The beach fishing on Vancouver Island has kicked into high gear! The rain last week has got the fish moving and fishing has been excellent. The rivers have some fish in them, but with low water levels most of them are still staging at river mouths. There are large Coho at basically every river and creek mouth, and cruising the gravel beaches on both sides of the Island. The Pinks and Sea Run Cutthroat are everywhere too. Now is the time to gear up and get out for some fabulous fall fishing.
The stretch of highway from Comox to Qualicum has numerus excellent fishing beaches. Find either a creek, or a point and try your luck. Campbell River and North to Sayward are some of the best fishing locations anywhere. The Salmon River, Adam and Eve Rivers are all incredible for fall salmon fishing.
7/8oz Mepps Flying C in Hot Pink Gold Blade have been taking Coho and Chinook. It casts a long way if the fish are holding farther out. Or try a 5/8oz Prime lure casting spoon in Green Brass Orange. It also casts well, and is always a deadly spoon.
Flies are always good for the Coho and the Pinks. For now, bright colours are working for undisturbed fish. Two of the top ones lately have been, Dragonfly Deep Minnow in Hot Pink, or the pink Dragonfly Tyee Terror.
More subdued colours still work for fish that have been pressured. So be prepared to change things up.
In the ocean fishing is still great. There are lot's of fresh Chinook and Coho still moving in. Five Fingers, Entrance and the Double bumps of French Creek have been excellent. I'm also hearing great reports from Sandheads at the mouth of the Fraser. There have been some very large Chinook taken there in the last week. Big plugs like the Tomic Sparkle Herring Glow Belly have been working very well. This plug is designed by our staff and exclusive to the Harbour Chandler. We did a limited run for now, and this plug will sell out soon.
Bright obnoxious colours are also working for these late season fish. Lures in pinks and orange are classic fall colours. Hoochies like OG77R aka Pink Spot or OG236R aka Chartreus Red Racer are both good choices. By the way Red Racer is orange. I think it was named by a colour blind fishermen. So if you see it as red, then you are colour blind.
Best flashers currently are Orange Phantom which is great with Red Racer hoochies and Purple Watermark which I run with the Resurrection Coho Killer.
