When it comes to recreational sport fishing here in Campbell River, the pink salmon range in size from 3 to 4 pounds and when these fish hit a fly or lure, pound for pound, it's fun on the water.
You can use light weight spinning or fly rods, find a pool and go fishing. This time of year the people will come here from around the province to go after the pinks for at least another six weeks. I have met anglers on the river from Denmark and Austria who come here, stay at hotels and use the restaurants here in Campbell River. This year I have seen a number of husband and wife combinations who get out and fish the river at various times of the day. There are a number of people from Vancouver who have been coming here to fish for pinks on a regular basis.
I fish an area away from the crowds and have spoken to anglers from Denmark who are staying here and their group will gear up at local tackle shops and spend countless hours on the river catching pinks and keeping a few. A number of fly fishers will get out on the evening hours and will hook on the fly and release as many as 30 fish in one evening. They fly fish only and they know the fly pattern that works and they keep at it.
A key factor is getting the fly down at the bottom, a bead head is added to the fly and section of sinking line and leader is added to their floating line. We have had very little rain and when it comes, the fish move in on certain tides. Sandy pool is well known by locals and on weekends you will see a number of vehicles parked on the side of the road by the old logging bridge, they are there float fishing for pinks. There is also the fly-fishing-only area which has more room for the fly casters who walk in and go about casting into the upper pools. As time goes on, the pinks will get dark and their life cycle will be complete.
This is the time of year that families can get out and get the kids fishing with light rods and have some fun. With the warm weather, you can get in the water with shorts and cast away. The Campbell River has a very rocky and slippery bottom, a walking stick is the best way to get better traction. A number of people are walking in the river using their fish net as a walking aid.
Kent Furey and his son Khan from Ucluelet arrived in Campbell River for a go at pink fishing on the long weekend in August, then they headed to Spider lake for a go at bass fishing before heading home.
Congratulations to Greg Askey for getting the first Tyee salmon of the year that came in at 43 pounds and 14 ounces. Greg rowed himself and his Tyee was caught using a plug.