Bucktail Flies on Top, Green Spoons at 40: Today's Coho Kit
Coho are peaking on Discovery Passage — surface bucktails up top and green spoons at 40 feet are producing on today's calm slack-to-flood.
What's Working Right Now
If you want to put big coho in the boat this morning, the gear tells the story. We've got two programs firing on Discovery Passage today. Up top, surface bucktail flies stripped fast behind the boat are drawing savage, aggressive strikes — coho are peaking and they love to chase a fly right in the prop wash. Below that, run green and glow spoons on the downriggers at 35 to 45 feet, with 40 feet being the sweet spot. Pair a green-flash spoon behind a chrome or UV flasher and you'll get the wobble these fish can't ignore.
Conditions on the Water
It's a cool, calm one out there. We're sitting at 9°C under overcast skies, with a light NW breeze at just 8 km/h and wave height essentially flat at 0.0m — glassy, forgiving water that makes running the tide lines easy. We're fishing the morning slack transitioning into the flood, which is exactly the window you want for stacking coho along the current seams.
Who's Running and Why
Coho in the 10 to 15 lb range are the headline act. These are strong, big-shouldered fish feeding hard, and their aggression is what makes the surface and shallow-troll bite so much fun this time of year. Behind them, chum salmon are pushing in fresh and giving us solid supporting action — they hit slow-rolled spoons and darker patterns well. Late chinook are still hanging around too, so don't be surprised if a heavier fish loads the rod when you're least expecting it.
What to Expect This Week
With the coho run cresting and chum arriving steadily, this is prime time on Discovery Passage and out toward Johnstone Strait. The calm NW pattern should hold, keeping the water fishable and comfortable. Time your morning around the slack-to-flood and work the tide lines where bait is stacking. Bring layers — those overcast Campbell River mornings run chilly before the day warms up.
Book Your Seat
Coho like this don't stick around forever, and the peak is happening right now. Whether it's your first salmon or your fiftieth, our guides will put you on the gear that's producing today. Grab a spot on the boat this week while the bite is hot — mornings are filling fast.
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.
