Mixed Bags

 In the Mid-Island region from Comox to Ladysmith it's still mixed reports. For some it's been great fishing with mixed bags of big Coho and Chinook, while others are reporting slow days. Long story short the fish are a bit deeper than normal for this time of year. If you get down deeper and a bit farther out from structure you should get into them. There are big 10-12lb Coho hanging around the 165ft mark off Gabriola and all the way up to Kitty Coleman. Tomic plugs in Herring Aid are taking the bigger fish. Run a Black Footloose dummy flasher for best results. Another tip is trolling a bit faster for both the Chinook and Coho. It seems to be triggering the bite.

Thanks to Tim Kelter for the report and the photo featured above. His crew has been loading up with nice Springs and Coho off Gabriola all week.

I'm getting reports that there is a huge amount of Pink salmon hitting the North Island. My folks are currently in Port McNeil and are sending me photos of beaches swarming with Pinks. The Campbell River area is loaded and they are starting to reach rivers farther South. There are some already reaching the Qualicum River and Nile Creek. So if you don't have a boat this is the start of beach fishing time. 

On the West Coast salmon fishing is still hot hot. Nootka and Barkley Sound are swarming with Springs and big fish showing up in good numbers. The top lures have been Glow Green Teaser Heads and  Big Eye Barkley Beast paired with our new in-house custom made Raspberry Gold Squiggle flasher. This flasher is designed specifically for the west side of the island.   

Interestingly I'm still hearing about Sockeye being caught in the Alberni Canal, so get them while you can. As always Pink Hoochies are your go to for Sockeye.

Tips up,

steve@harbourchandler.ca