Flyers & Specials

There’s lots of excitement around the opening of Cowichan Bay for salmon fishing, giving local anglers another great opportunity to get out on the water.

Chinook fishing continues to be strong throughout the area, while Coho fishing is really starting to ramp up. Get your Oki Big Shooter Super Betsy Flashers and Gibbs Skinny G Gold Herring Aid spoons ready—a local favourite—and get out there!

For Coho, try trolling between 40–80 feet. Keep an eye out for diving birds and large bait balls, as feeding Coho will often push right up toward the surface. Don’t hesitate to run a shallow line at 20–35 feet with a shorter 26–32" leader for a snappier action. Picking up the trolling speed to around 2.8–3.5 mph can be very effective.

Sooke continues to be on fire, and we’re getting close to that great time of year when anglers can have a legitimate shot at three species of salmon in the same day. For shore anglers, an exciting amount of Chinook are being caught from Beechey Head right now!

Closer to home, Tent and Thetis Islands have been producing some beautiful Chinook. Focus on roughly 120–180 feet on the downrigger, working the deeper shelves and structure where fish have been holding.

The cooler temperatures have also kept lake fishing active. Fish aren’t simply hiding on the bottom, and we’ve had excellent reports from Dugan Lake, Fuller Lake, Cowichan Lake, Shawnigan Lake, Langford Lake and plenty of other local waters.

Fall fishing on Vancouver Island is a beautiful thing, and some of the best local opportunities are just around the corner. As salmon begin returning, there will be plenty of chances to target them right from shore.

If you’ve been wanting to try shore fishing but don’t know where to begin, come see us at Gone Fishin’ Duncan. We’ll happily help you get set up with the right gear and point you in the right direction.

Chinook fishing is still very hot, but the fish have moved deeper. Anglers are finding the best fishing action close to bottom in 200–250 feet of water. Large plugs have been especially productive, with 5" and 6" Mother of Pearl (602) patterns being a top choice right now.

Coho are still around in good numbers, although they seem to be moving around more. Look for them anywhere from 50–150 feet, and be prepared to adjust your depth until you find where they’re holding.

Pink salmon have also arrived in the Campbell River area, adding another great option for anglers heading north.

River fishing for Pinks is starting to kick off as well. Small pink jigs and spinners (Remember to switch the treble hook out for the included single and crimp your barb!) are excellent choices, along with pink salmon flies. Shrimp-style patterns can be particularly effective as more fish begin pushing into the rivers.

Fishing remains strong across the area, with plenty of options whether you’re chasing Chinook offshore, searching for Coho, or getting out the lighter gear for Pinks.

Saltwater fishing remains strong in Area 13 (Campbell River) and Area 14 (Courtenay). Coho continue to be abundant higher in the water column, while Chinook are following their usual pattern for this time of year and holding closer to the bottom.

August 1st brought an end to some Chinook non-retention areas; however, the 62 cm to 80 cm slot limit with a daily limit of one Chinook remains in effect. Coho retention also remains unchanged at two hatchery-marked fish per day.

Anglers targeting Chinook near the upper end of the slot limit have been having success with large, heavy-glow plugs, including the 6" Tomic 602 and 6" WCFT Herring Aid. Be prepared to measure your fish, as there are plenty of oversized Chinook around.

Just about everything seems to be working for Coho right now, with Luhr Jensen Flash Flies and Skinny G spoons being a couple of the standout producers.

Pink salmon have arrived along the beaches in solid numbers, with the cooler mornings bringing schools very close to shore. The key right now is to get out bright and early, before the water warms and increased angler activity pushes the schools farther out. Beach fishing should become more forgiving as the season progresses and the schools increase in size.

Many Pinks have also begun their journey up the Campbell River, with retention of up to four Pink salmon per day available to anglers with a Salmon Stamp on their freshwater license.

Fishing in the Alberni Inlet is heating up, with Chinook making their way into the Inlet and a few Coho showing up as well. Polly Point to Lone Tree has been producing the best so far, with most fish being found in the top 70 feet of water.

Anchovies, Big Bubblegum Hoochies, 02 & 015 Hoochies, and white OAL12R Hoochies have been the top choices. Trolling speeds of 2.0–2.5 mph have been working well.

Down in Barkley Sound, fishing has really turned on over the past week. All the usual spots are producing, including Swale Rock, Kirby Point, Cape Beale, Sanford, Fleming Island, Diplock Island, and Pill Point, with Chinook up to 30 lbs being caught. There are also plenty of Coho around.

Small spoons, anchovies, and white Hoochies have been the top producers in Barkley Sound. A slightly faster trolling speed of 2.5–3.0 mph has been working best.