It's River Fishing Time!

The fall rains are starting and the that means river fishing season! The drop in temperature and rising water levels are sending salmon into rivers across Vancouver Island. The Stamp and Somas has lots of chrome Coho already heading upstream. The Campbell and Quinsam have been in high gear for a while now, and all other East Vancouver Island streams are just starting to pick up. Whether you are targeting salmon, steelhead or trout now is the time to gear up for river fishing. Coho will be particularly good this year with the large runs we have been seeing in the saltchuck all year. Spinners like Blue/Silver Blue Foxes or Prime Lure black/silver worked last weekend. Casting spoons like our custom Super Nugget Koho spoon in 3/4oz will also take fish.

Soft beads will work for steelhead, trout and salmon too. Unreel tackle 12mm in Triple Clown has been the hottest so far. Put these on a #1 or #2 Owner brand "No Escape hook under a 20-30 gram Beau Mac float.

In the ocean there will still be a few weeks of excellent Coho fishing. Port Renfrew and all of Georgia straight will still be hot until the real fall rains arrive. Small spoons like Coho Killers in Homeland Security pattern will work well. Ghost Flashflys are also very effective. For flashers it's time to be using gold to match the colour change in the salmon. It is best try try to match the colour of the salmon with your flasher to replicate the appearance of a salmon slashing at your lure. So for Coho right now flashers like gold on blue blade is the best.

Tips up!

steve@harbourchandler.ca