2023 Campbell River Reports

[Aces]

Early and alone-beautiful morning -lots of trollers-couple of jiggers-epic morning-bait was around the edges of Wilby-6 to the boat one was way over slot-not even close. 160 and 200 gm flat falls silver and glow bands and a green hologram. Ling was 200 ft of water.

Nice work Mike!

 

[spring fever]

Good bait this morning-jigging was tough due to tide and wind but doable. Lots of coho around-Springs were to be had with a little searching. All north of the green can on the edges and deep. So many fish even the trollers were getting some!! LOL I've been waiting awhile to use that line--Sorry!

 

[Chinook Breeze]

Last 2 days fisheries checking guys at Salmon Point, few guys busted with wild Coho. They borded a few guys boats when they came into the marina and also checked guys on the way out of the parking lot. I'm honestly a bit suprised that so many guys keeping wild Coho.

 

[the force]

Sorry guys, not a report but quick Q- bringing the kiddos out around Aug 20 for a trip through Desolation Sound- I believe commercial prawning will be closed by then (if not already), does the catch rate start to pickup again for sporties? Traps have been on my list for a while, just debating whether I should spring for them before this trip or not. Thanks!

 

[Gong Show]

You should be able to pick up enough for a meal or two. It could be a low catch per unit effort.

 

[Salty338]

Hot bite this morning at Wilby. Tapered off around 8ish but still hooked the odd fish here and there after that. Jigging for the win.

 

[Flywheel]

Just got back from a great weekend camping in Desolation Sound at Walsh Cove. It took a while to find fish, but we eventually marked a lot of bait and salmon while waiting for some friends to catch up to us in Waddington Channel. It seems weird, but we fished right on the bottom in 250 feet of water in the middle of the channel just north of Walsh Cove. At least half the fish were oversized with one over 100 cm that took me down to my backing. Once I ran out of anchovies, we swapped out to big naked plugs and they worked even better with 6 or 7 doubleheaders. Overall it was some of the best fishing I've ever experienced.

I know it's a ways away from Campbell River, but figured I'd post in case anyone is heading out to Desolation Sound. Happy to share coordinates over DM if that would help anyone.

 

[Bowbreaker]

Seems like fishing has been relatively slow at Wilby and Kitty Coleman. The bait is around, but not many Chinook.

Anyone finding decent numbers of fish in the Campbell River area?

 

[spring fever]

I fished CR this am--bait was not as plentiful as the last week. I tried jigging with an old buddy-he wasn't into it-I hit 3 coho in 5 minutes-so I'm not sure how it would have gone. Trolled-there were some decent coho around but I have to say -we never touched a Spring and I was chasing the bottom. I honestly didn't see anybody catch a fish that looked like a Spring. My feeling is that we need a new push. There were lots of boats and of course I can't see them all but my feeling is much fewer springs than last week

 

[RiverBoy]

i’m out now: i have a couple springs and released a waaaay over. but it’s been a hard go. not a lot of action for sure

 

[CR Bill]

Yesterday, after several coho but only one clipped in the shallows off Francisco, I made one pass with the tide from the Green to Francisco in the deep and hit 3 springs on the old Army Truck.

 

[Bigdog]

Just returned from Kitty Coleman what an epic day . Got or limit of 3 and released 9 oversize. 2 were at least 35-40 . No cohos but lots of springs.

 

[spring fever]

Just returned from Kitty Coleman what an epic day . Got or limit of 3 and released 9 oversize. 2 were at least 35-40 . No cohos but lots of springs.

When were you fishing and depths please?

 

[Bowbreaker]

Good to hear there are Chinook back at Kitty Coleman.

We hit ‘em pretty good at Wilby last night on jigs. A bunch of smaller Chinook and coho north of Fancisco this morning.

 

[Sea Chaser]

Heading to the island today . Hoping to get a day in CR for fishing . Gonna be in Parksville and don’t mind making the drive up with the boat in tow . Never fished the area and if anyone has some pointers or decent areas to target would love to hear from you . Feel free to PM me . Cheers

 

[Gong Show]

Heading to the island today . Hoping to get a day in CR for fishing . Gonna be in Parksville and don’t mind making the drive up with the boat in tow . Never fished the area and if anyone has some pointers or decent areas to target would love to hear from you . Feel free to PM me . Cheers

This thread has all the locations you would want, marked up screenshots even.
Scroll up.
Look at the Comox thread too, Kitty Coleman has had some good spring reports recently.

 

[Tighthead]

This thread has all the locations you would want, marked up screenshots even.
Scroll up.
Look at the Comox thread too, Kitty Coleman has had some good spring reports recently.

Not sure there is any need to go as far as CR right now. Kitty humps and French Creek humps doing well.

 

[Sea Chaser]

Not sure there is any need to go as far as CR right now. Kitty humps and French Creek humps doing well.

Likely be out in French creek this afternoon
Just like venturing to new areas .

 

[Bigdog]

When were you fishing and depths please?

we were fishing a 602 plug from 220-250 feet. also on the other side a white hoochie about 120 -150. biggest fish was about 95 cm and around 35 lbs

 

[Sea Chaser]

Might make a run up to CR tomorrow as doesn’t look the best conditions in French creek tomorrow for my last outing before heading back to mainland . What’s the best launch around town to hit close to the grounds ? Cheers