Feeding Chinook Are Bunching Bait in the Passage Today

Winter Chinook on the Move in Discovery Passage

Good morning from Campbell River. It's a classic October morning out here — 7°C, a steady rain falling, and the water laid right out flat at essentially 0.0m of swell. NW winds are barely a whisper at 1 km/h, so if you've ever wanted glass-calm conditions to work the downriggers, today is the day. We're rolling out on the morning slack as it transitions into the flood, which is the window we've been waiting on.

Why the Fish Are Here Right Now

The story this week is all about movement. Local resident winter Chinook have settled into Discovery Passage and the surrounding inside waters, and they're actively feeding. We're seeing good bait activity — those feeding fish are rounding up herring and needlefish, and the Chinook are sitting right underneath, picking them off. The size class showing up is encouraging too: solid 8 to 15 lb fish, chunky and bright from gorging on bait all fall. These aren't passing-through migrators; these are fish that are here to stay and feed through the winter, which is exactly what makes our October and winter fishery so reliable.

Technique for Today

With the flood building and bait balls stacking up, we'll be running gear down in the 100 to 130 foot range and adjusting to where we mark fish and bait. Glow spoons and glow hoochies continue to earn their keep on these grey, low-light mornings — the rain and overcast actually work in our favour by keeping the light soft and the fish feeding longer. Slow trolling speeds and a steady presentation near those bait concentrations is the name of the game. When the flood really gets rolling, expect the bite to turn on.

What to Expect This Week

Retention remains 2 Chinook per day with a 62cm minimum, so there's a real opportunity to put keepers in the box. With the settled weather pattern and the fish holding tight in the Passage, we're expecting consistent action through the coming days. Johnstone Strait and the Quadra shorelines are also worth a look if the bait moves, but the Passage is the hot ticket right now.

Book Your Seat

These flat-calm, fish-filled mornings don't last forever, and the resident Chinook are feeding hard. If you want to get out on the water with us and tie into a winter springer, now's the time to lock in your date. Give us a call or book online — we'd love to show you what Campbell River winter Chinook fishing is all about.

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.