Map of Squamish River. Chum salmon and coho salmon fisheries are available from early October to late December. Jennifer Thuncher / Squamish Chief. The Squamish River is located only an hour from Vancouver and you have the pleasure of driving the Sea to Sky highway. However, if you would like to pay a visit to the warriors that have come to spawn in the Squamish watershed, please check out our timeline for adult salmon: ​Chinook salmon, also known as King, Spring, and Tyee salmon grow to be the largest salmon species on the Pacific Coast. You’ll experience beautiful views and massive fish. Single and double-handed rods coupled with a stout reel and sink-tip fly lines are the tackle of choice. The Mamquam, Cheakamus, Squamish and Elaho rivers run thick with four varieties of Pacific Salmon as well as Bull Trout and Cutthroat Trout. Believe it, October can offer some of the best Salmon fly fishing in the World right here in Squamish, BC. Directions: Squamish River, BC. SQUAMISH RIVER COHO: A absolutely gorgeous river to fish on. There are tons of species to fish for, we have rainbow trout, dolly varden, bull trout, coastal cutthroat trout, steelhead and three species of Pacific salmon: pinks, cohos and chum. Fifty kilometers north of Vancouver, British Columbia, at the head of scenic Howe Sound is the Squamish River System. Steelhead are described the fish of a 1000 casts. Map. Check regulations and DFO notices for openings. Conditions on the Squamish river just 50 minutes north of Vancouver should start to become very favourable in a few weeks when the salmon fry start hatching and the Bull trout go on a 2 month long feeding frenzy. Howe Sound once supported a Chinook salmon fishery that was shut down in 1968 because stocks were in major decline. The Squamish Estuary also provides a habitat for some species of mammal, such as black-tailed deer, black bear, cougar, coyote, moles, voles, and rabbits. Copyright © 2018 fishnbc.com - All Rights Reserved. SportfishingReport.com™ has brought the west coast Fishing Reports to … The Squamish Estuary is situated at the northernmost point of Howe Sound. designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites. Run sizes have been fairly good over the past decade so … Please invite other anglers who will be stewards for the squamish River and its tributaries. However, if you would like to pay a visit to the warriors that have come to spawn in the Squamish watershed, please check out our timeline for adult salmon: Chinook Salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Chinook salmon, also known as King, Spring, and Tyee salmon grow to be the largest salmon species on the Pacific Coast. Currently there's the odd fish but only when conditions are good. We are committed to enhancing and preserving the integrity of the Squamish Watershed, focusing on key environmental factors and human influences. The species of fish we love to go out and catch. The Squamish area is home to an abundance of wildlife including 3,500 bald eagles, considered to be one of the highest concentration of bald eagles in North America. Given the diverse life cycle of this King salmon, successful restoration of stocks faces a lot of unknowns. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); *Single barbless hooks are mandatory for fishing in all BC river systems. General Steelhead Fishing Tips. In the Winter months the Squamish River and Tributaries welcome a great Steelhead Run. The winter and spring months are the best times to river fish in Squamish or head out on the ice in Whistler for a truely Canadian ice fishing experience! Same area and date Another location near Squamish River Estuary, Squamish-Lillooet District, British Columbia, CA on Sat Dec 19, 2020. Locations: Harrison River, Vedder River, Nicomen Slough, Stave River, Fraser River. At sexual maturity, the male Chinooks teeth enlarge and their nose develops into a hook which aids in their competition to fertilize eggs laid in gravel beds. There are seasons in which these fish will key in on different food sources, and times of the year that they will be found in unique locations, but 365 days annually you can find them in this vast and remote setting. Squamish River is located in Region 2 in the British Columbia freshwater fishing regulations. Fishing is something that has been handed down for generations and most anglers achieve these morals through proper guidance … They reach sexual maturity anywhere from 2-7years old, and return to spawn in the river system from which they came. To help answer some of these unknowns, the SRWS, in partnership with Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Pacific Salmon Foundation led a 2-year monitoring study examining the out migration of juvenile Chinook in Howe Sound. Please note you must release all wild trout,char and steelhead in the Squamish River system, there are no hatchery freshwater fish in … Retention on Squamish River Only: Coho : S,M C,A: S,M C,A: S,M,C,A: S,M C,A : Retention of Hatchery Fish Only: Pink : S,M: S,M,C: S,M C: S,M C : Odd Years Only: Sockeye : S,M: S,M: S,M : No Retention: Late Winter Steelhead : S,C,A: S,C,A,E: S,C A,E : Catch and Release Only: Trout: S,M,C A,E: S,M,C A,E: S,M,C A,E: S,M,C A,E : S,M,C A,E: S,M,C A,E: S,M,C A,E: Retention of Hatchery Fish Only Same area The Squamish is located about 40 minutes south of Whistler, towards Vancouver and flows into Howe Sound, so its elevation in considerably lower than that of Whistler. The hatchery focuses on enhancing coho, pink, chum and chinook salmon stocks in the Squamish River watershed. “The scenery in Squamish is absolutely spectacular, and the proximity to the ocean makes for fresh fish, which is what everybody wants – fresh meaning not caught a lot, and still nice and silver,” says Brian Niska, who owned a fly shop in Squamish for a time and operated a Squamish-based guiding company called Whistler Fly Fishing. Just make sure you … There are also many sport fish species in the Rivers surrounding Squamish year round that include; Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout, Dolly Varden and Cutthroat Trout. As such, the Squamish River estuary provides critical habitat for all salmon populations within the River Fly Fishing. The Squamish river flows over 80 km from the Upper Elaho, between coastal mountain peaks, then drains into the Pacific Ocean at the Howe Sound. Endangered species found here include the peregrine falcon, marbled murrelet and Keen’s Long … I usually fish the river between 25 and 27 mile so I stopped and hiked the area and found the water's really low-was troubled by all the 4x4 tracks tearing through streams and pools full of fry. There’s aren’t huge numbers of fish in the system and the ones that are there generally live in funky spots. Also known for their diverse life span, Chinook salmon spend the first part of their life (0-2 years) in fresh water estuary areas, before heading to sea. Major river systems in British Columbia, like those found the Squamish River Watershed offers ideal spawning habitat for Chinook. Mamquam River is a stream located just 1.3 miles from Squamish, in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The estuary itself features a variety of habitats, including marshland, sand and mudflats, flood channels, and intertidal drainage channels. The Squamish River and its tributaries are home to resident and migratory rainbow, cutthroat and bull trout throughout the year. Fishing for pink salmon becomes available in August and September. FN0933-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Region 2 - Coho - Squamish River and Tributaries - Angling Opportunities - Effective September 15, 2020 Fisheries and Oceans staff are conducting a review of all Region 2 salmon retention fisheries in 2020 to make sure the regulations align with stocks and species available for harvest. Cheakamus River. There are resident and sea running Dolly Varden, cutthroat trout and a few rainbow trout. It has four tributaries, The Elaho, The Ashlu, the Mamquam and Cheakamus River, which offer year round fishing for Bull Trout, Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, and Salmon. Saturday- Headed up the Squamish River Valley FSR and then explored the Elaho valley area in order to see how water levels were. Squamish River Estuary. Disclaimer, Policy, Rules, Terms & Conditions. Volunteer individually or as an organization with one of the local environment groups (i.e., Squamish Streamkeepers, Squamish Environment Society, Squamish River Watershed Society, or Squamish Climate Action Network) and learn about the estuary on a walk with any of these organizations. About Us - Sponsor Us - Contact Us - Home Juvenile Coho salmon can be seen throughout the year, as they tend to stay within the river for 1-3 years before heading to the ocean. Mass fish kill on river in Squamish BC Hydro ramping kills hundreds of spawning pink salmon on Cheakamus River Sept. 20, but company says it is working toward solution. The Squamish River receives a nice run of Pink Salmon; a rarity in British Columbia. The facility was built to provide fishing opportunities for First Nations, recreational and commercial fishers. Pink Salmon are now coming to an end and the lingering smell of decaying Salmon is in the air. We understand what fisherman need to be successful in the pursuit of target species across the United States. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including cutthroat trout, sockeye salmon, brown trout, coho salmon, steelhead trout, … The regulations are often different from one season to another, so please check them before your trip. Local hatcheries have focused their efforts on rebuilding Chinook populations in recent years, but the species still struggles. The males also develop a distinct red belly, which signals to their female counterparts that they are ready to spawn. Each of our Squamish area rivers offers a unique fly fishing experience. Given the large size of these salmon, they require deeper water for spawning. As the Coho Salmon start rolling in the Chum Salmon are close on their heels. On the Squamish River north of Vancouver you can times that by about 5. A favourite target species on the Squamish is the bountiful run of Pink salmon that are readily caught on swung flies. Pinks are ranging in size from about 4 lbs to 10 lbs. Where to Go Fishing in Squamish. Since 2005, at least two million hatchery fish have been released into the Cheakamus River and Squamish estuary, and at least 6,000 square metres of fish habitat have been created. With its surrounding freshwater rivers, lakes and the salty waters of the Howe Sound, Squamish has a variety of fishing areas that will get you hooked in no time. Fall is a favourite time of year to fish in the Squamish area; the rivers become exceptionally clear with the cooler weather, the salmon arrive, and there are lots of opportunities for Bull, Cutthroat and Rainbow trout. Individual and Organization Actions:. Between January and April, anglers can enjoy targeting a variety of winter species, including bull trout, coastal cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and winter steelhead. We are a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program Never again will you need to search countless resorces to find accurate information on the fishing grounds. Glacial discharge keeps the river high and dirty in spring and most of summer. Squamish River. BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis, BC Tidal Waters Sportfishing Guide with BC Freshwater Salmon Supplement, Disclaimer, Policy, Rules, Terms & Conditions. The Squamish area is one of my favorite places to fish, surrounded by mountains, tidal river and beautiful green colored tributaries it really is an outdoor enthusiasts paradise. In about 2 weeks the Chum Salmon run will flood the Squamish River, Cheakamus River and tributaries. Chum salmon and coho salmon fisheries are available from early October to late December. Construction of the Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery began in 1981. The Cheakamus river, or “The Check” as we like to call it is a tributary to the Squamish river. Whether you are camping with the familyor on a day trip with your friends, the Squamish River and its tributaries provide easy access and year-round fish. The current record for a fully mature Chinook Salmon is 126 lbs, while the average weight of a mature Chinook is anywhere from 10-50 lbs. Squamish River Estuary, Squamish-Lillooet District, British Columbia, CA on Sat Dec 19, 2020. Protected estuaries, like the. This large glacier fed stream is home to late running winter steelhead and four species of Pacific Salmon: Chinook, coho, chum and pinks. The Squamish river has only a winter run of steelhead. The Squamish River Watershed Society (SRWS), formed in 1998, takes a holistic approach towards watershed management, examining the headwaters down to the estuary and into Howe Sound. Steelhead are … The fishing season of Squamish River is limited compared to other river systems in Southwestern BC. They begin to arrive as early as December, however, we generally do not begin to target them until March with most effort being in April and May. Once at sea these fish feed on smaller fish, and serve as a tasty treat to higher tropic level organisms like the killer whale. The main attraction for the bald eagles are the three different salmon species in the river which provides some … There is also steelhead, the enigmatic trout able to make the transition from salt to freshwater and back again. Each odd year thousands of Pink Salmon make their way into the Squamish River area and tributaries (Mamquam and Cheakamus Rivers) to spawn. provides young Chinook smolts with shelter and food to grow. Our most recent fly fishing guided trips on the Squamish River near Vancouver BC have produced some very nice results. The Squamish River is our go to river for Winter fly fishing trips from Whistler as it offers easy access and solid bull trout fishing through the Winter months. 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