"There are some achievements which are never done in the presence of those who hear of them," wrote the British author Anthony Trollope. "Catching salmon is one." So it goes for thousands of Campbell River fishing enthusiasts annually as they rave about their reel-time adventures to friends and family back home. Whether out at sea, knee-deep in the Campbell River, or trolling across a still wilderness lake, sport fishers are in paradise here.
Four Season Fishing
Ocean and freshwater fishing is a year-round passion. Chinook (with their black gums and spotted tail) can be caught (and, in most cases, released) 12 months a year in local waters. The four other varieties of Pacific salmon – Coho, Pink, Chum, and Sockeye – can reliably be reeled in from May to November. During the winter, the focus turns inland to lakes jumping with Steelhead and Cutthroat trout. Prawns, halibut and mussels are also plentiful in local waters.
Discovery Pier
Fishing can be an inexpensive family sport. Numerous kid/parent combos line Canada's first-ever saltwater fishing pier near the government wharf on the downtown waterfront. Purchase a license at the concession stand and then settle in for the breezy duration in a wooden chair as potential catches swim by on flood and ebb tides.
Tyee Club
Dedicated to giving fish a fighting chance, the Tyee Club is a legend amongst anglers worldwide. Using a rowboat, single barbless hook, and relatively lightweight line, prospective members attempt to reel in a Chinook weighing at least 13.6kg/30lbs. Thousands of catches get away annually, and just 1200 proud fishers have managed the feat since the club was founded in 1924.
Haig-Brown Heritage House
Campbell River's most celebrated citizen was Roderick Haig-Brown (1908-76), the conservationist, author, and fly-fishing authority. Anglers follow in his footsteps each summer and fall as they cast lines into the Campbell River not far from Haig-Brown's riverside cottage. It operates as a B&B from May to October.
Hatcheries
The heaviest spawning runs up the Campbell and Quinsam rivers occur from Labour Day through to the end of November. That's the best time for a visit to the Quinsam Hatchery (seven minutes east of town off Highway 28). The river is thick with adult fish as they pass through the hatchery's counting fence, and tens of thousands of fry and adult fish can be seen in holding and rearing ponds. Bring a picnic or hike the riverside trails.
Charter Guides
Campbell River's fishing pros provide boat, bait, fuel, tackle, and encyclopedic knowledge about where the fish are biting. Ask for a list of 15 plus area guides at the Visitor Centre. Many are affiliated with local resorts and hotels. Painter's Lodge, to cite the area's landmark fishing headquarters, routinely pairs guests with guides.