Freshwater Fishing in BC
Virtually everywhere in British Columbia offers the freshwater angler an unforgettable sport fishing experience. Most interior and northern BC lakes have mixed, healthy stocks of rainbow trout, kokanee, lake trout, bull trout, Dolly Varden, mountain whitefish and lake whitefish. In the fall months, rivers abound with sea-run steelhead and sockeye, chinook and coho salmon on spawning runs. During a typical year in the interior, spring trout fishing starts right after ice-off (May) with a flurry of fast action. In some areas of the province, rivers and lakes never freeze and are fishable year-round. In other areas, winter ice fishing flourishes.
Major Freshwater Species in BC
Trout Rainbow Trout - Rainbow trout are considered the most popular of the freshwater fish. While trout as large as 16 kilograms (35 pounds) have been taken from B.C. lakes by sport fishers, they can grow larger. The Kamloops rainbow trout are considered the highest jumping, most acrobatic of any trout in the world.
Steelhead - Many exciting fishing experiences centre on a battle with a steelhead, a feisty, sea-run rainbow trout. Average size: between 3 to 10 kilograms (6.6 to 22 pounds)
Cutthroat Trout - Closely related to rainbows are two other species of trout native to B.C.: coastal and westslope cutthroat trout, commonly called "cutts."
Brown Trout - Brown trout have a very limited range in BC but are known to reach weights of up to 6 kilograms (13 pounds) on Vancouver Island.
Char (dolly varden, bull trout, lake trout, brook trout) -- Char have lighter coloured spots on a darker body than trout. Dolly varden are present in many lakes and streams, and are often caught while fishing for coastal cutthroat or rainbow trout.
Kokanee A landlocked strain of sockeye salmon inhabiting freshwaters throughout the province, often sharing the same lakes as rainbow trout.
Sturgeon White sturgeons are a relic from the late Jurassic period and grow to monstrous proportions. The largest freshwater fish in North America, their size makes them brutally powerful fighters that often clear the water in explosive jumps. While the fishing of sturgeon is strictly regulated and strictly enforced, careful catch and release is allowed.
Bass When hooked, these game battlers put up a fast-paced, stubborn fight, often with lots of aerobatics. They willingly take baits and lures, but fly fishers do amazingly well during the summer too.
Others Mountain whitefish, lake whitefish, arctic grayling, burbot (ling), black crappie, northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, goldeye, inconnu, and crayfish.
For Freshwater Fishing information across British Columbia, please contact:
BC Fishing Resorts & Outfitters Association
Box 3301, Kamloops, BC V2C 6B9
Tel: 250-374-6836 Fax: 250-374-6640
Email: bcfroa@bcfroa.ca
Web: www.bcfroa.bc.ca
For regional information on Freshwater fishing, also refer to the following sites: Vancouver Island; Vancouver, Coast & Mountains; Kootenay Rockies; Thompson Okanagan; Cariboo Chilcotin Coast; Northern BC
