When a friend mentioned the other day that she and her tiny person had hit Puntledge Park to check out the total coolness that is the Fall salmon run I knew we were headed out there as soon as we left her house.

Being a landlubber myself, the only salmon I’d ever seen run were in the ladders on the Kokanee Glacier about 10 years ago when a friend and I stopped over there after a lengthy September paddle. So, whether the tiny person thought it was cool or not, I had plans.

So, we bundled up, busted out the wellies and water-resistant pants (the two pieces of gear that I believe are a must have around these parts), and headed out for some serious salmon watching.

Much to my relief, she thought it was even more amazing than I did – totally smitten with watching the fish “going to have their babies” and wondering desperately why we couldn’t take the dead fish (and there were more than a few of them) home for lunch.

We tried a few different spots out – entering the park from the gravel lot at First Street and Woods. Our favourite was most definitely the first stop on the salmon highway – Morrison Creek. This amazing little watershed was so busy with fish on their way upstream and it was the perfect locale on so many levels, for salmon watching with tiny people in tow for the following reasons:

1. The water level was relatively low. Our daughter could go out into it a few inches and the water would just be up over her ankles. You do want to try to keep the kiddos out of the water as the fish are very sensitive and skiddish. But, the water safety factor is there and kiddos are naturally going to splash a little. Just be conscious that jumping around in it is very hard on the fish. The Puntledge, which is just down the path from Morrison Creek, is running deep and fast. So, not only is it way more dangerous to take kiddos to watch fish on the main river, the fish are also much, much harder to see – unless they are dead.

2. There were fewer dead fish in the creek than in the main river, making it less stinky, less packed with birds, less tempting for tiny people to touch the fish and less appealing to the local bears who are definitely in the neighbourhood this time of year.

3. You could see the fish amazingly well in the creek. They were jumping and making runs for it. You could also see their patterns after a while, where the tough spots were, where they would hang out and gather their energy before the next big push. Amazing.

I have to admit, I was mildly tense heading out there because of the bear factor. Christa had been told by a fisherman that he had seen a black bear fishing out there recently and, when the tiny person and I walked a ways down the Puntledge, we did spot a fairly good sized bear paw print. It’s pretty obvious that the salmon run is going to draw out the big guys who stock up on salmon for the winter. So, it’s imperative that you are aware of your surroundings and have your tiny people within arms reach at all times. But, don’t let it stop you because, seriously, getting out and watching a critical piece of the life cycle of these amazing fish is absolutely spectacular and can lead you to even more exciting chances to learn about the fish that pretty much defines British Columbia.

There are a couple of other places where you can go to see if the fish are headed upstream as well including Brooklyn Creek at Mack Laing Park in Comox and Black Creek running through Miracle Beach Provincial Park. Also, the Quinsam River Hatchery just north of Campbell River is open every day and is a seriously exciting opportunity to see the salmon run, learn about conservation efforts and talk with those in the know about salmon.

We all agreed that getting out to see the salmon run is something you and the family may want to do in the next two weeks or so as the run is short and the stink of the dead fish on the shoreline is currently quite tolerable. In a few weeks, that may totally change.

So, get out there and experience something truly iconic of Western Canadian culture.

It may even inspire the stream keeper in you. Don’t forget, there are plenty of chances to volunteer and keep these amazing fish coming back year after year.