In the Campbell River & Sayward region, designated fly fisheries include the easily accessible Farewell Lake as well as Campbell River, Adam River and Tsitika River. road and travel for another 10 km until you reach the lake turnoff to the campsite and boat launch. Follow Pavel on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Some of the most popular fly-fishing destinations are the Stamp-Somas river system and the Cowichan, Elk, and Campbell rivers. All fish caught are released even on keep zones! Author: Pavel Francev Be prepared with appropriate safety gear in your water craft. Here at The Fly Fishing Lodge the seasons on our unique river feeds into one of the only two freshwater tidal lakes in the world and being only 40 miles from the ocean our salmon come in bright and powerful for incredible acrobatic performances. Shuttles can be arranged at the Elk River Guiding Co. For more details and to learn how you can manage your cookie preferences please see our. The Elk River has been gaining a reputation as one of the finest dry fly fishing rivers in North America and many have become completely enamored with the beauty of its setting. Trout fishing on the Elk River Vancouver Island. Spring on Vancouver Island offers many fly fishing opportunities and you need to stock your fly box with an array of spring patterns so that you can take advantage of all that you might encounter. Vancouver Island’s salmon fisheries are world-renowned; the Island’s river fly-fishing opportunities are lesser known but offer an equally exciting angling experience. Once you visit this beautiful part of Canada, you dream of the day you can return. Recent conservation minded regulations, including bait bans, single barbless hooks, spawning closures, fly fishing only and catch … We feel very strongly about protecting this native fishery and the only thing taken is pictures. Elk River. Whether trolling streamers, casting dry flies or fishing with chironomids, fly fishing is very successful here. If you plan to fish on your own don't hesitate to stop by the Fly Shop as we are happy to assist with information, flies, and gear. "a wild trout is too precious to be enjoyed only once". And speaking of wildlife, this is prime black bear territory; it’s a good idea to carry a can of bear spray with you. PART 2 Sonar Images of the Month - May | Fish the Moment Live Stream #31 Fish the Moment 106 watching Live now When there are a lot of salmon smolts in the rivers, patterns that imitate immature salmon work really well. Almost all rivers on Vancouver Island have a bait ban, meaning roe is illegal to use. Doing your research while on the river can be the key to a very successful day. Small stonefly nymphs usually work really well, but it’s way … We also use fish friendly nets and keep the handling of the fish to a minimum. The Stamp-Somass is well known for its salmon and steelhead fishery, but it’s often overlooked during the summer when it comes to trout fishing. Has anyone fished the Gold River or Elk River on Vancouver Island? Copyright © 2003 - 2021, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC. Fly Shop. The Pitt River fishing experience is a unique year round fishing. The Elk River is renowned for its abundant supply of Westslope Cutthroat (Onchorynchus Clarki Lewsi). Since the Cowichan River Provincial Park has a campground right on the river, you can make your first cast of the day just two minutes after you get out of your tent. 26” to 30” bullies are not uncommon and some areas host pigs up to 40”. The variety of species you can target is colossal, and there is no such thing as an off-season – it simply does not exist. However, you will surely be rewarded with some exceptional fishing opportunities in some spectacular scenery. We’ve got you covered! Fly Fishing in Canada. The Quinsam is also closed to all fishing between July 15 and August 31. Paths along the river are less travelled in summer than during salmon-fishing season. You head out of Campbell River on the Gold River highway until you reach echo lake. Note the freshwater fishing regulations for these rivers: fishing is restricted on some sections of both the Campbell and Quinsam year-round, and some sections of the Campbell are open to fly fishing only. Through our dedicated partners at Cowichan River Lodge only an hour north of Villa Eyrie, we are able to offer a full variety of freshwater fishing trips for practically any time of the year. Working presentations along under cut banks and runs into pools prove to be very productive from a drift boat. The opportunities in the area are endless and there is no better way to maximise your success on the water than with a guide from Elk River Guiding Company. This shallow lake is a favourite among locals, new and experienced anglers alike. Keep in mind all char (including Dolly Varden), wild steelhead, and wild trout caught in streams and rivers within Region 1 must be released. If you continue to use our site, we assume you consent to the use of such cookies. This does not mean you can’t get out of the boat. New posts Search forums Fishing Magic The UK Fly Fishing Forum Salmon Fishing Forum Sea Trout Forum. Map. Popular Fly Fishing Charters in Vancouver Island, Canada. Most of the fish are 20 to 30 centimetres (eight to 12 inches) in length, but there are some bigger cutthroat trout as well. Most Cutthroat are caught using dry flies or attractor patterns and our guides knowledge of the Elk River and its entomology will ensure you are using the right flies and fishing the most productive waters. Map. Menu. Arguably, cutthroat are one of the most beautiful of all the trout species and their willingness to rise freely to a well presented dry fly makes them even more enjoyable to catch. This flurry of heart pounding excitement usually results in the bully getting your cutthroat, but it leaves the fisherman with a great fish story! Hatchery trout can be identified by the healed scar in place of their adipose fin; wild trout will have their adipose fin intact. Located 5 km south of Courtenay, Maple Lake may be small, but it's a great fishing spot. The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, in partnership with provincial and federal governments, releases coastal cutthroat trout each year into the Oyster river, and steelhead smolts into the Quinsam, Cluxewe, Somass and Quatse rivers, helping to create a wealth of recreational fishing experiences. They are very aggressive and often will dart out of the darkness of a deep pool and attack a cutthroat that you have hooked up. Read unbiased reviews and choose the best deal for your trip. Being the island's longest river, you can easily spend days fishing its salmon-packed waters. Whether he is trying to trick that stubborn trout, chase that grouse in the woods, or paddle that remote lake – his art just happens to be the thing that unites it all, and gives him an opportunity to promote a sporting life. Some of the more well known fly fishing rivers on Vancouver Island include the Cowichan, Stamp, Campbell, Salmon and Nimpkish. If you dream of dry fly addicted Westslope Cutthroat and large feisty Bull Trout in their native mountain habitat – this is the place for you. Anglers can cover much of the 12 miles (19 km) of the Cowichan River Footpath trails beside one of Vancouver Island’s most popular fly-fishing locales in one of British Columbia’s best fishing rivers and, according to knowledgeable sources, one of the world’s best salmon and trout rivers. Catch rates and average fish size have increased markedly in the last ten years. Fly only, the river features plenty of spots for casting and holds plenty of cutthroat. The Elk River and Fly Fishing. Vancouver Island has so much to offer when it comes to fishing. Photos: Pavel Francev All Rights Reserved. Being so close to the city of Campbell River, this is a very popular campground: making a reservation is necessary, especially if you want a prime, riverside campsite. We sell them at the shop and we will mail them out if you wanted it to help plan your trip! With the goal of better understanding fly-fishing patterns and predicting location and ferocity of fishable events, Whacking Fatties presents the Fatty Factor: a fly-fishing success estimation model using proprietary big data analytics. The Elk River is the most easterly river in British Columbia. The preceding patterns are standards that I carry in my fly boxes all the time and use on a regular basis. The icing on the cake is scenery so spectacular, it makes you question if it’s actually real. Elk River, Photo By Bud Logan. Many people visit once and find themselves coming back year after year to enjoy the laid back west coast lifestyle, along with all … At Island Tides Fishing Lodge we have over 20 years of freshwater fly-fishing experience on Vancouver Island off the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. Check out each of the waters we have featured in the Rivers section. It’s not a planned scene from a movie, just an exciting recollection from one of last year’s fishing trips. There are cutthroat trout, Bull trout (Dolly Varden) and whitefish in the Elk River. Flowing from Elkhorn Mountain out into Upper Campbell Lake, the Elk River is one of Vancouver Island's premier rivers for trout fishing. The river has a fly-fishing-only section with easy access to most of the pools from a streamside trail. The Stranby river offers great fishing for winter steelhead, Dolly Varden and fall coho. Our Vancouver Island fishing guides fish all methods in local rivers around Campbell River, Comox Valley and the North Island; so we know where and how things work. A variety of sizes and colours of elk hair caddis should have you covered. Just imagine casting your fly into that fishy-looking seam with a few deer standing in the background, and a bald eagle soaring above you. As summer is is just around the corner, it’s a perfect time to explore. Spring and early summer are very popular times to visit the Elk, which is restricted to fly fishing only. The elk river is full of rainbow trout, dolly varden, and cutthroats and is a fly fishing only river, It is all wild fish and all catch and release. Turn right on to the e.r.t. River fly fishing for salmon is best from August to mid November with all five species of Pacific Salmon entering Vancouver Island rivers over this time period. Sea Run Cutthroat Fishing has been excellent off the beaches Above the Elk River Valley on Vancouver Island and a Trout Speyco Reel below Elk River Trout on the fly Saturday Morning Fly Casting workshops start April 14th thru the Summer Elk River Trout/Strathcona Park May 16th on a … Located in Strathcona Provincial Park, about an hour west of Campbell River along Highway 28, trout fishing there can be ridiculously good. The river has a fly-fishing-only section with easy access to most of the pools from a streamside trail. Arguably, cutthroat are one of the most beautiful of all the trout species and their willingness to rise freely to a well presented dry fly makes them even more enjoyable to catch. … **  Note that some launch sites are primative and require a higher level of experience to navigate in and out of them. With the introduction of steelhead hatchery programs on Vancouver Island in the early 70's the Fisheries Branch made a conscious decision to keep the Gold River free of hatchery fish. V0B 1M0Contact Us. Copyright Elk River Guiding Company Ltd. Pavel is an artist and photographer residing in Victoria, B.C. Salmon Fly Fishing. The fishing pier at the northeastern corner of the lake is a good spot, which can be accessed via Bear Hill Road. The best holding spots in this river … The river flows through the sleepy ski town of Fernie. The Elk River is renowned for its dry-fly fishing. Steelhead Fly Fishing. On most of our waters we will be primarily drift fishing. Forums. The path along the east side of the lake just south of Hamsterly Beach is a popular spot for carp fishing. ... Elk River, Salmon River, Oyster River, and many more. Trout fly fishing. The Elk River Guiding Company is the premier outfitter in Fernie for guided float trips and walk n' wade fly fishing. 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