A man wearing sunglasses, a light blue long-sleeve shirt, and a white hat is smiling while holding a large fish on a boat in a body of water. The fish appears to be a large bass or similar species.
A male Indigenous athlete wearing a traditional headdress and red regalia with white decorative elements, participating in a cultural or sporting event.
Person in outdoor fishing gear holding a large fish over water, with a fishing net in the foreground.

Meet Your Captain / Guide

Gary Johnson

I grew up in Campbell River—the Salmon Capital of the World—where my passion for fishing started early on in local rivers and lakes. A few years in the commercial fishing industry gave me valuable knowledge of salmon, herring, and their ecosystems.

Over the years I’ve fished with everything from a basic spinning rod to level-wind setups, single-hand fly rods, centre-pins, and eventually two-handed switch and Spey rods. While gear fishing has its place, nothing compares to the feeling of a fish taken on a swung fly.

I’ve explored many iconic fisheries across North America: the Hoh, Yakima, Wynoochee, Icicle, Yellowstone, Madison, Big Hole, Bow, and more. Before returning to the Island, I also spent summers fishing the Fraser, Vedder, Skagit, Pitt, and Thompson.

Rivers are my true passion, but I also enjoy the still waters of Merritt, Kamloops, and the Cariboo.

Recent travels have taken me to Montana, Wyoming, the Olympic Peninsula, Louisiana, Mexico, and Hawaii.

I’m proud to call Campbell River, B.C., home once again.