Flood Tide Turns On the Bite Between the Rain Showers

Timing the Tide Is Everything Today

Morning slack is your signal to be on the water in Discovery Passage. We're working the slack-into-flood window today, and that transition is where the winter Chinook feed really switches on. Get your gear down just before the tide starts to move and you'll be fishing through the prime bite as the flood builds and pushes bait against the structure.

Conditions are on the sporty side out there. We're sitting at 10°C with rain showers rolling through, and a southeast wind blowing 32 km/h is kicking up roughly 1.2m of chop. That means tucking into the sheltered pockets along the Campbell River side of Discovery Passage, where the shoreline knocks down the wind and the fishing stays comfortable and productive.

Why the Resident Chinook Are Here

These are local, resident winter Chinook in the 8 to 15 lb range, and they're hanging in the inside waters because that's where the bait is stacked up this time of year. Unlike the big summer migratory fish, these feeders stay close and keep eating all winter long, which makes November one of the most reliable months for putting fresh Chinook in the box.

Retention is 2 per day with a 62cm minimum, so there's a real shot at taking home a couple of beautiful chrome winter fish.

Technique for a Blustery Flood

Fish deep and fish slow. We're marking bait and fish in that 90 to 120 foot range, so get your gear into that zone and keep it there. Glow flashers paired with anchovy in a teaser head or a glow hoochie are earning their keep on the grey, rainy days — that little bit of shine makes all the difference when the light is flat. Troll tight to the bait balls and let the flood current do the work of swinging your gear through the strike zone.

What to Expect This Week

The forecast keeps us in classic West Coast winter mode — damp, grey, and fishy. Winter Chinook don't mind the weather one bit, and neither do we when the rods are bouncing. With the slack-into-flood timing lining up nicely through the week, now is the time to get out on Discovery Passage and the edges of Johnstone Strait.

Spots fill fast once the winter bite turns on like this. Grab your rain gear, let us handle the tides and the hot zones, and come enjoy some of the best winter Chinook fishing Campbell River has to offer. Book your trip today and we'll see you on the water.

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.