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VANCOUVER ISLAND STEELHEAD FISHING
THE BEST STEELHEAD FISHING ON VANCOUVER ISLAND BC
Vancouver Island is home to some of the best winter steelhead fishing in British Columbia. These Vancouver Island steelhead fishing trips focus on targeting steelhead on Vancouver Islands’s northern region, including the Nimpkish River, the Salmon River and a variety of others lesser known but equally impressive BC steelhead systems.
If you’re looking for a first-class BC steelhead fishing trip, then my crew and I have you covered. We offer prime dates on all the top BC steelhead rivers! Nothing beats local expertise and our incredible network of guides, lodges and camps will have you fishing with the best steelhead programs in BC. Vancouver Island has some neat fisheries for those who are willing to brave the cold in search of Winter chrome. Feel free to use the contact form on this page or email me directly to get planning your next BC steelhead trip, you can see them all here, we look forward to earning your business.
Yos Gladstone
Owner | Operator | Licensed Guide
VANCOUVER ISLAND
WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR TRIP
The winter-runs of steelhead on Vancouver Island have long been the focus of serious anglers in search of fishing opportunities during BC’s winter months. Chromer represents a variety of Vancouver Island’s top steelhead guides, giving you access to all the top Island rivers including the Gold, Nimpkish and Salmon. If you’re looking to fish with the top Vancouver Island guides, drop us a note, we’ll be happy to introduce you to our contacts there. Vancouver Island steelhead trips are offered late November to early April.
Steelhead fishing on Vancouver Island is not for the casual angler. This is the deep end of the pool when it comes to a winter fishing experience. This is honest advice, you will embarking on one of the most challenging (and rewarding!) fishing experiences found in British Columbia. Everything has to line up to be perfect for a Vancouver Island steelhead trip. You need the right river and weather conditions, you need to fish the right bits of water and you need to be able to meet the adversities that come with fishing this often harsh Winter environment.
Up for the challenge? Not everyone is, so if you are that’s pretty cool cool! We’re here to make sure you make the most of your trip and get honest advice going into your Vancouver Island adventure. Managing expectations is key and fishing with the right guides is even more key. By contacting us we’ll be able to help with both and get you into the best possible Vancouver Island steelhead trip.
FULLY GUIDED FISHING ON VANCOUVER ISLAND
VANCOUVER ISLAND DAY RATES
Narrowing down fishing options on Vancouver Island isn’t always easy, that’s why we’re here. We’ll make sure you get hooked up with the best Vancouver Island steelhead guides and that you enjoy honest advice and seamless trip planning. Chromer represents a variety of Vancouver Island’s top steelhead guides, giving you access to all the top Island rivers including the Cowichan, Stamp, Nimpkish and Salmon. Vancouver Island steelhead trips are offered late November to early April.
Guided Day Rate
For one or two anglers
$800+
“A wonderful adventure to Vancouver Island perfectly arranged by Yos Gladstone of Chromer Sport Fishing. I couldn’t recommend his services and the guiding knowledge of Curtis Smith more, both are incredibly professional and a joy to fish with, thank you!”
Micheal Dell – Ipswitch, UK
ISLAND STEELHEAD
WINTER FISHING ON VANCOUVER ISLAND
The crew at Chromer has spent a lot of time fishing the winter steelhead of Vancouver Island. Some of our trips have been epic, with preferred conditions and strong runs of winter steelies. Other trips have been tough, with low water conditions due to cold weather. Like with all our winter river fisheries it has to all do with timing and hitting it right, and that can be hard to do. If you’re serious about a Vancouver Island winter steelhead trip we’d suggest you give us a call so we can run through the options and the pros and cons of each with you prior to making any decisions.
Vancouver Island is home to plenty of rivers that maintain wild steelhead runs, but none are as famous as the Gold River. The Gold River empties into Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island’s central west coast. It is a wild river, void of dams or hatchery steelhead. Winter steelhead fishing on Vancouver Island and on the Gold River does come without challenges though. The weather is often cool and wet and sometimes inconsistent water levels force fish to move around. The rewards for anglers up to the challenge are spectacular though. Gold River steelhead pull hard and are true ‘chromers’, wild and bright ranging from 5 to 25 pounds. The Nimpkish River is the largest watershed on Vancouver Island. Guided trips are done on the upper stretches, above Nimpkish Lake. The river is flows clear and offers the best fly fishing stretches. Fish range from 5-15 pounds. Along with the Nimpkish there are some lesser known smaller rivers and streams that have runs of wild winter steelhead. They offer good fishing for steelhead from 8-15 pounds. These rivers usually see very little pressure and will definitely be an added bonus to fish while on northern Vancouver Island and are often a great option as these smaller rivers come into shape extremely fast in high water situations.
TRAVEL TO VANCOUVER ISLAND
Getting to Vancouver Island is relatively simple, you can drive or fly. Driving is the most popular option, travel time from Vancouver to Campbell River is about 4 hours including the ferry. You can also fly either WestJet Airlines or Air Canada directly from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Campbell River.
Once on Vancouver Island travel is easy. Roads are well marked and the Island Highway links the south to the north and all the towns along the way.
If you do plan on driving there are two ferry terminals from Vancouver. Horseshoe Bay to the north and Tsawwassen to the south. Taking the Horseshoe Bay ferry will cut down about an hour of driving time. Ferry sailing time is about 1.45 hours and you can learn more at BCferries.com.
WHERE TO STAY
ACCOMMODATIONS ON VANCOUVER ISLAND
As we offer trips to multiple rivers there are plenty of places to stay while on Vancouver Island. Below are some options, depending on where you’d like to fish…
Campbell River
This is where the majority of our Vancouver Island steelhead trips originate from. As mentioned, Campbell River is an easy destination or access and there are many hotel options. Here’s a list of top hotels in Campbell River.
Northern Vancouver Island
If you’re more interested in fishing northern Vancouver Island we suggest staying in either the town of Port McNeill or Port Hardy. Both are close to multiple winter steelhead rivers. Hotel options are limited in both locations and it is a good idea to book early as surprisingly with few hotel rooms locally they can book out.
Southern Vancouver Island
On the south part of the Island you can look to stay in Cowichan Bay, that will put you in close proximity to the Cowichan River. If you’re planning on fishing the Stamp River, the town of Port Alberni is your best option for easy driving to the river.
“Trusting our steelhead trips to Yos and his team at Chromer Sport Fishing is easy. Its been a pleasure to deal with a professional outfitter with local knowhow”
Lee Palmer – Portland, Oregon
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Getting started planning a Vancouver Island steelhead trip is easy, simply fill out our online contact form or shoot us an email, we’ll get back to you asap.