A few pictures from the Quinsam River today.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Hooked and landed a stunning 1.5lb cutthroat on a size 18 black nymph.<\/em><\/p>\n I moved downstream afterwards and found a lovely run below a fallen tree. I sat on the tree and swung muddler minnows and fry patterns in the current. On several occasions I could see the trout chase the swinging fly. A few aggressive hits but didn\u2019t connect. It was still very exciting just to watch them!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n October 13th 2025<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n It has been a mixed bag for me this season.<\/p>\n In September, I made the annual pilgrimage\u00a0to the Campbell River in search of those chinook. Sadly, it would seem half the world had the same idea. The runs I fished in previous\u00a0years were overrun with anglers, all jostling for space in the prime fly water. It would seem that the word is well and truly out. I managed to have a few casts a little further up river, but to no avail. I\u2019ll need to go off the beaten path next year.<\/p>\n In early October, I visited one of my new local rivers, The Oyster. This is a strictly catch-and-release water, so it doesn\u2019t attract as many anglers as the other local rivers. We had had our usual dry summer, meaning that the river levels were very low. However, a good dumping of rain a few days prior meant that the fish could move in. Unfortunately, they moved too much. The runs I had successfully fished in previous years were devoid of any salmon. I spoke to another unsuccessful angler who agreed that they must have taken the opportunity to move up the river to their spawning grounds quickly. I did manage to tempt a sea-run cutthroat trout, however, sparing me from another blank. He too must have been wondering where all the salmon eggs had gone.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Thanksgiving here today, so I decided to make the most of having the day off work. Having moved to Courtenay in January, I am now spoiled for choice with rivers. Today, I would give the Puntledge a go. I was on the river a little after sunrise and decided to start with some self-tied needle tube flies. There was a tinge of colour in the water after some rain, so I opted for something bright.<\/p>\n After a few runs down a lovely, riffly piece of water, I bumped what felt like a good fish. I rolled the fly back out into the same spot and THUD. A bright fish flashed on the surface before diving into the deeper section. After a few solid runs and a tug of war in the current, a chrome coho of about 9lbs came to the net. It was so fresh that it still had sea lice on it. I was so chuffed. I had planned to take it for the table, but after a quick check of its adipose fin, I could see it was a wild fish. It meant that I had to release the fish, but I didn\u2019t care one bit. How could I be disappointed with a bar of silver that was likely in the ocean that morning?<\/p>\n After resting the run for a little while, I rolled the fly back out into the same run. Another THUD. This time it was a chum salmon of around 7lbs.<\/p>\n A thoroughly enjoyable morning of fishing. Hoping to get back out again next week.<\/p>\n October 21st 2025<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The rain had returned with a vengeance over the weekend. As it lashed against my living room window, I sat staring at the online hydrometric data, wondering if Monday’s trip would be a waste of time. With\u00a0the river being a stone’s throw away from my front door, I decided to give it a go. With\u00a0the river rising, I knew I’d need a little bit of extra weight to get down to the fish. So off to the fly tying station I went and whipped up some 1.8mm x 30mm tubes. I kept the dressing sparse to ensure the fly would easily cut through the water – a single piece of dyed bucktail and a couple strands of flash were all that was needed.<\/p>\n I hit the river at first light and watched from the bridge. As expected, there was a lot more water pushing through since I was last there, but I could see some fish rolling in the main current.<\/p>\n I started just down from the bridge, casting to the rolling fish. Longer casts were required but the fly was moving through the run beautifully. I don’t think there is anything more exciting than having your fingertips on a fly line as it swings through a current! It didn’t take too long before that gentle swing was abruptly interrupted\u00a0by a thud and a headshake. The fish ripped up and down the run, even around the back of me, before finally coming to the net. A beautifully marked male chum salmon of around 12lbs.<\/p>\n That was only the start, however, with 5 other fish coming to the bank that morning. It could have been double that had each bite stayed on the line.<\/p>\n To my delight, one of the fish was again chrome with sea lice on it. You’ll be pleased to hear that this one was caught on one of your cascade shrimps!<\/p>\n A fantastic morning’s fishing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n October 23rd 2025<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I couldn’t resist one more morning on the Puntledge…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Soon after, the day became brighter and the river became busier. And just like that, I didn’t see another coho. However, I continued to enjoy some more fabulous chum fishing throughout the morning.<\/p>\n I caught 3 on one of your blackbacks, one of which was still quite silver.<\/p>\n![\"Quinsam](\"https:\/\/www.trout-salmon-fishing.com\/flyfishing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/cutthroat-quinsam-river.jpeg\" "\\"Quinsam")
<\/a>A few photographs of the Quinsam River<\/h3>\n
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