing fish. Most anglers fishing Victoria are using artificial lures, usually with Coho Killer (chrome or green/glow) or G-Force spoons. Brotchie Ledge to Clover Point has produced the best, but the seals are numerous in this area and lots of salmon were lost to seals after being hooked. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and the Glo Blow. Gibbs Coho Killer, Kingfisher and Coyote spoons in all colours have been very effective. Good flashers have been the Purple Gold, Chart Glow & Purple Onion.

HALIBUT � Halibut fishing was GOOD, but the season closed on January 1st.

OAK BAY � Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. There were springs being caught, out on the flats. The most popular method for catching springs is trolling near the bottom in 75 to 130 feet of water with squirts or spoons, Baitrix tiny strip, or small anchovy. Even Anglers jigging have reported slower action. The fish that were being caught were on Coho Killer spoons in Glow/Green, 3" to 4" G-Force & Gypsy spoons. Good squirts were the Electric Chair, Pickle Green, J-79 and Jellyfish.

SIDNEY � Salmon fishing was FAIR off Sidney for winter springs. The most productive fishing recently was near Coal Island and Moresby Island. The fish have been close to the bottom at Coal Island while over by Moresby they have been at the 80 foot level in 200 feet of water. Larry Dalziel and Brian Dunic brought in 15, 11 and 7 lb springs while fishing near coal Island this past week. There are lots of smaller springs around that are just below the minimum size for retention, so anglers are getting lots of action, just not lots of keepers. Moresby Island has a few fish there now and there some around Coal Island and Moses Point as well. Many anglers have been fishing for springs using anchovies in Bloody Nose, Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads. Squirts have been out producing hootchies recently and the hot patterns for springs now are Purple Haze, Glow Below and Electric Chair. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and 50/50 colors.

Building a couple new rifles!

Playing around with my new .22 when the new scope shows up.

Look for shed antlers cause we only have 8" of snow on the ground. Good exercise too.

What do you do with the antlers?

plan this yrs hunting/fishing trips

Practice my baby making techniques....;-)

Well, I put shed antlers . . . . . . . wait for it
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in a shed!

Doesn't Mrs. shootist have something you could do?
Wash the supper dishes, again?
Fold the laundry?
Dust the mantle?

Oh my Gaud, do you realize that she who must be obeyed could possibly read that in passing !!

I live in a house with clean supper dishes, folded laundry and an undusty mantle.

And I already hauled in enough firewood for a few days and banked the fire for the night, so she's looked after as well. Me and Mrs, Mrs, Mrs Shootist -- we got this thing -- goin' on! (Mrs. Jones)

Buddy! I am a kept man -- well kept. And I KNOW it!

I do what most people do in central B.C.
Shovel frickin snow.