50 Years Of Expert Advice and Solutions for Successful Angling

Fishing on the west coast of British Columbia, particularly around Vancouver Island, is a rich and rewarding experience, but success requires the right knowledge and preparation. With decades of experience fishing these waters, I’ve gathered invaluable insights to help you target specific species, understand seasonal patterns, and gear up for your adventures.

Species-Specific Tips

Salmon: Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye

Salmon fishing is the cornerstone of west coast angling. Each species has its unique behaviors and preferences, requiring tailored techniques to increase your chances of success. I’ve found over the years that certain behavior patterns will coincide with various changes in the tides, weather and moon cycles.

Chinook Salmon (King Salmon):

– Best Time: Summer is peak season, though winter feeder Chinook can also be targeted in sheltered waters.
– Habitat: Habitat will depend on area fished and time of year. In winter Chinook favor deeper waters, often between 100 and 200 feet. In summer these depths can be a shallow as 15 to 100 feet or more depending on bait and thermoclines.  Look for areas with strong currents and underwater structures like drop-offs. I’ve had much success catching Chinook in areas where the structure requires keeping an eye on your depth sounder and downrigger.
– Techniques: Trolling is the most effective method for Chinook. Use downriggers to maintain consistent depth, pairing your gear with flashers and hoochies or anchovy rigs. In the right circumstances I find using a jig like a “Buzz Bomb” works well also.  You want to try to keep the jig straight up and down for best results. Use your motor or the current if you have to, to achieve this.
– Bait and Lures: Anchovies, herring, and large spoons work well. Brined baitfish enhance durability and scent. If using cut plug herring ensure you have a cut that provides a slow tight roll.  Also use the speed of your motor to enhance this and make sure to check your roll just below the surface before attaching to downrigger or if you’re just using a slip weight.

Coho Salmon (Silver Salmon):

– Best Time: Late summer through early fall. Sometimes Coho show up in large numbers during the spring also and are known as “Blue Backs” due to their juvenile colors.  They are excellent fighters on light tackle like a fly rod or bucktail set up on a mootching rod/reel.
– Habitat: Coho often inhabit shallower waters (20-100 feet) and are more surface-oriented than Chinook. Coho follow the baitfish also so keep an eye out for diving birds or seagulls on or near the surface.
– Techniques: I have found over the years that Coho are aggressive and respond well to faster trolling speeds. Casting and retrieving spoons or trolling with small plugs are effective. As stated previously, using a heavier weighted fly rod with streamer types of files works well and I specifically like trolling a bucktail with a very light weight to keep it just below the surface.  Pull your line between 30 and 100 pulls depending on the area you’re fishing in and traffic around you.  When I was guiding, I would use the center rod for this purpose as when making turns the line wouldn’t tangle with the other lines on the downriggers.  And the bonus is if you keep it close to the boat the wake of your boat motor stirs up plankton and other goodies Coho Salmon like to feed on.
– Bait and Lures: Bright-colored spoons, hoochies, and Apex lures are excellent choices.

Sockeye Salmon:

– Best Time: Mid-summer during their migratory runs. Depending on your local area and current regulations, Sockeye can also be caught in spring.
– Habitat: Sockeye travel in schools, often near the surface in large bays or river mouths.
– Techniques: These salmon respond best to trolling with smaller gear. Sockeye are attracted to red or pink hoochies paired with a color matching flasher. Vary your speed until you start to get strikes and stick with that speed until the bite is over or you limit out.
– Bait and Lures: I have found that small hoochies or bare red hooks tipped with shrimp or krill work well.

Halibut, Lingcod, and Rockfish

Bottom fishing along BC’s coast offers opportunities to target these hard-fighting and delicious species. Make sure to check the regulations for the area you wish to fish as restrictions are in place to protect these species.  Some Rockfish can take up to 50 years before they spawn so wiping them out isn’t all that difficult.

Halibut:

– Best Time: Spring through early fall.
– Habitat: Halibut prefer sandy or gravel bottoms, often between 100 and 300 feet.
– Techniques: Anchor or drift over productive grounds. Halibut are scent-oriented, so fresh or prepared bait is key. I’ve found that trolling squid along the bottom using a downrigger can be productive if all other techniques aren’t working.
– Bait and Lures: Herring, octopus, squid and salmon bellies are effective. Pair bait with heavy jig heads or spreader bars to keep it on the bottom. Circle hooks on a strong leader when trolled along the bottom is also effective I’ve discovered over the years.

Lingcod:

– Best Time: Late spring to summer.
– Habitat: Lingcod lurk near rocky reefs and underwater pinnacles.
– Techniques: Jigging with heavy, brightly colored metal jigs or soft plastics mimicking baitfish works well. A guide who worked for me for years has a technique in Nootka Sound where he trolls along the bottom of a sandy area that surrounds a reef or plateau.  He literally slays them this way and was my most asked for bottomfishing guide.
– Bait and Lures: Large swimbaits, jigs, or whole baitfish like herring and squid. Even a large Buzz Bomb or Zinger works when jigging for Lingcod.

Rockfish:

– Best Time: Year-round, but best during calm conditions.
– Habitat: Rockfish congregate around rocky structures and kelp beds.
– Techniques: Drop shot rigs with soft plastics or small jigs are productive.
– Bait and Lures: Shrimp, squid, or small baitfish are effective. Use lighter gear for more fun. Jigs are popular but be careful as to not hook the bottom or risk losing an expensive rig.

I remember taking a father, mother and two boys offshore to fish for halibut but it was too boring for the two boys so the father asked if we could target something more active.  I moved in closer to shore by a well known reef and we started casting lures.  Suddenly one of the boys hooked into a Black Rockfish which we locals call a Black Bass.

These fish fight hard and the boy was so excited he could hardly contain himself.  When he got the fish to the surface and close to the boat his brother let out a scream.  Suddenly all around us were multiple Black Bass surfacing to see what happened to their fellow rockfish. The bite was on and we netted our limit for the day.  That family came back every year just for the Black Bass.

Freshwater Species: Rainbow Trout and Steelhead

BC’s rivers and lakes offer exceptional freshwater fishing for these prized species. There are several species of Trout in BC waters to choose from with multiple species occurring in some bodies of water at the same time.

Rainbow Trout:

– Best Time: Spring and fall. Although I also find the summer to be productive on certain bodies of water where deeper water provides cooler thermoclines that Rainbows seek out in the heat of summer.
– Habitat: Look for trout near river inlets, outlets, or lake drop-offs. When fly fishing I like to look for structures like logs or grassy bottoms where they can hide.
– Techniques: Fly fishing is popular, using dry flies or nymphs to mimic natural insects. Trolling with small spoons or spinners is also effective. When I used to take families on a guided Trout fishing adventure, I would let the kids use spoons and spinners and also set up a normal worm, hook and bobber set up.  Usually depending on the time of year the worm, hook and bobber set up would out fish all other techniques.
– Bait and Lures: Live bait like worms, or artificial lures such as Mepps spinners and Panther Martin spoons. Tied flys like Muddler Minnow, Black Ant, Honey Bee, Mayfly patterns, and Leech patterns work well for Trout.

Steelhead:

– Best Time: Winter and early spring. Make sure to check local regulations as fishing for Steelhead is heavily restricted or even banned in some systems to try and rebuild the stocks.
– Habitat: Steelhead migrate upriver, holding in pools and riffles. I’ve even found them next to large rocks mid stream or in a clay cut where the water flow has gouged out the clay over the years.  Such a clay cut exists close to where the Muchalat River meets the Gold River.
– Techniques: Drift fishing with roe or yarn setups, or fly fishing with streamers and nymphs, is highly effective. I used to guide a few anglers over the years who only used fly rods and their own tied flies.  Needless to say they were very good Steelhead fisherman and I learned a lot from them.
– Bait and Lures: Roe, shrimp, and jigs tipped with scented soft plastics. Tomic Lures also work well in some rivers as one of the best Steelhead Guides I’ve met from Port Alberni, Matt Guiguet will tell you.

Best Seasons for Fishing

Knowing the best times to target your desired species is crucial for success. Match the season with a Solunar Table and tide charts (when fishing saltwater) and you’ll see your catch rate improve tremendously. I can vouch for both of these methods as I use them a lot especially when targeting freshwater species.

Here’s a breakdown of seasonal patterns:

Spring (March to May):

– Chinook salmon (feeder fish) in local waters.
– Halibut and lingcod fishing ramps up.
– Rainbow trout become active as waters warm.

Summer (June to August):

– Peak season for Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye salmon.
– Halibut, lingcod, and rockfish thrive in deeper waters.
– Trout fishing continues strong in lakes and rivers.

Fall (September to November):

– Coho and Chinook salmon runs in rivers and streams.
– Lingcod and rockfish remain accessible.
– Steelhead begin their migration in some rivers.

Winter (December to February):

– Feeder Chinook salmon in sheltered waters.
– Steelhead fishing peaks in rivers.
– Rockfish provide consistent action during calmer weather.

Gear and Equipment

Recommendations for Rods, Reels, and Bait

The right equipment is essential for maximizing your success and enjoyment.

Salmon Fishing:

– Rods: A 9-10’ medium-heavy trolling rod for saltwater. For river fishing, an 8-9’ casting rod works well.
– Reels: High-capacity levelwind reels with sturdy drag systems. Shimano Tekota or Penn reels are reliable choices.
– Line: 20-30 lb monofilament or braided line with fluorocarbon leaders.
– Extras: Flashers, spoons, hoochies, and bait rigs.

Halibut and Lingcod Fishing:

– Rods: Heavy-action rods capable of handling deep-water fishing and heavy weights.
– Reels: Lever-drag reels like Avet or Penn Senator models are excellent.
– Line: 50-80 lb braided line for strength and sensitivity.
– Extras: Jigging rigs, circle hooks, and spreader bars.

Rockfish Fishing:

– Rods: Medium-action rods for jigging.
– Reels: Lightweight spinning or baitcasting reels.
– Line: 20-30 lb braided line with fluorocarbon leaders.
– Extras: Jigging lures or soft plastics.

Rainbow Trout and Steelhead Fishing:

– Rods: For trout, a 6-7’ ultralight spinning rod; for steelhead, an 8-10’ medium-action rod.
– Reels: Spinning reels for trout, or baitcasting reels for steelhead.
– Line: 4-6 lb test for trout; 10-15 lb for steelhead.
– Extras: Flies, spinners, or bait rigs.

Local Shops and Suppliers for Fishing Gear

Supporting local businesses ensures you get gear tailored to the region while fostering the angling community.

Vancouver Island:

– Tyee Marine (Campbell River): A one-stop shop for saltwater and freshwater gear.
– Gone Fishin’ (Nanaimo, Courtenay): Excellent selection of rods, reels, and local lures.
– River Sportsman (Campbell River): Great for salmon and steelhead gear.

Mainland BC:

– Pacific Angler (Vancouver): Wide range of tackle and expert advice.
– Berry’s Bait and Tackle (Richmond): Known for their extensive inventory and local insights.

Finishing Up My Tips And Suggestions

Fishing in British Columbia is a deeply rewarding experience when equipped with the right knowledge and tools. With this guide, I hope to set you up for success, whether you’re targeting salmon in the Salish Sea, halibut off Barkley Sound, or steelhead in a rushing Vancouver Island river. Tight lines, and happy fishing!