SQUAMISH RIVER FISHING INFO

SQUAMISH STEELHEAD & BULL TROUT REPORT

What is the fishing going to be like on the Squamish River this Spring? Forecasting fishing conditions on the Squamish is always a bit tricky but with the low snowpack and relatively warm winter we’re expecting an early Spring. More on forecasted river conditions and Squamish fishing below…

SQUAMISH RIVER CONDITIONS

There has been little snow in the upper Squamish Valley this winter and the unseasonal flooding in January likely knocked out much of the lower to mid elevation snow. What does that mean for the spring? We’ll likely see earlier than usual spring conditions, with warmer than regular temperatures and an overall mild March. April is when we have the best fishing on the Squamish and Cheakamus rivers, but that good window of steelhead runs might come early this year. The mainstem Squamish usually hits freshet in mid May. Last year it was earlier, the river blew out on April 29th, 2023. With the minimal snow in high elevations, we may see a rise in river levels in April that will level out. This means there’s a good chance of an extended spring season with good river conditions well into May.

Unfortunately, the low snowpack does not bode well for summer river conditions. The rivers of the Squamish system will likely be low during the summer months, more on that in a future post.

SQUAMISH STEELHEAD FORECAST

At the time of writing this post (Feb 20/24) there has already been reports of steelhead in the lower Squamish and the Cheakamus river. Both rivers have changed significantly since a major 5 day blowout in January so we’ve been busy sussing out new spots on the lower river. There has been strong reports of winter steelhead coast wide which is great. The Vedder River to the east of Vancouver has had a good run of fish so far, as has some of the wild river systems on Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. These are all factors we take into consideration when forecasting the run of steelhead in the Squamish River. There isn’t a lot of science around these fish, so taking differentiating factors helps get an idea of what to expect. Squamish steelhead returns are small, this is not a numbers fishery, but a pretty special place that, if you do everything right (and have a bit of luck!), you can connect with a wild winter steelhead. Some things to remember if you’re steelheading in the Sea to Sky region:

• Don’t worry so much about what fly to use, how you fish it is more important.
• Flies should be lightly weighted.
• Lighter sink tips are generally preferred over heavier trips.
• Squamish steelhead like water where they can find protection.
• Remember, if you’re targeting steelhead you need a Steelhead Conservation License.
• Squamish River is single barbless hook. No bait is allowed system wide.
• Wild steelhead are 100% catch and release, please handle them gently and release unharmed.

FISHING FOR BULL TROUT IN SQUAMISH

With the mild winter we’ve had good bull trout fishing all winter and hope to see that continue into March and April. The bull trout numbers in Squamish seem very healthy which is good to see. Bull trout feed on eggs and salmon flesh in the winter months so flesh patterns have been the go-to for the winter. As we transition to spring we’ll fish more small salmon fry patterns for bulls. As river levels rise and the rivers get some colour, the bull trout tend to become even more active. We’ve seen some fry in the lower river already and hope to see some starting to emerge in the upper starting in March.

• Spring bull trout like to feed on salmon fry.
• Larger sculpin and streamer patters are also good, especially in more coloured river conditions.
• Here’s a simply bull trout fly pattern that usually works pretty well!
• Always handle fish with care and remember, no bait and single barbless hooks only.

WHAT FLIES TO USE IN SQUAMISH

If you plan on venturing to Squamish to fish this spring don’t stress about what pattern to use. When guiding we use just a handful of fly patterns, knowing it is much more important how you fish them and where you swing them, rather than an exact colour or size. Some patterns every one of our guides carry include: olive bunny sculpins, white zonkers with a bit of flash, egg sucking leeches and of course some smaller salmon fry patterns. If you swing any of those within close proximity of a hot steelhead they’ll usually move to it. Now figuring out where they live is a whole different deal, and that’s where our pro guide service comes in 😉

STAY IN TOUCH

You can follow us on Instagram and Facebook. If you’re looking for a guided fly fishing trip from Vancouver or Squamish, please contact us here.

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.

Instagram | Facebook | Email