21) Campbell & Quinsam Rivers (@ Campbell River)

[John Pierce]

CAMPBELL & QUINSAM RIVERS

REGULATIONS

• East of Maple St (east of bridges) is end of saltwater/DFO, West of Maple St is Freshwater/BC Fisheries or DFO for Salmon.
• Spring is 62cm min no normal max 80cm as was removed for wharf as no easy way to return to ocean

FISHING LOCATIONS

• MOUTH: Closer to salt water easier to catch salmon and salmon quality is better.
• QUINSAM: Most salmon turn left onto Quinsam River heading toward home/hatchery.
• BRIDGE: Above main Highway #19 Bridge, upstream of junction with small Quinsam River is fly fishing only catch and release (no weight or indicator), below is catch and keep. Popular to park W of Hwy on side of road beside river.
• Ron Estey's favourite spot is i) park near River Sportsman store, ii) walk down left side of River Sportsman down steep bank, iii) wad hip deep, iv) lob cast 10-15ft into fast flowing/rippled (so fish can't see you) deep pool, v) use high sticking technique of raise rod so don't get on bottom in middle across from you, and salmon strike rod length away from you. Rig is heavy sink tip, very short 1ft leader (as Pinks not leader shy). Deadly technique.
• POOLS: Drive up road ~0.5km past Provincial Campsite, park in Pump House parking lot, just past Pump House. Walk down steps on west side of Pump House, at bottom turn left. Walk down hill to tiny deer trail on right (before trail goes uphill). Trail comes out a tiny stream, mark where came out to find again. Walk across to river. Upstream pool from deer trail is more popular than downstream pool.
• DISCOVERY FISHING PIER: Has free parking lot, shop, washrooms, cleaning stations, seating. Popular for Buzz-bombing but need round net to lift salmon up or dead haul or if big walk to shore and land.

HISTORY
20210824 RonE & DavidC fish and catch & release fresh Pinks on Campbell River using sinking tips and flies.
20200909 DavidC & IraP report that salmon fishing on Campbell River for Chinook (catch and release) excellent and that saltwater is jumping with salmon, with 10 fishing on Discovery Pier using green candlefish lures with red eye.
20200820 Post on public forum says Pinks run in VR are finished.
20200811-13 JohnP, ColinC, DaveC, & ChrisW 3 day fishout. No salmon in Quinsam River, lots of fresh Pinks caught & released across from old pumphouse, 6 fresh Pinks taken from just below Quinsam junction, all on blue flies. JohnP caught 1 Pink buzzbombing from Discovery Wharf and while fishing guy landed 31 lb Chinook (allowed even though over 80cm as special release for wharf). Cleaned Pinks on Discovery Wharf.
20200804 JohnP and ColinC 2 day fishout, C landed 4 Pinks on Campbell River on pink clouser fly, J none. Tried Quinsam River from road, nothing. Cleaned at Discovery Pier, 70cm Chinook and nice Pink caught while cleaning.
20200721 JimM report: Fly fished below Quinsam River with no luck. Weighted flies not enough, T14 short leader or shot required. Fly fished the Pump House, a nice seem allowed the weighted flies to do there though I did have a super heavy peeping caddis with a bright orange hotspot. I was basically high sticking. Hooked 5 Pinks, lots of people, fly fishing only not crowded at all.

201900923 Dave McLean sees guy land and released 20# Chinook in pool 100m above Quinsam River junction, just below Power House & Power Line on N side (above power lines fly catch and release). Best to fish is early morning and evening.
20190922 Dave McLean and friend landed several Pinks in Campbell River, but poor looking.
20190828 John Pierce, Dave McLean and Wing-kee Chan make day trip to Campbell River, lots of Pinks few looking ragged, couple bites, none landed.
20190821-22 Dave McLean and Wing-kee Chan fish Campbell River, loaded with Pinks, 8AM beat rush shoulder, landed lots, kept 2 each.
very tidal, end incoming tide. Locals say Pinks are 2 weeks later than average.
20190814 Dan Stirling says fished over 3 days, Pinks heavy, 100 strikes, landed 40 below Quinsam but released all, lots of fishers but not too bad.
20190812 Dave McLean says Campbell River Pinks fishing excellent.
20190801 Few Pinks in Eve River.

20180904-07 John Pierce fished Campbell River with Dave MacLean, and Ira Pratt, catch Salmon @ junction with Quinsam River.