Overcast and Glassy at 8°C: Coho Feed Hard on Today's Flood
Flat, overcast conditions and a morning flood have peaking coho feeding hard, with chum and late Chinook rounding out the day.
Today's Conditions on the Water
We're rolling out of Campbell River this morning under a soft grey sky, 8°C on the deck and overcast the whole way out. There's barely a whisper of wind — a light NW breeze at just 8 km/h — and the water is laid right down, wave height sitting at essentially 0.0m. That's about as flat and fishable as Discovery Passage gets. We're working the morning slack as it rolls into the flood, and that transition is exactly the window we want for aggressive coho.
Why the Coho Are On Fire
The coho are peaking right now, and these are quality fish — solid 10 to 15 pounders with big shoulders and plenty of attitude. Overcast light like we've got today is prime for keeping these fish up in the water column and chasing, rather than sulking down deep in bright sun. When the tide starts to move on the flood, bait stacks along the current seams and the coho pile in behind it. Flat water also lets us cover ground quietly and read the surface for showing fish.
Techniques Working Today
Coho love the top end of the water column, so we're leading with bucktail flies skimmed on the surface — it's a visual, heart-stopping way to fish and these coho crush it. When they want it a little deeper, green spoons run around 40 feet are producing steady action along the tide lines. Keep your gear moving; coho respond to speed and flash, especially on a clean flood like this one.
What Else Is Around
It's not just coho. Chum salmon are starting to push through, adding some serious weight and pull to the day, and there are still late Chinook holding in the system for anyone hoping to tangle with a bigger fish. Out toward Johnstone Strait the same slack-to-flood pattern is holding fish, so we've got options depending on where the bite fires up.
The Week Ahead — Book Now
This is the heart of the coho run, and calm, overcast mornings like today are exactly when these charters shine. With chum arriving and late Chinook still in play, the variety is only getting better through the week. If you've been waiting for glassy water and a peaking bite, this is your window. Give Fishing Storie Charters a shout and let's get you on the water while the coho are chewing.
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.
