Bell Passage

Bell Passage is a tidal channel near Prince Rupert, British Columbia, with working depths of 50 to 200 feet over mixed bottom and current-swept structure. Pacific Halibut hold along the deeper contours from April through August, while Chinook Salmon push through in two windows, February to April and again April to July, followed by Coho Salmon from May into September. Anglers work halibut with drift jigging using leadhead jigs and soft plastics or heavy metal jigs, switching to bait fishing on anchor with whole herring, salmon heads, or octopus when the tide slackens. Chinook and Coho respond to downrigger trolling with whole herring, anchovy in teaser heads, trolling spoons, and hootchies behind flashers, and mooching cut-plug herring produces on Chinook holding tight to bait balls on the tide change.