16 May The 5 Best Summer Fishing Trips in BC
British Columbia has loads of fun fishing options during the Summer months. If you’re looking for an easy guided day trip from Vancouver or a multi-day fishing package, here’s our Top 5 Summer fishing trips in British Columbia, Canada, in no particular order…
FLY FISHING FOR PINK SALMON
You’re in luck, 2019 is a Pink Salmon year on BC’s south coast and this Summer we’ll have hundreds of thousands of Pink Salmon moving into the Squamish River just an hour north of Vancouver.
This is a super fun fishery, Pink Salmon average 5-8 pounds and where we fish for them is super close to the open ocean, so they’re shiny and bright and crush pink coloured flies. Summer fly fishing for Pink Salmon is something all ages and angler abilities can enjoy. We fish lighter rods to swing flies for these feisty fish, sometimes have 10 to 20 plus fish days!
This is a super easy BC Summer fishing trip to enjoy. Our guided Vancouver fly fishing trips include pickup right at your hotel or residence, or if you’re staying in Whistler or Squamish we offer transportation from those spots as well. Need fly fishing gear? No problem, we’ll outfit you with everything you need for a day of Pink Salmon fishing and our expert guide staff will make sure everyone in your group has a super awesome day on the water, enjoying some of the most epic Summer time fly fishing British Columbia has to offer. For more info check out our Guided Vancouver Fly Fishing Trips page and be sure to watch our Squamish River Pink Salmon Fishing vid which is there too.
CATCHING MONSTER STURGEON
Looking for a no-brainer BC Summer fishing trip that will get your arms burning? The best sturgeon fishing is found on British Columbia’s Fraser River. An easy drive from Vancouver will have you in the heart of sturgeon country, doing battle with the biggest freshwater river monsters in North America!
Getting to the Fraser River is super easy, it’s only 90 minutes from downtown Vancouver and guided sturgeon fishing trips are in their absolute prime from mid May to mid September, making them the perfect BC Summer fishing trip for you to enjoy. No experience needed, just the willingness to go toe to toe with feet that are measured in feet not pounds.
Guided sturgeon fishing trips do book up super early, especially in July, August and September so booking something in advance is your best option to avoid disappointment. You can have a look at our top-rated Guided Fraser River Sturgeon Fishing Trips, and remember, we offer both day trips and multi-day packages.
SALTWATER CHARTERS FOR BIG KINGS
You really don’t have to travel far in British Columbia to enjoy some epic Summer fishing for salmon. And you don’t have to go to a fancy lodge. You’ll find world class salmon fishing all along BC’s souther coast, Vancouver Island and really, you’ll find some of the best fishing right out of Vancouver.
Why is Vancouver such a great destination for a Summer BC fishing trip? Well, the might Fraser River, where most of BC’s salmon migrate too comes out right at Vancouver, so there are literally millions of salmon that swim though local waters every Summer. It’s also a super easy option for a BC Summer salmon fishing trip, no big travel plans and no burning money on extra travel. It all adds up and you can stay in Vancouver, have some awesome fishing and enjoy all the other things that Vancouver has to offer. If you’re in town for a Vancouver to Alaska cruise, then our charter boats are minutes from the Vancouver Cruise Ship terminal, making a Vancouver salmon charter the easiest fishing option in the city.
All our Vancouver salmon charters are private, just you and your crew onboard. We fish minutes from the docks, maximizing fishing time and our full fleet of Grady Whites will get you out to the salmon fishing grounds in style and comfort. Choose from a fun half-day salmon fishing charter or for those more serious about their salmon fishing grab the full-day ten hour trip. Get ready to burn up some reels with our Vancouver Salmon Fishing Charters this Summer!
MOUNTAIN FISHING IN WHISTLER BC
Ahhh breathe in that fresh mountain air and look around at the snow capped peaks of the Whistler Valley. Only 90 minutes from Vancouver the ski town of Whistler has as much to do in the Summer as it does in the Winter. Along with hiking, biking, ziptrekking, bear watching and patio lounging, Whistler has an awesome Summer fishing scene that will give you the ability to fishing remote alpine lakes, mountain streams and even some coastal rivers.
There are a handful of lakes that are home to rainbow and cutthroat trout a stone’s throw from Whistler Village. Explore a little further and you’ll find the Birkenhead River north of Whistler, countless alpine lakes and of course the Squamish River system south of town. Visiting Whistler is the perfect option if you’d like a BC summer fishing trip in the wilderness, but don’t want to travel too far. With lots of great accommodation options, cool restaurants and vibrant nightlife Whistler is the perfect BC fishing destination that has something for everyone.
If Whistler sounds like a BC Summer fishing option that would suit you, be sure to check our out Whistler Fishing Guide page that has info on guided trips and for even more info, pop over to our Whistler Fishing FAQ post that will answer all your Whistler fishing questions.
THE ULTIMATE SUMMER SALMON TRIP
Last, but not least on our Top 5 Best British Columbia Fishing Trips, is Langara Island. Where and what is Langara Island you ask and how does a little island in the middle of nowhere make the Top 5 list?
Langara Island is located on the northern trip of Haida Gwaii, a series of islands off of BC’s northern coast. The Summer fishing season at Langara runs from late May to early September, and without a doubt it is the absolute best salmon fishing found anywhere in the world. How do we know? Well we spend our Summer months guiding at Langara Island Lodge, a small remote lodge that is on the doorstep of the most prolific salmon feeding area in BC. This really is the ultimate BC Summer fishing trip, but it does come with a price, it’s not cheap, but if you’re looking for a world-class experience with top quality lodging, service, guiding and fishing, then Langara Island will check off all the boxes.
There is really limited availability during the prime summer months, if you’re looking for some prime Summer salmon fishing dates or just have some questions, drop Yos Gladstone an email chromersportfishing@gmail.com or check out our Langara Island Salmon Fishing page that has lots more photos, information and pricing.
SOME PLANNING TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP
Now that you’re in the know with The 5 Best BC Summer Fishing Trips its time to gather your cubs and make some plans. Here are a few things that will help you make the most of your BC fishing trip this Summer…
Summer in BC is busy and guided charters and day trips book up quickly and early. It is a really good idea to book your trip sooner rather than later and that’s not trying to sell you on something. We literally turn away dozens of people every week because all our fishing trips are so busy in the Summer. So, drop the Chromer Sport Fishing guys a note by email chromersportfishing@gmail.com or give us a call on the toll-free line 1-877-902-3393, so we can help get you set up with the best BC Summer fishing trip.
You’ll need a saltwater fishing license if you’re fishing on ocean and freshwater fishing license if you’re fishing on any lakes and streams this Summer.. Buying a fishing license is easy, you can visit this link to buy a saltwater fishing license and this link to buy a BC freshwater fishing license.
Don’t be scared of bears, but be bear smart, they live here too and if your on a Summer fishing trip anywhere in British Columbia you’ll have a chance to see one.
The US to Canadian Dollar exchange rate is super good right now. Reputable guiding operations will charge you in Canadian Dollars and your credit card company will do the exchange on their end and will give you the best possible exchange rate. Don’t let guide companies try to charge you in USD or offer you their exchange rate, it’ll never be that good.
Last but not least, some good things to pack if planning a Summer fishing trip to British Columbia: rain jacket (yes it still rains in the Summer in BC), sunglasses, hats, camera gear, light gloves, some good layering, sunscreen, chapstick and a smile 🙂
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.