Fish the Flood: Coho Bite Peaks Between Morning Slack Windows
Time the morning slack into the flood for peak coho action on a glassy Discovery Passage, with chum and late Chinook rounding out the mix.
Timing Is Everything Today
The clock is your best friend out here right now. This morning we roll off the dock into the tail end of slack water before the flood pushes in, and that transition is exactly when the coho light up. If you want to put your gun on the target species, plan your day around this window — the first push of the flood through Discovery Passage is where the aggressive fish stack up and start chasing.
Today's Conditions on the Water
It's a comfortable start at 11°C with partly cloudy skies overhead — perfect light for keeping fish honest without spooking them. NW winds are light at 8 km/h, and wave height is sitting flat at around 0.0m, so we're looking at a glassy, forgiving day out on Discovery Passage. When the water lays down like this, you can work surface presentations with confidence and read every strike.
What's Running and Why
Coho are the headline act, and they're peaking. We're seeing bright, muscular fish in the 10–15 lb range, and they are AGGRESSIVE. These are the salmon that inhale a surface fly or crush a fast-tracked spoon out of pure attitude. On top of that, chum are arriving in numbers, adding another hard-pulling option to the mix, and there are still late Chinook holding around the bait for anyone hoping to tangle with a bigger fish.
Technique Hints
With coho this fired up, don't be shy. Spoons worked with some speed trigger reaction bites, and surface flies can produce explosive takes when the fish are up in the water column. Stay mobile, follow the bait, and keep your gear moving through the flood. Chum respond well to slower, flashier presentations, so it pays to adjust as the tide builds through the day.
What Guests Can Expect This Week
This is prime time. The coho run is at full song, the weather is cooperating, and Johnstone Strait and Discovery Passage are alive with feed. Expect steady action during the bite windows, screaming reels, and a real shot at a mixed bag of coho, chum, and the odd late Chinook. Bring the camera — these fish put on a show.
Book Your Seat
Days like this don't last forever, and the peak coho bite is happening right now. If you've been waiting for calm water, biting fish, and easy timing, this is the week. Get in touch and let's get you on the water while the coho are firing.
Ready to experience world-class fishing in Campbell River? Book your charter trip with Fishing Storie Charters today. Captain Jason and the crew are ready to put you on fish.
