Father-Son First Trip Lands 17 Coho — Su

What a morning on the water. Evan and Kaedn, a father-and-son team visiting from San Francisco, joined Captain Bruce aboard the 17' Boston Whaler Montauk for their very first Campbell River salmon trip — and the Coho did not disappoint. Conditions were classic June. Clear skies, 15°C, and 10 km visibility off the 6am departure. A WNW breeze around 8 knots kept things comfortable, gusting a touch in the open water, but seas held to a metre or less through Discovery Passage. We picked our sheltered seams and let the boat's nimble handling do the rest. The bite was steady. We trolled hoochies behind flashers — the Army truck pattern earning its keep — with downriggers set 80 to 120 feet over warm 16.8°C water. The Coho were active and shallow. By the time we ran lines back in, the count read 2 kept and 17 released, the best fish a chrome bright 7 pounder. The flood tide and the late-morning feeding window kept the rods bent. Between fish there were eagles overhead and sea lions on the surface — the full Discovery Passage show. For two first-timers, it was about as good an introduction to West Coast salmon fishing as we could ask for. The Montauk is perfect for an intimate two-angler trip, departing right from Coast Marina A Dock with free parking at Tyee Plaza. Summer Coho are running and the calendar is filling fast. Spots filling fast for July. Book at **hidden content**