Glow Spoons Behind Flashers Are Doing the Work Today
Glow spoons behind flashers at 90-120 feet are fooling resident winter Chinook in sheltered Discovery Passage on today's flood tide.
Today on the Water
It's a classic November morning out of Campbell River — 12°C with rain showers blowing through and a brisk SE wind pushing 37 km/h. That breeze is stacking up a bit of chop around 1.9m out in the open, so we're working the inside waters and tucking into the sheltered pockets of Discovery Passage where it's a whole lot more fishable. We've got a morning slack feeding into the flood, and that tide swing is exactly when these resident Chinook switch on.
What's Working Right Now
Let's get right to the gear, because that's what's putting fish in the box this week. The hot setup has been a glow spoon trailed 5 to 6 feet behind a chrome or glow flasher. In the low light and overcast skies, the UV and glow finishes are earning their keep. If the bite slows on hardware, a brined anchovy in a teaser head fished with a slow, lazy roll will often tempt the finicky ones. Run your downriggers at 90 to 120 feet and pay attention to your sounder — once you mark bait balls, drop right into them. These feeder Chinook are keyed on herring and needlefish, so matching that profile with a smaller spoon is no accident.
Why the Chinook Are Here
Our local resident winter Chinook, running a solid 8 to 15 lbs, are feeding hard throughout Discovery Passage and the surrounding inside waters right now. These aren't migratory fish passing through — they hold here all winter chasing bait, which is why Campbell River earns its reputation as a year-round Chinook fishery. The flood tide pulls bait through the Passage and the salmon stage up to ambush it.
What to Expect This Week
With the SE system in the forecast, we'll keep working the lees and the structure where the current seams set up. Dress warm and waterproof — a little rain never stopped a good Chinook bite, and honestly the grey days often fish better than the bluebird ones. Retention is 2 per day with a 62cm minimum, so there's a real shot at taking home dinner. Expect steady action for anglers willing to put in the time dialing in depth and speed.
Book Your Trip
Winter Chinook fishing is one of the best-kept secrets on the BC coast, and the boats are warm, covered, and ready to go. If you want to get on these feeders while the bite is on, now's the time to reach out and lock in your date.
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.
