Understandably there are a lot of options when it comes to a BC steelhead fishing trip. That’s where I hope this page can help you out and answer some of your questions and get you set up for a trip that suits you. I’ve been a steelhead guide for almost 20 years in British Columbia and my crew and I have fished and guided extensively throughout the province. If you have questions please feel free to contact us or have a look at our full list of BC steelhead fishing destinations.
STEELHEAD LOCATIONS
The best rivers in British Columbia.
FIND PRIME DATES
Timing your trip for the best fishing.
SUMMER RUN STEELHEAD
Where to go for summer run steelhead.
FISHING LICENSE INFO
Buying your BC fishing license.
WINTER RUN STEELHEAD
Info on Winter & Spring steelhead fishing.
WHAT TO PACK
How to pack for your steelhead trip.
TRIPS IN SQUAMISH BC
Join us for year-round guided fly fishing for salmon, trout and steelhead. Great trips close to Vancouver!
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Flexible affordable packages with guided fishing on the wild Skeena River for steelhead & salmon.
BC’S BEST STEELHEAD RIVERS
Get hooked up with the best BC steelhead fishing. Info on river fishing for steelhead.
BC STEELHEAD RIVERS
THE BEST STEELHEAD SPOTS IN BC
BC has plenty of options when it comes to steelhead fishing. Here is a regional breakdown of where you’ll find the top BC steelhead rivers.
NORTHERN BC – SKEENA REGION
When we talk about Northern BC steelhead the focus is generally on the Skeena River system and its tributaries. This area has the best fishing from August to early November. These are Summer-Run steelhead, more on the different runs of steelhead below. The Skeena River drains the majority of northern BC and is the last stronghold of wild salmon & steelhead found anywhere in the world. The most famous tributaries of the Skeena system include the Copper, Kalum, Kispiox, Babine and Bulkley rivers. If you are looking for the best fishing in BC, then Northern BC is where you’ll want to plan a trip. There are guide services and lodges on all major systems and accessing the area is fairly easy, with direct flights from Vancouver to the towns of Terrace and Smithers, the two epicentres of steelheading in northern BC.
VANCOUVER ISLAND
Vancouver Island has runs of Winter steelhead that enter the rivers starting in December. The majority of Vancouver Island steelhead are in the systems by February. Conditions play the biggest factor in run numbers, low water and cold temperatures make for difficult fishing. The optimal time to fish on Vancouver Island is when conditions warm slightly and river levels begin to rise. This is the case with almost all winter steelhead fishing locations.
SOUTHERN BC NEAR VANCOUVER
You don’t always need to travel far to find some good steelhead fishing in BC. During the Winter and Spring months you can fish the Squamish and Vedder rivers, both close to Vancouver. These are two very different fisheries, but will afford you the opportunity at a chrome BC steelhead. The Squamish River lends itself well to fly anglers and the Vedder River is a popular destination for both fly and conventional gear anglers looking for the best steelheading close to Vancouver.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
BEST TIMES FOR STEELHEAD
Easier said than done but timing your travel is easily the most important part of putting together a successful steelhead trip to BC. The window of opportunity isn’t always as wide as we’d like it to be, some river systems have a few weeks when fishing them is worthwhile, while others enjoy longer seasons and runs of fish that are more spread out.
When trying to time a steelhead trip right you want to look at the history of the particular river you’re planning on fishing, its levels and when the biggest pushes of migrating steelhead are making moves. Obviously there are lots of factors out of your control, weather being the major factor, which effects river levels. Hitting rivers at their optimal levels is the key to good timing.
One general rule for steelhead fishing in BC is that winter-run steelhead like a rising river while summer-run steelhead like a dropping river. A very general rule and something that is impossible to plan for, but with a little bit of research into the rivers you plan on fishing finding those prime weeks can be narrowed down.
CLASSIFIED STEELHEAD RIVERS
EXPLAINING BC’S CLASSIFIED RIVERS SYSTEM
Some BC Rivers are classified, some are not. This is a classification put in place by the government with the goal of protecting these rivers and limiting the amount of guiding on them and in portion to gain extra license revenue from anglers who are fishing on these rivers. Some rivers are classified for certain months of the year and not for others.
It can get a bit confusing knowing what rivers are and what rivers aren’t classified. When you’re booking your trip your guide will notify if the trip involves fishing on a classified river. Fishing a classified river requires a classified waters licenses, more on that below under license info.
A very general rule is most of the Skeena watershed is classified, as is the Dean an most other well-known systems. If the river has had hatchery implementation it is generally not classified and most rivers on Vancouver Island and southwestern BC are not classified. We stress that this is a very general outline, check with the regs to see if the river you are fishing requires a Classified Waters License.
SUMMER RUN STEELHEAD
JULY TO NOVEMBER OPPORTUNITIES
There are two distinct runs of BC steelhead that enter the rivers from open ocean; summer-run steelhead and winter-run steelhead. Summer-run steelhead are what most anglers come to British Columbia for. These fish generally begin entering rivers in early July with numbers peaking starting in early August through to early November. The majority of summer-run steelhead are found on BC’s north and central coast, making their way into the Skeena River system and its tributaries.
The Dean River is also home to a massive run of wild summer-run steelhead. There are summer-run steelhead found in other river systems in British Columbia, including the south coast of BC and Vancouver Island but these runs are generally small and guiding services for them are minimal. Summer-run steelhead still return in healthy numbers to the Skeena and Dean systems.
The tributaries of the Skeena, including the Bulkley, Morice, Babine, Kispiox, Sustut, Copper, Kalum and many others are the headwaters where Skeena bound summer-run steelhead make their way home to in order to spawn. BC’s summer-run steelhead are know for their willingness to take skated dry flies as well as traditionally swung wet flies. If you’re looking for numbers, action and size, you’ll want to plan your BC steelhead trip to target summer-run steelhead anytime starting in mid August through to early November.
WINTER RUN STEELHEAD
DECEMBER TO MAY OPPORTUNITIES
Winter-run steelhead return in much smaller numbers and targeting them can often be a trying pursuit. These fish enter the coastal river systems of British Columbia starting in late November, with peak run times being from December through to early May, all depending on location of course.
Vancouver Island has some well known winter-run steelhead rivers, including once famed Gold River on the island’s west coast, as well as the Nimpkish and the Salmon in the north. The Cowichan and Stamp rivers on the southern Vancouver Island offer some of the most consistent winter fishing. There are also winter-run steelhead on the south coast mainland of British Columbia, with fish returning to the Squamish River north of Vancouver and the Vedder River east of Vancouver. These generally are small runs of fish, the Squamish run of winter steelhead is usually under 1500 returning fish. The most remote winter-steelhead location is Haida Gwaii, a chain of islands off of BC’s north coast that is home to some interesting steelhead rivers, the most well known being the Yakoun River.
Winter steelhead fishing is usually hit or miss with a huge dependancy on river levels and water conditions. Cold weather brings freezing levels down, clearing up rivers and making for low water conditions. This often restricts steelhead from entering the system or makes them very wary of what is being presented to them. Too much winter rain blows rivers out, pushing fish down and shutting them off from chasing flies. To hit it right requires some good luck and some local insight, that’s where guys like us come in.
WHAT FISHING LICENSE DO YOU NEED?
BC FISHING LICENSE QUESTIONS
If it’s your first time buying a fishing license in British Columbia it might seem a bit confusing. Don’t worry, it really isn’t. All licensing is done online now and the website walks you through it as best as it can. You can visit the BC government license page here. All you have to know is if you plan on fishing for steelhead in BC there are three parts to buying a license.
Second part is buying your Steelhead Conservation License. You need this license if you’re targeting steelhead anywhere in British Columbia. There is a flat fee for the steelhead license, same price if you’re fishing for a day or a week. This isn’t the greatest system, it is expensive if you’re only fishing for a day or two but all license fees do go back to conservation measures which might make you feel better about laying down $60 for it.
Third part of your steelhead license is your Classified Waters License. If you’re a BC resident this is easy, there is one license that covers all classified rivers. If you’re not a BC resident then it gets a little more complicated. You have to know what rivers you’re fishing and on what day you’re fishing them. Then you have to buy a classified waters license for each of those days. Best advice when it comes to buying your Classified Waters License is wait. Wait until you know exactly what rivers you’ll be fishing. Good thing is you can always add these licenses by logging in to the licensing website with your assigned angler number and purchasing them as needed. Do it on your smart phone and keep a copy of it on there. Legally you must have a printed and signed copy of all your licenses.
PACKING FOR A STEELHEAD TRIP
WHAT TO BRING ON YOUR TRIP
If you’re going on your first BC steelhead trip it is a bit hard to know what to bring, especially when it comes to comfortable clothing and the essentials. Packing clothing that is lightweight and warm will be the most important element of packing for your trip. If you’re not comfortable on the water, it can be a long week of fishing and a few tips on what to pack can make for a much more enjoyable steelhead experience here in British Columbia.
Warm heavy duty wading socks.
Lightweight capilene pants & top. This will be worn under all other gear.
Heavier weight fleece pants.
Shell pants. Good barrier between fleece and waders.
Fleece tops, with hoods and high collars.
Warm toque & brimmed hat
Ski gloves & googles. Nice when running in a jet boat.
Two rain jackets. Heavy duty and light duty.
Polarized sunglasses.
Headlamp and small flashlight.
Personal medication.
The key is to stay warm and dry. Without those comforts you’ll enjoy your trip significantly less, we see it often with ill prepared anglers. Remember, if you’re flying domestically within BC there are weight restrictions on baggage. It is always a good idea to wear as much clothing as possible when flying, this can save a trip if a bag doesn’t show up.
LET’S GET YOU SOME INFO!
BC BEST STEELHEAD TRIPS START HERE…
If you’re looking to plan a BC steelhead trip send us a note and we’ll get back to you with more info, prime dates and more. Book direct with our partnered lodges and get the best possible pricing!
Toll Free: 1-877-902-3393
Yos Cell: 604-366-3363
Email: chromersportfishing@gmail.com
Where is the best steelhead fishing in BC?
A tricky question but if you're looking for the best steelhead fishing in British Columbia you'll want to look at the Skeena River and its major tributaries including the Bulkley, Kispiox, Babine and Sustut. These rivers have the largest runs of wild steelhead in British Columbia.
Do I need a special license?
Yes, you'll need a basic freshwater fishing license with a Steelhead Conservation License. These can be purchased online. If you are fishing classified waters you will also need a Classified Waters License.
How much does a steelhead trip cost?
This varies widely but the majority of week-long steelhead packages at reputable lodges are in the $6500-$7500 USD range. This includes guiding, accommodations and meals but not usually transportation. Guided day trips range from $800 to $1500 and usually depends if the river is classified or not.
Can we keep steelhead?
There is no retention of wild steelhead in British Columbia. One some hatchery supplemented rivers there are retention opportunities but always check your regulations before keeping any fish.
When is the best time for a steelhead trip?
For summer-run steelhead you'll want to aim a trip for anytime between late August and early November. September and October are prime months. Winter run steelhead fishing is usually best in March & April.
Where are BC's biggest steelhead?
The biggest strains of wild British Columbia steelhead can be found in the Kalum, Babine and Kispiox rivers. These are all tributaries of the Skeena River in northern BC.