The Tyee Club: rowing for giants since 1924
No motors, light line, a rowboat and a Chinook over 30 pounds. Campbell River’s most famous fishing tradition is still going strong.
At the mouth of the Campbell River, where the current meets Discovery Passage, lies the Tyee Pool. Since 1924 the Tyee Club of British Columbia has fished it by the same strict rules.
A tyee is a Chinook salmon of 30 pounds or more. To count, it has to be caught from a rowboat, with no motor running, on light line and an artificial lure. A guide rows while the angler works the rod.
The season
The club season runs through the summer, from mid-July to mid-September, when big Chinook gather at the river mouth. Successful anglers earn a Tyee Club button, graded by the weight of the fish.
The club has welcomed anglers from around the world, and nearby Painter’s Lodge became famous in the mid-1900s for the celebrities who came to try their luck.
Try it yourself
Several local guides still row for tyee each summer. You will need a tidal fishing licence and a salmon conservation stamp. Check current regulations before you go, as limits change by season.