whistler fishing

Whistler Fishing Trip FAQs

WHISTLER FISHING FAQ’S

ALL ABOUT FISHING WHISTLER BC

If you’re planning to do a little fishing while in Whistler British Columbia here are a few FAQ’s (frequently asked questions) that we get when folks are inquiring. We have a 20 year history of guiding in Whistler and offer full-service guided trips year-round. You can have a look at out Whistler Fly Fishing page for more info on what we offer, but for now, here are a few answers to common questions about fishing in and around Whistler.

Whistler Fishing December

ARE WHISTLER FISHING TRIPS OFFERED YEAR ROUND?

They sure are, you can go fishing in Whistler twelve months of the year. As the seasons change so do the opportunities and the areas we fish, but regardless of what time of year you are visiting Whistler there is always some type of angling to be had.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO FISHING IN WHISTLER?

That’s always a tough question to answer, especially as the seasons and species vary so much throughout the year. If you’re coming specifically for the fishing, then August & September are always great months for trout fishing on the Birkenhead River north of town. Fall offers the opportunity to go south to the Squamish River system to target chum and coho salmon. If you’re in town in the Winter or Spring for a ski trip, then there’s ample opportunity to go fishing, more info on that in the next question…

I’M COMING SKIING, IS THERE ANY GOOD WINTER FISHING?

This is probably our most common question, with lots of people coming to experience Whistler’s epic powder and endless terrain, there’s plenty of folks who want to mix it up and get a day of Whistler fishing in. So the answer is a resounding ‘YES’, there is some excellent options for Winter fishing in Whistler, the majority of it focuses on the coastal rivers south of Whistler. Our guided trips include pickup in Whistler and from December to early May we fish these rivers of native bull trout and winter steelhead. If you’re looking for a day of fishing, contact us for an updated report.

Winter Fishing Whistler

WHERE ARE THE BEST PLACES TO GO FISHING NEAR WHISTLER?

We can’t tell you all our secrets, but we can tell you there’s lots of options, some within minutes of Whistler village. The closest fishing to Whistler is on our local lakes, including Alta, Green and Nita lakes. These offer nearly year-round fishing for trout, Alta is especially good in the late Spring and Summer months after the ice comes off. There is also some other lakes north of Whistler that offer good fishing for trout. In terms of river fishing there are two main options. We can go north, to the Pemberton Valley and fish either the Lillooet or Birkenhead Rivers. To the south there is the Cheakamus River, a favourite for Summer trout fishing and the Squamish River system that is home to trout, steelhead and salmon. Lots and lots of great places to go fishing near Whistler!

Fishing Squamish River

WHAT’S FISHING LIKE IN WHISTLER DURING THE SUMMER?

That’s when most people are thinking of coming for a Whistler fishing trip and yes, there is some great fishing throughout the Summer months.  In July and August we fish a small mountain stream called the Birkenhead River. This is a beautiful little trout fishery, perfect for any experience level. The Birkenhead is located about 25 minutes north of Whistler and well worth on of our full-day guided Whistler fishing trips. On odd years (2021, 2023, 2025 etc) we had a Summer run of Pink salmon on local rivers, this offers excellent fishing, but they only come into the river on odd years and prime time is early August to late September. There is also local lake fishing throughout the Summer months for rainbow and cutthroat trout.

WHAT ARE GOOD HOTELS IN WHISTLER BC?

There are many excellent accommodations options in Whistler, from hotels to rental units to mountain side chalets, there is something for everyone and at any budget. If you’re looking for an upscale hotel, we recommend the Westin Resort & Spa Whistler or the Four Seasons Whistler.  If you’re looking for something more budget friendly, but still close to the village, there is the Cascade Whistler Hotel or the Pinnacle Whistler. We also offer hotel packages, these will have you staying at the well appointed Crystal Lodge, located in the heart of Whistler Village.

BC FLY FISHING

HOW DO WE GET TO WHISTLER?

Whistler is super easy to get to. From Vancouver it’s only about a 90 minute drive north from the city. The highway to Whistler is well marked and will take you along Howe Sound, a scenic stretch of the BC coast, also where we run many of our Vancouver salmon charters, and then through the town of Squamish and then into the mountains and finally into the town of Whistler.

DO WE NEED ANY FISHING EXPERIENCE?

Nope, even if you’ve never been fishing before we’ll take care of you. Our friendly guide staff is happy to get you introduced to all aspects of fishing and make sure you have a comfortable day on the water. If you’re a bit more experienced and looking to fish with some great guides we hope consider fishing with us in Whistler, we have an excellent guide staff, the most experienced in Whistler.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR GUIDED WHISTLER FISHING TRIPS?

We include pickup in Whistler, our guides will pick you up at your Whistler hotel or condo, and all fishing & wading gear. Half-day trips are 4.5 hours and full-day trips are 8 hours. We also offer float trips on the Squamish River system. Not included on our guided trips are fishing licenses and guide gratuities at your discretion. For pricing you can also check out our Whistler Fishing webpage. Thanks for having a read, lets us know if you have any questions we missed about our Whistler fishing trips, you can email us chromersportfishing@gmail.com.

Thanks for checking out our Vancouver fishing report. Check back often as we’re always posting reports and angling tips on our BC Fishing Blog. And be sure to follow us on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK for lots of fun stuff and pics from our fishing trips.

whistler fishing

About the Author

Yos Gladstone is the owner operator of Chromer Sport Fishing, a guiding company and booking agency based in British Columbia, Canada. A full-time salmon & steelhead guide, Yos spends 200+ days a year on the water fishing, guiding and hosting trips.

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