British Columbia's Best Fishing
Fishing Northern BC, Westcoast Fishing Adventures Whether it's trolling the saltchuck or flycasting the perfect stream, the BC fishing experience is a must-do for anglers the world over.
The one to catch has always been the chinook salmon, a trophy fish that can tip the scales at 32 kg (70 lbs), but there are four other species that also promise anglers the fight of their fishing lives.
Inland, the lakes and rivers are renowned for trout, kokanee, burbot, whitefish, Dolly Varden, steelhead, and large mouth bass.
Should the picture-perfect catch keep one waiting, there is lots to look at. Spectacular scenery ranges from towering coastline fjords to pristine mountain-top lakes, mighty rivers coursing through granite canyons to sparkling wilderness streams.
This is where the wild things live: orca, humpback, and grey whales, dolphins, eagles, sea lions, otters, seals, bears, wolves, and deer.
Accommodation choices range from luxurious lodges to wilderness cabins to pitch-your-own tent on the banks of the river. The industry abounds with knowledgeable guides who will ensure you catch what you came for or you can do it yourself.
Boats of all sizes are available for rent, as is gear. It can be as simple as casting a line off a sandbar or an unforgettable fly-in to a remote wilderness lake.
The BC fishing experience is about choices and the first is deciding where to cast in your line:
From 150-year-old sturgeon in the mighty Fraser River, to trophy salmon in the saltwater fjords of the Sunshine Coast, to fly fishing for trout in the Skagit River, this area offers a diversity of species and experiences.
Vancouver
The temperate climate makes Vancouver a year-round fishing destination with easy access to the Fraser River, Capilano River, Straight of Georgia, and Howe Sound. Horseshoe Bay, just 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver offers boat and gear rentals, with excellent saltwater fishing just minutes from the dock.
Fish the secluded, glacier-fled lakes and rivers of the Whistler region for spring runs of steelhead, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and salmon or catch the coho migration in the fall. Popular spots include: Cheakamus Lake, Callaghan Lake, Garibaldi Lake, Alta Lake, and Green Lake.
Sport fishermen determined to catch their trophy salmon have been flocking to the island for more than a hundred years. But should the big one elude the hook, there are always halibut, cod, herring, groundfish, prawns and crabs to compensate. More than 100 lakes and rivers offer their own bounty, the most popular of which is the steelhead trout. Fishing hot spots include: Campbell River, Port McNeill, Port Alberni, Gold River, Cowichan River, and Salmon River.
No time to go beyond the city? Fortunately Victoria is ideally located on the Strait of Georgia and local charter operations are geared up to ensure an unforgettable saltwater fishing experience.
This region offers it all - five species of salmon with chinook topping out at 32 kg (70 lb), red snapper, lingcod, halibut, trout, Dolly Varden, whitefish, steelhead, and a unique strain of rainbow trout that reach up to 11 kg (25 lb). The region includes: Chilko River, Dean River, Quesnel Lake, Hakai Pass, Shearwater, and "The Fishing Highway" with over a hundred lakes.
The waters off the northern coast offer one of the province's most productive fishing grounds with species that include: halibut, river steelhead, lingcod, rockfish, dungeness crab, and prawns. And of course, the salmon who migrate through this area to their spawning grounds. Fishing grounds include: Lakes District, Skeena River System, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, and the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Spectacular scenery nestles over 1,000 lakes teeming with salmon, kokanee, steelhead, whitefish, and trout. Great fishing is found at: Kamloops, Wells Gray High Country, Okanagan, and Shuswap Lakes.
Mountain lakes and sparkling streams set in a secluded wilderness are home to trout, landlocked sockeye, kokanee, bigmouth bass, bull and rainbow trout, whitefish, burbot, and cutthroat trout. The region includes: Kootenay Lake, Arrow Lakes, Columbia River, and Kootenay River.
